Chinese Amplifiers for your 911

[keynsham1]

Has anyone got experience of using one of the Chinese amplifiers that are available in their car?



These amps have a USB/SD card input for playing MP3 music, and an auxiliary input for your head unit. I have an early eighties Blaupunkt Toronto RCM40 radio/cassette player which is no high powered. These amps look like a good option for boosting power and being able to play digital music.

I am not expecting HIFi quality, I have my engine note for that! but something reliable, with some power and clarity would do me fine.

[88911coupe]

I'm confused...does this go between the old head unit and the speakers?

[wildthing]

Looks like it is a receiver/amp combo. There's even an antenna for terrestrial radio. No experience on these particular ones though.

It is only 2-channel though. You can get a decent 4-channel amp that's not too big. My issue with these no-name brands is I don't know the quality of the components and and the lack of some features.

[TheSt|G]

You are looking for something reliable, yet you picked China?

[AVDCAV]

95 % of the components in every reciever you buy today are made with
Chinese and Korean components. These units offer some very impressive reliability .

I have dozens of them on job sites and the failure rate is almost nothing. The lepai units are
Awesome for the money. You have nothing to lose trying one , parts express is zero return hassle

We had this same conversation the other day in the hidden audio thread.

[GH85Carrera]

My iPhone is made in China but it has Apple running the quality control.

I can't imagine seeking out any Chinese product especially something that is cheap.

It is your car, use whatever you want.

[keynsham1]

It is for my car. My head unit is a Blaupunkt Toronto like the one below (not mine. Mine isn't broken!):



I want to use it as it is a great period head. The thing is it has no auxiliary input, cannot play anything but cassettes and is only 5w per channel.

It does have a lead which gives me two pairs of line outputs though. I run a powered subwoofer under the seat, and just two door speakers, hence the requirement for a 2 channel amplifier. As it will allow memory cards with MP3 files to be played, it looks like a good option. I will try one as I can get one for £12 ($20) if it is no good, I will use it in the house for the kids music!

[gsmith660]

No thanks

[keynsham1]

It is interesting the opinion of Chinese goods on this site. I lived in the US for two years in the '90's and I found it difficult to buy my friends truly American gifts as almost everything carried a 'Made in China' label!!!!!

Still each to their own I suppose. When my amp arrives and I have tried it out, I will add another post.

[Tippy]

I work in the electronics biz, and I can tell you that almost 100% of components are made there.

[nineball]

Originally Posted by Tippy

I work in the electronics biz, and I can tell you that almost 100% of components are made there.

components are one thing, build quality is another.

if anyone is looking for a small 4 channel amp this is the way to go:

JBL MS-A1004 400W 4-Channel Amp w/ Digital Input Mixer

it accepts high (speaker) or low (rca) inputs, has auto-sensing so no need to run a remote trigger wire, puts out well more than rated power (if you want it to), runs in 2, 3 or 4 channel modes and it is extremely small (8-13/16"L x 7-1/4"W x 2-13/16"H).

[keynsham1]

Can I get one for $20 mailed to my door in the UK?

[rwest]

I can't speak to the actual unit you posted, but historically the real cheap "high" power amps have a very high level of distortion- somewhere in the 10% range, which may or may not be acceptable to you.

High quality amps have 1% or less THD (Total Harmonic Distortion.)

[mrhaydndownes]

There is a low tech solution for additional inputs, because it looks like you have AM/FM on your head unit.

There are some Bluetooth solutions out there that allow you to tap into the antenna wires and broadcast on specific FM Stations like 88.3.

This would allow you to use your smartphone/Ipod as input.

I understand that this won't help with your amp issue.

good luck,

Haydn

[Soquelsteve]

I have one in my 356, as I have the original tube radio that doesn't work very well. The amp/radio does work OK, limited power output and quite a bit of distortion, but what do you expect for $12. I have a sd card with about 20 hours of music that stays in the amp. The sound quality is not very good, but then the 4"x 6" speakers and original enclosures in the front kick panels are limited in the fidelity. But with a limited amount of 6 volt amperage there aren't a lot of choices.
For the 911 I added a new Alpine CD/BT/Tuner. Much better sound, with all the modern stuff, handsfree, BT, and great FM reception, plus 25w X 4 output. $125
The Chinese Amp in a 12 volt car isn't a realistic option.

[gsmith660]

Got too many things with the "made in China" label that are either defective don't fit or otherwise inferior that if it says that I put it back on the shelf as for the components I look for Taiwan not China

[Tippy]

Originally Posted by nineball

components are one thing, build quality is another.

if anyone is looking for a small 4 channel amp this is the way to go:

JBL MS-A1004 400W 4-Channel Amp w/ Digital Input Mixer

My personal stuff. Don't kid yourselves.......:

[sc_rufctr]

Originally Posted by keynsham1

Can I get one for $20 mailed to my door in the UK?

for $20 you can't go wrong... Let us know how it goes.

[Jrboulder]

Originally Posted by keynsham1

The thing is it has no auxiliary input, cannot play anything but cassettes and is only 5w per channel.

That sounds like the perfect radio

[Uncle Enzo]

I got rid of the radio all together and put in a nice small amp under the dash to run just my ipod.