Where can I buy a decent 2 ch amplifier in Pattaya?

[giddyup]

I need a 2 channel amp to boost the volume of my TV as I find a lot of downloaded movies have volume levels so low that the TV is cranked to the max. I just need a budget amp around 25w+25w, something like a Pioneer, Sony etc. The big stores have a glut of cheap Soken-like products that don't specify what the output is, nor are the amps freestanding, but rather built into a boombox. The only place that has dedicated amps (that I've found) is Powerbuy, and their amps are quite expensive for what I need. I could walk into a Cash Converters in Australia and have my choice of 50 amps from $20 up, but then, I'm not in Australia.

Edited June 17, 2013 by giddyup

[IMHO]

If you only need 25w RMS, what's wrong with the cheapy Thai brands?

What speakers will it be running? If you don't yet have those, and you're looking for something around 600 Baht that will just make TV audible, a set of computer speakers from Tukcom should do the trick..

[joeaverage]

why not buy a compact home theatre system?

[giddyup]

why not buy a compact home theatre system?

I already have a separate DVD player, I'd be just paying for something I don't need.

[giddyup]

If you only need 25w RMS, what's wrong with the cheapy Thai brands?

What speakers will it be running? If you don't yet have those, and you're looking for something around 600 Baht that will just make TV audible, a set of computer speakers from Tukcom should do the trick..

I'm just not sure what kind of output those cheap Thai brands have. If you have to crank them to full and the speakers distort, it would be a waste of money.

[IMHO]

If you only need 25w RMS, what's wrong with the cheapy Thai brands?

What speakers will it be running? If you don't yet have those, and you're looking for something around 600 Baht that will just make TV audible, a set of computer speakers from Tukcom should do the trick..

I'm just not sure what kind of output those cheap Thai brands have. If you have to crank them to full and the speakers distort, it would be a waste of money.

Go have a listen

My daughter has a 2.1 "Saag" brand set in her bedroom 6" 'sub' woofer and ~3" satellites for mains - she uses them for her iPad, iPhone and TV audio, and they sound surprisingly good - and loud enough that Mom and I have to fist her door to turn them down;)

For memory she spent 1,500 THB for the whole set (amp is in the sub).

[giddyup]

If you only need 25w RMS, what's wrong with the cheapy Thai brands?

What speakers will it be running? If you don't yet have those, and you're looking for something around 600 Baht that will just make TV audible, a set of computer speakers from Tukcom should do the trick..

I'm just not sure what kind of output those cheap Thai brands have. If you have to crank them to full and the speakers distort, it would be a waste of money.

Go have a listen

My daughter has a 2.1 "Saag" brand set in her bedroom 6" 'sub' woofer and ~3" satellites for mains - she uses them for her iPad, iPhone and TV audio, and they sound surprisingly good - and loud enough that Mom and I have to fist her door to turn them down;)

For memory she spent 1,500 THB for the whole set (amp is in the sub).

Can't say I've come across that brand, but I'll give either the AJ or Soken brand a try.

[joeaverage]

both are the cheapest crap available. you could do better. for less than 10k you could get a decent samsung 5.1 system

[giddyup]

both are the cheapest crap available. you could do better. for less than 10k you could get a decent samsung 5.1 system

It's only for the bedroom TV. A 5.1 system would be pure overkill. I download all my movies and they are only in 2 channel sound anyway.

[IMHO]

both are the cheapest crap available. you could do better. for less than 10k you could get a decent samsung 5.1 system

Well, maybe Samsung have gotten a LOT better in the past year or so, but the last time I listened to one of their HTIB's it sounded pretty terrible - and for memory that one had an MSRP around 30K Baht. My daughter's cheapy SAAG's sound substantially better.

This looks like them: http://www.saag.co.th/en/product/computer-speaker/20s

Don't let the 2000w PMPO fool you, they're actually not so bad, 555

[joeaverage]

both are the cheapest crap available. you could do better. for less than 10k you could get a decent samsung 5.1 system

It's only for the bedroom TV. A 5.1 system would be pure overkill. I download all my movies and they are only in 2 channel sound anyway.

fair enough, but a media player with an optical output into a small home theatre certainly sounds way better than 2ch.

in addition, i too download everything in 5.1 dts or dolby. horses for courses.

[giddyup]

both are the cheapest crap available. you could do better. for less than 10k you could get a decent samsung 5.1 system

Well, maybe Samsung have gotten a LOT better in the past year or so, but the last time I listened to one of their HTIB's it sounded pretty terrible - and for memory that one had an MSRP around 30K Baht. My daughter's cheapy SAAG's sound substantially better.

This looks like them: http://www.saag.co.th/en/product/computer-speaker/20s

Don't let the 2000w PMPO fool you, they're actually not so bad, 555

Looks like what I need, I'll have to see if I can find one in Pattaya.

[giddyup]

both are the cheapest crap available. you could do better. for less than 10k you could get a decent samsung 5.1 system

Well, maybe Samsung have gotten a LOT better in the past year or so, but the last time I listened to one of their HTIB's it sounded pretty terrible - and for memory that one had an MSRP around 30K Baht. My daughter's cheapy SAAG's sound substantially better.

