🛑 Brilliant Sound BUT...there are problems. Aiyima T9 Integrated Amp 'Overview/Review'
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 31 พ.ค. 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 - วิทยาศาสตร์และเทคโนโลยี
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.
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
@@Hifiimpresonation 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
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.
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.
Great honest video, im sure this will actually help the manufacturer in the long run:)
Really looking forward to your Sibelius review..
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.
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
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 😎
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
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.
@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. :-(
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
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.
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.
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!
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!
Fair Enough, Sean. No Worries ... Hope Aiyima gets back to you soon.
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
Very good info being given in your video. Audio people should be tough but fair and I think you did that very well here.
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 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 for the heads up. Great advice to hook up an inexpensive piece to lesser gear first. I do the same.
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.
This is a wonderful thing that you did for us. The information was gladly appreciated. Thank you papito😉👍🏼
TH-cam:”I’m not gonna make you wait before telling you, so I’m about to tell you”
Also TH-camr:”BUT BEFORE I DO”
Good to see you back in the mix ✊🏽
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
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!
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.
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!
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.
Well done. Fair-balanced-real !! Hope they work out the kinks. Ya got me intrigued now.
Based on their website and product descriptions, I've been waiting for something like this
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.
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.
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.
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.
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. 😕
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.
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.
Hey Sean, ballsy video and thank you. We need honest reviews regardless of what people may think.
Sean, I have been doing audio over 50 plus years well, really more on the music. I had been looking at this little T9. But I have grown through the years to not allow myself to fall in love with anything that could break my heart because it would perform great. But I hate to say it fail on me. This brand and make would not be the only one with this kind of an issue. I have history with a few more brands that are well known. Quality issues keep them from being in my system, because frankly, I just don't have the time to deal with something that could be damaging. I shared my experience with some other reviewers on TH-cam and they became very unwelcome lets say to me. I have respect for people who can share the true good and bad of what is going on here, and that it isn't all roses and buttercups here. Integrity as another person here posted is something I admire, I subscribed to your channel because of that. Agree with everything you say? No. One I have my take on what is relevant to me, and what isn't. Our Taste will differ, and a good thing too by the way. Yes I subbed to CheapAudioMan too. I disagree with him allot but he seems on point with many things though, so in balance he is a service here. Most reviewers here are bought by editorial, yeah lets get that in the room right now! I have no connections with manufacturers or dealers or whatever. Know people in the industry? Absolutely. I sold audio and video over 35 years! Am I biased because of that? Absolutely not. As a matter of fact there is much I really despise about high end because of the few that have made it the "Elites" club only. I pretty much left because of it. I see allot of carelessness on TH-cam, and if I call them on it constructively, I am lambasted or left hanging with no feedback at all. There are very few reviewers on TH-cam I will view because of that. I think I count maybe 5 including your channel. Keep doing what you are doing. Integrity above all else is what I look for. Anything else? I am gone. Thanks for this review. Kindest regards.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts. So you don't agree with literally everything I say? What is WRONG with ya man? haha. kidding. Yes, reliability is incredibly important to me as the last thing I want to worry about is having to deal with servicing a product. Be it by my own hands or especially by somebody elses.
You get what pay for - end of story.
Thanks for the heads-up!
Great overview, thank you for your honesty..
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.
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.
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.
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.
I'm using mine with a pair of vintage Celestion DL6 - I think I'm in heaven - so far absolutely no issues at all.
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.
glad I found your video, I got it on my amazon shopping cart lol
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?
Thanks Sean for the honest review.
Thanks. As always, an informative and helpful review.
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.
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!
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..
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.
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.
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?
Thanks for being straight and cordial.
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...
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.
Love your reviews! 👍👍
Fascinating, and very tactfully handled 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.
There's a big difference between an unremarkable product - (hence probably no reviews) and
a product that's decent BUT faulty. (and possibly harmful to speakers). I believe that it behoves
a serious reviewer to alert his audience to such. Sean, you could have just sent the unit back
and said nothing but in this case with all things considered - you did the right thing.
It's hard for reviewers to do the "RIGHT" thing if theirs works perfectly. Even if half of them go bad, half don't.
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.
Yup, clicked like hell, was annoying to use as a desktop unit watching TH-cam vids. Optical input also did not work. Purchased from Amazon in Feb, and returned a week after. Made same comments on Randy's channel. It was a gorgeous sounding amp; unfortunate for the flaws.
