Customer Reviews

Pyle PTA2 Mini 2x40W Stereo Power Amplifier

5 star:		(53)
4 star:		(12)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(7)

 

 

I had some extra speakers I wanted to drive with something hooked up to my computer and/or DVD player. I'd been using old stereo component amps but tired of how big they are and wanted to find something a little more streamlined. Well, this unit is exactly what I was looking for-- clean, sturdily constructed, low noise, small size, and exactly the options I would want and nothing more.

Back panel has voltage switch 110/230, fuse access, line out, microphone in, and three sets of inputs. I hooked it up to my 4-ohm speakers, and it kicks up a pretty decent output. Exceeded my expectations.

Bought mine from All Audio Expo via Amazon, and it appears to be brand new in box as originally sealed by the mfg. UPS sure trashed the heck out of the outer box though, but All Audio did an expert job of double-boxing with peanuts so the inner box was fine and the unit is completely undamaged and works perfect.

My situation was that I had a pair of weighty JBL L100 speakers leftover from the mid-70's. The receiver died a long time ago, but I really just wanted to crank up those old speakers to see if they still delivered. Since my tunes are all on the IPod, I didn't see the need to invest in a receiver all over again. I decided to give the Pyle a try. You'll need to get a mini (3.5mm) to RCA plug adapter for IPod usage,but after that you're good to go.

This is an impressive unit. Small footprint, volume control, bass/treble controls, multiple inputs are the features I liked. It supplies plenty of power for those old JBLs, which still sound great after all of these years.

For the price, highly recommended.

**Update 7/25/11- I bought a second one of these to power some outdoor speakers. Works just as well as the first...still highly recommended.

I purchased this unit so I could listen to a cd player while working in my garage. I already had an older component cd player, tuner, speakers etc just lying around unused, so all I needed was a small amp at a low price to have my tunes. While it is primarily geared for DJ and PA use (it has mic input and mixing/paging controls), this is a perfect choice if you already have extra component equipment and just need some watts. Well constructed, cool running, and nice looking also. An excellent value IMHO.

For the price, it's a reasonable power amp. I really like the lack of features. It amplifies, has a volume control and 3 inputs selectable by a mechanical switch. None of the auto-magic scan features that almost work but in reality drive me to drink. The 40 watt spec is bogus, the amp has significant distortion at moderate power levels (I'd guess above 3 watts). It doesn't hold a candle to my old school Marantz 26 watt amp. Still, it can fill a room with music. It's a great amp for driving speakers from a computer, or in an office where you don't want a lot of power.

I had a television, DVD recorder, DVD player and VCR in my bedroom where all the audio was set to the television's speakers. Although not terrible, the sound was a bit weak/tinny. After a few months of deliberation I purchased a pair of bookshelf speaks and the Pyle PTA2 mini amplifier. I went with the Pyle instead of a audio receiver because I didn't have the need for an AM/FM radio, advanced connectivity, or any sort of fancy surround sound capabilities. All I wanted was to drive audio from my television out to a pair of speakers. The Pyle does this perfectly. In addition:

- for $50+, including shipping, the Pyle PTA2 is a great deal.
- the device is very small, requires little electricity, and doesn't generate much heat. It can be tucked away very nicely.
- there is nothing minimal about its capabilities. Coupled with a nice pair of speakers it should be able to produce fine audio in a very large room.


Bottom line: a smart choice for cheap audio.

I bought this amp so I could hook up some regular (not self-powered) speakers to my computer for listening to music. From the description and reviews, it looked on paper (OK, on screen) like the perfect thing. It may be a good performer at high volumes, but a low volumes it's very poor.

Here's why:
- There's a noticeable background (60 Hz) hum as well as a noticeable background hiss. This cannot be blamed on my cables, as the same hum and hiss are present when other inputs (with nothing plugged into them) are selected, and they're not dependent on the volume setting. At the volumes I typically listen at, this noise is a substantial percentage of what's coming out of the speakers.
- When the volume is set low (about the first 20 degrees of rotation on the knob) the treble just goes away and it sounds like you wrapped the speakers in a couple of sweatshirts. When you turn it up, the treble returns.
- Also, as you turn it down, the right channel drops away abruptly, leaving only the left speaker with music coming out. This indicates to me a low-quality potentiometer on the volume control.

The last two problems are bad enough to make me think about returning it or (more likely) finding a way to attenuate the input (or put resistors in series with my speakers) so I can set the volume on the unit higher and avoid having to fiddle around with the treble and balance controls every time I change the volume.

I would not recommend this amp to a friend with similar listening habits, but for someone who always plays it loud, I'd say it's a bargain.

I say little, but actually this thing produces a huge gain, is rather robust and a lot heavier than it looks. (Keeping in mind that all of those things are good) If you are looking to just drive speakers, like I was, this thing actually might be overkill. 40W is a LOT of power and much more than you would need when feeding from an iPod or computer. I had to take a long look at the Pyle Pro PCA1 Mini 2x15W Stereo Power Amplifier before making a decision. However, having the option of multiple inputs make the extra $20 worth it for me.

Just got one of these to power speakers for the bedroom TV & DVD. Plenty of power. The EQ is good and great for compensating for small speakers. 3 inputs allows us to have DVD, regular TV, & iTunes inputs all with the same compact amp. Haven't used the mic input or paging feature. The only thing I wish is there was a remote for volume control, but it's a very small wish list item. If I decide to put another airport express for iTunes in the kitchen, I'll get another one of these handy amps.

Just as many have already said. You get what you pay for when you get this product. It has tons of features. It's low cost. Its sound is great for non-hi fidelity uses. My biggest problem with it is that the quality and character of sound changes with the volume knob. The sound is thinner and the stereo field is unbalanced at lower volumes. The stereo field problem is really bad at low volumes. Maybe that is why a balance control is included instead of using quality volume components. Here's a point that I'd like to note that did not influence this review. It was a mistake to buy the 40Watt instead of the 15W version. I find that this 40W version is too powerful for my intended use. I often have to set the volume knob at low settings where the stereo and sound character issue is present. The 15W version would have been a better option, having less power, it would have forced me to set the volume knob at higher settings, where there would be no stereo field problem.

There isn't much more to say about this unit except that it's brilliant, especially for the price. Since this is a review though here's a list of pros and cons:

pros:

The price is fantastic for such a featured unit
The build and form factor reflect the clever engineering of the internals
The sound as rich and accurate as units twice or thrice the price
My headphones even sound better (be aware that a standard 3.5mm headphone plug is too small, you'll need an adapter)

cons:

I didn't get it sooner

I bought some Sony SS-B3000 bookshelf speakers to go with this unit along with some 16 gauge cable to connect to my desktop, and everybody around me noticed just how well they all work together. I'd surmise that the Pta2 is the main reason for that (though Sony deserves props for the quality of those pretty cheap speakers). I highly recommend this for those just getting started fiddling in the realm of audiophilia.