Customer Reviews
Most helpful customer reviews
47 of 47 people found the following review helpful.
Fantastic little amp!
By Ben
I bought this amplifier to replace the stereo/amplifier combo unit
in an old mini system, which was starting to give up on me. For the
size and price, I wasn't expecting very much, but I figured I do most of
my listening at fairly low levels and a mere 15 watts wouldn't be a big
handicap. I figured it was worth a try for the price.
Wow, were my doubts misplaced. When you pick this tiny amplifier
up, any questions about its quality immediately disappear. Despite its
unimpressive size, it weighs a hefty two or three pounds. Made of solid
metal, it's got fairly high-quality connectors on the back (no fancy
5-way binding posts, though) and everything has a very smooth, solid,
substantial feel.
The low power rating isn't an issue either, especially if you're
comparing to typical department-store stereo equipment, because the
ratings on those systems are usually complete fabrications. In fact, if
you've got a typical set of 8-ohm bookshelf speakers, this amp should
be able to run them dangerously loud before you start to notice any
distortion. The frequency response also seems good; it's definitely
better than the response for the speakers I have it hooked up to right
now, so I can't really comment on the limits.
I'm not sure how well this would work for larger speakers or those
with more than two or three drivers, and I'm not sure how well it
handles 4-ohm speakers. However, even for moderately large 8-ohm
bookshelf units, I can't see a single flaw.
22 of 22 people found the following review helpful.
Compact and powerful. An excellent little amp!
By CLG
I got the recent idea to run a bookshelf speaker from my computer to
my bathroom. After some quick research, it seemed the only problem with
doing so was that computer sound cards don't have enough push to power a
speaker, and any sound cards that did would require an upgrade on my
power supply. What I needed was a stereo amp between the computer and
speaker -- and ideally, one that was compact and inconspicuous as
possible.
Enter the Pyle Pro Mini Amplifier. Perhaps I'm not a savvy enough
web searcher (unlikely, I think) but this was the only amp I was able to
find of its kind. A compact, simple, and single-purpose amp designed to
just drive sound without any frills. And at that task, it completely
satisfies. I've tested it on a 60W Bose bookshelf speaker and found that
at the 10 o'clock position, the volume was more than sufficient to fill
a bedroom. At the 12 o'clock (halfway) position, it was already too
loud. I haven't turned it past that point for more than a second as it
would definitely draw complaints. I'm convinced I could easily run this
setup for a house party. Granted I only have a one-bedroom apartment,
but you get the point. The sound is clean, full-range, and LOUD.
As for the product design, the footprint is smaller than a CD case,
so it's easy to find room for. Running it for about half an hour and it
doesn't give off any noticeable heat. The only (very minor) complaint I
can think of for it would be the input wiring. It seems a bit strange to
have an RCA *cable* with male connectors as the input; I've only ever
known stereo components to have female RCA inputs. But all it means is
finding a different kind of adapter wire. Otherwise, the amp serves its
purpose beautifully. I have a particular love of efficient technology --
i.e. products that fulfill a specific need without frills and in a
compact size -- and this is a perfect example of one.
12 of 12 people found the following review helpful.
Nice if you need small and cheap
By Mbirds
I received this and the Audiosource Amp-100, also available on
Amazon. While the Pyle will fill a small room with sound, at higher
levels the distortion is noticeable. Driving two Energy C-50 speakers
this still easily beats any sub-$200 powered speakers, or Ipod-dock type
systems.
However, if you have room for the Amp-100 at twice the price, the
sound is much better, it can drive bigger speakers, and it looks sleek.
The Audiosource Amp-100 is worth it if you have the cash and the space.
It is much higher quality and can drive two sets of speakers. Also, it
has a balance knob and auto-on/off.
In the specs for the PCA1 you will see that at upper levels,
distortion is up to 10%. You can hear it at higher volumes, but only if
you are looking. I still give four stars for the value and size of the
unit. It is perfect to put some real speakers on your PC or MP3 player
where space is at a premium. Otherwise, skip this and save up for the
Amp-100. Just read the Amp-100 review here for tips on how to use it.
