🛑 Brilliant Sound BUT...there are problems. Aiyima T9 Integrated Amp 'Overview/Review'
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- Опубліковано 10 лип 2024
- I didn't want to make this video.
Review Sample Provided by: Purchased from Amazon
This review is free of sponsorships, affiliate links, and financial compensation.
Aiyima T9 product page: www.aiyima.com/products/aiyim...
Patreon: / zerofidelityhifi
BDI Elements Cabinet (as seen in the video): bit.ly/38ozr11 - Наука та технологія
If my delivery seems a bit off, it's because I had next to no time to shoot this video. Between no sleep and a hospital visit, I had a 2 hour window to film this video before heading out to UPS (so I could return the T9, as today was the last day I could do so). This forced me to accept whatever I filmed. Still, I think it was worth the rush as this is a message that I wanted to go out as quickly as possible. Hopefully this video will nonetheless make sense to most of you. Thanks! EDIT: Yes, I didn't say one word correctly in this unscripted, 13:31 minute long video. Truth be told, I had no idea I didn't say "dis·in·gen·u·ous" correctly until I saw some of your comments. I thought I pronounced it as is. Ever try to film reviews of a complex product in just one take? You'll be surprised by the words you mispronounce. Thanks for pointing this out, but this channel is called ZF for a reason. That is just a part of the experience baby, and if it bothers ya well... there are plenty of scripted / teleprompter based content for ya to check out instead!
That crazy noise you think was going to blow up your speakers is probably the tubes going... Especially the Output Tube which have a tendency to blow 1st.
@@Labor_Jones The Output stage is Class-D. Typically signal tubes going cherry won't blow the speakers. Typically, but it can still happen. All I know is that I already walked a dangerous line to see if the problem was on my end, and didn't want to chance it any further!
@@ZeroFidelity I don't know much about the hybrids. It's never a bad idea to unplug. :)
It’s all good we don’t expect Andrew Robinson production quality out of you.
But why push yourself so hard? Health comes first man! Anyways if you wanna try these chi-fi amps, Ayima D03 is alright, but then I don't have anything to compare it with, it's my first system along with a pair of Fluance sx-6.
Great honest video, im sure this will actually help the manufacturer in the long run:)
Really looking forward to your Sibelius review..
This video provided a great service. I hope they fix the problems so that everyone can enjoy a fabulous sound for so little money. Thank you (and CheapAudioMan).
I just want to say that I enjoy the channel and your very informative reviews of the product and process of the time spent on it this is how your evaluations are based on fact. Great job dude 😎
Thanks so much Sean, it's about bed time, and your review's popped up! What's else do I want! Thanks again, and I'm so glad to see more reviews from you, have a good night Sir.
Had not seen his video. But I'm glad you gave us a heads up about this piece of kit. Hopefully you can get a proper one soon. Thanks for all you do.
Hey - really excellent work here. I’m really glad you talked about Randy because I love his channel (and yours). I bought a T9 after seeing Randy’s review. Couldn’t get on from Amazon so I ordered direct from them. I must have received a good one. None of the issues, luckily. I’m using my with a set of Castle Knight 1 speakers and was shocked at how great it sounds across all kinds of music. Keep up the great work. Your content is excellent.
An impressively balanced and thoughtful review. I too noticed similar attributes and slight annoyances, mainly the clicking as the remote seems to confuse the unit when you’re changing volume and unit starts cycling through select input options. Other than that, I upgraded the tubes for $15 and I think it’s a wonderful little office unit. It’s paired with my small array of ADS-200, L300, L300c and Minimus 7. For its application, it’s a sublime little set up. Because of your advisory, I definitely will not bring it downstairs and hook it up to my big (and old) Klipsch, Yamaha and ADS speakers. Thx
I bought the Sabaj A10a after watching reviews by iiwi and Tharbamar. It only has one line input, but it has a sub out, and for my home office it’s brilliant, paired with PSB Alpha P5 and Zen DAC V2. My parents bought one for a second system and also like it. Perfect as part of a first proper hi-fi system.
hey there. Do you recommend any other DAC than the Zen? To be put in between Chromecast Audio and my amp btw. Cheers from England
The quirks were addressed with later runs of the T9, and even more decisively with the T9 Pro, which also has much lower-profile tubes in its buffer stage so that they're less likely to get pranged crooked while the doggone thing is just sitting there. Request-line time: We **need** a review of the T9 Pro from one of the really expert reviewers like this.
