The Best Budget Amp So Far? AIYIMA A70 Review Reveals All!

Summary

The Aima A70 amplifier review covers its performance, power output, and features. It delivers around 80 watts per channel at 8 ohms and up to 200 watts at 4 ohms. Despite not meeting the advertised 300 watts, it offers solid performance, with good build quality and protection circuitry. ABX testing showed no significant difference in sound quality compared to higher-end amplifiers when power output was matched. It's suitable for medium to small rooms with sensitive speakers but may lack power for larger spaces or less sensitive speakers. The review also discusses its inputs, subwoofer pre-out, and power supply options, concluding it's a reliable choice for its price.

Takeaways

• 🔊 The Aima A70 amplifier is advertised as 2x300 watts but delivers slightly less power.
• 👍 It is a robust amplifier that can withstand long periods of use without overheating or failure.
• 🔧 The protection circuit functions correctly, ensuring the amplifier's safety.
• 🎚️ It provides approximately 80 watts per channel into 8 ohms and nearly 200 watts into 4 ohms.
• 🎧 In ABX testing, the A70 was compared to a more powerful amplifier and showed no significant difference in sound quality when power levels were matched.
• 💡 The A70's power is adequate for medium to small rooms with reasonably efficient speakers.
• 🔌 It features both RCA and XLR inputs, a subwoofer pre-out, and a 12-volt trigger for automation.
• 📊 The amplifier's performance in load testing was consistent, with minimal distortion until protection kicked in.
• 📈 The frequency response is stable with little variability, indicating good load dependence.
• 💸 At a retail price of about $200, the A70 offers good value for money without compromising on quality.
• 🔥 The reviewer put the amplifier through rigorous testing, including continuous operation for days, to ensure its reliability.

Q & A

What is the Aima A70 amplifier?

The Aima A70 is a two-channel amplifier that is marketed as providing 2x 300 watts, but it actually delivers slightly less power.

How does the Aima A70 amplifier perform under stress?

The Aima A70 is described as a solid amplifier that can withstand a good amount of abuse, remaining powered on for days without overheating or experiencing power failures.

What is the approximate power output of the Aima A70 amplifier at 8 ohms?

The Aima A70 provides about 80 watts per channel into 8 ohms.

How much power does the Aima A70 amplifier deliver at 4 ohms?

At 4 ohms, the Aima A70 delivers closer to 200 watts, depending on the power supply used.

What was the outcome of the ABX testing comparing the Aima A70 to a 200-watt monoblock amplifier?

In the ABX testing, the only noticeable difference was the higher power output of the monoblock amplifiers, which allowed for louder volumes without a significant difference in tonality or other audio qualities.

What are the input options available on the Aima A70 amplifier?

The Aima A70 amplifier features both RCA and XLR inputs, with indicators that light up when engaged.

Does the Aima A70 amplifier have a subwoofer output?

Yes, the Aima A70 has a subwoofer pre-out and a 12-volt trigger, but it lacks a high pass filter for the main speakers when the subwoofer output is engaged.

What power supply options are available for the Aima A70 amplifier?

The Aima A70 comes with a 48-volt 5-amp power supply, or for an additional cost, a 10-amp power supply can be purchased.

What is the distortion level of the Aima A70 amplifier at various power outputs?

At 8 ohms, the distortion starts to ramp up significantly at about 114 watts, and at 4 ohms, it's about 144 watts before protection kicks in.

How does the Aima A70 amplifier's frequency response vary with different loads?

The Aima A70 shows very little variability in frequency response between static loads of 4 ohms and 8 ohms. However, with complex and simple loads, there is some variability, with the complex load showing slightly more significant changes.

What is the reviewer's overall opinion of the Aima A70 amplifier?

The reviewer gives a positive review, stating that for $200, the Aima A70 is a good product that performs well and is recommended for medium to small-sized rooms with reasonably efficient speakers.

Outlines

00:00

🔊 Aima A70 Amplifier Review

The speaker begins by introducing the Aima A70 amplifier, a two-channel device marketed as delivering 2x300 watts but actually performs slightly less. They note that manufacturers often exaggerate specs in marketing. Despite this, the Aima A70 is praised for its durability, having been powered on for days without overheating or failing. It has an effective protection circuit and provides around 80 watts per channel at 8 ohms, increasing to approximately 200 watts at 4 ohms. The speaker then conducts an ABX test comparing the Aima A70 to a more powerful and expensive monoblock amplifier. The test reveals that while the Aima A70 has less power and dynamic range, the tonality, soundstage, and other audio qualities are comparable when the power output is matched. The speaker concludes that for most users in medium to small rooms with sensitive speakers, the Aima A70's power should be sufficient. However, for home theaters or less sensitive speakers, more power may be needed. The speaker also discusses the amplifier's features, including a volume knob, RCA and XLR inputs, a subwoofer preout, and a 12-volt trigger for automatic power-on.

