AIYIMA A08 PRO

Click pics to enlarge.

Letter from Hong Kong (22-11): ELO on Aiyima A08 Pro (1kg vs 20 kg)
Sidenote on Belden 9497

Editor's Notes: Readers may be interested in: 1) this Video of the Making of Aiyima T9 Pro. It shows in detail how an Aiyima product is made; 2) My Visit to AIyima.

Editor's Preface: 1) For regular readers, this article is somewhat unusual for a reason. For the longest time, this blog "reviews" things that the authors have bought on their own and want to write about (mrgoodsound and I bought T9 on our own). As a Stereophile writer remarked to me, we basically shoot from the hip. Although we can (not to the extent of youtube), we do not monetize and harbor no outside influence whatsoever (and, yes, sometimes we may even shoot a good guy, LOL). The only time I can remember otherwise was when VKmusic sent me an Elekit amp to review (which I sent back afterwards). So, declaration: Aiyima sent the amp to ELO for review, and he's buying the review sample. I have more to say in the Postscript, but I'd like to emphasize that I personally feel uncomfortable about getting freebies, no matter how cheap, either for review or measurement, and I ask our writers to do the same. It's fine to get shipped a sample for review, but to keep it for free is troubling for me, though that may be a widespread practice at the low end of Fi.

Aiyima A08 Pro Official Info

I have listened to many setups costing well above $1M HKD, but these days I am even more interested in what something selling for around $100USD can bring to the table. That was why some months ago I got interested in the Aiyima T9. This blog's journey with Aiyima started when I casually informed doctorjohn of it. (Not) Surprisingly, he bought one in Shenzhen and then wrote a long review (here). 4 months later, that review is still the most-read post of the blog, attesting to the interest Aiyima is stirring up. Ironically, as much as I have been intrigued by the company, I have yet to try out T9. Just when I was about to get one for fun, opportunity knocked, and I was given the chance to audition the A08 Pro, one of their recent amps! Doctorjohn had heard it (there is a brief video clip of the A08 Pro in his Aiyima Visit article, which is replicated at the bottom) and thought it'd be suitable for me, and I immediately jumped at the opportunity to test drive it! 

Aiyima A08 Pro Claiming 300Wx2, it is housed in a compact metal case which is quite cool and sturdy. The central depression can serve as an air duct if you stack something on top, but is designed to seat the vertically deployed "companion" T8 Preamp. It is even smaller than my reference amp, the iconic 47 Lab Gaincard. The front is simple, just knobs for volume and tone controls. And I like that SPL meter, kind of reminding me of Nagra and HiFi Rose (Ed: SPL, the expensive headphone amp brand, is another that comes to mind). Aside from the speaker binding posts, the back only sports the BT Antenna and RCA in (as there is no selector, BT has priority). The matching SM power supply is rated at 36V, which converts to 170Wx2 at 4ohms. I wondered if it would be powerful enough, or would I need 48V instead? But for the time being, I was going to stick with what I had.

Weighing barely 1 kg, will the Aiyima A08 Pro cohabitate with my more expensive peripherals and integrate into the system? Can this featherweight amp compete with other chunky amps weighing more than 20kg?? Well, let's find out.

After weeks of intense listening, my hitherto understanding of these cheapo Class D Amp had undergone significant changes. Mind you, most current NAD all-in-one integrated amps are running in Class D mode and they sound very decent too and people are buying them at much more expensive prices!

Before I even listened to this little amp, I had this typical review already well drafted in my mind (call me a biased bastard) and it would go like this:

😉My Predetermined script: “...As a class D amp, the unit does pump out copious amount of power, can go loud and clean and when paired with a $400USD speakers and a good entry level Streamer/Dac like Bluesound Node etc, you would get a great system that is off the charts in PQR! Sure, the sound may harden a bit when driven to its limit, but one must realise that we are looking at an amp costing only $120, give or take a few notes. So, what can one expect, right?”...and how wrong was I..."

I WAS COMPLETELY WRONG!! Those who follow my posts will know that these days I’m kinda "go small, go cheap" type of guy and I have been confident that my acquired knowhow can translate to the ability to spot bargain equipment. Certainly, A08 Pro gave me great pleasure and off the chart PQR, but I have to admit I was completely caught off-guard, even having expected it would be good given the favorable review from DJ on Aiyima T9. There were many revelations during this review process, which are eye opening to say the least. Let me come clean to start with:

• Discovery 1 Upon receiving this little amp, I had totally prepared myself to write something like my hypothetical review. How wrong was I! In many ways, this amp overturned my belief in HiFi equipment. With the A08 Pro, I was forced to use my best setup to squeeze out its maximum potential and I felt that it would go from strength to strength if paired with good associated equipment.

