Amptastic or Bantam

[Bourneendboy]

As I don't seem to be able to shift my HRT DAC, I'm thinking about building a simple system around it.

Raspberry Pi / HRT DAC / Amptastic or Bantam / Something like Q Acoustic 3010

I know quite a few people here use these amps, which one should I go for and will it drive the Q's?

Cheers,

Bill.

[struth]

I was in a similar position with my hrt, and ended up using it with my laptop upstairs that I use at night. a pair of creative labs pc speakers and jriver with my flac copies. I works very well and could be improved with a better set of self powered speakers. I also have a pi in the other spare room connected to a system(I got a set of tplink ethernet senders to operate it. The hrt still holds up well in a small system.

[brian2957]

I've had both Bill and IMO the Amptastic is the slightly better ( and cheaper ) of the two . Gary ( gazjam ) used the Amptastic to drive his Edingdales for a few months while he waited for his new valve amp .

[mr sneff]

Amptastic for me, IMO the build quality is much better than the Bantam. I didn't form a good opinion of the Bantam when the Temple Audio logo fell off within 1 day and, to me, it always sounded 'shouty', I always wanted to turn it down. I know quite a few people on the forum like the Temple Audio Bantam, but just reporting how it was to my ears (with Q Acoustics 2010is).

[Ali Tait]

Have heard both and preferred the Bantam Gold.

[Ninanina]

I didn't form a good opinion of the Bantam when the Temple Audio logo fell off within 1 day

That happened to me as well

I have not heard the Amptastic but did own the Bantam Gold for a little while. I thought the Bantam sounded very good indeed but only due to it's very low price. I also owned a Topping T amp (I think it was the TP60)

However I don't think any of these T/D Class amps are 'keepers'. Do they sound superb for the price? yes they do indeed but in my brief experience of them they do lack 'something'.... it's a tricky one to explain but neither of the amps were indeed 'keepers' and can be bettered by other 'normal' amps in my opinion

It is definitely worth trying out these little marvels but I very much doubt you will keep one as your main amp but used in a second system they might be very good indeed

[agk]

I've only had the Amptastic and I love them. So good I owned it twice and drove Kans and many more besides with them.

[struth]

Had an Amptastic and heard a bantam and bantam monos.... Thought the bantam sounded better on the system I heard it on than the Amptastic did on mine. The Amptastic did sound great on Gazjams speakers but they were very sensitive and top quality. Personally for a second system I would be more inclined to go for either actives or a pro amp.

[Clive]

The power supply is all important. Forget using cheap switched mode power supplies with these amps....as all you'll be hearing the power supply not the amplifier.

[Ali Tait]

Yep good point, a decent power supply is a must.

[Alan D]

I can only comment on the Bantam Gold, I bought one secondhand for the bedroom and like the sound of it with the Rega RS1 speakers it is driving.
As Clive stated, it does sound better being powered by a linear power supply. (I built one for it).

I am resisting temptation to try other amplifiers in this system, as it sits nicely on my bedside cabinet with a squeezebox touch on top with the PSU out of sight. My wife approves, as the SBT just looks like a bedside clock!

I don't think you will go wrong with either of these amplifiers from what I have read on various forums, in the context of a cheap component for a 2nd / 3rd system around the house. They are great value for money.

[Wilfred of Ivanhoe]

All these T-amp have slightly different sound signature, should listen yourself. I prefer ta2024 with many speakers, with some the ta2020. Unfortunately never heard the Bantam.

[Bourneendboy]

Thanks for all your comments chaps!

What small speakers do you use or recommend?

[wee tee cee]

I have a mini t,bantum and mono blocks. I run my 57s with monoblocks with a tvc pre in front of it and prefer the noise it makes to various valve amps I have.

The original bantum is softer sounding than the gold and monos but makes a lovely noise that just lets you enjoy music,not the last word in detail retrieval or grunt but very valve like in its naturalness and listenability.

The mini t is a bit brighter and more detailed. You really had to hear what the newer amptastic amp did in Garys system with top notch partnering equipment-it really was head scratching stuff.

A pair of whaferdale diamonds are married up to my bantum in the garage-sounds marvellous ( quite often distracts me from tinkering on the bike!!)

They all benefit from being run on battery power.

Synergy plays a big part but with some careful partnering good digital amps can punch well above they're weight and happily reside in my main system.

An active pre in front of them like a beresford capella can make a big difference.

[Brigadoon]

+1 Amptastic with proper PS - I used the Maplins bench PS, with upgraded cabling.