Budget T-Amp Shootout - Lepai vs. Indeed TA2020

[bkeane1259]

Ron E's power measurements start at #105 - http://techtalk.parts-express.com/sh...49#post1887949


30APR 2012 - UPDATE: Deconstructed the MCM - Stellar Labs TA2024b - (on sale for $10) and added it here: http://techtalk.parts-express.com/sh...05#post1830005

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After seeing this cute little bugger on eBay (pointed out by another PETT member), I had to get a couple to match up against the Lepai TA2020.

Many of you know about the Lepai TA2020. I've bought several of them myself and love em. Lots of folks have great things to say about them and I agree. XR even documented a Lepai mod. When I checked the ebay listing for the Indeed version of the TA2020, it looked really well built, so what the heck.....

Enter the Indeed HiFi labs TA2020. Mine arrived after about 1.5 weeks straight from Hong Kong. Here's the company web site. Try not to laugh as you flip thru it. http://6c33.com/eng/eng%201.htm

For now, I just opened up both of the amps and took a bunch of pics. I've not had a chance to hook them up for side-to-side listening comparisons and frankly I need to think about a fair way to do that.

So here are the pics :D

Side by side - the Indeed TA2020 is significantly smaller and has a more solid feel to it. Very nice aluminum construction and a nice thick face plate.

[bkeane1259]

Re: Budget T-Amp Shootout - Lepai vs. Indeed TA2020

The INDEED HIFI LABS TA2020

[bkeane1259]

Re: Budget T-Amp Shootout - Lepai vs. Indeed TA2020

LEPAI TA2020

[bmaupin]

Re: Budget T-Amp Shootout - Lepai vs. Indeed TA2020

So the Indeed has silent turn-on & off?

[bkeane1259]

Re: Budget T-Amp Shootout - Lepai vs. Indeed TA2020

Since I don't trust anybody, the Indeed amp HAD to be inspected immediately to ensure that it matched the nice pics on eBay. To make sure I didn't get duped, I snagged the promo pic of the Indeed TA2020 internals from the ebay listing and compared it to what I actually bought.

Here's that comparison picture. This is where I will need some help from the resident electrical engineers. :eek:

What I have in my hot little hands IS NOT exactly the same as what's depicted in the eBay picture. Specifically, it looks like mine is missing some resistors. Also, the resistors that are in my unit are teenie weenie compared to the ones in the promo picture.

Spot any other differences?

[bkeane1259]

Re: Budget T-Amp Shootout - Lepai vs. Indeed TA2020

I should have some time tomorrow to do some preliminary listening tests. I have not even plugged in the Indeed TA2020 yet. Have no clue if it even works.

Gotta get to dinner before the wife clobbers me with a frying pan.

Stay tuned.

[[email protected]]

Re: Budget T-Amp Shootout - Lepai vs. Indeed TA2020

nice effort bryan. thanks. dont pith off the wife.

[djkest]

Re: Budget T-Amp Shootout - Lepai vs. Indeed TA2020

Looks promising, I might get one of these if you find it satisfactory.

Edit: I am not a full-blown EE but I did work in a circuit board fab shop for 6 months. You know, it doesn't look like there are significant changes. The original photo has through-hole resistors, yours has smaller surface mount resistors. it's much cheaper and faster to use the surface mount stuff in place. With the kind of power you are looking at with this amp, it's probably satisfactory.

Hey, serious question: what kind of power supply did it come with, what are the specs?

[bkeane1259]

Re: Budget T-Amp Shootout - Lepai vs. Indeed TA2020

Hey, serious question: what kind of power supply did it come with, what are the specs?

Ahhhh....good question. The answer is, it doesn't come with one.

I will be using the 12V-5A PS that XtremeRevolution suggested in the Lepai Mod thread.

I've been using them for my Lepai amps and they're perfect. Indeed HiFi recommends a 5A PS, but PE ships the Lepai with a 2A PS. I'm sure a 2A PS would be just fine as long as you don't crank the volume to +10.

[ROTECH]

Re: Budget T-Amp Shootout - Lepai vs. Indeed TA2020

BK,

Can you rip apart my 2010 dodge ram and figure out if I got what I paid for too? thing cost nearly 40k, has 30k miles and it rattles like a pinto.

Heck of a writeup about these mini amps. Good find too.

[greywarden]

Re: Budget T-Amp Shootout - Lepai vs. Indeed TA2020

If you have the means to do so, you should run them through RMAA and find out the real spec's...

[Modmark]

Re: Budget T-Amp Shootout - Lepai vs. Indeed TA2020

Enter the Indeed HiFi labs TA2020. Mine arrived after about 1.5 weeks straight from Hong Kong. Here's the company web site. Try not to laugh as you flip thru it. http://6c33.com/eng/eng%201.htm

Well if the woman wearing those high heel boots is a member of the HiFi club, I certain understand why the club is so popular in China!

[johnnyrichards]

Re: Budget T-Amp Shootout - Lepai vs. Indeed TA2020

Well done Bryan. It looks like the Indeed has an advantage or two on the internals, but that dual input on the Lepai is nice to have as well as the tone controls.

[Wolf]

Re: Budget T-Amp Shootout - Lepai vs. Indeed TA2020

Spot any other differences?

First off- the picture they supply is squashed. It's shrunk in height compared to the real dealio.

Yep through-hole versus SMD, not a big deal.
I see the input jacks are of differing manufacturers.

I would check the caps in front of the heatsink to see if yours are 105* celsius rated, as well as the one next to one of the relays.

They have blue-drop caps, and you have yellow-drops or maybe tantalums. You likely have a better cap next to the power switch on yours, and they have encased (could be poly or mylar) caps in between the coils, while yours are polyester/mylar.

I'm really curious about what's under the heatsink. Looks like 4 chips, so maybe this is a pre-bridged per channel amp?

Either way, I don't believe yours should be lacking in any way over the other.
Later,
Wolf

[exabrial]

Re: Budget T-Amp Shootout - Lepai vs. Indeed TA2020

Is either amp 4ohm capable?