AdamHG
New member
On a whim I ordered the Aiyima A07 Max as the specs indicated that it could actually handle the demands of my CLSiiz speakers. It was R2500 on Takelot.
I ran my Spectral DMC-10 preamp both directly into the tiny amp, and through my custom-made crossover, sending low frequencies to a sub. I used the 48v 5A power supply, and I suspect that the 10A would provide a lot of improvement and longevity. The amp was run open throughout using the Spectral volume to adjust.
I had very low expectations and only tried because I need a temporary amp whilst mine is being repaired and because I could return it. I really did not expect it to power these speakers, let alone to power them well. It seems a ridiculous pairing.
1) This tiny amp, with a smaller footprint than a CD, could power these speakers. This is no small achievement in itself!
2) The good: transparent, detailed, well-balanced, and excellent channel separation. Plenty of power, although I don't enjoy listening loudly. I did not find it to sound "electronic", fatiguing, or flat; the improvements in class-D have been dramatic. The clarity and transparency these speakers are famous for were apparent and did not deteriorate. The amp got quite warm quickly but not too hot to touch, and the temperature remained constant thereafter.
3) Criticism: compared with other amps, the bass was full, but might have been a little less detailed and punchy (both with and without the sub), and perhaps the highs were very slightly harsh. It didn't have quite the dynamic velocity of much larger amps, which was apparent on single percussion shots during soft sections.
4) Final thoughts: you'll be hard-pressed to find anything that can even power these speakers for less than 10x this price, even second-hand. Whilst it might not best truly high-end equipment, it didn't sound out of place in my fairly high-end vintage setup. I am genuinely blown away by what something this size, and at this ridiculous price point, could do with these speakers, let alone that it could do it well.
5) The Fosi V3 stereo is very similar; I went for the Aiyima because I could get it locally with the bigger power supply. However, for twice the price, I want to try the Fosi V3 monos, which I suspect will be a big improvement and a better fit to use with a pre-amp. They also have PFFB which will hopefully help with better highs due to the speakers' notorious impedance swings, especially in that frequency range.
*Note: speakers in this photo are further from the wall than they appear.
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