Customer Reviews

Pyle Home PCA4 Mini 2x120 Watt Stereo Power Amplifier

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(6)

 

 

According to the manual, this unit only outputs 20W per channel without clipping (the manual indicates 1% THD at that level). Also, the 120 W power rating is the PEAK power, which is contrary to industry standard of reporting RMS. Typical home speakers have an impedance of 8 ohm which will only achieve half of the listed power, since the nominal impedance of the amplifier is 4 ohms.

The unit shut down (current shutoff kicked in) at about half-volume when amplifying the signal from a computer sound card. I suggest using 8 ohm speakers to lower the current draw for a given output level from such devices. This may allow you to turn the knob full-on without overloading the power supply. Forget about using this amp to power more than one pair of speakers.

The unit is well constructed and sturdy. Bottom line is that it's a nice unit if you're only looking for 20W of useful power into a single pair of speakers.

The full specs from the manual (PCA4):
Output Power, 2 channels driven
4-Ohm, 1 kHz, 1% THD....20Wx2
4-Ohm, 1 kHz, 10% THD...32Wx2
Max Power...............120Wx2
Total Harmonic Distortion, 1 kHz, Rated Power..... 0.3% [seems contrary to the above]
Input Sensitivity, 1 kHz, 4-Ohm Rated Power
Line...... 220mV
CD........ 220mV
Frequency Response.....20Hz-20kHz
Signal to Noise Ratio, 1 kHz, 4-Ohm, Rated Power
Line...... 75 dB
CD........ 75 dB
Tone Controls
Bass...... +-10dB, 100 Hz
Treble.... +-10dB, 10 kHz
Power Requirement....... 120V AC 60 Hz/230 V AC 50 Hz
Power Fuse.............. 1.5 A, 250V fast-acting, 5x20mm
Dimensions, inches (mm) WxHxD........... 8.27 x 2.72 x 5.39 (210 x 69 x 137)
Weight, lbs (kb)........ 5.32 (2.42)

My goal was to find an affordable Amp for less than $100 and use standard 8ohm speakers since I have several spare sets of various quality as a sound system for my computer. My old Klipsche 2 speaker set with integrated Amp is louder than this. With my PC at 80% output I have to crank the volume to about 80% to get some loud music but not annoyingly loud. I think I should have gone with the Audiosource Amp-100.

I like the small package. I also like the 3.5mm input jack. I went with the 2x120 in an attempt to avoid cranking the volume and experiencing the 10% THD. The marketing people at Pyle should be kicked in the nuts for false advertising.

All I can say is WOW! what a piece of junk. I replaced my TEAC micro stereo system for what I thought was a higher power system. All I want to do is play my Ipod with a little more volume. I was hoping I was wrong after I read the spec sheet included with the amp which was not advertised with the amp on Amazon. I wasn't wrong, The amp is very low power with serious distortion above conversation sound levels. Don't even try to increase the bass unless you want to hear some clipping that reminds me of a cheap am transistor radio. I'm going to give the AudioSource amp a try...I'll let you know how that goes, but pass on this amp unless you need to play some Muzak in a small bathroom.

The PCA4 is well built and a good value. It's power rating is deceptive based on the published specs as mentioned in previuos reveiws. The issue of the blue power meter LED's is an easy fix. Remove the cover, unplug the gray ribbon cable for the meter board and your done, no more LED's. You can always plug it back in if you want to use the LED meter.

I am using the PTAU45 today after setting it up. It works okay connected directly to an iPod through the front side MP3 Jack using a single RCA cable while powering my pair of Phase Control PC60 speakers without noise. However, when I connected my Music Hall turntable directly to the PTAU45 using an RCA R&L stereo cable through Aux 1 or Aux 2 on the back of the unit I get noise in the left speaker. Right speaker performs without noise. Additionally when I connect an RCA Stereo Y cable from an Airport Express receiving music through iTunes Airplay to either Aux 1 or Aux 2 on the back of the unit only the left speaker works. The cable combines the R&L channels and should play out on both speakers. It is interesting that the single line cable is the only one that seems to work. I have tried to pairs of standard RCA R&L cables connected to a turntable and Airport Express carrying Airplay and both have either generated noise on the left channel or only played through the left channel. I'll continue to play around with this amp before returning it. I'll update this review later. The LED mentioned in other reviews is really annoying and cheapens the look of the system.

