Aiyima A01 Pro Review: A Compact Bluetooth Amplifier With a Full Tone Stack

Introduction

The Aiyima A01 Pro is a compact desktop amplifier built around a familiar budget formula: a small metal chassis, a Class D chip, and a set of analog tone controls. What sets it slightly apart at this price is the tone stack itself, which pairs bass and treble knobs with a third control labelled “Middle” rather than the more usual “Mid”.

It also ships with Bluetooth that supports LDAC and aptX HD, along with a 24 V power supply in the box. Pricing sits around $80, and a $10 coupon has been bringing it closer to $70. That puts it in direct conversation with several well known small amplifiers, so the interesting question is not whether it works, but where it fits.

Who This Product Is For

This is not a main listening system. The A01 Pro makes the most sense as a secondary setup: a garage, a porch, a kid’s room, or a desk where convenience matters more than reference-grade accuracy.

It is also genuinely useful as a Bluetooth receiver with a volume control. The variable 3.5 mm output on the back lets you feed its signal into a different amplifier and use the A01 Pro purely for wireless streaming and tone shaping. If you already own a more capable amplifier that lacks Bluetooth, that combination is worth thinking about.

For anyone assembling a first cheap stereo around a pair of budget bookshelf speakers, it covers the essentials without asking for much money, and the wireless section means you do not need a separate streamer to get started.

Design, Connections, and Power

The front panel keeps things simple: a toggle switch to move between Bluetooth and the RCA input, the four control knobs, and nothing else competing for attention.

Around the back you get an RCA input, a 3.5 mm variable analog output, speaker outputs, and the DC power input. The included supply is rated at 24 V and 4 A, which works out to roughly 96 W.

That ceiling matters. Amplifiers built around the TPA3255 chipset, such as the Aiyima A07 Pro or the A08, accept supplies up to 48 V and 10 A. The A01 Pro cannot. What arrives in the box is what you get, and there is no meaningful upgrade path on the power side.

Main Strengths

The headline feature is the tone control set. A dedicated Middle control alongside bass and treble gives you a third point of adjustment, which is more flexibility than most amplifiers at this price offer.

The Bluetooth implementation is the other strong point. LDAC and aptX HD support put it ahead of several more expensive competitors, including the Aiyima T9 Pro, whose wireless section is less capable.

Power delivery is better than the price suggests when the speaker is a good match. With a pair of ELAC BS41 speakers and a listening distance of roughly three feet, the amp pushed into the low 90 dB range without strain. Volume could be taken all the way to maximum without audible clipping or distortion.

Those three traits, tone control flexibility, strong wireless support, and usable power with the right speaker, form the core of the case for this amplifier.

Tone Controls and Bluetooth in Practice

The A01 Pro has a recognisable character. Driving Sony SS-CS5 speakers through an SMSL SU1 DAC, the top end came across as forward and slightly gravelly. Percussion attacks sat too far ahead of the rest of the mix, and cymbals were audible but not especially convincing. Even working the Middle and treble knobs could not fully line up that initial attack. The Sony speakers are already lively on top, and the pairing stacked brightness on brightness.

Switching to the ELAC BS41 changed the picture. Those speakers have a more relaxed treble and a surprisingly punchy low end for a four inch woofer. With that pairing the tonal balance came together, and the result was genuinely enjoyable rather than merely acceptable.

Bluetooth performance was a pleasant surprise. Output over Bluetooth is lower than through the RCA input, so you will not reach the same volume, but the sound quality held up well. Even on AAC, the codec Apple devices use, the result was enjoyable and the tone controls were enough to dial in a satisfying balance. LDAC and aptX HD are supported, though their full benefit depends on having a source device that can send them.

Things to Consider Before Buying

The rated output is listed as 100 W per channel across two channels, which does not line up with the chip’s published specifications. The TPA3116D2 datasheet describes 50 W into 4 ohms with a heat sink fitted, and that figure assumes ideal conditions and a high distortion threshold. A realistic expectation is closer to 40 to 45 W into 4 ohms at under one percent total harmonic distortion. That is still plenty for a small room, but the marketing number deserves a large grain of salt.

There is no built-in DAC. If your sources are analog, or if you plan to feed the amplifier from a computer or streamer without its own converter, you will need to budget for one separately. A T9 Pro includes a DAC and lands around $160 to $170, usually with a coupon available.

Speaker matching is not optional here. Bright, forward speakers tend to exaggerate the amplifier’s top-end emphasis, while warmer speakers smooth it out considerably.

Finally, the power ceiling limits how far this amplifier can grow with your system. There is no route to a beefier supply later.

Speaker Pairing and Setup Notes

The ELAC BS41 is the most natural partner among the speakers this amplifier was used with. It usually sits around $125 and can drop below $100 during holiday sales. Other warmer-leaning budget bookshelf speakers are worth considering for the same reason.

The Sony SS-CS5 is a harder sell. Its price swings widely and has sat around $200 at times, which does not make sense for a speaker of its level. Even around $150 it is difficult to recommend, though it becomes more interesting near $125 or below, and it has dropped to around $90 during promotions. Regardless of price, it is not the right tonal match for this amplifier.

Position the amplifier where you can reach the knobs, since the tone controls are the main reason to choose it over a plain amplifier, and keep the speaker run short in a desktop or shelf setup.

Buying Advice

At around $70 to $80, the A01 Pro competes in a crowded field. The Aiyima T9 Pro sounds more natural, looks more polished, includes an integrated DAC, and accepts a beefier power supply, though its Bluetooth is a step behind and it has no Middle control. Pair the A01 Pro with an $80 DAC and you are close to T9 Pro money without the converter being built in.

The Fosi Audio TB10D uses the TPA3255 chipset, sounds a little more natural, costs slightly less, and includes tone controls, but it has no Bluetooth at all. There is also the Douk Audio ST-01 Pro and a long list of similar options, so the decision comes down to which features you actually need.

Where the A01 Pro earns its place is Bluetooth-first use. If you plan to stream from a phone, want tone controls, and want a 3.5 mm output that can feed another amplifier later, that combination is genuinely useful. As a garage, porch, or kid’s room system paired with a warm set of budget speakers, it does the job.

Conclusion

The Aiyima A01 Pro is a compromise amplifier, but a reasonable one. Its rated power is optimistic, its top end leans bright with the wrong speakers, and it asks you to supply your own DAC if you have wired sources. In exchange you get a real Middle control, better Bluetooth than most rivals at this price, and enough clean output for a small room when the speaker pairing is right.

Buy it as a secondary system or a Bluetooth-first desktop amp, match it with warmer speakers, and it delivers on its promise. Expect it to anchor a serious near-field setup and you will be looking at the wrong product.