• Discovery 2 I would have never imagined that the A08 Pro has the potential to take away the spot of my 47 Lab Gaincard! As of now, I have no intention to switch back to my beloved Gaincard, nor hook up to my TVC icOn4 (I will soon I promise).

• Discovery 3 This amp has the guts and ability to drive my inefficient Dynaudio Crafft to a level which is simply FUN to listen with. Now I think I have finally released the full potential of my speakers. Sorry that it took so long, my Craffties...The Aiyima is much like an ant that is able to lift up objects that are easily 10 times its own weight.

Now, more details on the process.  

Setup and General Sound
When I received the A08 Pro, I hooked it up immediately, with source from my Streamer Wattson Emerson Analog (WEA) connected by my newly acquired “Dubious Studer” cable (which is indispensable to me by now), then Rayaudio’s magic little box. Speaker cables Gotham, and subwoofer from Audio Physic. I tested the BT with my phone and noticed there’s a gap when compared to playing Tidal music through WEA, so for most initial listening I used WEA as my source.

Once run in a little, the unit already sounded very good, with ample power driving my Dynaudio Crafft, to a level which I seldom was able to get to with my 47 Lab Gaincard, an issue that has been love and hate to me. Question is, will A08 Pro just play loud and lose all the nuance and musicality for which I treasure my 47 Lab? The answer is a big NO! This little guy got rhythm and PRAT and is also very musical as well. It also has great soundstaging; despite not being the deepest, it’s wide enough to fill my whole living room! I also hear nuances of musical instruments and details. Vocals are natural, uncanny and realistic, not at all without emotion. Highs are a tad on the dark side, but while they don’t sparkle there's no lack, smooth and soothing (perhaps it's also the signature of the Watt Emerson). Bass is solid, with body and authority, tuneful and with a tactility that is lifelike! Overall picture is very musical. On some music I detect some hardness on the edges, which may or may not be limitations or characteristics of Class D amp; I may want to use some softer cables to pair with it. My friend Dr Lo brought in his secret interconnect for me to try out, but while the midrange seemed fleshier and rounder, suddenly transients felt like the brake was applied and also missing were the previous foot tapping elements. Mystery IC turned out to be the VdH Carbon; there was just no synergy with the T08 Pro.

During the course of listening, I bought myself some LINN Skeet's on which to rest my speakers’ spikes. The result was that the music became more coherent, but with a slight shrinkage in width of soundstage, but I consider it a beneficial tradeoff. After listening to this combo for 2 weeks or more, I noticed that the amp had started to break-in, and the rough edges had mostly rounded off and the overall sound had become very balanced! Bravo, patience paid off!

Bluetooth with Youtube on TV
After a few weeks, I suddenly came to realize that I could hook it up to my TV, which has Bluetooth. The sound coming out from playing Youtube was such a joy that I kept searching for my familiar music video clips one after another and the sound had completely transformed. How to characterize? To describe it simply, it is fun to listen, very good organic sound; bass has kicks; vocals are natural - overall extremely enjoyable with the 55inch OLED screen playing pictures along with music.

Bluetooth vs Ethernet Connection
How is that different from my WEA? I would say the soundstage shrinks a bit, but not by much. Outline of instruments is a bit smudged compared to WEA but very close indeed. I have been utterly enjoying on Youtube all my favorite clips like Free National, Monsieur Perin, Alicia Keys, Masego from Tiny Desk, plus many others. I say it with confidence that I can live with listening to music using Bluetooth connection only. However, it seems like the BT from my TV sounds better than BT from my phone though. This is a huge advantage over my 47 Lab which does not have BT.

Wait, I’m comparing A08 Pro + BT with my 47 Lab + WEA even without considering the gulf in price!? I realize that while I was reviewing this unit, I did not take into account at all the price differentials! Without realising it, I have been treating this unit as a "proper" hifi gear, regardless of the price! And I have been surrounding it with all the excellent equipment I have, when more than 90% of the people who bought it will be pairing it with a pair of budget speakers costing probably at most a few hundred USD. However, the Aiyima has not been shy, not even one bit in front of these wonderful gear. Instead, it flourishes and passes the tests with flying colours. I likely do not need the 20kg transformer of a high-end Class A or AB amp when just a 1kg unit of Aiyima A08-Pro achieves this kind of result. Kudos to the engineers at Aiyima! It’s kinda like David and Goliath.