I needed an inexpensive way to power an iPod to a pair of Mirage speakers on my patio. This Pyle "no frills" amp fit the bill perfectly. I've sit it out of the weather and use the convenient RCA front access jack to connect an iPod playing Pandora. Can't beat the set-up for the price and the sound is incredible.

I bought this power amplifier to boost the audio level of a backyard stereo system. The amp functions as advertised, and THD is acceptable for my purposes.

For the price I wasn't exactly sure what I was going to get...I mean the reviews on it said it was a good amp for the money, but everyone uses things differently so I couldn't be sure. I wanted to get a cheap amp for the 3 way outdoor speakers I purchased off here (white Dual 3 ways, also much better than I expected!). I am a fairly audiophile type guy...I am not saying these should be used as audiophile grade by any means, but the power these put out and the clarity outside was far better than I had hoped for. I have been using this for about 3 weekends now and I must say that I am very impressed. Seems like a sturdy built which will last for years, and even if it doesn't for the price I would purchase this again in a heart beat. I am glad I got this one instead of the lower powered model so I don't get any clipping when I turn it up. What are you waiting for? Get it!

I see a host of negative reviews here for the Pyle PCA4 - mostly people who were thrown off by the "2 x 120 Watt" part of the description. It has become common in this segment of the market to lie egregiously about power - usually by using a fictional 10% distortion rating (fictional because the unit will go into protection long before it hits such a value). One look at this tiny unit shows that it isn't going to muster 120 watts - and people who actually expect such a tiny cheap rig to really do so are fooling themselves. Truth be told it doesn't really do 20 watts either. Based on sound, I'd guess it does about 15 watts before distortion sets in. So what good is it? Mated to efficient speakers it plays musically for less investment than a stack of CDs of the same volume - that's what.

I needed a very compact unit for a kitchen system to fit on a small shelf. I have three sets of speakers hooked up to it via the Pyle Home PSS4 4-Channel High Power Stereo Speaker Selector: NHT super zeros (86db/watt), and two pair of Parasound C-260 in wall speakers (88db/watt) via nice Kimber 16 gauge in-wall speaker wire that cost considerably more than the rest of the rig. The PCA4 can drive all 3 speakers in series to moderate background levels. It can drive one of the C-260 in-wall speakers to moderately loud dancing levels - but this model speakers isn't particularly beautiful sounding. The Super Zeros, however sound lovely. The point here is that the little Pyle has the resolution to make the smaller less efficient NHT's show their superior fidelity. This little Pyle can produce musically satisfying output to moderately loud levels. If I had more efficient speakers the acceptable sound levels would be higher. If you know of a speaker that combines high efficiency with very small size please let me know (these are normally mutually exclusive features because of the physics of resonance). Speakers with 90db/watt on up would play loudly with good fidelity on the Pyle.

This isn't the rig for critical listening - but it's just fine for small setups. Within its volume limits it sounds admirably clean and musical. That means that the preamp section isn't doing anything egregiously wrong. At this price point that, in itself, is somewhat surprising. Furthermore it doesn't run very hot. Plus it offers RCA and mini jack inputs. My main gripe about it is that the blue output level LEDs are too bright. I covered them up with electrical tape: problem solved. I'll post pictures of my assembled rig with iPod dock up in the photo section.

Bottom line, I needed a cheap stereo in a tiny space and wanted it to sound decent for background area music for entertaining and cooking. This fit the bill perfectly. I've had it for a year and half and it's performed fine the whole time. Saturday morning I crank up rock music and and wiggle while cooking breakfast until my wife comes down mad at having been woken up. That's my seal of approval for a bookshelf system.

I was very pleased at first, this little amp really did the job. At least it did for about two uses! I have this amp outputting to a Monster brand speaker selector, with amplifier protection, and during the third time I go to use it stops outputting. Power LED comes on, the signal lights don't flash and no sound!Fuse is good, tried using both the RCA inputs and the 3.5mm jack input and nothing! I'm Probably screwed on returning it also since I no longer have the packaging it came in. Caveat Emptor?