05:01

📊 Aima A70 Amplifier Performance Analysis

The speaker presents data on the Aima A70's performance, focusing on power output versus distortion. They explain that the amplifier provides around 82 watts at 8 ohms before distortion becomes significant and 114 watts at 4 ohms. The speaker also tests the amplifier at 2 ohms, although it's not rated for this load, and finds similar results to the 4-ohm test. They note that the amplifier went into protection during the test tones but not during music playback. The speaker then discusses the importance of complex and simple load testing to mimic real-world speaker behavior. The results show that the Aima A70 performs consistently under different loads, with minimal variability in frequency response. The speaker compares these results favorably to the Aima AO7, which shows more significant variability under complex loads. The speaker concludes that the Aima A70 is a reliable and consistent performer, especially considering its price point.

10:02

🎚️ Aima A70 Amplifier Features and Recommendations

The speaker wraps up the review by discussing the Aima A70's variable crossover for subwoofers and its effect on the amplifier's performance. They express a desire for a high-pass filter option for the main speakers when using the subwoofer preout, which is not available at this price point. The speaker praises the staggered speaker outputs for easier wiring and mentions the option to purchase a more powerful power supply for an additional cost. They share their testing data, comparing the Aima A70's performance to the manufacturer's specifications and finding them to be accurate. The speaker concludes that the Aima A70 is a good value for the price, suitable for medium to small rooms with reasonably sensitive speakers. They recommend the amplifier for those who do not require extreme power output and appreciate its durability and performance. The speaker also mentions their plans to provide Amazon affiliate links for purchases and invites support through Patreon for upcoming speaker reviews.

Keywords

💡Aima A70 amplifier

The Aima A70 amplifier is the central subject of the video script. It is a two-channel amplifier marketed as providing 2x 300 watts, though the reviewer notes it delivers slightly less. The amplifier is praised for its durability and performance, being able to handle continuous use without overheating or failure. This keyword is crucial as it sets the stage for the entire review and testing process described in the script.

💡Wattage

Wattage refers to the power output capability of the amplifier, measured in watts. The script discusses the Aima A70's wattage, noting it provides 'roughly 80 watts per channel into 8 ohms' and 'closer to about 200 watts at 4 ohms.' Understanding wattage is key to assessing the amplifier's ability to drive speakers and is a common metric used to compare audio equipment.

💡ABX testing

ABX testing is a blind listening test where the listener has to identify which of three audio samples (A, B, or X) is different or the one being switched. The script mentions conducting ABX tests between the Aima A70 and a more powerful amplifier to evaluate their performance. This testing method is significant as it provides an objective measure of the amplifier's sound quality.

💡Monoblock amplifier

A monoblock amplifier is a single-channel amplifier designed to power one speaker. The script compares the Aima A70 to a pair of monoblock amplifiers, the March Audio P501, which are more expensive and deliver more power. This comparison helps to contextualize the Aima A70's performance and value for money.

💡Power supply

The power supply is the component that provides electrical energy to the amplifier. The script mentions two options for the Aima A70: a 48-volt 5-amp power supply or a 10-amp version for an additional cost. The power supply's capacity can affect the amplifier's performance and reliability, making it a relevant detail for potential buyers.

💡Protection circuit

A protection circuit is a safety feature designed to prevent damage to the amplifier under abnormal operating conditions. The script states that the Aima A70's protection circuit 'works as it should,' which is important for the longevity and safe operation of the amplifier.

💡Ohms

Ohms (Ω) is a unit of electrical resistance. The script discusses the amplifier's performance at different ohm loads (8 ohm and 4 ohm), which is a measure of how much an electrical circuit resists or opposes the flow of electric current. This is crucial for understanding how the amplifier will interact with different speakers.

💡Subwoofer preout

A subwoofer preout is a preamplifier output designed to connect to a subwoofer. The script mentions the Aima A70 has a subwoofer preout and discusses the reviewer's wish for a high-pass filter option for the main speakers when using this feature. This is relevant for users looking to integrate a subwoofer into their audio setup.

