Open Forum

Hello,

In a post of yours seeking information regarding digital repeaters Alan Eidson  points to Technovision, Alcorn McBride, and BrightSign as being the main product manufacturers he integrates.  Original Post

Looking at those manufacturers for amps, I found:

• Brightsign didn't seem to have what you were looking for
• Technovision's TecMp3 
• Alcorn McBride's AmpTraxx

Unfortunately, both the Technovision and the Alcorn may be overkill and aren't going to be nearly as cheap as the Radio Shack amps.

Realistic or Radio Shack brand amps can be found for $30 and under rather easily, if you want to go with Old Faithful; however, that'll require buying used gear from Ebay, exhaustive searches through the "But-it-now" and taking the sellers word about working condition. I don't know if that's even a possibility.  For a personal quick project a $30 dollar gamble wouldn't shy me away, but, you have more serious considerations regarding reliability, warranty, etc.  A lot of these cheaper ones comparable to the old Radio Shack are probably prone to frying with the constant use an exhibition requires.

I don't guess I was much help, but, the post interested me enough that I to look around and thought I might as well share. Furthermore, my current role in the museum is not in audio/visual.  I'm just an amateur AV mad-scientist on a tight budget myself, and I'm always interested in learning about gear solutions and applications.

Good Luck

------------------------------
Ryan Broughman
Virginia Museum of Fine Arts
Richmond VA

Original Message:
Sent: 02-05-2016 10:58 AM
From: Curtis Morris
Subject: Small stereo amplifiers for exhibit sound FX

Hello,

 

We used to buy nice, cheap 10w/channel (or thereabouts) stereo amplifiers from Radio Shack, but apparently that's no longer an option.  I used my last RS amp on a video project, so I'm in the market  for inexpensive amps to power future exhibit sound FX.

On-line searches uncovered a myriad of small Chinese amps, but the user comments and specs don't inspire confidence. Not wishing to experiment, I'm wondering which amps you folks are using?  Of course price is a factor, but reliable, clean, full-range sound up to about 5w/channel is all we really need.  What say you?

 

Thanks,

Curtis Morris

Exhibits

Shiloh Museum of Ozark History

118 W. Johnson Ave

Springdale AR 72764

www.shilohmuseum.org

cmorris@springdalear.gov

 

 

Here are a couple inexpensive options (about $25 each) - and, yes, inexpensive Chinese stuff. 

Lepai LP-2020A+ Tripath TA2020 Class-T Hi-Fi Audio Amplifier with Power Supply

Lepai LP-A68 Digital 2 x 15W Amplifier with Remote/USB/MP3/SD/FM

The first is a 20W/channel amp that will accept input from either a 3.5mm or stereo RCAs. The second is 15W/channel that takes the same inputs as the other, but it also works as an FM receiver and plays MP3 files from an SD card or a USB thumb drive.

I have not used them in the gallery but I do use them at home. The sound is great!

Hope this helps. 

------------------------------
David Kennedy
Curator of Collections and Exhibits
US Marshals Museum
Fort Smith, AR

Original Message:
Sent: 02-05-2016 10:58 AM
From: Curtis Morris
Subject: Small stereo amplifiers for exhibit sound FX

Hello,

 

We used to buy nice, cheap 10w/channel (or thereabouts) stereo amplifiers from Radio Shack, but apparently that's no longer an option.  I used my last RS amp on a video project, so I'm in the market  for inexpensive amps to power future exhibit sound FX.

On-line searches uncovered a myriad of small Chinese amps, but the user comments and specs don't inspire confidence. Not wishing to experiment, I'm wondering which amps you folks are using?  Of course price is a factor, but reliable, clean, full-range sound up to about 5w/channel is all we really need.  What say you?

 

Thanks,

Curtis Morris

Exhibits

Shiloh Museum of Ozark History

118 W. Johnson Ave

Springdale AR 72764

www.shilohmuseum.org

cmorris@springdalear.gov

 

 

Thanks Ryan and David!

the AmpTraxx system is perhaps overkill but basically what I'm looking for, we'll see what price they quote us.

The Technovision audio player with built in amp would solve some problems.  In the past I've had to use a separate amp to control the audio from various sources, the all-in-one units from Techno would be much simpler.  However, we still have lots of simple looping MP3 players in use, I hate to scrap those players because, well, they still work.  Those will always need a separate amplifier, hence my search.

David, how are those Chinese amps holding up?  I've been looking at those for a while but the reviews on those are often mixed.  Still, there's not a lot of money involved, might be worth taking a risk. 

Turns out a friend of mine is the electronic engineer for the company that owns Brightsign. Still waiting to see what he comes up with.

Final note--all of my old Radio Shack amps still work, many having been in use 9-5, 6 days a week for over 20 years!  That's the yardstick I'm using to gauge reliability.  Might have to lower my bar a little.

