Looking for a budget integrated amp, check out the Dayens Ampino

F1nut

I'm going to recommend the Dayens Ampino, if you can live without remote volume capability. Our very own DSkip sent one to me to demo. I tried it here in a guest bedroom rig and thought it had a very nice mid-range, smooth highs, but found it a bit loose in the bottom end. Well, last night some of us got together at another member's house and I took the Ampino along. In a room better suited for audio than my guest bedroom this little integrated impressed driving 6 different bookies, a pair of Polk SDA CRS+ and a pair of Polk Monitor 7's to everyone's enjoyment. In fact, the 7's sounded absolutely superb.

More info here, www.dayens.rs/eng_ampino.html or talk to Skip, who is a dealer for Dayens.

msg

Nice, Jesse, thanks for sharing your impressions. I've been curious about this little integrated, myself. The mention of speakers lends context to the performance.

Can you elaborate a little on the loose bottom end? I'm still working on my understanding of classifications/characteristics. Does loose mean just not quite as tight and controlled? Or did it seem boomy or rumbly?

F1nut

Yeah, loose means not quite as tight and controlled, resulting in
boomy. Deep low rumble is different, it's a good thing.

The loose bottom end in this case appears to be more of a room related issue.

mhardy6647

F1nut wrote: »

... Deep low rumble is different, it's a good thing.

The loose bottom end in this case appears to be more of a room related issue.

Funny, I thought that the normal causal agent for such was too much Mexican food.

In seriousness, I've heard of this amplifier, but never heard one. Good to see some first person data on one.

Looks like a right serious piece of hardware:


(image from 6moons review)

cnh

Nice review! Definitely a piece I could use. Hard to believe they get so much out of such a small device!

voltz

I got to hear it powering those Usher Mini-X's that Mikey now owns, and they sound excellent but I didn't do any critical listen and I was having to much fine at the time

rooftop59

voltz wrote: »

I got to hear it powering those Usher Mini-X's that Mikey now owns, and they sound excellent but I didn't do any critical listen and I was having to much fine at the time

sounds like you might be having too much now as well!

On topic, I have to say that I think its hilarious that this is considered a "budget" integrated. I know, I know, you can pay many times this price for an integrated. But I never would. I'm waiting for the used ones! So buy up suckers!!!!

Joey_V

Skip brought his minuetto to my place when we were setting up the strads if I recall.

EndersShadow

Jesse:

Thanks for the review. If I was in the market for a integrated I'd be talking to skip about one of his offerings!

EndersShadow

DSkip wrote: »

opt to turn it down via my digital source when necessary.

Yup that's the other option. I do though prefer a remote myself though....

dkfreebird

I've thoroughly enjoyed this little amp.I'm running it with some Monitor 5a's in the living room and it sounds great.I've used in on some 3.1tl's and some B&W Cdm1nt's and it performs flawlessly.Great amp for the money.

msg

DSkip wrote: »

I'll probably end up selling my demo unit that Jesse has and moving up to the Upgraded Ampino, which features Mundorf caps. Dennis opted to go this route when he got his.

The one thing to keep in mind that Jesse has mentioned twice to me now is that the Ampino does NOT offer remote function. You have to move up the line for that. I thought it would be a deal breaker for me, but I've enjoyed it too much and opt to turn it down via my digital source when necessary.

Interesting on the upgrade.

re: the remote
I thought lack of a remote would be a deal killer for me, as well, but after running a little tube integrated for a while, which doesn't have a remote either, I find that I just turn it on, and let it play. In my setup, any adjustments are usually track selection changes on the Squeezebox, executed from a smartphone or tablet from the listening position. can also adjust volume this way, similarly to what Skip mentions in his system, but I find that, for me at least, a comfortably modest listening level for the chill time for which I'd use something like this don't require the volume control I thought I'd miss. and if I really want it up or down, it's no big deal to hop up real quick. I will agree though, it's tough to consider letting go of having a remote for any piece of equipment these days.

for a br system, though, I'd prefer a remote. doable, otherwise.

erniejade

Nice. One day I will get my ears on one.
nice review. I like that you got to match it with a few different sets of speakers.

teekay0007

Sounds like it could be a fantastic way do go. I'd love to get my ears on one with both my LSiM 703s and my Monitor 7s (or 10s, just for comparison).

Thanks to Jesse and Skip for this thread and review.

Any chance it's coming up north? Twin Cities area?

TK

tonyb

Skip,
Far be it for me to suggest this, but maybe consider a demo round for the little guy. Easy enough to ship, may drive some sales too. Plus ya know the people here will take care of your product.

Except those in the northern Plaines, they still drink Budweiser for Christs sake.

mrbiron

tonyb wrote: »

Except those in the northern Plaines, they still drink Budweiser for Christs sake.

Bud Heavy?!?!
Even Bear Grylls won't drink that p*ss!!

Skip, i think Tony said he would purchase a unit and then send it around out of the kindness of his Italian heart. Charge that man's CC!!!!

tonyb

LOL..."That man's" cc is on family leave.....a long extended family leave.....or is that a leave of extended family ? One of the 2...or both, most likely both.