💡Distortion

Distortion in audio refers to the alteration of the waveform of an audio signal, which can degrade sound quality. The script includes a discussion of the amplifier's power versus distortion, noting that the Aima A70 performs well until it reaches a certain power level before distortion significantly increases. Understanding distortion levels is important for evaluating audio quality.

💡Frequency response

Frequency response is the range of frequencies an amplifier can accurately reproduce. The script analyzes the Aima A70's frequency response under different loads, noting minimal variability. This indicates the amplifier's ability to maintain consistent sound quality across different frequencies, which is essential for accurate audio reproduction.

💡Dynamic range

Dynamic range in audio refers to the difference between the quietest and loudest sounds an amplifier can produce. The script mentions that the more powerful monoblock amplifiers had 'more dynamic range,' allowing them to play louder without distortion. This is an important consideration for users who value the full spectrum of sound reproduction.

Highlights

Aima A70 amplifier is a two-channel amplifier with a claimed output of 2x 300 watts, but it delivers slightly less.

Manufacturers often market amplifiers with inflated power ratings.

The Aima A70 is a robust amplifier, capable of handling long periods of use without overheating or power failures.

Protection circuit on the Aima A70 functions correctly.

The amplifier provides approximately 80 watts per channel into 8 ohms and up to 200 watts into 4 ohms.

ABX testing was conducted comparing the Aima A70 to a 200-watt monoblock amplifier.

In ABX testing, the Aima A70 held its own against a more expensive amplifier.

The only noticeable difference in ABX testing was the power output capability.

For most listening scenarios, the Aima A70's power output is adequate.

The amplifier's power may not be sufficient for larger rooms or less sensitive speakers.

The Aima A70 features a front-mounted volume knob, RCA and XLR inputs, and a 12-volt trigger.

The amplifier includes a subwoofer pre-out but lacks a high-pass filter for the main speakers.

The speaker outputs are staggered, which is a design preference over inline outputs.

The Aima A70 comes with a 48-volt 5-amp power supply, with an option to upgrade to a 10-amp supply for $20 more.

Power versus distortion testing shows the amplifier's performance at different loads.

The amplifier's frequency response is consistent with minimal variability across different loads.

The Aima A70's variable crossover for subwoofers allows for adjustment from 150 Hz to 600 Hz.

The reviewer recommends the Aima A70 for its price and performance, especially for medium to small-sized rooms.

The reviewer suggests that for louder listening or larger rooms, additional power may be necessary.

The Aima A70 is praised for its durability and reliability during extensive testing.

