When purchasing this amplifier, I was a little confused at first. This confusion was due to the fact the price felt too cheap for it to be a decent product. However, I went ahead and bought the amplifier anyway. And to my surprise, this was the best amplifier I have ever purchased.
When you initially buy the amplifier, it takes a couple of days for you to get along, but when you finally do, it is worth it. I’ll break it down slowly as to what makes this amp one of its kind.
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Dayton Audio APA150 150W Power Amplifier Review
- Sleek & Modern Design Look
- Noise Free Fan
- Adjustable 50-150 Hz Low Pass Crossover
- Rated power output : 2 x 75 watts at 4 ohms
- Bridged power output (RMS) : 1 x 150 watts at 8 ohms
- Signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) : >100 dB
- Frequency response: 20-20,000 Hz
At the first look, you’ll notice the profile of the amplifier, which is smooth. The square face is somewhat around 6’’. The brushed metal faceplate includes just a power button, a specialist blue LED, and a volume handle of extremely smooth activity.
By and large, the look was exceptionally perfect and basic – rather exquisite, belying this amp’s amazingly low price tag. The blue LED is, however, a little too bright, which might be a problem for some customers.
By the looks of it, the amplifier does look like it is cheap. However, the looks and the price is massively deceiving regarding this amplifier’s performance. Even without a modern look, the sleek design perfectly fits with almost all sound systems.
Dayton Audio Apa150 150W Overview:
The back panel includes a 3-pin IEC input, switchable somewhere between 120V and 230V. Additionally, on the back were the pair of 5-way speaker inputs, line-level inputs in 1 arrangement, and line-level outputs in the other.
The amplifier lacks a remote control because there is no switching of the inputs. However, I do not care about that much and believe that living without remotes is doable.
Vent slots are also present in the rear panel. These slots are also seldom required. Afterward, there is the auto-on switch, mono switch, and low pass controls.
Considering the elements, adaptability, and wide array of features, this is a very thoroughly examined amp. It also conveys enormous value for money because of the low price.
The amplifier does it all, being a regular stereo-integrated amplifier, a subwoofer amplifier, and a home theater amplifier. This multi-purpose nature of the amp is boasted by a low pass filter that can be varied from 50-150Hz.
The amplifier has an 18dB/octave slope. The amplifier functions at full bandwidth when in “Flat” mode. The “Lowpass” setting has to be used to use it as a subwoofer amplifier. The crossover point varies within 50-150Hz.
Features:
This APA-150 utilizes a fairly traditional setup and interior construction: Class AB activity with 2 transistors for every channel, introduced on a shut heatsink, associated with a cooling fan that initiates when the inner temperature of the heatsink is excessively high.
However, this only happens when the amplifier operates at maximum output for straight hours. However, the cooling fan is very silent and creates no noise.
To set the “Mono” mode on this amplifier, you have to switch it in the rear panel. Then you’ll be able to receive 150 watts on an 8-ohm load.
With 25.8 volt output yields, the amplifier uses a toroidal transformer at 750 watts. The power supply segment is finished by 2 electrolytic 6800 uF/50 volt covers provided by TEC.
It should be considered that this is an amplifier and not a pre-amp, which sometimes means sources might not be able to drive the unit properly. This usually happens because of low input sensitivity and can be corrected by adding an active preamp.
The amplifier provides extensive room control because of the adjustable 50-150Hz low pass crossover. Lastly, the 5-way binding posts are Gold-plated and are built to accept up to 8 AWG wires.
Highlights:
The versatility of the amplifier is the biggest highlight of this product. The amplifier delivers 75 watts into 2 channels, but at the same time can also deliver 150 watts into 8-ohms. The amplifier must be in the “Mono” mode for the latter.
The amplifier allows bi-amp configurations via a full-range line-level output. The amplifier also functions as a subwoofer amplifier through the low-pass filter.
Another feature that is mesmerizing in the amplifier is its auto-on sensor. The flat sound produced is clear and amplified beautifully. The versatility of the amplifier makes it multi-faceted and exceptional.
- Stereo mode – amplify speakers for surround playback
- Bridge-mono mode – power a center channel speaker
- Low pass filter – for a subwoofer/ tactile transducer
- Full range line-level outputs – bi-amp/daisy chaining amplifiers
Pros
- Discrete power transistors
- Noise-free air cooling
- Protection against thermal overload and electrical shorting
- Adjustable electronic 50-150 Hz low-pass filter
- Budget-friendly
Cons
- Bright LED light
- Switches in the rear panel can make accessibility difficult
- Sometimes require a pre-amp due to low input sensitivity
Frequently Asked Questions
Q- are Dayton Audio amplifiers the best?
Given the price range, the amplifiers are exceptionally good. They are highly recommended if one has to use their versatility, where they actually provide the most advantage.
Q – what is a power amplifier?
Any amplifier that converts a low-power signal into a high-power one is termed a power amplifier. In easier terms, they increase the magnitude of the power of any given signal.
Conclusion:
Dayton Audio APA150 is a powerful amplifier, which is brought to us by Dayton Audio. These manufacturers have aimed at providing a multi-faceted solution to consumers with different needs, this one-stop solution for a stereo amp, subwoofer amp, or even a bi-amp is far ahead of its time. Given the low price point, it is highly recommended. It can also power multiple channels and has a low-pass crossover, allowing maximum room control.
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Don Johnson says
I would like your opinion of a proposed set up for the future? I purchased a pair of the APA-150s last year as I found a deal on Ebay that I bid on. I plan for the future is to run them in a mono block configuration with two Nobsound Mini Vacuum Tube Pre Amp Stereo HiFi Buffers, connected to Klispsch 600M speakers. In your opinion; do you feel that this would work from a technical aspect, while keeping within budget?