Randy's video hit right when I needed a desktop/bedroom solution and I got one. Sound and feature wise it has been flawless. I do get the clicking when switching between things only when using RCA in. When using my USB in from my PC I don't have issue. The other thing with RCA in is when listening to TH-cam videos, for some reason it just does not output audio. Like right in the middle of someone speaking and it will happen at the same place consistently. No issue over USB with that. I recently hooked it up RCA to trouble shoot my main system and that is when I noticed this, but since I use USB consistently I am going to keep enjoying it and not worry too much. I did also roll in the JAN 5456. Smaller profile tube and it already sounded good so it must have gotten better, right? :P
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.
Bought when Randy put out the video. Sound was decent but had the same clicking noise. It seemed it was idling when db dropped. Sent it back. Paired with ELAC uni fi ub51. If I recall it correctly it made them sound a little uneasy and rough but details were still there.
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.
Thanks I was planning to purchase and needed more info.
Ive had my t9 for a month and play it regularly with no issues. It clicks once when input is detected and once when the input is silent. When watching films it does not click or go to sleep during silent periods. I think the continually clicking issue is a sign of a faulty unit and should be returned 100%. Hopefully Aiyima steps up QC! I love this unit so far so it's a shame to hear people having issues with theirs.
I bought the Douk Audio version of the T9 and immediately experienced the incessant clicking. At first I thought it was protection fault switching. I checked all my inputs and outputs...all good. I'm not sure what's causing it so I contacted the seller on AliExpress and they offered me a 30US refund if I would keep it rather than the cost of returning so I excepted. Now I can tear into it to see what the problem really is.
I got the Douk audio st-01, it looks just the same as this amp. However I have had an outstanding experience with this little amp. It sounds ok by itself, but i'm using it as a pre-amp into a Audio international cm912a power amp, into Vandesteens and the sound is OUT OF THIS WORLD.
Thanks for this review. What I'm most curious about is if you got a rare-ish lemon (this happens with all brands, and at all price-points), or if these sorts of "bugs" are common with this unit. At least they have acknowledged the relay issue, but I'm fairly certain this won't be a firmware or OTA fix, and probably require sending the unit back for repair or replacement. Shame, because it does sound surprisingly good, especially given its price.
I've built a few Kit All-Tube amps........ the one with 300B's in it is magical. Cost me 650$ for the kit/parts, but I'm glad I made it.
I am also having the same clicking issue as well as the issue with the very loud distortion. When it works I love it and am very sad it doesn’t work. I am starting out and wasn’t sure if I made a mistake somehow. Appreciate it and I plan to return it if possible.
The click is a 10 second interval reminder to turn the unit off. It is not a fault.
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.
Hey Sean. Sorry you didn’t have good luck with yours. I expected the same. But I have had mine for a few months and they have been flawless. I have tube rolled into some other tubes with no issues. I am now powering ELAC UB5’s, which are notoriously hard to drive, and I love it as a desktop system. Hard to beat for the money
So yours never clicks? Mine does it all the time.
@@JamesJenkins1 mine only clicks when I change inputs. I change the input, it clicks, and it’s done clicking until I change the input again
Mine clicks after a few minutes of silence, but only once. I think it’s a signal sense thing.
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
The biggest dealbreaker however is the often reported Signal auto-shut off once there's a 2 second silence. At least it should have a switch so it could be turned on or off. That is caused by an internal relais that opens and closes according to incoming audiosignal. I have a pair of Yamaha Desktop Speakers who have something similar. However those only turn into standby after a few Minutes of no audio passing through. And once audio comes through, they wake up within a second or so. Cannot be turned off but the waiting time is long enough so it doesn't become annoying but actually pretty helpful.
Thanks, Sean. I am waiting on delivery of my T9 and T3 which will be arriving at the end of the week. I hope there are no issues with the ones I get.
Hope you're enjoying your T9?
@@AmbientWanderer ---- I am enjoying it. I have no complaints except that the Bluetooth selects the first available signal it encounters, that means it will pickup my neighbor's signal and there is no way to change that unless I shut down the T9, make sure my device has it's Bluetooth turned on and discoverable before I turn on the T9. Then the T9 will connect to my device.
It's not a big deal, but I did write Ayima about it and asked if they would be adding some kind of way to have a pin code to prioritize the signal that the T9 connects to. They of course said no, they weren't considering that any time soon.
It was a little unexpected when I turned on my amplifier and the T9 and music started playing. I have two smartphones and I looked at them both knowing I didn't have them playing music and didn't think the Bluetooth was on either of them and then I realized that the T9 was connected to my neighbor's device. Of course there is no user interface for the T9, so you cannot disconnect from a signal and choose another.