Con's of A-08 Pro - it's not perfect, but it does not need to be perfect
Are there any con's in it? This is not a perfect unit of course and, if I tell you so, I will be lying to you! But if I were to nitpick, it does not provide the pinpoint focus which a lot of audiophiles crave for, nor does it give you the ultra-smoothness and shimmer which a selected few (and very expensive) are capable of producing. Perhaps it’s not as good in portraying a whole orchestra with ease, and violins may not possess the ultimate satiny feel on the strings. Perhaps a tad more smoothness will not be remiss but, man, so much fun and excitement come from this tiny box, and that makes it really easy to forget about these shortcomings.

Emancipation of my Dynaudio Crafft
Astonishingly, the amp not only drives my power-hungry Dynaudio Crafft with ease, it does the job with joviality, musicality and strengths in soundstage, tonal accuracy, punchy bass lines, natural vocals and relatively open highs (despite being a tad dark). Without looking at the size, it is already a fine piece of serious hifi equipment. If you factor in the price as well, this is one heck of a music bargain. I do believe that, if you pair it properly with decent equipment, it will give you a truly amazing musical experience at a dirt-cheap price, priceless by today’s inflated standards.

Next step, I will hook it up with my icOn4 preamp and see if there’s any improvement. Also, I’m still waiting for my Luna Cable Gris for my speakers and Gris RCA for trial and see if the sound can further improve.

So far there is not even one moment that I miss my 47 Lab, which speaks volumes on how good the A08 Pro is, since I do treasure the sound of my 47 Lab a lot and once regarded it as endgame gear for me. A08 Pro changed my mind and I’m buying the Review Sample, period.

iCon4 atop Rayaudio preamp. 

What if I hook up a preamp in front of the A08-Pro?
The above referred to using the A08 Pro as an integrated amp, meaning using its volume knob. The other day, Dr Lo and another old classmate of us came to my place to listen to this amp. We were all delighted by the dynamic, clean and exciting sound that came out from this little gem. Then I hooked up to Ray's tube preamp and played it against my iCon4. With Ray's preamp the music took on more flesh and smoothness, and that is a positive direction. My iCon4 seemed to have narrower soundstage due to restraints in highs, with more emphasis on midrange accordingly.

Conclusion is that this little unit will definitely benefit from pairing with a nice preamp, probably a tubed one. So next step will likely to be either Nagra PLP or Shindo Claret to go with it~~ (so far, just fantasy!)

Interlude: Gotham 54240 vs Belden 9497 小插曲

I have always heard good things about the renowned Belden 9497 and always suspect the Gotham is the weaker link, hence I ordered the Luna Gris Speaker Cable to try out. It just happened that my friend wanted to get a pair of decent speaker wires, and so I recommended the 9497, and ordered an extra pair for myself. Took 3 days and, upon receiving them, I tried it out without hesitation.

My oh my, fresh start with cold feet, the 9497 beats the Gotham 54240 by a very wide margin.

In a nutshell, 30%+ increase in PRAT, more solid bass, wider soundstage, better definition and microdynamics, better attenuation and decay of instruments. Seems like the better the equipment or accessory you insert into the system, the A08 Pro will benefit from it directly. Feet tapping ratio is now sky high and I faintly recall my Linn LP12 Naim pre/power combo some 39 years ago! Having gone around in circles for so many years, now I'm back to square one, LMAO, but definitely in a good way. Will run it in 24/7 to see how much it would improve!

Verdict
Am I overly enthusiastic, or have I lost my cool by this amp (DJ asked this question)? Well, when something that costs less than 120USD can make such an impact on my system, this is almost unthinkable before for me. Previously, I was ignorant about what Class D can bring to the table, but now I know.  That is to say, when designed properly, like Aiyima. I'm sure their engineers have put in loads of effort, and not a little love, in getting the sound.

Do I recommend it? A thousand yes is not enough to express my mind! Wholeheartedly recommended!

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Editor's Postscript: I'm actually somewhat astonished by the positively huge response from ELO. Not because of any doubt about the A08 Pro, not at all, just a question of magnitude. And I'm really pleased, as ELO has done what I'd have done for worthwhile cheap gear - that is, not comparing it to similarly priced stuff, but trying our best to get the most out of it. That shows again his commitment and integrity. Not to forget, many people likely have not run in the gear before commenting, and this review took well over a month!