Good to see you back in the mix ✊🏽
I discovered cheapaudioman aka randy's channel because sean gave him a shout-out on a live stream like 2 years ago. No beef here folks don't even try creating yt audio drama. Both solid dudes!
As Sean said.
And now Randy has more subscribers
@@Okaaaymmmmhhhmmmm paid reviews.
I have the T9 and love it. No issues for me - not to discredit yours. I can't tell the difference between this and my Cambridge AXR100.
I'm genuinely happy for you! The sound is fantastic, and not *just* for the buck.
Wow. Def some quality control needed
@@DC-js4gk Denon for example got terrible quality control. I work in hifi store and 90% of new dcd 900 didn't worked. Maybe they will fix it in later in year but so many release units failed its suprising. I guess its one time thing but for such big company I expected more
Very good info being given in your video. Audio people should be tough but fair and I think you did that very well here.
Always good to point out a potential danger Sean. Currently, I'm using 2 Aiyima products and have been great . Helping others make an informed decision is a good thing
This is a wonderful thing that you did for us. The information was gladly appreciated. Thank you papito😉👍🏼
Fair Enough, Sean. No Worries ... Hope Aiyima gets back to you soon.
Thank you Sean for your integrity. Probably, it is just quality control issue, and yet it can be disastrous if someone play it with expensive / sentimental speakers. Cheers!
Appreciating both Sean & Randy's advice, I checked the site. Seems the clicking is a feature. After 10 seconds of no source input, it clicks to remind you to to turn it off, or to resume play. As for the distortion on your Klipsch speakers, hmmm, maybe just too much speaker for the little guy.
Seems to be with a shot, trying first with disposable speakers as Sean suggests.
@@DaveJohnsonOttawa What you write here is definitely not the reason with this Amp. The problem is just the Solenoid that shuts down the speakers if no signal comes IN. And it seems that this is also only with the USB IN of the Amp. That said, it´s just a small flaw in the sensitivity of the Speaker Protection. Nothing will happen with the speakers, but it´s annoying. So if one is annoyed by the "click" you hear when the speakers are turned on, then it may be a dealbreaker. But if you are interested in the sound, you give a f*** about this little flaw!
By the way: My T9 only has this click at the beginning of any youtube video I begin to watch. The first second is quiet. That´s not so fine, but as long I use this amp just to listen to music firsthand, it doesn't bother me! The sound is more than satisfying to me, to overlook this design flaw!
@@DaveJohnsonOttawa It clicks every minute or so, when playing YT (or other sources) via BT..
Annoying.
I don't know about the Aiyima T9, but according to Douk Audio's eBay store, "doukmall", the company has fixed the issue for the Douk Audio ST-01 and the Douk Audio ST-01 Pro.
"Add a M1 button on the remote control of ST-01 and ST-01 PRO, to turn on and off the function that it will auto enter mute mode when there is no signal input for 10s."
@@AI_HQ thanks!
Love your reviews! 👍👍
Great overview, thank you for your honesty..
Those factories in China have cranked out hundreds of thousands of these for sale all over the world. You probably just got a bad one, but absolutely THANKS for the heads up !!
"hundreds of thousands" ? i seriuously doubt that =)
I had the exact same issues so.....yeah.
considering it’s known to have the issue, that means it’s relevant. If you were in that situation getting the bad stuff you will not feel the same way.
UA-cam:”I’m not gonna make you wait before telling you, so I’m about to tell you”
Also UA-camr:”BUT BEFORE I DO”
I was thinking about purchasing this cool little amp, I guess I’ll wait for the them to work the bugs out.
Thanks for the informative info.
