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AIYIMA A80 DAC Amplifier: ES9038Q2M + TPA3255, Bluetooth 5.1 aptX-HD


AIYIMA A80 is a compact integrated amplifier with an ES9038Q2M DAC and a TPA3255 Class-D power stage. AIYIMA lists up to 300 W x 2 maximum output at 4 ohm (4 to 8 ohm speakers), PC-USB input up to PCM 384 kHz / 32-bit and DSD256, optical, coaxial, RCA and TRS inputs, and Bluetooth 5.1 (Qualcomm QCC3040; SBC, AAC, aptX, aptX-LL, aptX-HD). It has an AUX output for a subwoofer, a 12 V trigger and bass and treble controls. THD is quoted at 0.006% and SNR at 109 dB or better. About 6.1 x 4.8 x 1.6 in (155 x 123 x 41 mm), 850 g. $199.99 without and $229.99 with a US power supply at AIYIMA’s store (checked 2026-10-31). Direct from AIYIMA.

$199.99

Video Review

AIYIMA A80: ES9038Q2M DAC + TPA3255 Class-D amplifier with Bluetooth 5.1 aptX-HD

The A80 is AIYIMA’s all-in-one DAC amplifier. It combines an ES9038Q2M decoder chip with a TPA3255 power stage, a Qualcomm QCC3040 Bluetooth 5.1 receiver, and USB, optical, coaxial, RCA and TRS inputs. Speakers connect to passive binding posts. One chassis can replace a separate DAC and power amp. The A80 has no tube stage: AIYIMA’s page mentions a tube preamplifier only as an external source the A80 can be connected to.

Why consider the A80

  • ES9038Q2M DAC and TPA3255 amplifier: AIYIMA quotes THD of 0.006% and SNR of 109 dB or better. Maximum output power is listed as 300 W x 2 at 4 ohm (a maximum, not a continuous rating).
  • Bluetooth 5.1 with aptX-HD (also SBC, AAC, aptX and aptX-LL).
  • PC-USB input up to PCM 384 kHz / 32-bit and DSD256 on Windows 10/11, macOS and Linux. The feature text on AIYIMA’s page says DSD512 while the parameters line says DSD256, so we use the parameters.
  • Subwoofer or active-speaker output (AUX OUT), a 12 V trigger input and ±10 dB bass and treble controls. DC input range 24 to 48 V.
  • Compact: 155 x 123 x 41 mm (about 6.1 x 4.8 x 1.6 in) and 850 g.

Who it’s for

Desk or small-room systems that want a DAC, a power amp and Bluetooth in one box, driving passive bookshelf speakers or feeding an active subwoofer. A 4 to 8 ohm load with reasonable sensitivity is the easy match; see our bookshelf speaker guide and Class D amplifier guide.

Who should skip it

Skip the A80 if you want a balanced XLR input, a headphone output (one buyer noted the lack of a headphone jack) or a pure power amp with no DAC. Owners also report that the small chassis runs warm.

Common questions

Is there a tube stage? No. Earlier text on this page said so in error; AIYIMA’s page lists a tube preamplifier only as a possible external source.

How much power does it make? AIYIMA lists a maximum of 300 W x 2 at 4 ohm. Use it as an upper limit, not a continuous rating.

Which power supply do I need? The A80 accepts 24 to 48 V DC. AIYIMA sells it without a supply or with a regional supply.

Where to buy

The button below opens AIYIMA’s store page for the A80.

SKU: aiyima-a80 Categories: , Brand:

Editorial synthesis of ~65 publicly-available Amazon owner reviews for the AIYIMA A80 (US + UK + Germany + France + Italy + Spain + Poland + Japan + Canada + Mexico + Sweden) as of 2026-08. We aggregate consistent themes so you can see what verified purchasers actually say after living with this all-in-one amp/DAC/preamp — not scraped reviews.