• Something about Dynaudio This is strictly my opinion (though icefox would likely agree with me). This company's tech savvy is beyond doubt, but does tech always ensure a good product? No. ELO's Crafft sports likely the most iconic tweeter ever: the ESOTAR. I kid you not, there are many people who embrace this tweeter to the grave. My treasured Sonus faber Electa Amator II is always less valued than Mk I because it does not employ the Esotar. I don't agree with this, but that shows you the fierce devotion to the Esotar. There is little question the Esotar is a little "darker" than modern tweeters, but then we also know many modern wannabees are simply too bright. No matter, the Esotar is a great tweeter for many, legendary for its texture. I provide this info just to put things in context. The thornier issue concerns Dyna's woofers, which I personally have always had a problem with, the more modern ones the more so (the best deployment to me was the BBC LS5/12; it's not just my opinion that other manufacturers use Dyna drivers better than they do themselves - witness the classic Sonus faber's and Ruark's). They are the antithesis of what I like, paper woofers and surrounds. To me, most Dyna speakers are not quite coherent in the integration between tweeter and woofer. The more modern, mostly the worse. Now, the vinatge Crafft is likely one of the best Dyna's in our opinion. It can sound deadly dull in the wrong hand, for sure, and I have experienced that eons ago. All this is to tell you, it's not that easy to get a lively and tactile sound out of high end Dyna's. That was why I thought the powerful and spritely A08 Pro would be a good fit for ELO's Crafft, and I'm happy that it turned out that way. As an owner of the Gaincard, I understand totally ELO's conundrum; with my efficient loudspeakers, the Gaincard would sail smoothly, 

• My experience with the A08 Pro I haven't written it up, and my fellow writers don't even know about it, but maybe it's time to leak some info (a brief survey is underway). After my latest visit, I took home a bunch of Aiyima gear, and I immersed myself in them for quite a while. You'd be surprised, every outwardly similar model has its own personality, and there is no hands down best! I really enjoyed the A08 Pro with my reference system. Although my speakers are the total antithesis of ELO's, being very high efficiency, they threw up, just as ELO mentioned, such a huge soundstage that I was mesmerized. What I also noticed was the disarming rhythmic fortitude, seemingly a character of the brand. In terms of refinement, it was trumped by the older, and much less powerful, A8 (Infineon chip) but, again, the latter lacks some excitement. You can't have everything (true for the lowest to the highest end) but the A08 Pro held its own. Very youthful, engaging sound.

• This has nothing to do with this article, but while I was researching Infineon I came across their How a chip is made article - fun!

Boy, where's the amp?

A08 Pro in action at Aiyima

Aiyima T9 GE 5654 5725 PS Upgrade

Click pics to enlarge.

Review: Aiyima T9, Part II

T9, Part I

Part II picks up loose ends, and took place in my less used Living Room, which had nonetheless been transformed by some recent arrivals, as detailed in my “New Trajectory” article. Since I published that, I have tweaked the system here and there, and it is increasingly satisfying, if not quite on the level of my primary system in the study but qualifying for somewhat more casual listening.

All Listening with the Anubris "LS3/5A"

It should be noted that the “LS3/5A” is less efficient than the Floorstanding Sansui in the study. In the latter, after significant revamping (here), I can get utter tube bliss with my APPLause 300B amp - no apologies, no if’s, and’s or but’s. Not quite so in the larger LR. As to whether this loudspeaker really replicates the legendary BBC sound, the answer is more complicated and shall have to wait for a later article.

As Integrated Amp with Anubis LS3/5A
The T9 did a very competent job, just as it did with my main loudspeakers in the study (see Part I). 

As Preamp with Aosibao 6P1 PSE Amp
The T9 did, and still does, a good job as a Preamp, driving the 6P1 amp, which is likely a watt or two less powerful than the 300B amp now residing in the study. Compared to the T9, the 6P1 amp is audibly less powerful and on the soft side, but it is tonally opulent and graceful even when pushed to its limits (you hear it as a flattening of dynamics rather than outright clipping). This is a big room, but this tube man still chooses it despite its limitations (the 300B amp does even better but it is reserved now for the study). In this scenario, as with all low powered amps (SET or not) the contribution of the preamp becomes very critical. I shall have more coming in due time in this regard. In case you wonder how competent the T9 is as a preamp, let me inform you I also tested the tiny Xinyi (Sini) (here, and also in bottom pic) and, while it is a very competent amp, it fails utterly with its Aux Out as preamp. This shows you the Pre-Out of T9 is solid and not just a value-added thing.

Tube Rolling

Here we have some widely available cheap (latter day green letters) GE tubes that we can use. Mind you, the green lettered ones are abundant and the cheapest, but older variants are inevitably better sounding. The 5654 is not an exact 6K4 equivalent, rather that of the Chinese 6J1/Russian 6Ж1П /EF95/6AK5 (the latter available in much more expensive WE version, including even earlier 403A; should you really want to splurge a little, you may want to read about my considerable previous experience in the well-chronicled Yamamoto CA-04 Preamp, and, more briefly with the FX-TUBE-01). The 5654 confers a more textured sound, though the stock 6K4 is likely a little more open. Just recently, I was loaned the 5725 (in spec’s more akin to Chinese 6J2/Russian 6Ж2П; also WE 409A) and it is a different sound: more extended at either end, a little louder and seemingly more dynamic, though sometimes showing a slightly rough edge, which nonetheless seems to benefit some material; ultimately, I’d think the 5654 is more balanced and closer to the more neutral sound of 6K4, but do try the 5725 as it is ultra-cheap and fun (yes, I'm going to get my own pair too). For a very small outlay, tube rolling is fun. I’d not bother getting the Riverstone stuff - the premium can be better spent getting other older NOS or used variants.