I've had my T9 for about two months now and I've encountered the same clicking in the absence of signal and faulty volume control issues. The volume knob works about 75% of the time. The other 25% of the time it switches inputs. I haven't had the distortion problem yet. Fingers crossed that I won't. Had I bought this from Amazon, I would have returned for a replacement, but I ordered it from Ali Express so I'll be keeping it. Occasional knob problem and clicking issue aside, this is a very nice unit and well worth the $101.81!
So,
We have gotten a few of these units so far. Have not experienced the ticking but DEF had the speaker killing sound thing. Contacted the seller when it first happened and they responded that it was the tubes and that they were sending replacements. My son proceeded to purchase a bunch of compatible GE tubes. He now puts them in before we even power up. Haven’t had the speaker death syndrome since. Hassle, yes. But they sound so good!
Thanks so much for this excellent and balanced review. I am a review watching addict so it is no surprises that now your review frequency has dropped which is totally understandable.. I always find your review one of the most balanced, trustworthy and professional, if not the most, to the point that u would sacrify entrainment value and thus subscribers number for integrity. I am sure almost everyone see that but should do my part to reflect this..
Absolutely agree with you. One of the best reviewers around.
Thanks Sean for the honest review.
Thanks. As always, an informative and helpful review.
Just picked one up from Amazon. The switching sounds are now internal transistor sounds, and not going to speakers… At least on my unit. The sound after a few hours of play, and a speaker swap (higher sensitivity) is fantastic with no caveats.
Thanks for the heads up. Great advice to hook up an inexpensive piece to lesser gear first. I do the same.
This is a great video, and imo exactly something that you would want from a reviewer, and if I'm not mistaken, this was also one of the pieces of advice that you provided a while back. You suggested that if buying "blind" one should listen to many reviews and that the truth would be somewhere in the middle. I thank you for this as I was looking at this unit, and Vista Audio Spark so your honesty is appreciated, as well as your willingness to revisit the product, and stick up for Randy(I like the guy). Thanks again for all you do, be safe and keep up the great work. 👍🏿
T9 has some issue before,but this problem already solved long time ago.there is M1 button on remote control.Also you can update version T9 Pro now
The jury is out. This is one of the best reviews we have seen, and you are one of the best reviewers around. Thank you.
@Zero Fidelity, Sean, the T9 Pro is out and it supposed to have fixed the prior issues of clicking and no sound until clicking. Maybe you could give that a try! :)
I thought so too and bought the T9 Pro, but the clicking exists. :-(
Thanks for the heads up, I was going to buy one for a friend, now I would personally check it out first before I would pass it on
glad I found your video, I got it on my amazon shopping cart lol
Sorry to hear you got a lemon, I’ve had mine for two months and no issues, use it with Bluetooth, CD player, turntable, computer, many speakers, vintage JBLs Pioneers, Sony, Elacs, Klipsch, subwoofer, this little giant handles them all, best $130 bucks I’ve spent so far, thanks for your videos.
Good video. I personally haven't had any problems with mine yet. I paired it with a pair of JBL stage 120's and a Bludento DAC for better bluetooth. I put it all on a rolling cart and use it at work (on a sound stage) where it plays pretty loudly for several hours a day. In fact, 2 guys from the sound department each ordered one after seeing/hearing my rig. We'll see how long it lasts. Unlike you, I was too afraid to hook it up to my beloved Alon IV speakers. I paid $120 on Aliexpress for it and had to wait 6 weeks for it to arrive.
Based on their website and product descriptions, I've been waiting for something like this
The power output is all Ohms law.
If it's rated at 100W/channel @ 4ohms, then it's 75W/channel @ 6ohms, and 50W/channel @ 8 ohms.
These amps can take various power supply options, and AIYIMA offers both a 24V and a 36V power supply. The screenshot you showed from the factory indicated a 24V power supply, but for the 100W/channel @ 4ohms a 32V/5A power supply must be used.
They're saying for 24V/3A, @ 8 ohms, it outputs 25W/channel. By increasing the power supply to 36V/5A, the power output doubles to 50W/channel @ 8 ohms.
