Is Dayton Audio Apa150 150w Power Amplifier Review
This is a review and detailed measurements of the Dayton Audio APA 150 power (speaker) amplifier. It is on kind loan from a member. Information technology costs USD $168 from Parts Express including gratuitous shipping. If the specs of 75 watts/channel are true, yous are getting a stereo amplifier for about $1 per watt! Amazing how cheap these amplifiers take gotten.
The APA 150 is a mesomorphic unit, departing from the typical wide cabinet format:
As you encounter, there is a volume control so you lot can skip a preamplifier if all you have is 1 input. In the back, there are switches for bridging to mono, filtering and auto on.
The unit is fan cooled but information technology is temperature controlled and tranquility.
The design is the classic course AB with a linear ability supply which makes the unit heavy and inefficient. Then good to run into the fan there to keep things cool.
At that place are serious looking ETL/CE safety and regulatory markings on the unit which I take to be genuine and provide peace of heed.
Let's get into measurements and run across how the APA 150 performs.
Measurements
Let'due south start with our dashboard view while the input is adjusted to produce 5 watts into both channels:
We get typical operation of upkeep amplifiers. SINAD (point over distortion and noise) is in the 70s with lots of harmonic distortion and power supply noise apparent. No awards will be won at this rate.
Aqueduct mismatch as far as distortion is adequately large which shows upward in warm-up sequence just the same:
Stability is really adept though so yous don't need to leave the unit on. It is as good or bad as when it first turns on.
As noted the fan was on during this test and blew a lot of air that was barely warm.
Frequency response is very good and typical of class AB amplifiers (which don't need filtering as switching amplifiers do):
Response is down just one-half a dB at twoscore kHz limit of the exam.
Too output impedance is negligible:
Impedance is one ohm or less at xx Hz and averages 0.iv ohm above that. In other words, there will be no trouble running any impedance speaker with respect to impacting its frequency response.
Let's look at all important power versus distortion measurement:
Compared to our previous upkeep amplifiers, the Dayton Audio APA 150 beats them slightly on ability, producing well-nigh ninety watts into four ohms. And it does that with lower distortion to kick.
Distortion+noise versus frequency at a few power levels is ugly though:
At l millivolts of input, the graph is dominated by noise especially in loftier frequencies (reddish). As we increment the input levels, we get 2 clusters of lines, ane for good channel and non so proficient channel. All bear witness much increased distortion with frequency, rising to as much as 0.i%. Between two and 5 Khz where our hearing is most sensitive, we are looking at 0.02 to 0.03% or about l times worse than near DACs.
Conclusions
The Dayton Audio APA 150 performs along the lines that nosotros have sunk into in budget amplifiers. Lot of inexpensive power with cringe-worthy distortions and noise. Fortunately when information technology comes to non-linear distortions, our hearing is fairly poor so likely people are satisfied with the great value they are getting.
I like the fact that the APA 150 is condom rated given the high voltages and currents running around in power amplifiers. The fan with its high air flow gives me comfort that information technology volition run cool and likely reliable fifty-fifty under max load.
No doubt with good speakers and content, the APA 150 volition provide an enjoyable experience. Only if you are subsequently the best equally I am, this is not it. Our chase for reasonably priced amplifier but with loftier functioning continues....
------------
As e'er, questions, comments, recommendations, etc. are welcome.
They say you should save money for a rainy solar day. It rains for nigh 6 months here so I need enough of money!!! Delight consider donating funds using:
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/audiosciencereview), or
upgrading your membership here though Paypal (https://audiosciencereview.com/foru...eview-and-measurements.2164/page-3#mail service-59054).
Source: https://audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads%2Freview-and-measurements-of-dayton-audio-apa-150-amp.6571%2F