The best sound amplifiers from Aliexpress: TOP 13 amplifiers for home and car

A sound amplifier is an integral part of any audio system, often allowing not only to increase the signal output power, but also to adjust its volume, timbre and other characteristics. The quality of the amplifier largely determines the “purity” of the sound, the distinction of high and low notes, and the absence of extraneous noise. And the more sophisticated the buyer’s musical taste, the more important for him will be the type of radio components used in the amplifier, the quality and density of their installation, the output characteristics of the signal, the possibility of adjustments and adjustments, the types of connectors for connecting power, sound sources and speakers.

Let's try to figure out which of the amplifiers that have gained popularity on the international trading platform Aliexpress are really worth attention. For convenience, they are divided into two large groups: amplifiers for home and ULF for cars.

TOP 13 best sound amplifiers from Aliexpress

Which sound amplifier from Aliexpress would you choose or recommend?

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Hybrid builds

There are intermediate options between microcircuit amplifiers and amplifiers assembled on transistors.

The fact is that a number of circuit elements (for example, capacitors) cannot be implemented in a microcircuit. And they came up with the idea of ​​combining technologies in one module.

STK-459 disassembled, without cover

The most common in the world are the STK xxxx series assemblies.

Amplifier based on STK443, link to it in China
Similar assemblies were used mainly in top-end music centers. It is believed that such transistor assemblies “sound” better than microcircuit amplifiers. And that they are closer in sound to transistor amplifiers. But there is no clear and obvious jump in quality. The popularity of such assemblies has decreased recently. Ten years ago they were much more common. But amplifiers based on such assemblies are still very much alive.

The meaning of transistor assemblies and microcircuit amplifiers is the compact dimensions of the device.

It's not just that the amplifier itself can be made smaller. Power supply and high-current buses can be implemented very correctly. The path is short, the tanks are near the exits, etc. There is a famous phrase by Tupolev, “ A plane that is not beautiful will not fly.” “In relation to amplifiers, it can be rephrased as follows. The appearance of an amplifier can only indirectly indicate its quality. The thick aluminum front panel does not guarantee quality. External beauty often does not correspond to the internal content.

The quality of amplifiers is determined by the quality of the power supply, short path and buses.

Almost always, the aesthetics of the internal appearance of the amplifier will indicate its quality. A high-quality amplifier is usually automatic and looks beautiful. Don't be lazy and always find out what the amplifier looks like inside. This applies to all amplifiers, not just Chinese ones. For example, you see options for the internals of amplifiers:

Amplifier based on STK443, link to China
There are, of course, anomalies. But in almost 100% of cases, the lower amplifier in the picture will be better. See what the amplifier looks like inside before you buy it! You don't really need to be an engineer to understand what you're dealing with.

Amplifier from China with fashionable arrows, link

Voting for the best sound amplifier from Aliexpress

Which sound amplifier from Aliexpress would you choose or recommend?

Amplifier CS-183

4.00% ( 1 )

PMPO PA-80D

4.00% ( 1 )

Taidacent XH-M180

4.00% ( 1 )

Digital Player G8

8.00% ( 2 )

Lepy LP-838

0.00% ( 0 )

Aosibao AV-889

12.00% ( 3 )

Aiyima A9 Hi-Fi

16.00% ( 4 )

SMSL Q5 Pro

20.00% ( 5 )

Kguss BH1DAC

4.00% ( 1 )

Surpass SP-PW425B

4.00% ( 1 )

Aiyima JAN5725

4.00% ( 1 )

Solupeak SU2

4.00% ( 1 )

Tube

As music connoisseurs say, tube amplifiers have a “warm and rich” sound. But in addition to aesthetic value, they also have practical value - simplicity of design. This makes it easy to repair or upgrade the amplifier. We found three models from reliable sellers on AliExpress.

Fosi tube audio amplifier

★★★★☆ 4.8 186 Reviews 391 order(s)

Price: 5,334 rub. RUB 8,205 — 34%

• Size : 250mm * 200mm * 60mm
• Weight : 600 g
• Channels: 2 (2.0)
• Volume increase : 2 times

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Pros:

• High quality performance
• Good packing
• Delivery from Russia
• The quality does not deteriorate and the sound is more “alive”

Aiyima tube sound preamp with bass

★★★★☆ 4.8 12 Reviews 23 order(s)

Price: 7,003 rub. RUB 10,004 - thirty%

• Size : 137*120*35mm (without tube height)
• Outputs : Bluetooth and AUX
• Channels: 2 (2.0)
• Features : With treble and bass adjustment

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Pros:

• Good packing
• High quality build
• Fast delivery
• High sound quality

Minuses:

• EU plug

Nobsound tube preamplifier for bass adjustment

★★★★☆ 4.8 115 Reviews 265 order(s)

Price: 11,801 rub. RUB 18,156 — 35%

• Model : P1
• Channels: 2 (2.0)
• Size : 100*100 mm
• Weight : 800 g

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Pros:

• Value for money
• Product compliance with technical specifications characteristics
• Fast delivery

What are your opinions on Chinese Hi-Fi amplifiers?

