Bas-X A-100 Amp

[emotifan]

I just picked up the little A-100 for a desk top recording setup to run my Monitor Audio Silver 2s from. Before I installed it into that system however, I inserted it into my main system with Magnepan 1.7is that I run with an XPA-2 Gen 2, just to see how this little amp would handle that type of speaker. It was quite impressive. Not only did it drive the Maggies, but I was able turn the volume up well past my usual listening level of 80 to 85 db. I didn't sit down and do any critical listening but I could tell this little amp is a big over achiever! In my desk top system it is perfect, with a wide and deep stereo image. It will be a great tool to play around with my own recording and mixing. I doubt there is anything out there for the price that can even come close.

[leonski]

magggies are typically an easy load for the partnering amp.
Very low sensitivity, to be sure, but also no wacky 'phase angles' to deal with.

The 80 watt rating is @ 1% distortion which goes to show you just how LITTLE power you actually need.
I drove my MG-1 with a similar amount of power a long time ago, using a Kenwood KA7100. Which still works!

Imagine if you had some big-box Klipsch or old Altec at 100db or higher sensitivity? You wouldn't need more than 5 to 10 watts per speaker.

[garbulky]

I love my A-100. Yes it's a pretty capable amplifier. It drove my Axiom M80's surprisingly well. Its really star performance though is in headphones especially in direct drive mode with jumpers engaged (with the appropriate headphones).

[leonski]

I'm wondering if, for a headphone amp, the DIY amp, called the 'Amp Camp Amp' at about 8 a side would work, too.
It's a single ended (not push/pull) Class 'A' design with plenty of heatsink.