Qinpu Q-1

Price: $79.00

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Signal-to-signal-noise ratio: ~60dB(A)

THD: ≤0.5%（1kHz)

Maximum power output: 2*2W into 8-ohm load

Stated frequency response: 100-20000 Hz

Crosstalk attenuation: ≥50dB

Input sensitivity: ≤230mV

Input impedance: 20 kiloohm

Input sensitivity: ≤230mV

Power supply: 120 V, 60 Hz, 8 W

On Sale At:

Head-Direct

Description

Qinpu is relatively unknown in the West (just like Yuin - until recently). Qinpu is a major Chinese manufacturer of home hi-fi components, speakers, amplifiers, home theatre kits, etc.

The Q-1 is a small amplifier, capable of delivering 2W/channel into an 8-ohm load. It is designed to drive small efficient speakers like the Q-6. 2W per channel might seem like little, but the Q-6 are capable of 80 dB/1W at 1 metre, so the figure translates into a lot of racket from small speakers.

The Q-1 is the start of the "Q" small speaker/amplifier line, and so it is pretty basic. It has two speaker terminals (two posts with screws for naked cable connection), an on/off switch, a minijack line input, a standard "two bells" RCA input, and a headphone output. Yes, the Q-1 has a built-in headphone amplifier. There is also an automatic FM tuner with an antenna RCA jack (any cable with an RCA terminator can be plugged in as antenna).

Other than the power button, there're two controls, a dial switch between FM radio and the volume dial.

The Q-1's FM radio tuner is automatic: no scale - only [+]/[-] buttons to switch between autosensed stations. The FM tuner does not save tuning settings when switched off.

A miniplug-to-RCA cable is supplied, along with an RCA-plug radio antenna.

The amp's signal-to-signal noise, A-weighted, was measured as better than 60 dB. Which means it hovers above 60 dB, but not that much better (expect 61-62 dB dynamics or so). In other words, it's a bit shallow-sounding, but then so is FM radio, and so are MP3 files: the MP3 algorithm's ATH (absolute threshold of hearing) limit is usually around 70-78 dB floor, and worsens as bitrate decreases.

In line input mode, the amp will play whatever comes in through the RCA connections, and it will automatically switch to whatever's inserted into the minijack. In other words, the mini socket has priority over RCA.

The amp does not mute speakers when headphones are connected, and there's no "speaker mute" button either. This can be an advantage as it allows connecting a set of active speakers to the amp, or a subwoofer.