About the TEAC AI-301DA
Sweet sound in small spaces
Sweet sound in small spaces
If your bookshelf speakers are yearning for a versatile, compact integrated amp, check out the TEAC AI-301DA. It's a great choice for a bedroom or office where ho-hum sound just isn't going to do it for you. Conservatively rated at 22 watts per channel, this little amp is poised to impress. Plus, it offers analog and digital connections, so you can play music from a wide variety of sources such as disc players, a TV, or a computer.
Pristine playback from your computer and other digital sources
It's easy to feed your digital music to this amp. Connect your computer via the asynchronous USB input and enjoy your entire library of digital tunes through your favorite speakers. The AI-301DA is compatible with high-resolution files, including DSD files and 24-bit/192kHz PCM files. An audiophile-quality Burr-Brown digital-to-analog converter (DAC) makes the most of them, for outstanding levels of detail and dynamic range. (Those MP3s will sound pretty good, too.) Optical and coaxial digital audio inputs let you connect other sources like a TV, CD or Blu-ray player, or a network streaming device like a Sonos CONNECT.
Bluetooth on board for smartphone streaming
Wired connections aren't the only way to enjoy digital music with this amp. Stream tunes wirelessly from your smartphone or tablet thanks to built-in Bluetooth. You can listen to music stored on your device, streamed from online music services like Pandora® and Spotify®, and from YouTube™ and other apps. The AI-301DA is also compatible with aptX™, for sound quality that's as good as Bluetooth gets when streamed from an aptX compatible device.
Product highlights:
- 22 watts x 2 into 8 ohms (20-20,000 Hz) at 0.1% THD
- asynchronous USB input for music playback from a computer (requires free driver download for Windows® computers)
- plays high-resolution digital music files from your connected computer (PCM files up to 24-bit/192kHz; DSD files up to 5.6MHz)
- built-in Bluetooth for wireless music streaming from compatible smartphones, tablets, and computers
- aptX decoding provides the highest-quality sound from compatible Bluetooth devices
- Burr-Brown PCM1795 digital-to-analog converter for accurate playback of digital music
- innovative Class D amplifier design offers rich sound and energy efficiency
- automatically powers on when a digital signal is detected from a source component
- optical and coaxial digital audio inputs
- 2 pairs of analog stereo inputs
- no phono input to connect a turntable you'll need to add a phono preamp
- preamp output for a powered subwoofer
- high-quality headphone amplifier with 1/4" jack
- metal chassis and aluminum panels minimize vibration for clean playback
- binding post speaker connectors
- detachable power cable
- remote control
- 8-1/2"W x 2-7/16"H x 10"D
- weight: 4.6 lbs.
- warranty: 1 year
- MFR # AI-301DA
What's in the box:
- USB DAC amplifier
- 6' AC power cord
- Remote control (RC-1313)
- Two "AAA" batteries
- Owner's Manual (En/Fr/Sp)
- Caution note
- Note about the automatic power on function
Customer reviews for TEAC AI-301DA
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Average review:
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More details on the TEAC AI-301DA
Features & specs
Performance Specs | ||
---|---|---|
Watts RMS per Channel (8-ohms) | 22 | |
Watts RMS per Channel (6-ohms) | Not given | |
Watts RMS per Channel (4-ohms) | 43 | |
Frequency Bandwidth | 20-20k | |
THD | 0.1% | |
Minimum Impedance | 4 ohms | |
Amplifier Class | D | |
Signal to Noise Ratio | 95 | |
DAC Bit Depth | 32-bit | |
DAC Sample Rate | 192kHz | |
Features | ||
Built-in DAC (Digital to Analog Converter) | Yes | |
Wi-Fi | N/A | |
Built-in Radio Tuner | None | |
Room Correction | --- | |
High-res Audio Playback | ||
From Network | No | |
From USB Thumb Drive (USB-A) | No | |
From Computer (USB-B) | No | |
Bluetooth | ||
Version Info | Built-in | |
Receiver Mode | Yes | |
