The original name of the amplifier is Aiyima A08 MAX. It's written inside on the board. They later changed their minds about the name. Maybe it's related to the A07 MAX type, which would then look like a lower model.
It's weird, and frustrating, how the different Aiyima amps/preamps all have different combinations of features, but not one of them has ALL the features you'd want. If this one had a full-sized headphone jack on the front instead of the stupid gimmicky VU meter, separate controls for treble and bass, and an actual on/off/auto switch instead of the multipurpose knob, it would be a highly attractive little one-box solution. Oh, and a switchable high-pass filter like the RSL amp has.
An essential feature missing in all these brands releases is a crossover point selector separating frequencies going to the speakers and sub/aux out. Or just one selectable point like the a300 from smsl had. Or it there's no analog output only hpf option.
@@MattCoykendall1 should be mandatory by now in all these small amps! i'll only buy another one when they implement new features like that one. (i know they launch a new - sometimes updated one - every other month). This one is a nice feature packed unit but nothing really new...
Yeah a high pass filter is a no brainer on these 3255 amps. I do it manually with a dsp and it really helps them perform well as a tweeter amp of a midrange amp. I suspect they would work well driving a low impedance load for bass if you put some fans on them.
@@ryanchappell5962 i find it useful using a subwoofer, and/ or making the most out of the amps output power as well as speakers capability (most use cases will be with rather small/ non expensive speakers)
I agree it's a very useful feature, but it's still rare, even in much more expensive amps. I thing it's a bit unfair to complain these cheap amps don't have it. Not to say we shouldn't encourage them to add it.
The most likely use-case for something like this and it's Fosi cousin are for TV sound. Use the Optical for the TV, the USB for a PC connection and the RCAs for a turntable or CD Player. Add a pair of small tower speakers and an active subwoofer... and bob's your uncle! It builds a nice little entertainment centre for the living room or rec-room. 7:00 ... One note of caution for those considering chip flipping... Those flat ribbon cables will almost always have locking connectors. Usually this is done with two tiny (and I do mean TINY) tabs on the ends of the socket that you lift up slightly to release the cable. When reconnecting slip the cable into the socket and press the tabs back down. They're not robust connectors, it's very easy to break the locks or damage the cables... They're intended for assembly line hookup and are unlikely to survive more than half a dozen re-connects...so as my weird uncle Zado would say "Treat it like it's loaded!" BTW ... I'm liking the more relaxed review format.
Hey Douglas, this ribbon did in fact like you mention lock in from the 2 small tabs. I had to carefully remove the glue as that plug can be a bit fragile. This non scripted format is a bit freeing at times, I hope to mix it in more.
@@MattCoykendall1 Those plastic flex cables can be a real nightmare on their own but, to make it worse, those Chinese assembly lines just love their glue. Could you have taken it off at the main PCB end instead?
Typically under $30 an look like it should be worth more normally from the photo you can tell its been selling MainLand 1st China has a middle class of 700 Million compared to Americas about 170 Million
I’m liking these informal unboxing/reviews. It’s close to the feeling of one of us getting a surprise package.
Glad to hear that!
The original name of the amplifier is Aiyima A08 MAX. It's written inside on the board. They later changed their minds about the name. Maybe it's related to the A07 MAX type, which would then look like a lower model.
I do believe they have a new A08 max in development now, I have made a number of suggestions on it, we will have to see what turns up.
Nice job on this basic chifi. The display and VU might be worth double their other amps.
why don't you use plus shape screw driver to disassemble display cable, instead of pulling the cable.
It's weird, and frustrating, how the different Aiyima amps/preamps all have different combinations of features, but not one of them has ALL the features you'd want.
If this one had a full-sized headphone jack on the front instead of the stupid gimmicky VU meter, separate controls for treble and bass, and an actual on/off/auto switch instead of the multipurpose knob, it would be a highly attractive little one-box solution. Oh, and a switchable high-pass filter like the RSL amp has.
An essential feature missing in all these brands releases is a crossover point selector separating frequencies going to the speakers and sub/aux out. Or just one selectable point like the a300 from smsl had. Or it there's no analog output only hpf option.