------------------------------
Curtis Morris
Exhibits Manager
Shiloh Museum of Ozark History
Springdale AR

Original Message:
Sent: 02-08-2016 09:55 AM
From: David Kennedy
Subject: Small stereo amplifiers for exhibit sound FX

Here are a couple inexpensive options (about $25 each) - and, yes, inexpensive Chinese stuff. 

Lepai LP-2020A+ Tripath TA2020 Class-T Hi-Fi Audio Amplifier with Power Supply

Lepai LP-A68 Digital 2 x 15W Amplifier with Remote/USB/MP3/SD/FM

The first is a 20W/channel amp that will accept input from either a 3.5mm or stereo RCAs. The second is 15W/channel that takes the same inputs as the other, but it also works as an FM receiver and plays MP3 files from an SD card or a USB thumb drive.

I have not used them in the gallery but I do use them at home. The sound is great!

Hope this helps. 

------------------------------
David Kennedy
Curator of Collections and Exhibits
US Marshals Museum
Fort Smith, AR

"Lepai LP-2020A+ Tripath Class-T Hi-Fi Audio Mini Amplifier with Power Supply" from www.parts-express.com!

Parts-express		remove preview
"Lepai LP-2020A+ Tripath Class-T Hi-Fi Audio Mini Amplifier with Power Supply" from www.parts-express.com! Lepai LP-2020A+ Tripath Class-T Hi-Fi Audio Mini Amplifier with Power Supply View this on Parts-express >

All,

  +1 on the Lepai amps.  At The Children's Museum of Indianapolis, we use these for varieties of applications.  They seem to hold up pretty well, but I think we have only been using them for a couple of years.  Hope my comment helps.

Andy

------------------------------
Andrew Woody
Lighting Specialist / AV Technician
The Children's Museum of Indianapolis
Indianapolis IN

Original Message:
Sent: 02-10-2016 10:34 AM
From: Curtis Morris
Subject: Small stereo amplifiers for exhibit sound FX

Thanks Ryan and David!

the AmpTraxx system is perhaps overkill but basically what I'm looking for, we'll see what price they quote us.

The Technovision audio player with built in amp would solve some problems.  In the past I've had to use a separate amp to control the audio from various sources, the all-in-one units from Techno would be much simpler.  However, we still have lots of simple looping MP3 players in use, I hate to scrap those players because, well, they still work.  Those will always need a separate amplifier, hence my search.

David, how are those Chinese amps holding up?  I've been looking at those for a while but the reviews on those are often mixed.  Still, there's not a lot of money involved, might be worth taking a risk. 

Turns out a friend of mine is the electronic engineer for the company that owns Brightsign. Still waiting to see what he comes up with.

Final note--all of my old Radio Shack amps still work, many having been in use 9-5, 6 days a week for over 20 years!  That's the yardstick I'm using to gauge reliability.  Might have to lower my bar a little.

------------------------------
Curtis Morris
Exhibits Manager
Shiloh Museum of Ozark History
Springdale AR

Yes, Andrew, your comments help!  Those Lepai amps have always been tempting, but until you and Dave mentioned that you've actually used them successfully, I was wary of trying them.

Might have to break down and order one for my desktop sound system, and torture it until needed for exhibits!

------------------------------
Curtis Morris
Exhibits Manager
Shiloh Museum of Ozark History
Springdale AR

Original Message:
Sent: 02-20-2016 11:25 AM
From: Andrew Woody
Subject: Small stereo amplifiers for exhibit sound FX

"Lepai LP-2020A+ Tripath Class-T Hi-Fi Audio Mini Amplifier with Power Supply" from www.parts-express.com!

Parts-express		remove preview
"Lepai LP-2020A+ Tripath Class-T Hi-Fi Audio Mini Amplifier with Power Supply" from www.parts-express.com! Lepai LP-2020A+ Tripath Class-T Hi-Fi Audio Mini Amplifier with Power Supply View this on Parts-express >

All,

  +1 on the Lepai amps.  At The Children's Museum of Indianapolis, we use these for varieties of applications.  They seem to hold up pretty well, but I think we have only been using them for a couple of years.  Hope my comment helps.

Andy

------------------------------
Andrew Woody
Lighting Specialist / AV Technician
The Children's Museum of Indianapolis
Indianapolis IN

I have had great luck with those little  Lepai amps, I have at least 6 or so in service. They run cool, have both 1/8" and RCA inputs, and are surprisingly power efficient. Another added benefit is there is no turn on 'thump' so they can be switched on and off as needed to control sound in areas. Also have had successful results when using them with the Sound spheres by brown innovations. 

------------------------------
Doug DeHaven
Mechatronics
Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh PA

Original Message:
Sent: 02-22-2016 01:46 PM
From: Curtis Morris
Subject: Small stereo amplifiers for exhibit sound FX

Yes, Andrew, your comments help!  Those Lepai amps have always been tempting, but until you and Dave mentioned that you've actually used them successfully, I was wary of trying them.

Might have to break down and order one for my desktop sound system, and torture it until needed for exhibits!

------------------------------
Curtis Morris
Exhibits Manager
Shiloh Museum of Ozark History
Springdale AR