Transmitter Mode | No | |
AAC Playback | No | |
aptX Playback | No | |
aptX-HD Playback | No | |
LDAC Playback | No | |
Connections | ||
RCA Line-level Inputs | --- | |
XLR Line-level Inputs | --- | |
Phono Input | No | |
Optical Digital Inputs | 1 | |
Coaxial Digital Inputs | 1 | |
USB Input | No | |
HDMI Inputs | --- | |
Stereo Preamp Outputs | --- | |
Subwoofer Outputs | 1 | |
Recording Output | No | |
HDMI Output | --- | |
Home Theater Bypass | No | |
Pre-out/Main-in Loop | No | |
Headphone Output | 1/4" | |
Removable Power Cord | --- | |
Streaming Compatibility | ||
Apple AirPlay | No | |
Apple AirPlay 2 | No | |
DTS Play-Fi | No | |
Chromecast built-in | No | |
Roon | No | |
HEOS | No | |
BluOS | No | |
Dimensions and Warranty | ||
Width (inches) | 8-1/2 | |
Height (inches) | 2-3/8 | |
Depth (inches) | 10-7/16 | |
Weight (pounds) | 4.6 | |
Parts Warranty | 1 Year | |
Labor Warranty | 1 Year |
Product Research
Features
Class-D Amplifier Circuit: The power amplifier stage is based upon a tried and tested Class-D amp, manufactured by ICEpower of Denmark. It converts a high-resolution sound source into high-definition speaker signals using a feedback loop between a hybrid feedback controlled oscillating modulator (HCOM) which faithfully amplifies the signal, and a multivariable enhanced cascade control (MECC). The efficient design of the 43W + 43W (4Ω) or 22W + 22W (8Ω) amplifier creates very little heat, eliminating any need for a cooling fan, thus affording a quiet environment that's ideal for musical appreciation.
Burr Brown DAC: The TEAC AI-301DA uses a Burr Brown 1795 DACs for high performance and support of a wide range of digital audio sources. Its three digital inputs (optical/coaxial/USB) support sampling rates of 32, 44.1, 48, 88.2, 96, 176.4, and 192kHz. It's ideal for playback of FLAC, WAV, Apple Lossless, and other high-resolution file formats. It is capable of 32-bit processing and even has the capacity to process 2.8/5.6MHz DSD data, for faithful and accurate playback of high-resolution sound sources.
Asynchronous USB Input: The TEAC AI-301DA features a USB (type-B) port for connecting your Windows PC or Mac computer. The AI-301DA accepts digital audio source material stored on your computer at up to 32-bit/192kHz. When receiving digital audio signals from a computer via USB cable, the unit can operate in asynchronous mode, controlling the timing of the input signal using the AI-301DA's internal clock. With asynchronous transmission over USB, signal compromising jitter is effectively eliminated, allowing digital audio signals to be transmitted in a pure, unadulterated state. This allows optimal playback of high-resolution digital audio files from playlists/libraries in your iTunes, Windows Media Player, or similar playback programs on your computer.
HR Audio Player App (for Windows & Mac): The TEAC HR Audio Player is a free application software download to help you playback and enjoy your high-resolution audio files on your Windows or Mac computer with ease through the TEAC AI-301DA and connected speakers. The TEAC HR Audio Player allows you to listen to your audio as soon as you connect the TEAC AI-301DA and install the application; simply drag-and-drop the music files on your computer into the window of the application. Various high-resolution audio files formats are supported, including DSD (2.8MHz/5.6MHz), PCM (44.1-192kHz; 16-32-bit), and FLAC (44.1-192kHz; 16-32-bit), plus compressed music files like MP3 (32-320kbps). You can even choose between ASIO2.1 and DoP (DSD over PCM) modes when playing back DSD files from your Windows PC. In order to maximize the connected unit's performance, a simplified screen of the TEAC HR Audio Player helps reduce CPU load time while data processing. Furthermore, the RAM Buffer Playback mode that stores the audio data onto the internal memory is supported for the ultimate digital audio playback conditions. Additional features include Playlist, Repeat, and Shuffle playback.