Further there will be a lot of IMHO.

For those who want objectivity, I started with an example of how to objectively compare production culture. This example is what I recommend as instructions for use.

In my opinion it turns out that:

1. systems can be compared. And if a person doesn’t hear the difference between 3 stripes for 50k and 350k, then it only makes sense to buy 350k for show-off.

2. I gave the example of cars as an example of production culture, and a very clear one at that. Well, the result of this very culture in the form of reviews is much more objective than pouring from empty to empty.

3. The motto of Chinese brands is “a little bad is normal.” And this is not a joke, but a real statement from the head of the representative office of one of the Chinese brands of auto TV in the Russian Federation (Chinese). Moreover, he clearly uses this phrase from his homeland.

4. My Russian HiEnd recently burned out, after thinking about it, I chose what to listen to and bought a European + Japanese HiFi in my budget. I didn't consider China at all. Because people change their Geely after a maximum of 5 years, but they drive a Subaru for 10-15 years and much more often than other car manufacturers they pay for the Subaru again later (the brand saves a lot on advertising, instead spending the budget on fine-tuning the handling and reliability, as a result of which the price tag is growing, being one of the highest in the non-premium segment). It's the same garbage with Chinese audio. I bought a Russian-Chinese car radio, the most expensive model. After half a year, the GPS began to fall off in warm weather after an hour and in winter after two or three... Compliance with the country of manufacture, IMHO. There are periodic freezes... With modern Sony TV (made in Japan) there are no glitches... And so on and so forth.

At home the dishwasher is made in Italy, in the country - in China. Both wash dishes. But the Chinese one is 1.5 times longer and in general the drawer gets jammed, if you don’t pull it out exactly along the “rails”, then due to a couple of liters of water spilling from above (yes, not a normal situation, but anything can happen in life) it displays an error about a leak inside and refuses to work for the next three weeks.

And so on and so forth.

The overall conclusion is that China works somehow. Reliability is difficult to predict. Designed and made in Japan and Western Europe, it almost always works as intended. With reliability, everything is much better, especially in Japan, which, according to rumors, does not suffer from programmed malfunctions.

What did I take away from all this for myself personally?

A Chinese amplifier can sound great. But the character of the sound should always correspond to the taste of the buyer. So you need to listen. We don’t have salons with the Chinese for 500,000+.

He may or may not boast of reliability. Personally, I’m not ready to bet half a million on roulette in order to save several times compared to a similar Japanese or European player. Still, buying it usually lasts for half a year. Yes, and sending back a 40 kg amplifier under warranty will not be cheap, especially via air (by train, under corona conditions, it may not arrive in half a year). It happens that after six months I understand that an audio upgrade gave a clearer sound, but... I don’t like it, it doesn’t catch me, I want a more musical and natural sound, and so on. Already tried it with a portable HiRes player.

I'm scared to imagine the loss in price. How much can you sell a Chinese amplifier purchased on Ali for 500k for? What is the price of a used one on Avito? 150k? 100k? 50k?

If there is no money or little money, then I would prefer to look in my budget, perhaps not very used.

Well, for a snack. The description says that if you turn it on without speakers it will burn out. What if I make a mistake when connecting or the wire comes off from the speaker or in the speaker? Or a friend will bring his speakers to listen to and in a hurry, when changing speakers, I will stop the music (as is done in the same Audiomania when changing components during the selection process), instead of turning off the amplifier. It may also be necessary to wait until the capacitors are completely discharged (which may take a week if there is no music during the shutdown process and depends on the circuit design).

Conclusions for yourself.

China is actively developing HiEnd, as well as the auto industry and much more...

But personally, I’m not ready to finance this from my own pocket.

Well, if we go back to cars at the same price, then I would prefer a used Japanese car with a mileage of up to 100 thousand km, rather than a new Chinese one. Better yet, invest in yourself and constantly grow. Then the price tag for a RAV4 or Forester will be subjectively the normal price of the car.

But for this you need to work, incl. building and polishing skills through real-life experience. By the way, I'll continue to do this.

Have a good day.

Master kit or assembled?

A master kit is a specific set consisting of a board, special paste, wire, resistors and other components. This is a kind of construction set that is assembled by the buyer independently. Similar sets are actively sold on AliExpress. But a more optimal option is a prefabricated design, that is, a sound amplifier that is absolutely ready for use. Depending on the manufacturer and their main characteristics, they are capable of significantly increasing electrical fluctuations in sound power.