Other than that, I've had no problems with the T9. It sounds fine, maybe one day I'll "roll" the tubes and see if there is any significant sound change with different tubes.
Thanks for checking back with me about this. Much appreciated.
I also bought the T3 to connect my turntable through but haven't done so yet. I've got this setup in my bedroom which isn't very big and the turntable is a very large Pioneer PX 1000 DJ turntable and I don't want to stack it on top of my Yamaha integrated amp, DSP A3090, oldie but a goody, so for now I'm just running my music library of about 2000 songs that are in my phone.
I'm definitely satisfied with Ayima and their products so far and for the price you can't do any better, I don't think. Great stuff for people just getting into audio equiptment and for someone who isn't new but wants to build a inexpensive system for a bedroom, garage, office or workshop like I did.
Thanks again for your video and for checking up on me. Stay healthy and safe
@@AmbientWanderer --- sorry I gave the same info as I already gave a month ago. I forgot I updated a comment already.
My bad
But, I'm still happy, still no problems. I've been switching speakers to see which I like best between the ELAC s and Sony's. Both are very good speakers for the price range . I like the Sonys better though. But we are comparing a 3 way to a 2 way speaker.
I've been looking at the kits to rebuild the Sony speakers but the two different ones I've seen that get great reviews are still $200.00 and do make significant improvements on paper, and I'm sure to the ear, do I want to put $200 into a pair of speakers that didn't cost that much to buy new? Besides they sound great for what they are being used for and for the small amount of money to purchase them. I guess if the tinkerer in me gets bored and I have an extra $200 to spend I may do the upgrade. I am an electrician for over 30 yrs and love taking things apart, and rebuilding better, cars, motorcycles, electronics, power tools, etc... . I probably will do the upgrade one of these days
It uses a tpa3221 according to datasheet that is 88W per Ch at 1% THD into 4ohms, roughly 58W into 8 ohms. Maybe they give you lower power spec because they wanted the tpa to measure lower that 1%. Remember the tube second harmonics will be added. That is another 1% to 6% to add to the THD.
Appreciate your helpful and objective assessment, and IMO done with the utmost respect for your colleague, the CAM. So ... I ended up with a T-10 after kicking around a T-9 because the application was to use it as a DAC/headphone amp at my desk. I was attracted to the Tubes in both units, but didn't really need the power to drive speakers so went with T-10. My understanding is that it has a slightly better DAC, etc., etc. ... but what I want to share is that the T-10 didn't work well with my higher end 250-ohm headphones. It's fine with the "cheapie" headphones and other lower-impedance items like wired earbuds, etc. Not sure what causes the low-level hummmmm I hear in my DT 770's but I've had no luck using those. So far so good on the sound quality and other aspects of the T-10 however. Would really like to see a comparison of T-9 vs. T-10 with both used as a pre-amp, perhaps paired with the A-07 that comes highly recommended by Randy and others.
Randy is Awesome!!
Tried to get T-9,Douk instead & it works Great !! Pushing old CS-63DX 15”Pioneers.
Crown 1500,Wilson Audio 👍🍀😜& Skar 👍🍀🤞😎
Lol that click would make me toss it so hard but thank you for the honest review on this unit!
I run the T9 with the Sony’s SSCS5’s and the Polk Audio PSW10 sub and it’s everything I could want in a budget audio system. I can hear the clicking that everyone talks about but the great sound more than makes up for for that flaw.
The click is a 10 second interval reminder to turn off the unit. Not a fault.
@@MS-pw8yu whatever, you know what I mean.
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?
I was waiting for Sean's follow-up review of an updated version, but decided to take a chance and order a T9 on Amazon Prime day - thinking I could just return it if it had issues. The main issue I was concerned about was the amplifier clicking off and then back on when there are a few seconds of silence (I've read reports of this in various reviews). I think several said the amp would audibly click off after 2-3 seconds of silence.
If this was the case, I think it has been fixed. I've tested mine, and it doesn't click off until after 10-11 seconds of silence (which I timed several times). That is a long pause. I've now listened to this for quite a few hours over a week or so, and have never experienced it clicking off when listening to music or podcasts - only when I deliberately pressed pause. Then, after about 10 seconds, it clicks off. When I press resume, it clicks and the music starts again immediately. I don't find this to be a problem.
It does make a couple of these faint clicks in the first few seconds when you power it on - probably as it warms up. Also not a problem for me.
