Kinter MA170 12V 2 Channel Mini Digital Audio Power Amplifier for Car or Mp3 Without Power Supply

Just what I ordered, but it was a trial. Not something I'll be using in for my door speakers but would be fine in my workshop

Nice little amp. I should admit immediately that I am addicted to these small amplifiers. I have many from various manufacturers from all over the world.These amps have a million uses because of their size. An obvious one would be to hook it to a computer and use some nice bookshelf size speakers for your PC sound as opposed to the junk one usually uses for computer audio. But the uses do not stop there by a long shot.Because it comes with "ears," it is ready to mount anywhere. Under a kitchen cupboard, on the back of a headboard for bedroom TV sound, I even have one inside my bathroom vanity for shower tunes.Most people don't understand "watts," because, frankly, manufacturers lie about wattage. They either list only "output watts," a measurement that has to do with electricity, not audio, or have slick terms like "music watts," "real watts," or "listening watts." These mean nothing. "RMS Watts" is the true, scientific measurement of audio wattage. The real RMS watt numbers listed in the description of this item seem low compared to the lies of dishonest sellers. For example, 50 watts RMS in a house or home, at full volume, is LOUD. Too loud to have a conversation over and loud enough to cause hearing damage for prolonged periods. When you see an ad for an amp that has 100 watts of power per channel and is the size of an asprin boittle- it's not 100wx2ch. Sorry... but it just isn't.Refreshingly, this seller has decided to tell you the truth. This is an 8 watt RMS amp- 4 watts per channel. Guess what? In a normal sized room in a house, that's loud. Turn it all the way up and you'll annoy someone else in your house.I also like that the audio quality measurements are included in the description (Min. THD: <0.005%70dB). The seller has made no bones about what this product is and what it is not. I know prices change, but I got mine for under $10 including shipping and that's still a steal for what you'll receive when you buy this amp.The uses are endless. Since it is powered by a 12V 2A power source, it can be fed by battery pretty easily with minimum know how and some internet research. I can see this unit being part of a portable DIY sound system- easily. For instance, wired correctly, an 8AA battery pack could run this amp, probably for 8-10 hours. So basically, anywhere this amp can fit, it can be used.Like I said, I have many like this one. Some are better, some are useless. A good comparison is the Lepai 2020+. That is a very popular amp a tad bigger than this amp with much more power (20 watts RMS per channel). I like that amp, but if I didn't need REAL LOUD, I'd go with this one at half the price, on average. I have another amp I will not name that is very similar to this one in appearance and description. A deceptive description that claimed 15 watts RMS per channel: a lie. This 4 watt per channel amp walks all over that other deceptive amp.I appreciate the quality, the honesty, the speed of delivery and the "get exactly what is described" way this amp is sold and used. I like it a lot. Sure, there are better. Not for $10. Not this size. Not this rugged. Not this adaptable. Not with so many uses. This thing is top of the heap for its size and price, hands down.One last thing. This amp comes without the power supply. This is really upsetting for a lot of people. It's also standard in the audio world. The power supply is your responsibility. It keeps costs down to NOT ship a heavy power supply (probably weighs as much or more than the item itself) across the ocean. And guess what? The needed supply is probably already in your house somewhere. They do send along the proper END to attach to a power supply. When I say power supply, I mean you'll need a "wall wart," one of those black box plugs that is on just about everything small with some power. They all have numbers on the back that look like Greek to the uninitiated. It's simple for this item. You look for the OUTPUT number and you need one that says "12V 2A." Sometimes it will say "12V 2000mA," which is the same. (mA = MILLIAMPS; 2000 MILLIAMPS is equal to 2 AMPS) Look around your basement or attic for old stuff that plus in. I bet you'll find one. This sort of thing is a deal breaker for many people. Many people do not want "extra work" or "parts missing" with anything they buy. To say that parts are missing isn't really accurate. The seller is doing what most amp module sellers do- leaving the power supply up to the buyer. It's industry practice, not just to save costs, but because a buyer can elect to give the amp more power or less power than recommended. I do not recommend either. 12V 2A is perfect for this unit.That covers everything. Now I think I'll put a few more of these in my cart...

Good unit for a good price

I have all the big name brand power machines. This just eliminated a whole bunch of headaches for me. Go back to the drawing board. It does what it's supposed to do.

While this unit sounds pretty great there are issues: others say it limits bass... Around 60 hz then down a few db by 50 hz. I think they are right. The tone control , esp. The treble, operates over a very limited range of the dial, basically it is all boosted up at only a eighth of a turn. But it limits like an old cheap tube amp: in a way that is good to listen to, the old adage of subtractive issues being better than additive ones being true as always here.So why only three stars? At this price it's the cheapest full integrated amp I have ever seen. I payed 4.95 or 5.95, making it almost half as cheap as the lp-808, which was the previous price champ. ( don't get me wrong, I think only a little grain and falseness make the Lepai second to this in sound. If crisp treble and bass extension matter more to you then midrange sweetness then the Lepai is the winner - I like the sound of the Lepai. And this. But...)So the but. It does in fact pop on off and on like the others say. Just as one said, with my speakers I don't THINK it's going to destroy my tweeter but more sensitive speakers - over 98db/ watt - well DO NOT TURN THIS OFF without unplugging the speaker wires first - even turning the volume down all the way won't help. I hear about Klipsch owners using this type of amp. Stay away from this one or else be super careful. I'm sure it would pop a tweeter blow it right on out if it were 99 db or so....This is the cheapest, but the Lepai lp 2020a+ is the low price sound champ at 25$The lp 808 is great at eight.Right now I am listening to the stellar labs portable t amp. I think it's about the same as the 2020. It has headphone jack but no tone control. It also has built in battery compartments for eight aa batts. I am using it that way now and it can drive my psb alpha b1 speakers quite quite loud. As loud and louder than I can stand (easily 101 PLUS - that's where I called quits, not the amp - db at one meter or two. )and it can drive hard to drive phones with aplomb, making it an exceptional portable headphone amp as well. Plus the built in Batt compartment neatens things for hobby uses cabins cars camping grilling whathaveyou It is thirty bucks. But if you just want a toy , buy the Lepai lp 808. Better tone control , as good , brighter sound.If you must buy this, if like me you just wanna hear it fer yer five bucks, go ahead. It's a cool amp, mostly . Just unplug the speaker wires, or be sorry. For me, that not unacceptable , but it sure sucks. 2 stars. Sound quality four stars. So three overall.BE CAREFUL.