Customer Reviews

SONIC IMPACT 5065 PORTABLE CLASS-T DIGITAL AUDIO AMPLIFIER

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

This successor to the original T-Amp now costs about twice as much, but comes with an AC adapter and adapter cables which easily makes up for it, especially if you consider that this updated version has a much nicer-looking case and volume knob. My only gripe is that you are still stuck with those annoying spring-clip speaker connections instead of having real binding posts, but oh well, it's still an excellent value and at this pricepoint has no peers.

I bought one of these for my nephew, along with a cheap pair of bookshelf speakers (Polk Monitor 30s for about a hundred bucks), and hooked it up to his computer since like most kids nowadays he mainly listens to MP3s (sigh!). It's still heads and shoulders far better sounding a combination than any 2.0 or 2.1 computer speakers, and has plenty of power for his small bedroom.

A little word about power ratings. Sonic Impact lists this baby thusly: *Power output: 2 x 9 watts (4 ohms @ 0.04% THD + N), 2 x 15 watts (4 ohms @ 10% THD + N), 2 x 10 watts (8 ohms @ 10% THD+N).

First, ignore the 4 ohms specs since only car speakers are 4 ohms, the vast majority of home speakers are 8 ohms. Second, notice the THD (Total Harmonic Distortion) numbers. You do NOT want to listen to music at 10% THD, that's going to sound very distorted, like a boombox cranked up too high. So seeing as how with a 4 ohm load this amp does 15 wpc at 10% THD and drops down to 9 wpc at 0.04% THD, we can safely assume that using the same proportion we will get 6 clean watts per channel for an 8 ohm load at 0.04% THD.

Now, perhaps 6 watts per channel sounds ridiculously paltry in light of how most traditional mass-market receivers and amps claim to run at around 100 watts per channel. You'd assume that this means this T-Amp therefore must be a pathetic weakling barely capable of putting out higher volumes than a whisper, right? WRONG.

Firstly, remember that all watts-per-channel specs especially those by mass-market makes like Sony, Onkyo, Pioneer, Yamaha, etc. tend to be grossly exaggerated purely for marketing reasons. An alleged "100 wpc" Sony receiver may in reality only put out about 35wpc! Marantz and Harman Kardon are the only large manufacturers that have honest power specs, along with smaller audiophile brands like NAD, Rotel, etc.

Secondly, in terms of actual volume, watts per channel have a LOGARITHMIC not PROPORTIONAL relation---meaning that a true "100 wpc" amp is NOT twice as loud as a "50 wpc" amp! The actual difference in volume is just 3 decibels, in fact! Which means that a true "100 wpc" amp will only give you say 6-8 decibels more volume than this humble little T-Amp!

Now where the 100 wpc amp has the advantage is that it will be able to power larger speakers with lower sensitivity and lower impedance much better: louder and cleaner. However with the typical inexpensive 8 ohm, 88-91 db sensitivity speaker, that 100wpc amp will not be dramatically more powerful than this little 6 wpc T-Amp, unless you are the type who truly blasts music to wall-shaking volumes, say at 85-100db. The T-Amp will be plenty adequate for normal, comfortable but room-filling volumes of 70-80db which is where most people listen most of the time anyway.

Now if you ARE one of those music-blasters, you can still be very happy with the T-Amp if you pair it with some high-sensitivity speakers, such as Klipsch speakers that have 95 or higher sensitivity.

The reason this T-Amp is such a spectacular value is because at typical 70-80db listening levels, it offers a sound quality that used to be available only from big, heavy traditional amplifiers that cost around $1000 and up: wide soundstage, crystalline clarity and detail without harshness or brightness, shockingly quick tight bass, and best of all, a nice full midrange. Do a Google search for "Sonic Impact T-Amp" and read all the rave reviews from audiophile websites like 6moons.

I personally own the Trends Audio T-Amp which costs about a hundred fifty but has nicer features like real binding posts and (in my opinion) a more refined sound, and there other more expensive T-Amps which use the same technology but offer a little more power or better build quality and features. But as a great basic starter amp at sixty bucks, this Sonic Impact still has no rival.