USB vs BT

By this round I had received a length of my favorite Unitek cable, this time USB A to B rather than the A to Mini I had long used with my Meridian Explorer. It took rather long to open up; in the end it sounds rather close to, but not quite the same as the A to Mini with adaptors (as detailed in Part I). Nonetheless, after running in, it’s obviously superior to the BT.

Power Supply

I only tested this with T9 as Preamp, but it makes a big difference. With a humble and cheap adjustable SMPS (around USD 4; rated 3A, lower left corner, on upper shelf, in top pic) I experimented with different voltages. The T9 specifies 18-30V, and the stock PS is 24V. I tried all voltages, but preferred the lower ones for more refinement, and I settled on 19V. As preamp, the T9 is warm to touch, and draws a steady 0.38 A only. Things took a significant leap when I switched to a somewhat more expensive, albeit still SM, PS (lower shelf in top pic and also bottom pic; around USD 30). More easeful and further refinement. My unit can go up to 30V and 5A, enough for more applications. Reassuringly, it also can cap voltages and currents, a good safety feature. IMHO, if you take home one message here, it’s that a good and still very cheap SMPS is a considerable improvement on wall warts. Don’t get hung up on expensive custom LPS. I have not tested its effect on the amp as a whole, but as a believer that the front-end is the most critical, I'm confident in my recommendation. Mind you, there are many to pick from; I just picked one that looks appealing to me.

There’s a lot more to say on the other stuff, but here’s not the place.

Spica Snell Quad Vandersteen 3/5A Reference 3A AR etc

Click pics to enlarge. Starting from Leftmost Rack. Rega Planet Mk.1, Denon DP-1250, Quicksilver Mini-Mites, Eric Yam DACT passive, iFi Zen Blue, Lite Audio DAC-AH DAC; Rack to its right, custom 2A3 SE, Darkvoice, CJ PV-1, Bellari passive, JLH 1969, Sugden A21, Theta DS Pro DAC, Applause Audio 300B SE (tugged into the corner, amp filaments on), iFi Zen Phono, Zhili Audio 834 phono. Of course, the legendary Spica Angelus. Custom 6V6 seen on the floor. And in the upper right corner, you can catch a glimpse of a sliver of the Proac Super Tablette. That Angelus has me drooling!

The Treasure House of R. Salamat

Editor: I take the greatest pleasure to introduce Ray, who shall be joining our ranks. Ray is a veteran, both in terms of his experience and internet presence. As he mentioned below, he was a participant in the early years of the venerable Audio Asylum (moniker triodont). While I didn't go there often, many times I did to ask for help, and the inmates have always been very helpful. Ray left a comment on the bargain Chinese APPLause 300B amp after I posted a snippet. I asked him to email me, and he did, and a few emails later I knew I had to invite him onboard. What he sent for his first article here is pretty condensed. What I really appreciate is that it succinctly contains much wisdom gained over time, much like what M. Surdi sent to us from Italy. I had to resist very hard to add many footnotes to the article, as I probably had owned half of his stuff. But, not having been based in the US for long periods at a time, I had missed much of his loudspeaker experience. I, for one, would love to have him write articles on Spica and Snell. Welcome! 

Music was a veritable minefield back in the late 60’s and the 70’s, when I was growing up. I had a very impressionable mind, with lots of fertile space to cultivate and grow. Somehow that little seed of music heard on the airwaves implanted itself in me - helping me find some solace, refuge, comfort, and imagination during my less-than-ideal upbringing – all of this being delivered by a funky brown little transistor radio that was playing all sorts of tunes, Amplitude Modulation-style, baby. Remember that sound…warm, whooshy, spacious, severely bandwidth-limited, yet strangely free sounding enough, and ethereal? It was a likely consequence of the available technology then: ribbon mics, magnetic tape, idler-driven turntables, big oscillator-type tubes or some such used in the recordings or the broadcast itself; or maybe it’s really just acquired knowledge today making me romanticize how I came to love that sound? And also, there I was…without ever hearing of Paul Klipsch, I would prop up that transistor radio on the top of the naugahyde-upholstered couch where it met the wall corner so the sound could go fuller and louder. Necessity, as always, was the mother of invention. Or was it imagination, I forget. But hours of listening to that little thing, I do remember!

