AudioSource AMP series amplifiers are designed for home and commercial audio distribution systems where high quality sound, flexibility, and reliability are essential. The AMP 100 features 2 independent channels rated at 60 watts per channel into 4 ohms (50 watts RMS at 8 ohms). The AMP-100 boasts a precise frequency response of 20 Hz to 20 kHz and total harmonic distortion of 0.02 percent. Additional features include A, B, or A+B speaker selector switches, front-panel mounted volume and balance knobs, and five-way binding posts that work with both bare wire and banana plugs.
$ 129.99
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489 of 500 people found the following review helpful
 Good amp for people who will read a manual and think things through., By
Kluutmahn “Audio Pragmatist” (Alabama) – See all my reviews
Verified Purchase(What’s this?)
This review is from: AudioSource AMP-100 Stereo Power Amplifier (Electronics)
I’ve owned one of these amps now for about six months. All the complaints I’ve read in the reviews have come from people who obviously can’t be bothered to read, pay attention, or think things through. I’m specifically referring to Auto Input Switching/Power, lack of features, and output power. First, this is NOT an integrated amp. Nor is it designed to be used primarily as a standalone system. It is intended to be used as a node on a distributed music system. The feature set for this unit has this use in mind. It can function as a standalone unit but if you are going to use it as such you need to use it with a pre-amp or with an input source that provides adequate line in, input selection and the tone/equalization control you want. Second, the auto input switching. The manual isn’t clear on this and the feature can’t be switched off, which is why I docked it a star. But some reading and thought will provide the solution. The auto input feature is only on input 1. If you run your primary input to input 2 you will have no problem with auto switching cutting off your music during quiet passages or after the track has started. If you need to use multiple sources without the auto switch cutting the input then you need to use external input switching (see pre-amp above) and make sure the switch/pre-amp is fed to input 2 on the amp. Auto-power on issues: This feature can be turned on or off by way of a selector switch on the rear panel of the amp. Default is on. This is in the manual. “It doesn’t have a sub out”: No, but it does have a line out/pass-through for input 2 which can be used for a sub out. “It isn’t loud enough”: One of two things is happening here; 1. The line in isn’t sufficient to properly drive the amp. 2. The speakers aren’t efficient enough. If you are running speakers with less than 90db sensitivity you won’t get decent performance from this or any other “low power” amp. I’m using Athena AS-B1.2’s and I’m getting more than adequate volume and bass response. I recommend these (under 0 if you shop around) or the Athena AS-B2.2. Klipsch, Infinity, JBL, and Yamaha all make some nice bookshelf units with 90db sensitivity or better that would work nicely with this unit. Just because this is an inexpensive amp doesn’t mean you can get away with cheap speakers. “There isn’t enough bass”: 1. Make sure the source is providing enough bass input. If the source doesn’t have a tone control for bass you may need to use a pre-amp. 2. Use better speakers. When I first got my amp the speakers I had ordered for it were delayed, so I used some old early 80’s bookshelf speakers to test the amp out. Those speakers had no bass at all, or treble, or much midrange. Basically it sounded like an AM pocket radio. When the Athenas came in and were properly broken in the sound improved greatly. It also helps to have the speakers placed properly. If your speakers are rear vented they don’t need to be in an enclosed space or pushed up against a wall (I see this all the time, even on store displays). My experiences with this Amp: I ordered this amp with a pair of Athena AS-B1.2 bookshelf speakers for use in my home office. Inputs are from my PC (by USB DAC) and an iPod dock. Both inputs run through an audio switch to input 2 on the amp. The files played through it are a mix of OGG, FLAC, AAC, ALAC, WAV, and MP3. Mostly FLAC. I was impressed by the fit and finish of the unit out of the box. I’ve seen many allegedly high end products that don’t have this level of finish (Cameras, turntables, TV, PC Cases, Cars, etc.). The weight is substantial. As near as I can tell by looking through the vent slots the transformer takes up at least half the case. The power lines in my house aren’t very clean and I have hum issues with most A/V equipment I own, but I have yet to hear any hum (in normal conditions) from this amp when turned all the way up, even when it’s been plugged into outlets that give other equipment fits. The only way to get hum is to touch an input with a finger. In normal use the background is dead silent. Good power supply. The design is minimalist and clean. The only panel controls are power, speakers, volume and balance. It is low profile and unobtrusive and gives off very little heat, even when left on (with the volume turned down). Mine doubles as a monitor stand, LCDs only. There are two inputs but they are auto switched. The first input is the auto switch input, as stated above. This means that if an input is detected it will switch to input 1 over input 2. It is fairly sensitive and will switch back and forth during pauses or quieter passages in the music. If you listen to a lot of Jazz, classical, or chamber music with pauses and quiet bits you will definitely want to use input 2 to prevent it from dropping out during those passages. There is an autopower feature as…
93 of 99 people found the following review helpful
 Solid product!, By
modifiedcontent (Brooklyn, NY) – See all my reviews
This review is from: AudioSource AMP-100 Stereo Power Amplifier (Electronics)
I had the reported switching problem (“UPDATE: This device has one annoying defect … a “clever” feature of switching inputs automatically when it senses no input on one of the two stereo inputs … any stretch of silence will cause it to switch”). I called AudioSource and I have to give them credit. The problem is relatively easy to solve by using Input 2 instead of Input 1 if you’re only using one input.
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96 of 110 people found the following review helpful
Compact solution to complement my IPOD, By
Julie (Hermosa Beach, CA USA) – See all my reviews
Verified Purchase(What’s this?)
This review is from: AudioSource AMP-100 Stereo Power Amplifier (Electronics)
My stereo configuration is four KLH outdoor “rock” (they look like pieces of granite) speakers, an IPOD, and a ten-inch deep book shelf that I wanted to use as the location for the amplifier. I looked at Fry’s, Best Buy, and Circuit City and couldn’t find anything that was compact enough to fit on the bookshelf unless I went really high-end with a Bose setup. I had a spare Sony surround receiver that worked fine, except that it didn’t fit the shelf, plus I wasn’t really looking for all the bells and whistles of the receiver because I won’t be using this setup to watch TV, my CD’s are all on iTunes now, and I get crummy radio reception at my house. So, the technical requirements were to be able to drive the four speakers using a line-in level input coming from the IPOD. Pretty simple.
Anyhow, I purchased the Audiosource AMP100 amplifier on Amazon (to my consternation they dropped the price 3 bucks between the time I placed the order and when I received it) and it arrived in about a week using the free shipping option. It came well packed and sealed, and was as simple to set up as you’d expect of a unit like this. So far, I have tested it once and it worked fine, in fact it sounded a little better than the Sony. All four speakers were being driven normally in A+B mode. I haven’t tested the auto-on feature, but it allows the box to power up automatically when it senses a signal on one of two audio inputs. The power plug on the back of the unit is unswitched (always powered). If I have any problems with the unit I’ll update this post, but so far, so good. 0 |
