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  3. 1170999828

The Best Amp for the Price of Dirt

The Berringer a 500 Reference Amp that can be purchased on Musican's Friend web site for 194.00( each) to your house in the US of A w/ a 2 year warranty is a KILLER. I have several amps and these are scarey. Granted they were designed overseas & built in China... However, they are 19lbs GIANTS . Don't take my word go to the "Audio Critic" web site for a full review. This is my one an only give-away . Use it or loose it. Best to 'All
crem1
eldartford
4,262 posts
 
Zaikesman...The original Sonic Impact T-Amp came in a simple plastic case which mostly housed eight AA batteries. It cost (if I remember correctly) about $30. Recognizing that its sonic character was excellent enterprising audiophiles began to offer upgraded versions, with better connectors and volume control in a nice enclosure. Sonic Impact came out with their own "Audiophile" edition costing around $150. When Stereophile mag reviewed the Sonic Impact T-Amp, they chose to go with the Audiophile version. They thought it was "good" at the price, but if they had stuck with the unadorned original version they would have to say "fantastic".
zaikesman
3,017 posts
 
Eldee: That's a pretty far cry from your rather hyperbolic first statement. Anyway, as I understand it the costlier version of the T has many parts upgrades and modifications to the IC in addition to the aluminum case. Given that SI won't be able to "make up in volume" what they would lose in margin on this version nearly to the degree of the cheaper plastic original, the price (and margin) increase doesn't seem out of line if the result is worthwhile.

BTW, can anyone tell me what's the deal with the power supply on the Super T? The SI website seems to imply the existence of both a wall-wart and an "optional" power supply, but provides no further elaboration. And what about batteries in this version?
eldartford
4,262 posts
 
Zaike....Yes I have heard about the "many parts upgrades and modifications to the IC" but no one has actually described them. Extruded aluminum enclosure, decent connectors, a new pot, and a separate power switch strike me as mostly cosmetics. I doubt that the tripath chip is modified. "hyperbolic"...isn't that how audio stuff is priced?

The "owners manual" (and I use the term loosely) talks about 12 volt and 14 volt wall warts. I presume the 14 volt one is better.
zaikesman
3,017 posts
 
The SI website specifically mentions modifications to the IC chip, and shows circuit board photos that seem to indicate increased capacitance among other changes.
eldartford
4,262 posts
 
Zaike...I checked the website and since I last looked at it they have added the comparative pictures of the circuit boards. They are certainly giving you a lot more capacitors. Interestingly the specs are about the same, eg: THD+D 0.04% at 9 watts into 4 ohms.

My take is that for $30 it's worth trying just out of curiosity, but at $160 or thereabouts there are many alternatives.
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