I was looking for a cheap T-Amp and found the MUSE M21 Ex2 (TA2021b) on Amazon at about £41 delivered without a PSU: Link
Couldn't find out much about them via from any impartial source but the photos of the internals looked good and the spec states:
- Japan made TOKO Fixed Inductors For Digital Audio Amplifier
- Original Japanese ALPS potentiometer
So i thought how bad could it be! It looks well made from the manufactures photos:
It arrived yesterday and of course as any of us would, the first thing I did was take it apart..
I took some nice Hi-Rez photos of the internals; Check out the workmanship on this bewt'
This must be my ALPS pot 🙂
And these must be my "Japan made TOKO Fixed Inductors" (I suppose they might be, one inductor looks much like another to me!)
I love the jaunty angle they stuck the tiny Heat sink on at, and the way they nearly didnt miss any of the plate
I'll give it it's dues, the case is faily good construction, the binding posts arn't bad and the RCA's are solid.
It does sound pretty good, very musical, perhaps a bit 'brittle' at the top-end and my ears are possibly finding it harsh. but all round not bad.
Still I've been suckered! not sure what to do next!
Anyone know who makes that POT? and I'm guessing they are not TOKO inductors!
Couldn't find out much about them via from any impartial source but the photos of the internals looked good and the spec states:
- Japan made TOKO Fixed Inductors For Digital Audio Amplifier
- Original Japanese ALPS potentiometer
So i thought how bad could it be! It looks well made from the manufactures photos:
It arrived yesterday and of course as any of us would, the first thing I did was take it apart..
I took some nice Hi-Rez photos of the internals; Check out the workmanship on this bewt'
This must be my ALPS pot 🙂
And these must be my "Japan made TOKO Fixed Inductors" (I suppose they might be, one inductor looks much like another to me!)
I love the jaunty angle they stuck the tiny Heat sink on at, and the way they nearly didnt miss any of the plate
I'll give it it's dues, the case is faily good construction, the binding posts arn't bad and the RCA's are solid.
It does sound pretty good, very musical, perhaps a bit 'brittle' at the top-end and my ears are possibly finding it harsh. but all round not bad.
Still I've been suckered! not sure what to do next!
Anyone know who makes that POT? and I'm guessing they are not TOKO inductors!
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That picture that they give is the same as the one for M21 EX:
Wholesale MUSE M21 EX TA2021 T Amp Mini Stereo Amplifier 25WX2
I ordered a M21 EX but they "upgraded" it to M20 EX3, but I reckon they're all the same thing, just minor revisions here and there; they change the name so you cannot fault them for delivering something different from as promised.
Here's my M20 EX3:
wwenze's tech, audio and Anime rant page: Muse M20 EX3 TA2021 amp - a pictorial
About the POT, ALPS does make a model that looks like that. But whether the one in the Muse is authentic, no comment.
Wholesale MUSE M21 EX TA2021 T Amp Mini Stereo Amplifier 25WX2
I ordered a M21 EX but they "upgraded" it to M20 EX3, but I reckon they're all the same thing, just minor revisions here and there; they change the name so you cannot fault them for delivering something different from as promised.
Here's my M20 EX3:
wwenze's tech, audio and Anime rant page: Muse M20 EX3 TA2021 amp - a pictorial
About the POT, ALPS does make a model that looks like that. But whether the one in the Muse is authentic, no comment.
All things considered I'm very happy with it. I don't think you could get any better at that price.
certainly worth it.
certainly worth it.
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