The Best Amp for the Price of Dirt

...$129 to be precise.

Eldartford: What was "Like the Sonic Impact T amp, maybe someone will stuff it into a fancy box, and sell it for two grand!" a reference to?

Cwlondon: I was thinking of trying the same thing (with speakers that are probably a bit easier to drive). It's not just a matter of small price and decent sound, but also small size. Are there really any other options with the small footprint of the T? Too bad you couldn't get this to fly.

I think a market exists for a product that combines a "digital" amp with a volume control and a DAC all in one small package for desktop use with unpowered speakers.

Eldee: That's a pretty far cry from your rather hyperbolic first statement. Anyway, as I understand it the costlier version of the T has many parts upgrades and modifications to the IC in addition to the aluminum case. Given that SI won't be able to "make up in volume" what they would lose in margin on this version nearly to the degree of the cheaper plastic original, the price (and margin) increase doesn't seem out of line if the result is worthwhile.

BTW, can anyone tell me what's the deal with the power supply on the Super T? The SI website seems to imply the existence of both a wall-wart and an "optional" power supply, but provides no further elaboration. And what about batteries in this version?

The SI website specifically mentions modifications to the IC chip, and shows circuit board photos that seem to indicate increased capacitance among other changes.

Eldee: Are any of these many alternatives at $160 for something with an equally small footprint/portable? And are any of them new, or would they all be 'vintage'?

Eldee: "There is a big difference between $30 and $159"

$159 - $30 = $129 (to be precise). Now, please stop misundertaking me when I'm trying to poke fun at you!

Is the Behringer a linear class-A/B amp or a switching amp? Their website doesn't seem to say.

I have no idea what Crem1 is talking about anymore (never been a member of a union?), but taking the totality of his comments into account -- including his repeated references to the Audio Critic, where they don't even believe in listening to amps for sound quality -- sorry but I just can't place a lot of stock in his recommendations. I do however take something from Cwlondon's less than positive experience with the reliability and power of the Sonic Impact. Bottom line is I guess we're still waiting for someone to come out with a decently-built, usefully powerful, compact, lightweight and portable (maybe even battery-powerable), class-"D" design control amplifier at a relatively modest price (with or without a DAC built in). I'm hopeful it will happen sooner or later.

It's about a J-O-K-E that Cwlondon made.