BTW The Aiyima T9 PRO fixes all the issues the non pro version had, and gives some nice updates (including far better tubes). I am running the 36V/5A power supply on mine, driving some 6 ohm Sony speakers which according to their specs should be able to drive them with 75 watts RMS per channel and it sounds about right on these speakers. This little amp is amazingly clean, with a huge sonic sound stage. Hats off to AIYIMA for building a $120 hybrid amp that uses sought after GE MIL spec tubes.
Sean, thank you for the heads up. I must be one of the lucky owners. Yes, the clicking things is present and 25 watts per channel is a realistic power rating. I found that a cleaner power supply brings more detail and a quieter background to the already strong presentation. Let's hope your next T9 is a keeper!!
Is the power in to 4 ohms realistic ?
@@Powerpickle68 I was thinking 25 watts into 8 ohms. Class D amps like 4 ohm speakers, so maybe 40-ish for the T9.
@@Powerpickle68 These chi fi amplifiers come with pretty cheesy power supplies. The Texas instruments TPA 3221 amplifier chip, which is the D-class amplifier chip in the Aiyima T9, is 100 watt capable amplifier chip, but it requires a certain voltage and amperage to reach that power rating. One of the first upgrades a lot of people do with these Chinese D class amplifiers is replace the stock power supply that comes with them with something a bit beefier.
@@arena_rock_man9030 The cheap power supply issue seems to be an issue with a lot of more expensive items than this bargain priced Chinese unit. When I see high end audio products with high end prices who offer optional expensive power supplies for the component to reach it’s sound quality capability, I’m wondering why that power supply wasn’t there to begin with. Needless to say, I wouldn’t even consider a component that requires an opinion PS to attain its expected sound quality target. Naim, Project, etc. Grrrr.
Hi, thanks for this info. What kind of power supply do you recomend?
Well done. Fair-balanced-real !! Hope they work out the kinks. Ya got me intrigued now.
Thanks for being straight and cordial.
Fascinating, and very tactfully handled review.
I own a T9 and I have had some of the same experiences after a about 1 month of ownership. I have not had the biggest issue of distortion. If I do, I will be returning it. I have also not had the volume/input selection issue either, but I almost always use the remote to control it. I would be curious if zeros issues are only with the physical selector. Also, regarding the clicking, I am fairly certain that the amp senses the input and uses a relay to turn on the output. Once the input drops for a short period of time, it aggressively turns off the outputs, causing the clicking. I am convinced of this because the sensing circuit is pretty slow and once the input starts, there is a delay before you hear output to the speakers and you only hear output after the click.
Thanks I was planning to purchase and needed more info.
I've been a regular viewer of your channel for quite some time now, and I've really come to appreciate your insightful and detailed reviews. I've always found your content engaging, informative, and unbiased, which makes your channel a go-to resource for me when it comes to audio gear.
Recently, I've been intrigued by the SABAJ A30a Power Amplifier, especially since it represents the full digital amplifier category. The idea of maintaining a completely digital signal chain is captivating, and I think it could provide some interesting comparison points with traditional analog systems.
Given your expertise and understanding of both digital and analog audio systems, I believe your perspective on this would be enlightening. I'm particularly interested in your analysis of the sound quality, dynamics, and the overall performance of this amplifier. Additionally, any comparison with other amps you've reviewed would be incredibly helpful.
Please consider doing a review or a comparison piece on the SABAJ A30a Power Amplifier. I'm sure many of your other followers would also find it beneficial.
Keep up the great work, and thank you for considering my request!
I appreciate your candid, honest review. I've owned the Douk ST-01 for a few months (T9 with different brand/model name). Knock on wood: I've had no issues with the unit. Given the myriad problems you experienced, it sounds like (no pun intended) a defective unit. I agree with your take on the T9's sound quality. When working properly, it's a giant slayer sonically. I use a dedicated, hand-built, music only PC with JRiver Media Center as the source via USB out for playback of CDs ripped to FLAC. The speakers are a pair of ELAC UniFI 2.0 ub52 bookshelf speakers (not the last word in efficiency). This system is perfect for my dedicated 2-channel rig at present because I live in a very small condo where I can't turn the volume up too much. I did turn the bass up a bit with the amp's control (very useful) and experience beautiful, detailed sound with just the right touch of tubiness. Like you said, the T9 sounds more like a 1K amp instead of the $130 it currently sells for. I highly recommend the amp, but buy it from Amazon so that if you encounter any problems you can easily replace or return it for a full refund.