Transcripts

hey what's up everybody today I'm going

to be talking about the Aima

a70 amplifier it's a two-channel

amplifier they state it as 2x 300 watts

but it actually does a little bit less

than that frankly not surprised most

manufacturers tend to use the highest

number that they can possibly achieve in

their marketing but I will say that this

is a nice solid amplifier that has taken

a good bit of abuse sat powered on for

days at a time only warm to the touch

not extremely hot no power failures the

protection circuit works as it should

gives about maybe roughly 80 watts per

channel into 8 ohm per two channels and

then for 4 ohm it's a little bit higher

closer to about maybe around 200 just

kind of depending on where you draw the

line and I'll show you what I'm talking

about when we get to that point now

subjectively what I did was I did some

ax testing and in that ABX testing I

compared it to a 200 200 watt at 8 ohm

or 500 watt at 4 ohm and again depending

on how you look at the specs monoblock

amplifier and what I did was I used two

of those monolock amplifiers they're

from March audio they are the p501 they

use the purify class D modules inside

and they're about $1,500 a piece so

you're talking about $3,000 per pair

while this guy retails for about

$200 depending on which power supply you

get in that subjective listening test

the only difference that I really

noticed was no surprise the p501 mono

blocks delivered more power so I was

listening to both the amplifiers blind I

had no idea which one was playing I just

pushed a button it would switch to one

of the amplifiers and I had to basically

guess in those guesses it was just a

toss of a coin like who knew what was

what and the only times that I could

really tell the difference was when I

started to try to push the output levels

keep in mind that for my ABX testing it

is essential that you match the power

output between the two different

amplifiers so I did that used a volt

meter and an SPL meter just to make sure

that I was within about a half a deciel

between the two different sets of

amplifiers and in doing so what I

noticed yeah the 51s the mono blocks had

more power they had more dynamic range

and I could just turn them up louder

that aside there really wasn't any

difference I couldn't reliably tell a

difference in tonality I couldn't

reliably tell a difference in stound

stage or transparency or resolution or

any of the other many audio file

buzzword that we like to attach to

things to make ourselves feel like our

hearing is somehow Superior to others

and I promise you if you do a

legitimately true blind ABX test you're

going to be very surprised that you

probably can't tell the difference

yourself for most of my listening the

power from this was adquate I was about

10 ft away or so of the S SPS Pinnacle

Ultra like their new big bad boys that

are about $55,000 a pair and their

average Sensitivity I would say is

around 86 de so at 10 ft away for 86 D

sensitivity speakers from this guy it

was adequate now could I rock out the

way I wanted to no cuz I just started

running out of gas on this guy it just

wasn't enough to drive to the insane

levels that I might want to but I think

for most people in a medium to smaller

sized room with

reasonably efficient or sensitive it's

not the same thing but sensitive

speakers you'd be okay you shouldn't

have to worry about am I going to have

enough power but if you're thinking

about using these in a home theater

maybe where you're sitting further away

or maybe you have speakers that are low

in sensitivity closer to around 80 to 84

or 85 then you might still need more

power look at some of the features here

we got a big volume knob on the front

push it turn on I like that click sound

there also is RCA input and XLR input

and when you engage either of those

they'll light up accordingly flip it

around the back and you can see the top

has the XLR and then here are the rcas

and you'll notice there's also a

subwoofer preout in addition to the

subwoofer preout there is a 12volt

trigger so if you wanted to have this

triggered on then you could do that

maybe by your AVR or something like that

you don't have to get up push the button

to turn it on it'll just trigger on

automatically

talking about the subo for preout now in

Past reviews of similar items to this

where they do have sub for preouts they

they don't enable a high pass filter for

the mains and that is my gripe I wish

there was a way around it but at this

price point you're just not going to get

that so I'm not going to continue to

harp on that but I think it's only fair

to mention it because I mentioned it in

my other reviews the subwofer preout is

variable in terms of low pass filters so

on the bottom it says what 150 HZ up to

600 HZ I do have data showing you what

that

means that's cool but what I wish is

that when you turn that little

knob to engage the crossover I wish it

would also Engage The Crossover for the

mains because in my opinion the main

purpose of having a

subwoofer besides just getting low

frequency right let me duh but the main

benefit is you take the load off of your

main speakers and therefore you increase

dynamic range of your system as a whole

so that's why I wish manufacturers when

they do include sub for preouts would

somehow give you an option for engaging

a highpass filter for your Mains I'll

leave it at that the other thing I do

like about how Aima does their speaker

outputs is how they have them staggered

a lot of Brands will just kind of in the

same row they'll have their outputs for

the speakers I like that AA staggers

them especially when you compare to

amplifiers that are small but they have

them staggered up in pairs top and

bottom as I mentioned earlier this does

come with a 48volt 5 amp power supply or

you can pay about $20 more and get the

10 amp power supply and speaking of that

let's look at my data real fast what you

have on the screen is power versus

Distortion okay and for what it's worth

-40 DB of distortion is about

1% we start off off at about 0.1 watts

and we drag out until basically the

amplifier begins clipping or it goes

into protect so we're going to start

looking at the 8 ohm first the 8 ohm is

in this light blue and I'm showing it

about what is that 82 Watts or so before

you start ramping up in Distortion

pretty significantly at 1% it's about

114 Watts if I use 4 ohm static load

then it goes to about what is this 144

144 Watts at 4 ohm before it ramps up

now you can see that it gets to here and

then it shoots back over here and if