I should also clarify that these "clicks" sound like very faint mechanical clicks from inside the amp itself (about like if you lightly tap your fingernail against an empty glass). They do NOT come through the speakers. I don't think they would be audible if you were not sitting next to the amp, or if there were any significant background noise.
I have not experienced the other issues Sean had - I expect his had some defect(s). I expect that Aiyima may now have extended the delay before automatically powering off from 3 to 10 seconds or so. I think that's enough that this is no longer a problem. I think I'd be a lot more annoyed by any programming that regularly has 10-second silent gaps, than from my amp making a faint click after such gaps.
I have mostly listened to Amazon Music HD using my Samsung Note 20 Ultra phone, and a CD using an old Blu-Ray player. My phone connects and works fine using either Blue Tooth or a USB cable (USB C to B Printer cable). The Blu-Ray player works using either the RCA or Toslink optical connection. I didn't try the digital coax connection. Playing a CD via the RCA connection is much louder than using the Toslink or any of the other sources. Makes me wonder it they tried to boost the RCA connection to work with a turntable without a phono preamp or something. But maybe this is normal, or just my player.
I have it connected to a pair of Sony SSCS5 bookshelf speakers I also ordered on prime day. I got this little system as a birthday gift for my son who is away at college. It cost a very small fraction of what my home system cost, but sounds very good.
Anyway, if you are considering ordering one of these, I wouldn't hesitate. I'd get it from someplace you can return it if you have issues. I'm happy with mine (almost hate to give it to my son...I'm trying to think of a reason to get one for myself). I never would have even payed any attention to the faint clicks if I hadn't seen them mentioned if various reviews.
So your amp doesn't click every 10sec when is no signal coming to it, just once when signal is cut?
My would click for hours for every 10sec if I would leave it on. It's really annoying if amp is sitting on the desk next to you.
This mechanical clicks could also be the tubes warming up. That happens on my tube amp
@@twooger Sorry for the slow reply - I just saw your comment. I didn't notice the clicks persisting/repeating at all, but then, I don't recall if I ever left the amp on with no signal and sat near it without background noise to see if the clicking continued. To me, it seems like the potential issue would be short pauses in a program or between songs. I didn't experience that unless the pause lasted 10 seconds or so (which I had to force as a test - not many programs will naturally have such long pauses). I expect I would have noticed if it continued to click every 10 seconds, but I'm not sure.
To me, yours seems like a very specific and unusual use case - wanting to leave the amp on, with no programming, while sitting close to it in a quiet room. If you aren't listening to anything, why not just turn it off? It just requires the push of a button or a click of the remote. Maybe you have some situation I'm not thinking of, but I didn't notice anything about the amp that would impact me using and enjoying it.
I'm running one in my van. I'm out here, somewhere. Running some little Dayton Audio, 4", with the EMT. Won't play loud that's for sure. Sounds good. Hi Fi, of sorts, in big empty places. Oh, and one of those under seat subs turned to 1, sometimes 2. No problems using RCA or BT inputs.
I'll add that after bouncing around for 6000 miles in my micro RV, including 400 miles at least on Montana and Wyoming gravel roads, it still works.
Many thanks for the heads-up. I wonder if the other TH-cam fellow you mentioned ran into any of these problems, or if the unit you received is just an outlier. I remember one time in the early 90s, testing a new Adcom Integrated amplifier at home, and it had the most annoying popping/clicking noise going into the audio outputs, and out to my speakers. I took it back to the audio store, and the owner did not believe me. We hooked up the unit in the shop, and it exhibited the same defect. Then, we tried another brand new Adcom unit, exact same model, and it had the same defect. The store owner was pretty pissed. Apparently, he had never critically listened to this amp. I think what it all comes down to are 1. A bad batch of parts. 2. Company short cuts, such as swapping out the original parts, for cheaper ones, in order to save on build costs, and then not properly testing the unit after the component change. 3. Or possibly, someone on the manufacturing line not doing their job properly. The original design prototype probably did not have any of these issues, and this is likely a quality control issue. I wonder if the designers of this amp have seen your video? My reaction to what you just experienced would be the same.
omg this is sooo bitter sweet, on one hand you might end up with a faulty unit on the other hand it really sounds great....
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...
At this price from China QC is usually an issue. At times they expect at least 20% would be defective but they account for that in the price but not the inconvenience that brings. Sometimes the product is so good you just put up with it. Best to buy 2 or 3 if you like the product and make sure all units work so you'll have something that could last you years as these things break down and there is usually no service available.
Never worth destroying your speakers over sub-quality equipment.