There are many videos with this problem.
@@jamessalepe Agreed, and I don't doubt what Sean or others have reported. I only spoke to first-hand experience if one purchases a unit without the problems.
I have the clicking sound issue so I don’t use it for a soundbar replacement. If you use it just for a turntable amp, with my external phono preamp on…no clicks even when table isn’t playing so I can warm up the tubes. This is a great turntable starter amp. I’ve played it consistently for 2 months for just that use and no problems on mine. I also have the Douk Audio version since that one was sold out. Same unit.
Thanks Sean. I just set up my T9 yesterday with Jamo s803s. I was nervous because I had heard about the pop issue. The sound was fantastic and I was both impressed and relieved. However, I did have a problem with volume too. My unit also seemed to be trying to change Bluetooth input instead of volume. I thought maybe I was turning up too fast or something. It only happened once and no popping so far. Going to really check it out thoroughly over next few days. It really has a remarkable sound so hopefully it works out well.
Hope you are doing better. Take care.
Update: I do have popping/clicking. Also interference from my Roku remote. Considering returning. 😕
Kudos to this honest detailed review
Haven’t had ANY of the problems with my own Aiyima T9 after a month of use and an all-day high-volume party. No clicking, no speaker issues, and they drove two 8 ohm panel speakers I built with Dayton thrusters all day long.
Did it broke the klipsch or it was fine after you change to other amp?
I've had mine since January and love it. Mine clicks, but it's not constant. There's a click when audio starts and a few seconds after music stops. I just assumed it's an auto-standby and operating properly. Guess I got lucky. I'm sorry so many folks are getting duds because it's truly magical for the price.
Hey Sean, ballsy video and thank you. We need honest reviews regardless of what people may think.
Some perspective: I bought a Technics sl1500c a few months ago and was doing some reading on Steve Hoffman forum about the even more expensive sl1200gr. $1700 turntable that a couple people received with wonky platters. There are QC issues in any grade of consumer product, expecting perfection is lunacy. How the company handles those problems separates a good from bad. Just my piece of copper.
You're absolutely right! So let me add to this a bit: Awhile back, I reviewed he Cambridge AXR100 Stereo Receiver. I noticed quite a bit of fan noise coming from the unit even at very soft volumes. My observation was forwarded to the engineering team, who claimed that I should not be experiencing that problem, it's unknown to them, and it's not a part of their design. So I went on a limb, trusted them, and (I believe) I said nothing about it in the review as I wrote off my experience as a problem that few customers will encounter. Well, as it turns out, as time went on, many people commented on my video about how they loved the sound but hated the fan noise. F***! I felt awful. Sure, I commented on how poorly the parts were populated on the board, but I kept the fan noise thing to myself. Who knows, maybe it was a QC issue. Maybe it wasn't. The bottom line is that I trusted the company when I should have just reported things as they were. Since then, I've vowed to never do that again. Lessons Learned.
@@ZeroFidelity Agreed, I just wanted to point out issues can be had at any price point. I also believe Randy didn’t have the same issues. No way he puts himself in that spot.
@@ZeroFidelity
I don't think it's an issue they couldn't have sort out. sounds like they were using low quality vans, instead if they used a bigger fan at lower speed, the issue probably wouldn't be there, or better heat sinks. shows me they chipped out on the design.
You get what pay for - end of story.
Thanks for the heads-up!
The click is interesting and I'm glad you mentioned it. That would drive me crazy! The fact that the VU meter bumps with it too? Hmm.
Just purchased one… no clicking issues
No issues at all going in through rca…. Love it
Wish it had a tad more power for my lower sensitivity speakers but overall happy
More power will not make low sensitivity speakers sound louder. If you got 86db/w/m. it will not go louder than the 86dbs as specified. I got a 2x15 watt tube amp that runs into 92db/w/m speakers. Seldomly run the amp louder than 3 out of 10 in terms of volume.