As a grown-up, the need to “chase the dragon” of good music wrapped in that cozy, warm sound led me to sample all kinds of speaker types and amp topologies, either through somehow finding a way to afford them or forcing my way (nicely) into other fellow audio nerds’ more exotic and ambitious systems. Why is it always Speaker and Amp, Amp and Speaker? Because to me, like a real love affair, that’s where the magic lies - that happy confluence of matching, alchemy, and a bit of fairy dust. You just know it when you hear it. I have had SETs, Class A SS, OTLs, gainclones (that name btw, I comically coined unintentionally when a friend helped me build the “first known” DIY one and I posted it on Audio Asylum. Shoulda copywritten, right?) Naim, Pass, Krell, etc. I’ve had vintage tubes, high-power pentodes, hybrids, etc. And I’ve had electrostatics (Quads, CLSs), cones, time-aligned, higher-order, crossover-less, full-rangers, DIY ribbons (but no horns at home, sadly).

This is my conclusion, above all: A great design is a great design, no matter the topology, no matter the radiating surface! A great design transcends whatever methodology or technology used. And so, to that end, I ended up with audio items that to me celebrate what is great design; coincidentally, most of them are considered as “classics” in some parts, but perhaps deigned as just plain old by others. These old and maybe obsolete pieces do allow me to catch up from time to time to that elusive “dragon” I’ve been chasing ever since that funky brown transistor radio fell from its perch on the wall corner and spilled its guts and wires on the tiled floor.

My systems are all incorporated into normal day-to-day living, so I don’t get too crazy with speaker set-ups being halfway into the room. Sure, I may forego some depth in the presentation, but even then, with the speakers I use and the sound level I require (which very rarely get even into the low 90’s), I don’t feel that it’s a hard compromise at all. I like Spica’s, I have all the models, TC-50, TC-60, SC-30, SC-50, and the Angelus. The latter, probably on balance, my favorite speakers that I’ve had in my home. I have driven them with everything from a Naim Nait 1 to a Bedini 25/25 to Quicksilvers to 300B’s or even 2A3’s. Sound equally good with any of them. People say their appearance is “ugly”, I say they are “form follows function”, even Bauhaus like in looks, completely unseen before or since. John Bau to me was a genius designer. Peter Walker, as we all know, was another genius designer. I had Quads for a number of years, as well; both 57’s and 63’s. They were happy years, too, but I have no patience for the upkeep anymore. Peter Snell’s designs have been a staple for me, too. I still have Type K’s and Type AII’s, and I’ve owned the JII’s before. They are so easy to live with. Vandersteen 1b’s I like for change in pace, they are also efficient (90dB) for a Vandersteen. I also love mini-monitors / bookshelf speakers, and they are distributed all around the house, and switched in and out from several spots every now and then: LS50’s, LS3/5A’s, SF Concertino’s, Reference 3A de Capo’s, Proac Super Tablettes. I still have a pair of old but sweet and kickin’ SMGa’s.

List of amplifiers I have owned will be too long and boring to read, but I will share some random impressions I’ve had over the years. The one consistent quality in the amplifiers I have kept around is their being of low power. These have been the ones that have made me want to endlessly listen to music. I firmly believe they are just better at handling low-level signal and have a more benign distortion profile than high-powered amps. Some classic combo’s for me (in my room) have been: PP 6L6’s and LS3/5A’s, 2A3SET and Snell Type K’s, PP KT88/8417’s or Quad 303 and TC-50s, 300BSET and Ref3A de Capo or the Angelus, Nait1 or Bedini 25/25 and ESL57’s. NAD 3020A and KEF LS50’s, surprisingly!

I don’t know what the future holds for me. Doctorjohn has suggested that maybe I should try horns. I like horns. The best of its kind I’ve heard are the JBL Hartsfields with some assist from JBL horn tweeters (075s, I believe). My space is limited and I do cohabit with other creatures who mean more to me than my pieces of equipment, no matter how attached I am to some of them. If the horns do come, my wall corners will be ready for them. I might even find some naugahyde-covered couch to go with them.

Same as top photo, but the AR ES-1 replaces the Denon TT

CAL Delta, Quad 303, Arylic BT, FM155 clone, Border Patrol SE-I DAC, Schiit Modi MM, 

Apple TV Gen.2 for Internet Radio, Icepower amp, Naim Nait 1, Spica TC-50

same as photo above but speakers are Reference 3A de Capo-I’s

KEF LS50, LS3/5As (backs), Sugden A51, Snell Type A2, Denon DP-1250, 

Robertson 4010, Monarchy M22, B&K ST-140

A Close Up

Aiyima Visit T9 T5 A08 Pro

Click pics to enlarge. Top, the factory.