The Sonic Impact Amp seems to be the only mini amp that is below $100. It fills an important but small niche. It allows a person to choose good quality small speakers that are not the usual computer speakers. I like that it can be powered by batteries, but have yet to test how well they do. I hooked up two Sony mini speakers to the amp and found that they sounded better than the larger stereo amp that they were wired into before. The detail was excellent. I could hear one of the singers rustle the page she was reading. While the speakers had something to do with this quality level, this level of detail was not brought out by the previous amp. While doubt that this little amp could power a room filling subwoofer, I found it powerful enough to drive small speakers and bring out their sound quality. I am happy with my purchase.

Shares the same strong battery life, quality, and amazing output capabilities of it's predecessor. Packaged in a more compact and uniform enclosure.

If you are not familiar with the Sonic T amps, these little buggers will put out an honest 10-15 watts into 4 ohms (less on battery, more on AC) with crystal clear sound quality, and amazing (really) 12+ hour battery life running off 8 AA batteries. For spec junkies 10-15 watts of real, clean output is more than enough for just about any audio task short of thumping bass. Consider most car stereos have less or similar output levels.

I use these amps to power small portable speaker boxes with 2 6.5" car speakers in them. It makes for portable solution that plays loud enough for a large outside gathering, with good enough sound quality for all day listening, and the amazing battery life to boot. People are always amazed it is possible.

Alternate uses include pairing up with a decent set of bookshelf speakers to make a PC speaker system that will put all others to shame, or having basically a portable amp for ipods, laptops, or speaker testing.

Unfortunately (or fortunately for some) it also comes packed with adapter cables and an AC adapter now. The AC adapter, especially, is a costly item to purchase on it's own and it makes sense why it was bundled. But many people have or don't need these pack-ins and I would have preferred to have the option of a lower purchase price without them. I suspect the problem is that if you price out a 1 amp AC adapter and RCA splitters, you can end up with a $25 tab pretty easily. So Sonic has done most people a service / savings by packing them in and raising the base price.

It's an expensive product that remains in a class by itself. If you need it, you pretty much have to buy it.

Hi everyone, I'll be brief here, this amplifier is spectacularly precise and clean. From the guts to the body, it is built exceptionally well. It comes with an ac adaptor and audio wires for rca and headphone jacks. I hooked it up to my computer digital sound card, ac wall adaptor, paired with my ascend acoustics cbm-170 SE speakers. Wow! Deadly silent when the volume is turned to max and there is no music being played, usually you get the fuzzy static sound. The speakers I use it with are 91 dbs efficient, perfect match with the amp. Can't be happier, and have never heard my music so clear besides with my grado sr80 headphones. Get a nice set of efficient speakers, >90 dbs, and you will be set. The ascend acoustic cbm-170 se's work great with it. I would also reccomend Klipsch speakers, which are efficient.

Freakin fantastic amp, hook it up to a decent sound card on your pc paired with a quality set of efficient bookshelf speakers *ascend acoustics cbm-170's, klipsch...), and have the best sounding and looking PC audio set up ever, since it is so small, it looks great and fitting on your desktop.

This little thing is a hunk of junk, until you plug it in, hook it up, and it blooms into the most amazing audio value you can imagine. I use it to power 4 ORB speakers from a wireless airport express. This thing is small, uses barely any power, is cool, and sounds great, and can drive my speakers louder than I want to listen to them.

Sure, it is cheaply made, but it sounds great, and is a wonderful value. The only thing I'd change; real speaker wire posts instead of the little spring clips. I'd pay the $2 more it would cost the manufacturer.

This is the first Class D amplifier I have ever owned, and I am quite impressed with the sound quality for something that costs so relatively little. I was a bit skeptical that this amp might not have enough power for my 88dB efficient bookshelf monitors, but I think the speakers' 4 ohm nominal impedance may present an easier-than-expected load for the Sonic Impact amp. I also have a 38W/channel push-pull vacuum tube amplifier driving these same speakers and the differences aren't as obvious as I would have expected. The tube amp has the edge, but the margin isn't so great as one would think.

