Review by Lawrence H. Bulk
Rating:
I have been a “hi-fi-natic” for over fifty years. And over the years I have owned – and still own – a number of top-quality amplifiers, both integrated and separate.

I had a pair of Pinnacle PAS 28 ported (dual ports) 2-way Speakers (Frequency Response: 30-21000 Hz +/- 3 dB; SPL: 92 dB 1 Watt, 1kHz, 1 Meter) which were not being used (speakers do tend to accumulate); they are of excellent quality and I bought this unit to use with them (as you can see they are quite efficient and they offer superb sound quality as well) and also see just how good a T-amp is.

Let me state that I am amazed – and you will be too. Of course everyone is entitled to their own opinion but it is my opinion that a prospective purchaser can safely ignore any negative comments made in other reviews of this Dayton DTA-1 Class T Digital Amplifier 15 WPC, especially about build-quality – with only one minor exception: the batteries are a bit tricky to insert and remove; the spring connections could have been of better quality and somewhat more recessed. Otherwise the build-quality is fine.

But it is the sound that counts and, in my opinion, the sound this unit produces is absolutely first-rate. Some people have complained about a perceived lack of bass but take my word for it – it’s there and in abundance should the music require it. (I listen almost exclusively to classical music.) Plus the sound is the same on AC or batteries at least for the four hours I ran mine the other day on (NiMH rechargeable) battery power. (Just as I had inserted the batteries to try the amp out that way, our power went out! It stayed out from 7:30 PM to about 11:30 PM – but because I had this amp as well as a battery-operated CD player, I enjoyed fine music all through the night, albeit in the dark!)

This unit is so small that it will fit in an ordinary pants pocket. If used with good-sounding (most important) and efficient (at least 87 dB [1 Watt, 1 kHz, 1 Meter] speakers), one will have a fabulous sound system – at a very low price (depending, of course, on just how much the speakers cost – really, this amplifier deserves the very best, again in my opinion!).

I also tried it with an old pair of Realistic Minimus 20 (Cat. 40-256); the sound quality was adequate as would be expected from these speakers. The speakers are the limiting factor in the overall sound quality obtained; of course a good source is also necessary but I am using mine with an Insignia NS-P4112 Portable CD Player ($19.95 at Best Buy; that’s about as cheap as you can get!) and it sounds really fine. I have played a number of CDs and SACDs (the CD layer only of course) on this player and through this system – and the overall sound quality produced has to be heard to be believed. I also tried the amp with my MP3 player and, as expected, the sound quality was fine.

I would really like to try this amplifier with my Klipschorns (which, I believe, are the most efficient speakers ever produced – 105dB @ 1watt/1meter – but the speaker cable I use is too thick to fit in the Dayton DTA-1 Amplifier’s connectors and at this stage of my life I am not about to move the 175-pound (each) Klipschorns to change the cable! I do know that this little amp would drive the Klipschorns to ear-splitting levels; setting the volume control to about 2:00 produces extremely loud sound in my room with my Pinnacles, too loud for me to endure for more than a few minutes (1:00 is about right for me).

The price, $44.80, is positively astounding. This kind of money for this kind of sound quality would have been inconceivable even just ten years ago.

Buy one. You’ll never regret the purchase.

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Update: December 24, 2009

I just received a pair of Dayton B652 6-1/2″ 2-Way Bookshelf Speaker Pair and these speakers, in conjunction with this amplifier, are what I shall now be using as my sound system in my bedroom. The combination is really superb and the total low price is irresistible. I now own TWO of these extremely efficient and great sounding amplifiers and I give it my highest recommendation.

Review by Sean Dicken
Rating:
I absolutely love the DTA-1. I’m using it to play my portable MP3 player with a pair of old Polk M3 monitors that I’d had in a closet for over a decade- I don’t think those speakers ever sounded better… in fact, I had no idea how good those speakers were! Now I’m considering buying a second one so I can use my unused JBL bookshelf monitors with my PC in a different room. The fact that it’s small and has the option to take batteries for portability are an added bonus.

The unit that I originally ordered lost the left channel after about a week (would just play a buzz out of that channel). I contacted Parts Express, they reassured me that they sell hundreds of these a week and rarely ever get one with a problem. They fixed me up right away. I’ve never been more satisfied with a customer care issue. My current unit has been going strong- 8 hours a day, 5 days a week, for 6 months. The DTA-1 and Parts Express both get my highest recommendation.