What owners consistently praise

  • "Punches WAY above its price point" — the single most-repeated theme across dozens of reviews. Owners running vintage separates ($1,000-$3,000 rigs: Adcom GFA-5300, Mark Levinson, Cambridge 851n, Sony ES series, McIntosh reference) consistently report the A80 competes at moderate listening volumes. Multiple owners explicitly kept the A80 and sold their older/more expensive gear afterwards.
  • Genuine all-in-one: TPA3255 Class-D amp + ES9038Q2M DAC + preamp + Bluetooth 5.1 (aptX-HD, aptX-LL, aptX, AAC, SBC) + optical + coaxial + USB-C + RCA + balanced TRS + 12V trigger + AUX sub output + PFFB circuitry. All in a chassis smaller than a paperback book. This combination at this price is genuinely rare — most owners note you'd need 3-4 separate boxes to match it.
  • LCD display with customizable VU meters — the single most-loved cosmetic feature. Owners repeatedly call it "the visual centerpiece" of their setup. Multiple meter modes: retro VU, spectrum analyzer, level bars — all switchable from the remote. Shows input source, volume level, and Bluetooth codec (super handy — no more guessing if you're on the right setting).
  • ES9038Q2M DAC delivers musical, natural sound — owners with existing standalone DACs report the built-in A80 DAC holds its own. Wider than expected soundstage, tight controlled bass, smooth midrange, crisp non-fatiguing highs.
  • Bass and Treble tone controls on the remote — direct-access buttons, no menu diving. Rare on modern Class-D amps.
  • Excellent Bluetooth implementation — stable connection through walls, full aptX-HD hi-res support. Owners streaming from iPhone, Android phones, Fire TV Stick all report near-analog quality.
  • Wide speaker compatibility — verified owner pairings include KEF LS50 Meta, Elac Debut 6.2, Pioneer BS22-LR, Sony SS-CS5 / SS-CS5M2, JBL Studio 100/530, Klipsch RP-500M II / RP-600M II, Martin Logan Motion 15i, PSB T4 towers, Magnepan LRS+ planar magnetics, HiVi-Swans D3.1 MKII, Neumi BS5, vintage Klipsch. Handles low-sensitivity and demanding loads at moderate volumes.
  • Included GaN 48V 5A PSU is high quality — modern GaN switching supply that runs cool. Optional upgrade to AIYIMA 48V 10A GaN PSU gives extra headroom for demanding speakers, or the linear alternative AIYIMA 48V 6A Linear PSU for the vinyl / low-noise crowd.
  • Op-amp rolling / modding potential — owners upgrading to Burson V7 Vivid Dual, Sparkos 3602, OPA1612, MUSES chips report noticeable improvement (wider stage, tighter bass, cleaner highs).
  • Compact size fits anywhere — desk, bookshelf, top of a floorstanding speaker, integrated into DIY sound bars. 155×123×41mm, ~850g.

Common use cases owners mention

  • Modernizing a vintage separates rig — most common. Owners use A80 as preamp/DAC/BT source feeding vintage Class-AB power amps (Adcom GFA-5300, Sony TA-A1ES, McIntosh, ICEpower 1200AS2, Purifi builds). The AUX out routes analog signal to the external power stage.
  • Standalone 2.0 or 2.1 with bookshelf/tower speakers — desktop, small living room, bedroom, gaming room. Owners routinely pair it with Sony SS-CS5M2, Klipsch RP-500M II, or HiVi-Swans D3.1 MKII and get "shockingly good" sound.
  • TV audio + music combo — via optical from LG OLED, Sony Bravia, or Fire TV Stick. Owners note it "sounds massively better than any soundbar" while also handling casual music streaming.
  • DAC + preamp only — some owners use it purely as a DAC for HiVi-Swans M300 MKII active speakers, JBL Control 25T, or other active monitor systems.
  • Family gift + no-fuss setup — one owner bought 3 units to gift with DIY power amps + speakers to family members. All work "hassle-free" via HDMI/optical/AirPlay.
  • Home studio monitoring — DT 990 Pro 250Ω pairing verified, monitor speakers reference use.

Common critical notes from long-term owners

  • Runs warm — some owners flag as "hot" — nearly universal mention. The chassis gets noticeably warm during extended use even at moderate volumes. Owners note improvements with: cooling pad, silicone isolation feet with airflow gap, small cooler placed on top (one owner uses an air purifier surface, another glued 1/8" wine cork slices to the feet), Scythe Katana 4 CPU cooler mod. Not a failure risk (units have run 24/7 in reviews) but worth planning airflow at setup.
  • No dedicated subwoofer output — the AUX out is full-range, which is technically correct but requires a subwoofer with built-in high/low-pass filter to integrate properly.
  • No phono input — turntable owners need external phono stage.
  • Auto-standby can be aggressive — the amp powers off during low-volume passages for some owners. One owner returned/switched to 3e Audio A7 specifically because they could not disable auto-off cleanly. The 2025 firmware update (visible in newer packaging) reportedly adds an AUTO STANDBY on/off toggle.
  • Menu could use a dedicated BACK button — currently a double-push on the volume knob = back. Not intuitive on first use.
  • Display cannot be fully turned off — can be dimmed to 10% but stays lit.
  • Bluetooth volume slightly lower than analog inputs — need to compensate with higher volume setting on BT. Not a bug but noticeable when switching sources.
  • No HDMI eARC — for TV integration you must use optical. If HDMI eARC is a must-have, look at Fosi Audio S3 which has it.
  • No WiFi / no streaming app / no Roon — this is not a streamer. If you want built-in Spotify Connect / TIDAL Connect / AirPlay 2 / Roon Ready, add a Fosi Audio S3 or WiiM Pro/Ultra in front of the A80.
  • Remote is thin plastic — functional but feels cheaper than the amp chassis itself.
  • Included 48V 5A PSU is fine for most speakers — but demanding low-sensitivity speakers (Magnepan, some 4Ω towers) benefit from the AIYIMA 48V 10A GaN PSU upgrade for extra dynamic headroom.