Thanks for the review. I use this amp with Dali Oberon 1s. The sound is good. I have noticed a humming / buzzing sound for about 2 seconds when turning the amp on. Is that sth to be concerned about and potentially dangerous for the speakers?
Thank you for your honest opinion. Great Video.
Did you switch it back t your desktop to see if it worked again or was it simply completely done? Also, I was sceptical about this unit mainly because u couldn’t see it delivering that much power in what has to be a small power transformer, which would ultimately throttle the amp. As it is, you resolved my power question
Thanks for keeping it real.
Hi, does it work in apple lossless and hi res music? It's my usual source
I'm using mine with a pair of vintage Celestion DL6 - I think I'm in heaven - so far absolutely no issues at all.
Have you tried the Douk Audio version of this amp, which is the ST-01? I am curious if it has the same issues.
I have had a T9 for quite a while and it does not have these issues. Wonder if they have reduced quality to increase production volume. My experience has been flawless with mine though.
the clicking in desktop use might be relay related as some people have reported the T9 going into a standby mode when no signal is being received, and it's being triggered by polling via usb or something.
I already had a T9 on order so I’m hoping not to get one that has too many issues. Although disappointing to hear I’m glad you filmed this video so I know what to expect. And I won’t hook it up to my most expensive speakers to start with just in case.
How is your T9? Did it end up being a good purchase?
I have the Douk branded version, the ST-01, and so far, two months down the line, I have no problem and love its sound playing through new Fyne Audio speakers mounted on 15" oak stands on the desk . I have heard the clickingyou mention but perhaps only about once a day or less but had no problems with volume and so on.
Thank You for the videos. Would a Aiyima ao7 upgraded, a08 be better for a underpowered AVR hooked to DF Pro Towers400 at 250 rms be better?
When the input / volume knob stopped functioning as intended, did the remote still work to change the volume? Either way, it's defective: I'm just curious. Was what you heard the amp clipping from being pegged to 11?
I bought one of these a couple months ago when my old Denon AV receiver gave up the ghost. I use the T9 connected to a new Sony OLED TV and Energy bookshelf speakers. I have a 10” Martin Logan powered sub connected to the sub out. The sound is great, warm sound not overly bright or harsh like typical cheap amps. Power output seems good for such a small package. Its perfect to run my bookshelf speakers and for two channel tv viewing. Streaming via air play or pandora from the tv via optical or directly to the T9 with bluetooth sounds great. Im glad to be rid of the big AV receiver and massive remote.
I wish they offered a 3 channel version with dts decoding or ARC to use with a sound bar. The relay clicking doesn’t bother me. Overall a great sounding little amp, super impressed for the price.
You are great... thank you for this
Thank you Sean. Mine T9 arrived today, and yes it has the same volume / input select issue right out of the box.. and it almost killed my speakers too….. well, triggered Amazon replacement process , and hopefully the new one isn’t a lemon again..
Great info. Thanks.
I have the Douk Audio version of this amp. Hooked it up to Klipsch, Wharfedale and Elac bookshelf speakers. No issues. Clicking sound really doesn't bother me. The size of this amp compared to the Denon that was on my desktop allowed me way more room. For a $130 it's a steal!
The Douk version (at least the PRO one) is able to turn the clicking off. It is done via the remote. The "M" button to the lower left of the volume/track wheel as I remember.
@@sergeymiheev2119 Thank you! I have 3 of those buttons around the wheel. Couldn't get it to stop but will now read the manual for the first time. Thanks again!
@@bobe3250 I have the ST-01 PRO version - the one with the copper rings around the bulbs and the VU meter. You are right - there are 3 buttons around the wheel. As I remember - one of the lower ones does the trick. The function is called something like "smart standby" or something like that. I don't remember whether I found this in the manual or somewhere over the internet.
Bought the same model which is just branded as the douk st-01 back in July.
Had no problem with the clicking, so they have sorted it.
She gets a bit warm but aside from that it works well with my pioneer Andrew Jones bookshelves and an old 90s Yamaha sub as a PC setup.
Thanks for the heads up.
