Quote:
Originally Posted by
IngoTheBarbarian
I received a Lepai 2020TI but I'm waiting on some speakers. I must say, if an upgraded power supply doesn't DRASTICALLY improve the 2020TI, it will be given away for Christmas. I hooked up my EPIs in the living room to get a sense of how well this amp performs. Well, it'll go to decent volume but with very little bass. Granted, the high-excursion 8" woofers in the EPIs really need some big power to wake up but they rattle windows powered by my 35wpc Marantz.
I'm sure I could find a 19V 3.4a laptop power supply at a goodwill but I would have to hack an uncommon 2.1mmx5.5mm plug onto it, most likely.
Sorry to hear that. Have you tried adjusting the Lepai tone controls? One thing to bear in mind is that older receivers like the Marantz have a loudness circuit (if it's enabled) that boosts bass and treble -- it's intended to be used at low volumes but it's usually left on all the time. The difference between loudness on and off is fairly night and day. You would need to use the tone controls on the Lepai to try to compensate for Marantz loudness (tone controls are unlikely to be as effective as the loudness circuit, but should get you closer). Or, you can compare against the Marantz with loudness off for apples vs apples on the amp section itself.
The above is not to say that I expect the Lepai to sound as good as the Marantz. I love vintage stuff and think it sounds amazing in general, and certainly Marantz is one of the better sounding receivers from the era (which is why the 2235 regularly sells for $500-$700 today). Among T-amps, though, that Lepai model is one of the better sounding T-amps and almost certainly the best at that price point.
For a power supply, you can get one for under $10 shipped from the US on eBay by searching for "12v 6a power supply" and click item location US (so it doesn't take forever to ship from Asia). Verify to make sure the plug size and polarity match (I think most of them do). While I hate to see you invest more in something you already aren't happy with, it is a modest investment to try. I would also suggest reading the individual user reviews on Parts Express and maybe Amazon to get more insight about the impact of power supply upgrade and overall sound of the amp. The Lepai will sound better with a larger power supply, but I can't really predict how it will stack up against the Marantz.
Quote:
Originally Posted by
IngoTheBarbarian
I ordered the Parts Express MK402X bookshelves because I can't find the DCMs for under $100 any longer. If I ever see them for $60-$70 again, I'll order some.
Unlikely to find the DCM lower priced. The secret is out on these, so the seller has been steadily raising the price and there is a limited supply on closeout. In fact, they are all out of the cherry finish and only have black remaining, so when they are gone they're gone. This is 10,000 percent conjecture, but I would not be surprised if, a couple years down the road, when new supply is long gone, listing a pair on eBay would bid up to higher than the current new price because they are no longer available and the word is out on the sound quality. Of course, there will always be new miracle budget speakers that come along over time, so it can't be guaranteed that the DCM will be hailed as a budget standout (at least at closeout prices) for all of eternity.