you're paying attention you may think

well how is there less power because

you're supposed to be adding right like

I'm supposed to be increasing the input

signal I should be getting more and more

power until basically it just turns off

well that's what happened it went into

protect and the reading was so low that

it just threw it off realistically if

you're listening just to straight test

tones which you're probably not going to

do and I would not advise you're going

to get to about 144 Watts maybe 150

watts before you're going to send this

thing into protect for music I never

went into protect now I was pushing this

amplifier to max power but it never went

into protect if you feed it testones

then yeah now there are some cases where

I have pushed an amplifier into protect

while listening to music but in this

particular case that didn't happen if I

looked at two ohm cuz I'm just curious

what does it do at 2 ohm even though

it's not rated for two what happens well

basically the same thing you go to about

150 watts and then you cap out and then

you're done the testing that I like to

do in addition to the static 84 and 2

ohm testing is complex and simple load

testing the complex and simple loads are

done to mimic a real loud speaker cu the

standard static loads no speaker maybe

electrostats like might be close to it

but no speaker is just the same

resistance throughout that's why it's

called impedance you don't call it a

resistance the impedance is basically

changing resistance from 20 HZ to 20 khz

and because of the drive units that are

in the speaker and the crossover

components that are in the speaker as

well as the enclosure you're going to

have a different effect at a different

frequency on the resistance and that's

why we call it impedance so using those

different loads to mimic a real

loudspeaker let's see what we get with a

simple load which is closer to an 8 ohm

speaker closer it's not it's not exactly

but it's kind of closer to a standard

eight ohm speaker you're looking at

about the same result as you get for 8

ohm so that job is what I typically get

you're again around about 82 maybe 87

Watts or so before you just ramp up in

Distortion with a complex load which is

closer to a 4 ohm speaker and harder to

drive a little bit harder to drive than

most standard speakers you're going to

get to about maybe 185 Watts if you

compare my results to aima's spec

results my results actually mimic theirs

so I would say that they might very well

be using the 5 amp

which I applaud them for because they

could have done the 10 amp power supply

and giving you possibly higher values

and so I appreciate when a company you

know if they're going to do one maybe do

the lower one so we have an idea of what

to expect now let's look at the

frequency response starting with the

static loads of 4 ohm and 8 ohm we can

see that there is very little

variability or load dependence for this

amplifier it does about what almost half

a DB down at about 20 htz I mean not a

huge deal and on the top end there's

maybe another half a DB at 20 khz for 4

ohm but again not a huge deal some cases

I'm used to seeing more variability

where it may be 1 dbel up between 8 and

4 ohm but what happens when I do a

complex load let me get rid of these

guys and look at the complex load and

the simple load now see we do have

variability here ideally what you want

is for the amplifier to not behave

differently regardless of the load that

you present to it whether that be a

static 4 ohm load like I have here see

how that's kind of flat throughout or a

speaker load which are represented by

the green and the orange here now when

we get up to about 2k we start seeing

variability with other amplifiers the

variability may be much more significant

so let me give you a quick example of

that here what I'm comparing is the

complex load

attached to the Aima a70 which I'm

testing here versus the Aima ao7 which

is a design that is more low dependent

so we have the low dependent version the

a07 in purple and see how you have these

swings of over half a

deel that is more likely to be audible

than these lower swings of about what is

that2 DB so 2/10 of a dcel not as big a

deal earlier I mentioned the subwoofers

variable crossover so I'm going to show

that here this is set to the maximum and

then this is set to the minimum so that

does it for my review you know the basic

wrapup is it does rated power if you sit

and listen to speakers within about 10

ft or so in a medium to small-sized room

the power that this does is going to be

adequate I wouldn't really have any kind

of concerns with that as far as the

subjective sound the transparency the

holography the the dynamicism all those

things you know if you're comparing it

to an amplifier and you've got them

level matched I'd be surprised if you

noticed the difference if you're being

honest with yourself and you're doing a

true ABX blind listening test I'd be

really surprised if you heard a

difference but in terms of power if

you're trying to get more output let's

say you're listening typically at 85 DB

at 10 ft away and you want some room for

Dynamics then you might need a little

bit more power if you don't really

listen that loud then this will be okay

all in all for 200 bucks I give it some

thumbs UPS some if I had more I guess I

could give it more it's a good product I

like the package it does well I like

that it didn't break on me and that's

not a shot at anybody I'm just saying

when you play around with lower cost

amplifiers that do pretty good power

sometimes there's that fear of man this

thing's probably not going to last long

so that's why I like to kind of put them

through the ringer in my testing and let

them sit power on for days at a time I

do keep a fire extinguisher nearby just

in case and I'm serious so with that

said it's a good amplifier I don't

really have any qualms recommending it

if you are interested in purchasing it

I'll see if I can find an Amazon

affiliate link and you can go through

that if you want to that would help me

out but you don't have to but if you do

want to support this channel that is one

way alternatively you can go to

patreon.com audio Corner if you're

wondering where the speaker reviews are

I promise they're coming I've run into

some issues but I promise they're coming

I'm I need them just as much as you do

right now I need something in my life to

work for me right for a change for the

first time in like a month just saying

so hold on to your seats I promise that

it's coming I will talk to youall later

take care peace