Hi Sean thank you for the review done with integrity.I have my T9 since the 22nd of february 2022 and I do not have the issues you warned about.It seems that Aiyima despite its Japanese sounding name has not the same quality control (3X) as the amps made in Japan.After Randy cheap audioman was jubilant about the T9 in march or so they sold like crazy and possibly the QC did not match the QC of my Aiyima T9 and your version suffered from that.But frankly I am over the moon with the soundquality but the power is very modest so I use the T9 as a preamp hooking it up with an audioquest cable to an Aiyima DO 5 to drive my excellent vintage tannoy P40's.The sound is superb and from my experience thumbs up for my Aiyima purchases.I suspect with Randy that Aiyima,douk audio come out the same factory.I bought a douk audio X1 tube amp which has an phono MM input to start playing vinyl after 40 years.The sound is great and it drives big floorstanders the eltax linear response 10.5 .The X1 sounds great with vinyl and it can drive them big speakers without trouble.I feel sorry that your T9 malfunctioned but it is maybe a wakeup call for Aiyima despite the demand to tweak their QC.
I bought a Aiyima Tube-T6 a couple years ago, it worked for about 2 weeks - was the best 2 weeks of music on my bluetooth speaker. After that it just went silent on me. I thought it was bad tubes, had them changed but still couldn't work. Can't remember the exact amount I paid for it but it's definitely less than $60. So at the back of my mind, I didn't expect it to be as durable, so if it fails it's no big deal....just get another one (I just ordered the A07)! lol... But I'm still keeping the unit for repair, just that I have not got around sending the unit to the local electrical repair shop. It will be interesting to find out how much it costs to repair this unit!
Hi, this amplifier is a able to amplifier the speakers kef model iq90?
Is that a pioneer or sansui reverb over your right shoulder?
Be nice to Randy. He works hard. Thanks for doing a negative review. Very refreshing. Is that what TikTok is ?
Please give us a frame of reference in the beginning. Make, model, C of O, Price, warranty, service.
It’s integrated so does that not need I need a phono preamp if i’m pairing it with something like the RT-82, that does not have one built in?
I've had mine for a few weeks now, also partly due to Randy's recommendation.
I love mine. The click is annoying, but pretty much goes away when streaming. The sound quality does make up for it.
It's not super loud, which is actually perfect for my small apartment.
Mine is paired w 4 ohm Moukey 3 ways, and the sound is just SO well defined for such a cheap setup. The bass is minimal, but tight. I want to add a sub. I wish it had a headphone output.
Sorry you had trouble, I think you got a lemon and should just exchange it.
Isn't the clicking the relay turning it off after 8 seconds without music?
@@renatomorais8136 Yes, I believe so. You can see the VU meter move a bit when it happens.
@@traildoggy 8 seconds is way too shot IMO... they could get rid of that and it would be one less problem!
@@renatomorais8136 Yeah, it could be a deal breaker for some. it bugged me a lot for the first few days. It sounds amazingly good for sub $150, but If you have doubts I'd find another setup.
Ciao, i diffusori alle tue spalle sono DIY con i Mark audio o sono prodotti commerciali? Video interessante, grazie. 🇮🇹
My Aiyima setup was a separate tube preamp and power amp (A3 + A07). Didn't have an issue (luckily). My speaker is an old budget bookshelf anyway so it wasn't a risk. Got curious with the T9 after Randy posted a review. It seems to use similar chips, with some additions. I wonder if it has an improved circuit or just an integrated version of their existing separates.
Is it possible to connect 2 8 ohm speakers in parallel?
I work a lot with these mini digital chip amps. I just ordered the T9 "Pro" version off Amazon that states it was "upgraded". Hopefully, I don't run into any issues. If I do have issues...I will return it. I have received many of these little amplifiers that either sounded like junk, low power output, or literally let their smoke out. Seems like the Chinese flood the market with these amps, but have yet to make one that truly sounds excellent (like old school Class A or Class A/B) like we had in the 1970/80s. I am hoping that the T9 Pro sings and has actual warm fidelity. 50 wpc @ 4 ohms is usually enough for most people. Thanks for your video...