I plan on some DIY modifications to this amp like upgrading the volume potentiometer, upgrading the input capacitors, switching to higher quality RCA input jacks and installing 5-way binding posts. This little amplifier has a lot of potential to perform at a higher level that is comparable to significantly more expensive audio amplifiers. Even if I didn't do anything else with this amplifier, I would be pleased with the purchase.

Tripath, the manufacturer of the TA2024 Class D amplifier chip in these amps, has been acquired by Cirrus, so there is no guarantee that amps like this one will be around forever. I decided to take advantage of a great sale price from Parts Express. Delivery was right on schedule and the amp was well packaged: double-boxed with urethane foam for protection.

The Sonic Impact tripath amplifier has changed my thinking about amplification. I am devoted to vintage gear, driving my Dynacos A25XLs and Frazier Concertos with my Sansui Solid State 4000 and Yamaha CR-2020. I love the smooth clean sound the old amps deliver, but they are beastly heavy and starting to show their age. When I read about the t-amp, I decided that the low-wattage design might pair well with my Fraziers since they boast a whopping 96 db sensitivity rating. For only $50 for the Sonic Impact, I could not resist.

When I first opened the package, I was concerned about the small size and cheap feel. For instance, the back plate was properly installed, but the English was printed upside down. The on/off knob also stuck a little if you pressed it to one side. The manufacturer also cut corners on the speaker wire clips, which are laughably flimsy.

Still, I reminded myself that the purpose of amp design is amplification. I was well rewarded for my step of faith. My Concertos unleashed a wall of sound that was much more accurate and listenable than any of my vintage gear. By comparison, my old amps sounded shrill and tight on the highs and whimpy on the lows. The tripath was the perfect amp for the Fraziers--big open sound with airy highs and full lows.

I tend to love everything that is old, but in this case, technology wins out. You will love the small footprint of this amp whether you use it it at home or in the office. High speaker sensitivity is a must. Remember that speaker sensitivity is rated on an exponential scale, so every 3 db of sensitivity roughly approximates double efficiency or half the required wattage for the same volume. As others have noted, a number over 90 db is best.

Sonic Impact delivers real performance at unheard of prices. Though it is not much to look at, the amp delivers where it counts--clean, airy sound. Buy one today and drop your old unit at the Salvation Army.

The successor of the much-written about Sonic Impact 5066 15-Watt Portable Class-T Digital Audio Amplifier gives you the same audiophile-quality amplification as its predecessor (see the reviews there and on the internet, eg at TNT audio or 6moons; suffice to say that people who spend thousands of dollars on HiFi equipment are happy to listen to the quality of amplification provided by this little wonder). To let this gem shine you will need to pair the low-powered amplifier with high-efficiency speakers (sensitivity of 90dB or greater, such as the Klipsch RB-10, Klipsch RB-81, or Kef Cresta 10 (which I am very happy with)). You will be rewarded with a very detailed sound and a wide soundstage. It made me just sit down and listen to many of my CDs again...

Unlike its predecessor, the new model comes with a power supply and some useful connectors to quickly hook up most audio sources. The plastic case is as flimsy as before and the very cheap clip binding posts still barely accept speaker cables with a 2.5 mm profile. If you want to spend a little more money then get the 'audiophile-version' Sonic Impact 5062 Super-T Amplifier.

This is a powerful amp for its price. Works well, recommend it. Would like to see more functionality on it however. It needs to have more output options and an easier off and on switch that doesn't stick. Besides that, I am very happy with this product.

you'll be surprised with this little baby once you take it out of the box... the first thing that'll come to your mind is that it feels too light and too small to do anything... once pluged in, i hooked it up to a couple of car speakers and daaaaaaaaaaamn! amazing sound, loud enough for any purpose...

you can also power it up via batteries for maximum portability, but using power outlet boosts up the juice to 15W...

so why did i purchase this? well, i wanted to connect a couple of car speakers to my DIY arcade machine, this baby sure saves space, rather than using a much larger amp...