Optical & Coaxial Digital Inputs: The TEAC AI-301DA is fitted with optical (toslink) and coaxial (RCA) digital inputs for connection of other digital audio sources like your CD/SACD, Blu-ray/DVD player, or network player. These digital inputs will accept two channel linear PCM (not Dolby Digital/DTS). The coaxial digital input supports 32, 44.1, 48, 88.2, 96, 176.4, and 192kHz sampling frequencies (16- or 24-bit). The optical digital input supports only 32, 44.1, 48, 88.2, and 96kHz sampling frequencies (16-or 24-bit).
Analog Inputs: The TEAC AI-301DA features two sets of stereo RCA inputs for connecting an external analog audio source, such as your CD player, Tuner, or Tape Deck.
Built-in Bluetooth w/ aptX: The TEAC USB DAC amplifier features built-in Bluetooth (version 2.1 + EDR) with support for A2DP, AVRCP, and aptX. You'll be able to stream stored music and music apps from your Bluetooth-enabled Apple iPod/iPhone, iPad, Android smartphone/tablet, Windows PC, Mac computer, or other Bluetooth-compatible devices to the TEAC AI-301DA. You'll also be able to control basic music playback functions (Play/Pause & Previous/Next Track) from the included IR remote. The USB DAC amplifier evens employs aptX audio coding technology for lossless, CD-quality streaming with compatible AptX-compatible phones (like some Androids). Up to 8 devices can be paired with the AI-301DA, but only one device can be used at a time.
Binding-Post Speaker Terminals: The TEAC AI-301DA USB DAC amplifier is equipped with four binding-post speaker terminals to connect a pair of loudspeakers (4-8Ω). The binding-post speaker terminals will accept bare wire (up to 8AWG), spade-connectors, pin-connectors, and banana plugs (single or dual).
Sub Output: The TEAC USB DAC amplifier is fitted with a single mono-RCA output for connecting a powered subwoofer. There is no built-in crossover in the AI301-DA. You will need to use the built-in low-pass crossover of your powered sub.
Headphone Amplifier: The TEAC AI-301DA features a built-in headphone amplifier and front-panel 1/4" headphone jack that will accept headphone impedances from 8 to 600-ohms. The 100mW + 100mW output (at 32-ohms load) headphone amplifier uses CCLC (Coupling Capacitor Less Circuit) technology. In conventional headphone output circuits, a capacitor is used for output-stage coupling, and so the sound is unavoidably colored. When the capacitor is combined with a high-pass filter this often results in phase lags, or low frequency level degradation. With CCLC the negative impact of capacitors on sound quality is eliminated, providing full low-frequency sound and a responsive headphone listening environment with great spatiality.
Remote Control: The TEAC USB DAC amplifier comes with a IR remote for wireless operation of the AI-301DA. The remote offers Power, Volume, Input, and Playback controls.
All-Metal Chassis: The TEAC AI-301DA features a compact chassis with aluminum panels and a motor-driven volume knob with the tactile feel you'd expect from controls found in high end full-size hi-fi components. The solid all-metal chassis is impressively inert, minimizing the effects of vibration on the unit's sound quality.
Auto Power On: The AI-301DA has an Auto Power On function which automatically switches on the amplifier's power when it senses a digital signal input. When the amplifier is connected to optical digital audio output from a television set, just switching on the television turns on the power of the AI-301DA, enabling you to immediately enjoy high-quality sound without having to adjust any other settings. This facility makes life very convenient allowing you to switch on the TV and instantly listen to music or a soundtrack.
Auto Power Down: If there is not signal from the selected input source and no operation has occurred for approximately 30 minutes, the USB DAC amplifier will enter standby mode. Power consumption in standby mode is 0.5W or less.
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Customer Q&A
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Nice little amp. If space is a concern, this amp will do fine. Doesn't quite have the oomph of my mid-70s Kenwood that the Teac replaced. But, it doesn't have to fill the same kind of space. So, it'll do. Wish it came with a built-in phono pre-amp for the price, though.
ComposerD from Florida