True, I can tell you I have expressed this as well to them and from what I gather it’s in development on some of the future products.
@@MattCoykendall1 should be mandatory by now in all these small amps! i'll only buy another one when they implement new features like that one. (i know they launch a new - sometimes updated one - every other month). This one is a nice feature packed unit but nothing really new...
Yeah a high pass filter is a no brainer on these 3255 amps. I do it manually with a dsp and it really helps them perform well as a tweeter amp of a midrange amp. I suspect they would work well driving a low impedance load for bass if you put some fans on them.
@@ryanchappell5962 i find it useful using a subwoofer, and/ or making the most out of the amps output power as well as speakers capability (most use cases will be with rather small/ non expensive speakers)
I agree it's a very useful feature, but it's still rare, even in much more expensive amps. I thing it's a bit unfair to complain these cheap amps don't have it. Not to say we shouldn't encourage them to add it.
why no mention of watts at 4 and 8 ohms
The most likely use-case for something like this and it's Fosi cousin are for TV sound. Use the Optical for the TV, the USB for a PC connection and the RCAs for a turntable or CD Player. Add a pair of small tower speakers and an active subwoofer... and bob's your uncle!
It builds a nice little entertainment centre for the living room or rec-room.
7:00 ... One note of caution for those considering chip flipping...
Those flat ribbon cables will almost always have locking connectors. Usually this is done with two tiny (and I do mean TINY) tabs on the ends of the socket that you lift up slightly to release the cable. When reconnecting slip the cable into the socket and press the tabs back down. They're not robust connectors, it's very easy to break the locks or damage the cables... They're intended for assembly line hookup and are unlikely to survive more than half a dozen re-connects...so as my weird uncle Zado would say "Treat it like it's loaded!"
BTW ... I'm liking the more relaxed review format.
Hey Douglas, this ribbon did in fact like you mention lock in from the 2 small tabs. I had to carefully remove the glue as that plug can be a bit fragile. This non scripted format is a bit freeing at times, I hope to mix it in more.
@@MattCoykendall1
Those plastic flex cables can be a real nightmare on their own but, to make it worse, those Chinese assembly lines just love their glue.
Could you have taken it off at the main PCB end instead?
No HDMI? 😞This stings especially since there is only one optical input, so no connection to both streamer and TV.
44.1 / 24 bit ?
Bluetooth: QCC Bluetooth 5.0, aptx-HD support
BT：24Bit48Khz
PC-USB/OPT/COA：24Bit192Khz,
S/N ratio: ≥104 dB（COA/OPT/USB input）
S/N ratio: ≥100 dB（BT/RCA input）
THD: 0.008%(@1W)（COA/OPT/USB input）
THD: 0.015%(@1W)（BT/RCA input）
Frequency response: 20 Hz ~ 20KHz（±1dB）for Speaker output
Frequency response: 20 Hz ~ 20KHz（±0.5dB）for AUX output
Input sensitivity: 0dBFS / 0.775V
3.5mm AUX Maximum Output level: 2.3V
Why no PFFB? Not sure why they would exclude when they have other, older amps with it. Shotgun product strategy 🙂
This DAC was released last year, and now they're releasing the new A70 with PFFB
It's like Fosi and Aiyima are continually second guessing each other. At least they published the DAC specs
I was pleasantly surprised about the DAC, usually that’s a bit of a mystery.
Looks like a D03 upgrade
I've actually brought units like that first they come on EBay sometimes I use google translate just to operate
Some capped at 48khz sample rate
Why would you buy something if you didn't know what it was?
I get alot of these desktop sized amps sent to me for review, all the boxes are similar.
@@MattCoykendall1
Actually if you look ... the similarities go way beyond the boxes.
If it has a lot of juice leading to super loud noise; I'd call it Mother-in-Law.
Aiyima always put tiny input sources on their displays! C’mon Aiyima just copy Topping displays!
Typically under $30 an look like it should be worth more normally from the photo you can tell its been selling MainLand 1st China has a middle class of 700 Million compared to Americas about 170 Million