Letter from Shenzhen (22-14): Visit to Aiyima, Part I

Editor's Note 2/2/23: Readers may be interested in this newly published Video of the Making of Aiyima T9 Pro. It shows in detail how an Aiyima product is made.

Addendum 10/31/22: Aiyima A08 Pro Review published.

Revised 10/6/22: some more design process, including meters, added. Even if you have read it, you may want to re-read.

When I first came back to SZ (early 2021) my NYC friend Andy suggested I sought out some of the local manufacturers to highlight. Good idea, but then I had no impetus. As I had mentioned in my recent Aiyima T9 article, I was basically dormant until earlier this year, when I bought the T9, and it triggered my recent activities (detailed here).

The Aiyima website has a local SZ number, which I then called to ask some questions. The fellow, Ben, quickly added me to his Wechat. When I expressed my interest in the company, they quickly formed a Wechat group and the discussions took off from there.

For two months I just asked some technical questions, and they also informed me of some new projects, like the T5 which they have just rolled out. I kept track of the Stats on the blog, and it astonishes me how the T9 article has maintained its position ever since its publishing at the top (at one point I was shocked there were 600+ hits in a 7 day period). That’s not a credit to me, but it gives you an idea about the general interest in the product.

A week ago I finally felt comfortable enough to initiate a visit. It was about an hour from my home by public transportation and I was there by mid-morning. I was met by the Boss, Mr. Liu (center); Sales, Mr, Deng (right); and Engineer, Mr. Guo (left). The latter I had become familiar with on our Wechat group as he answers most of my questions. They are all much younger than I.

Now, I was quite surprised by how young this company is across the board. Where I visited was the headquarters, not the factory. The meeting room is not very large, where the 4 of us sat and drank some tea. Outside was a larger office, where there were a surprisingly large number of workers in Sales and Service (as they do worldwide), and they were moving around, not just sitting mannequin-like. See the photo for the Ping Pong and Soccer Tables! After I talked to them in the meeting room, we went for a short session in the smallish Listening Room, where testing takes place. It is also where photo shoots take place. When we entered, a photographer was doing his work but he yielded to us. It was getting close to lunch, and we didn’t spend that much time in the Listening Room (at my insistence). I didn’t need to spend that much time because what I heard was quite satisfying (see videos below) and I used my own music folders on the Chinese Netease (网易云) App streamed through Bluetooth.

I like this Company Culture! Staff is obviously relaxed. In case you don’t know, SZ is the foremost tech city in China (in terms of IT), and talents are grabbed up and well treated. Not at all the older model (like China of old and Japan), with endless overtime and almost no time off. Young people today just don’t take to that.

Now, to some of the stuff we talked about and tested.

How long has the Company been Around It shocks me that it has been around only since 2016, a very young company.

How was the Company Founded Founder Mr Liu loves music but is not at all an audiophile. He was in other businesses before as Yima, so when he decided to enter this business he just added Ai, love in Chinese, to the name. You can see that in the photos. But he obviously had found the right people to assist him.

Where is the Factory The factory (in Guangming, 光明) is operated by Mr Liu’s friend, about an hour away in SZ from the headquarter. Mr Liu forwarded a few pics of the factory, but I hope to visit it personally soon.

A Completely Different Business Model Why is the same product sold under many different names? Mr Liu’s friend’s factory OEM’s for a lot of people. Perhaps, and I’m not sure, some of them have small design changes, but...More importantly, from what I understand, these brands, Aiyima, Suca, Douk, Nobosound etc, compete as well as cooperate. Some would re-brand something without hesitation (same factory) and use their own sales base. This is pretty unthinkable in the West. Grant you, the products are similar (a testament to the very high level achieved with cheap digitals now) and, if you ask me, there is not much room for breakthrough.

How to Go Forth? Engineer Guo told me, if you design something successful, and license it to others, then you have to immediately start to design an improvement! Absolutely! One can possibly make more money with a new design (but not always), and profit margins are VERY thin. Aiyima has some new products on the horizon, and they are planning a slightly more upmarket line.

Optimizing the Sound Anyone with a rudimentary knowledge of circuits know that the circuit does not define everything. Take the simplest of tube design, where the coupling capacitors (different values and brands) change the sound so significantly that one is sometimes shocked. A good sounding gear is not just a coincidence - the designer listens and tweaks constantly. It doesn't matter if it is a USD 100K Swiss amp or a USD 100 Chinese digital amp, some painstaking listening is behind the successful products. Early on, Mr Guo told me of the then evolving T5. A little later, I asked him how it was going. He said the bass was not quite to his satisfaction, so he was tuning it. Yes, these little digital things may look faceless in a crowded field, but there are human faces behind them.