This looks like them: http://www.saag.co.th/en/product/computer-speaker/20s

Don't let the 2000w PMPO fool you, they're actually not so bad, 555

Do any of their models have a remote for adjusting the volume?

[IMHO]

both are the cheapest crap available. you could do better. for less than 10k you could get a decent samsung 5.1 system

Well, maybe Samsung have gotten a LOT better in the past year or so, but the last time I listened to one of their HTIB's it sounded pretty terrible - and for memory that one had an MSRP around 30K Baht. My daughter's cheapy SAAG's sound substantially better.

This looks like them: http://www.saag.co.th/en/product/computer-speaker/20s

Don't let the 2000w PMPO fool you, they're actually not so bad, 555

Do any of their models have a remote for adjusting the volume?

Not sure, but my daughter's is hooked up to the headphone output on her TV, so the normal TV remote's volume control does the job..

[MrWorldwide]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Class_T_amplifier

http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_trksid=m570.l3201&_nkw=t-amp&_sacat=0

Literally hundreds of them, from ~30USD to ~200USD. Topping is a well-known brand, and the better t-amps are widely regarded by many audiophiles.

http://www.audiokarma.org/forums/showthread.php?t=513842

You will definitely be able to find one in Pantip. Print one of the e-bay ads and show it around : I find vendors respond much more quickly to a photo.

Disclaimer: the 'audiophile' comment assumes that you have a decent source - simply plugging an amp into your TV wont give you miraculous sound, but Topping and others sell DAC/amp combinations - google is your friend

Edited June 22, 2013 by MrWorldwide

[IMHO]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Class_T_amplifier

http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_trksid=m570.l3201&_nkw=t-amp&_sacat=0

Literally hundreds of them, from ~30USD to ~200USD. Topping is a well-known brand, and the better t-amps are widely regarded by many audiophiles.

http://www.audiokarma.org/forums/showthread.php?t=513842

You will definitely be able to find one in Pantip. Print one of the e-bay ads and show it around : I find vendors respond much more quickly to a photo.

Disclaimer: the 'audiophile' comment assumes that you have a decent source - simply plugging an amp into your TV wont give you miraculous sound, but Topping and others sell DAC/amp combinations - google is your friend

Well, so long as an amp does 20Hz to 20kHz without too much rolloff, has enough damping factor to control the load it's driving, it doesn't make buzzes, hisses, pops or crackles of it's own (i.e. decent S:N - this excludes STK's ), the source is impedance matched and gained appropriately, the load impedance is within it's driveable range, and you don't run it above 0.1% THD, they all sound the same

[Benjie]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Class_T_amplifier

http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_trksid=m570.l3201&_nkw=t-amp&_sacat=0

Literally hundreds of them, from ~30USD to ~200USD. Topping is a well-known brand, and the better t-amps are widely regarded by many audiophiles.

http://www.audiokarma.org/forums/showthread.php?t=513842

You will definitely be able to find one in Pantip. Print one of the e-bay ads and show it around : I find vendors respond much more quickly to a photo.

Disclaimer: the 'audiophile' comment assumes that you have a decent source - simply plugging an amp into your TV wont give you miraculous sound, but Topping and others sell DAC/amp combinations - google is your friend

Well, so long as an amp does 20Hz to 20kHz without too much rolloff, has enough damping factor to control the load it's driving, it doesn't make buzzes, hisses, pops or crackles of it's own (i.e. decent S:N - this excludes STK's ), the source is impedance matched and gained appropriately, the load impedance is within it's driveable range, and you don't run it above 0.1% THD, they all sound the same

Or you could just boost volume on downmix and it would sound fine through your TV without the need for an amp.

[IMHO]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Class_T_amplifier

http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_trksid=m570.l3201&_nkw=t-amp&_sacat=0

Literally hundreds of them, from ~30USD to ~200USD. Topping is a well-known brand, and the better t-amps are widely regarded by many audiophiles.

http://www.audiokarma.org/forums/showthread.php?t=513842

You will definitely be able to find one in Pantip. Print one of the e-bay ads and show it around : I find vendors respond much more quickly to a photo.

Disclaimer: the 'audiophile' comment assumes that you have a decent source - simply plugging an amp into your TV wont give you miraculous sound, but Topping and others sell DAC/amp combinations - google is your friend

Well, so long as an amp does 20Hz to 20kHz without too much rolloff, has enough damping factor to control the load it's driving, it doesn't make buzzes, hisses, pops or crackles of it's own (i.e. decent S:N - this excludes STK's ), the source is impedance matched and gained appropriately, the load impedance is within it's driveable range, and you don't run it above 0.1% THD, they all sound the same

Or you could just boost volume on downmix and it would sound fine through your TV without the need for an amp.

Or just watch the commercials only

[astral]

Disclaimer: the 'audiophile' comment assumes that you have a decent source - simply plugging an amp into your TV wont give you miraculous sound, but Topping and others sell DAC/amp combinations - google is your friend

TV amplifiers and speaker are pretty low quality

Plugging in a external amp and speakers will give you impressive gains!!