Best DAC / source pairings from real owner reports

Best power amp pairings (using A80 as pure preamp/DAC)

Best speaker pairings from real owner reports

  • Sony SS-CS5 / SS-CS5M2 — matched budget-audiophile favorite pairing
  • Pioneer BS22-LR (Andrew Jones) — warm and smooth
  • Elac Debut 6.2 / DB63 6Ω bookshelves
  • JBL Studio 530 / 100 series, JBL Control 25T
  • KEF LS50 Meta (with external bass management)
  • Klipsch RP-500M II / RP-600M II — horn-loaded high-sensitivity match
  • HiVi-Swans D3.1 MKII — the "giant killer" bookshelf that punches above its price with clean A80 power
  • HiVi-Swans H6 active studio monitors — use A80 as a DAC front-end via balanced XLR
  • HiVi-Swans M300 MKII active 3-way — same setup, flagship active pairing
  • Martin Logan Motion 15i / Impression 11a — surprisingly capable at moderate volumes
  • Magnepan LRS+ planar magnetic — works well at reasonable listening levels
  • Vintage 1970s-1980s tower speakers — many owners give 30-40-year-old speakers new life

Recommended setup workflow (from top owner reviews)

  1. Unbox, update firmware if newer version available
  2. Set default output based on your rig (USB-C for PC, optical for TV, BT for phone)
  3. Route AUX out to subwoofer or external power amp if using as preamp
  4. Configure display: pick your favorite meter mode (spectrum analyzer is most popular)
  5. Set 12V trigger cable to your power amp if you have one (auto power on/off)
  6. Dial in gentle bass/treble tone controls via remote for your room
  7. Consider cooling: add isolation feet, place with airflow above/around, or a small cooling pad if you plan to run 8+ hours daily
  8. If you plan to run demanding speakers hard, budget for the AIYIMA 48V 10A GaN PSU upgrade

Overall verdict from owner community: the AIYIMA A80 is the "swiss-army knife" of budget audiophile amps — genuinely all-in-one with a superb TPA3255 amp, high-quality ES9038Q2M DAC, comprehensive input suite (including USB-C and balanced TRS), full Bluetooth 5.1 aptX-HD, tone controls on remote, and a customizable LCD display with VU/spectrum meters that owners genuinely love. Consistently competes at moderate volumes with amps costing 3-10× more. Skip only if you specifically need HDMI eARC (get Fosi Audio S3), built-in WiFi streaming (add WiiM Ultra in front), or dedicated subwoofer output with crossover. Plan for a warm-running chassis with basic airflow, and you'll have one of the best-value integrated hi-fi front-ends of 2026. Perfect pairing for the AIYIMA 48V 10A GaN PSU upgrade path and rock-solid partner for bookshelves in the HiVi-Swans D3.1 MKII, Klipsch RP-600M II, or Sony SS-CS5M2 class.

Specification

BrandAIYIMA
ModelA80
TypeDAC amplifier (integrated)
DAC ChipES9038Q2M
Power Amp ChipTPA3255 Class-D
Maximum Output Power300 W x 2 at 4 ohm (AIYIMA; a maximum, not a continuous rating)
Speaker Impedance4 - 8 ohm
InputsUSB (PC), optical, coaxial, RCA, TRS, Bluetooth 5.1
Bluetooth5.1, Qualcomm QCC3040; SBC, AAC, aptX, aptX-LL, aptX-HD
USB DecodingPCM up to 32-bit / 384 kHz, DSD256 (AIYIMA parameters line)
OutputsPassive speaker outputs, AUX OUT for a subwoofer or active speakers; 12 V trigger input
THD / SNR0.006% / 109 dB or better (AIYIMA)
Tone ControlsBass and treble ±10 dB
DC Input24 - 48 V
Dimensions155 x 123 x 41 mm (about 6.1 x 4.8 x 1.6 in)
Weight850 g (about 1.9 lb)

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