That Delightful Meter Very early on I had told Mr. Guo on wechat that part of the appeal of the T9 comes from the pretty little meter - we are unrepenting suckers for surface beauty (you shall notice that both tube amps I bought have meters). This time he told me that meters, due to their analog nature, are very difficult to source now. They were mostly made by Taiwanese manufacturers, which had stopped making them. I was also told that it takes effort to calibrate the meters properly. A lot of work for non-sonic reasons! :-)

Hardship of Selling on Amazon, and logistical Nightmares Consumer protection is a good thing, but carried too far it is a very bad thing. Amazon is basically totally customer based and make harsh demands on sellers. Its 2 month return policy harms small manufacturers like Aiyima. I asked what’s the percentage of returns, and Mr Deng told me it could be as high as 10% - what makes it unpalatable is that most returns are not because of “problems” (like relay clicks) but simply “it doesn’t sound like I imagined” or “it’s not what I’m looking for”. I personally have long abhorred the US return policy. 1 week, good; 1 month, stretching it; 2 months, ridiculous. I have bought untold number of items on Amazon, but all after careful consideration and research - and I have never returned even one item. I’m proud of that, and I think that makes the planet greener. I can understand a return because of defect, but look down on casting a wide net, ordering a lot and returning a lot. These people are not thoughtful people, and the back and forth courier pollute the planet immensely. No wonder America is the world’s No. 1 Polluter, but it’s poor countries in Africa and, say, Pakistan, that suffer the direst consequences of Climate Change, despite producing negligible pollutants. Now, for a US company, returns can be sent back to the factory, and easily sold as Open Box perhaps. But small Chinese companies have no US division, so they have to improvise and find someone to accept returns. That someone would charge a re-stocking fee, and Aiyima still has not found a way to sell their returns. I suggested going the Open Box route, but that too has its logistical difficulties. And the fees that Amazon charge is increasingly difficult to bear, more than the profit margin actually.

Despite considerable difficulties, I hope all these Chinese companies soldier on. I shall no doubt re-visit and I hope to get to the factory soon. This visit to an audio company is My First, and I hope there are more to come despite my laziness.

The demonstrations below employ two Nobsound loudspeakers. The upper one with the horn loaded tweeter is the one seen on Aiyima's website. The one below is much larger and an astonishing bargain. At around USD 300, it's absurd that one gets a ribbon tweeter, and dome midrange! All listening through BT. I heard the new T5, also a prototype of the extensively re-designed "T9" (the front will sport not only the analog meter, but also an additional digital display; a new model number will be assigned; because of parts costs, there shall be a proportionally significant price increase; the original T9 will stay in production). Also, the A08 Pro, which has already temporarily sold out. I hope this blog will provide reviews of some of these items in the not so distant future.

T5 through BT. Phono not tested (will arrange later). Samara Joy.

T9. Van Morrison of course.

A08 Pro

More photos of the Factory

The Factory's Sound Room seems more completely furnished. 

Where is Tannoy Made Stirling

Letter from Shenzhen (22-13): Where is Tannoy Made? Stirling

If you have read M Surdi's Tannoy articles, you would have read intimations that there are many questions on where Tannoy's Prestige series is made. Well, guess what, he just alerted me to the latest Ken Micallef Stereophile Review of the Stirling Pretige Gold Reference. While I thank Ken for providing a lot of details on the company, I particularly appreciate him asking all the questions, but I can't help but feel that Kevin Deal is not completely upfront with his answers. There is a new factory in Scotland??? Why doesn't he tell us where it is and give us a pic or two? And cabinets have been made in a Poland factory for decades - that is also kinda new to me, but I'm not surprised. Well, well...I personally have never liked secretive companies...and the current management of Tannoy definitely disappoints.

Back to the Stirling. The current Prestige series has been around, and I have heard this loudspeaker (slight difference in previous iterations) in a previous home visit (briefly here). And one of my good friends in HK had long used the slightly larger Turnberry (one model up) though I have never written him up for some reason.

One thing that should be kept in mind. As I have mentioned in my Canterbury articles, it takes forever for these HE (hard-edge) surrounds to free up and for the sound to blossom. That certainly happened to me, and my Turnberry friend. The time that Ken had was likely too short for the Stirling to fully blossom. Ya, the treble energy controls help during the break-in period. this kind of mechanical break-in takes a lot longer than electronic ones.

Last, decades ago there was the old Stirling. A picture is seen below. It is not as tall as the current one, and the baffle is garnished with cork. To prop it up, there is a matching base pedestal. I think it's very nice. They used to be seen quite a lot in HK second-hand shops, but no more, likely all mopped up by mainland China buyers. Note that that period used foam surrounds, which inevitably deteriorate over time.