My issue is it turns off when using optical cable to tv as i changed beteeen apps. So annoying. The Bluetooth input works good though.
Thanks for warning and video. I bought the Douk Audio labeled amp based on the Cheapaudioman’s enthusiastic review. The clicking is annoying, but so far no distortion issues. However there is a hum that only lasts a second or two when the amp is turned on, which does concern me. Otherwise, I’m very happy with this amp.
I have the same hum sound when turning it on. I run Dali Oberon 1s on it. Is it potentially dangerous?
@@fstrati I don’t know. After four months of use, the amp still hums when powering on and the speakers are fine. I am not too concerned since I have a pair of old Polk bookshelf speakers bought at a thrift store.
Sadly, from everything I’ve seen online, the major issue with this little amp seems to be quality control. I bought one a cpl months ago based on Randy’s review and price. I’ve never had a tube amp so it was basically bought as a cheap intro into tube amps. I’ve used it with a variety of mid to high level speakers and so far I really love it. Have done a bit of tube rolling just for the experience. Time will tell how long it performs and last.
Hey, is your unit still working correctly? I'm considering a purchase.
Still running like a champ Lorenzo. Not a daily user, but still use frequently. Have had no issues at all. Still a great little entry level for someone wanting to play with tubes and has lots of features.
@@lorenzosavona7376
Sean --- I received my T9 and T3 a week ago. I connected them to my old Yamaha DSP A3090 AV integrated amp and a pair of Sony SSCS5 bookshelf 3 way passive speakers. After some white noise burn in hours they sound pretty great. I haven't hooked up my turntable yet (Pioneer PLX 1000 direct drive DJ turntable) but I will soon. Playing music through my phone's Bluetooth into the T9. It works well except yesterday when I turned on the audio equipment and as I was opening the phone's PowerAmp music player, I heard music coming through my speakers and I hadn't started a song and I noticed the Bluetooth connection in my phone wasn't connected to the T9. But the T9 had the steady blue light for connected Bluetooth.
Without any info screen on the T9 I could only guess that it picked up the neighbor's signal.
That's a really shitty thing because there was no way for me to see the signal and disconnect it and there was no way to get my phone's link to the T9 and make it the priority connection. So, I was stuck being forced to listen to a neighbor's music or shut it down and have no music unless I used a USB C to 3.5mm cord from phone to the T3 which I did.
But that really pisses me off that the T9 will just lock into any signal and there is no way of getting it disconnected and to connect to the correct signal.
Maybe I'm unaware of some setting?
Anyone have the same or similar thing happen with the T9? If so, what did you do?
Bought the T9 from AliExpress for $130 Canadian, power supply unit and delivery included. Been very happy with it. Abundant connectivity, nice rich sound and adequate power to drive my 6-Ohm Technics SB C350 3-way vintage speakers with 87 dB sensitivity. The clicking sound during inactivity is actually a practical reminder to turn off the unit as it does generate some heat unlike most other D-class amps. Excellent sound bar substitute equipment.
Your T9 still working well?
@@AmbientWanderer Still doing fine ! I use it daily together with my C350 speakers as a sound bar replacement for my TV. Hardly even notice the clicking sound...
Maybe something got loose during shipping. I’d try opening it up and reseating every connection I could find. Does it ship with the tubes installed?
Sean, When comparing the sound of this unit to other items like the Iota, do you attributed these sound differences more to the amp, internal DAC or altogether machine?
I didn't use the DAC. Differences boil down to entirely different circuits.
what.other amplifier/dac cheap or mid level could u recommend?
I use one of these in my garage (doesn't need to sound great) I have also heard the click noise at a constant interval on occasion. I have some cheap indoor outdoor speakers connected and it works fine for that use case.
Thanks for making this video. You would have been doing your subscribers a disservice had you not reported the truth in your findings. We trust you and this video is a perfect example why. Thanks again.
Hope your enjoying your summer. Been quiet lately. Waiting for something special? Most equipment has been beaten to death by the other guys. You still keep things interesting.
Lol that click would make me toss it so hard but thank you for the honest review on this unit!