The appearance of this amplifier at the Danish Lyngdorf Audio is perceived as completely logical – the company has long specialized in digital amplification and has brought its developments to almost perfection. It remains only to add a streaming platform and wireless modules – which was done in the TDAI 1120 model. And what is especially valuable, the developers introduced a lot of sound presets into the path and kept the proprietary room correction system.
Despite the general trend towards combining several devices in one case, there are few similar components of the level of the Lyngdorf TDAI 1120 on the market. Of course, it is tempting to take a streaming module and tie it directly to a switching amplifier, but this idea is often embodied in the budget segment, where there are no special requirements for sound quality. But the Danes from Lyngdorf Audio are so skilled in digital development that they decided to release such a combine in a class much higher than average.
There is no need for a digital-to-analog converter – the signal from the digit can be easily converted into PWM, and these pulses can be used to control the output switches of the power amplifier.
The attractiveness of the project is that there is no need for a digital-to-analog converter – a signal from a digital can be easily converted into PWM, and these pulses can be used to control the output switches of the power amplifier.
But you still need some kind of user service – volume control, frequency equalization, data output to the display, ADC for working with analog sources … This means that you will have to introduce additional nodes and, above all, a productive DSP capable of processing a signal in real time. And here Lyngdorf Audio specialists have a clear advantage – in terms of sound algorithms there are few equal to them.
And in terms of functionality, the TDAI 1120 is a rather advanced device. It features Internet radio (vTuner), support for Spotify Connect, Roon Ready, DLNA and LAN via USB, as well as Bluetooth aptX and Wi-Fi wireless modules. With Airplay 2 and Chromecast, this amplifier can be easily paired with other compatible audio devices and speakers for multi-room music playback. There is even an HDMI-ARC input with CEC capabilities, so the new product from Lyngdorf will help high-quality sound of TV programs and video content.
M Maximum Feed output current may reach 30 A, while the Level of distortion at rated power is less than 0 , 05% for a class D with ovsem well.
The amplifier has a built-in DSP, which implements the proprietary Room Perfect auto-correction. Unlike well-known licensed systems such as Audessy and Dirac, it provides two tuning modes in which the sound field is focused either on one listener or on a part of the room. In doing so, the system not only flattens the frequency response, minimizing room influence, but also eliminates phase shifts. Of course, Room Perfect can be turned off, but experience has shown that with active correction, the Lyngdorf technique always sounds better. The accuracy of the field formation depends on how many places the microphone was installed during measurements, and in the limit, the completeness of information about the investigated room can reach 99%.
There are other correction algorithms in the DSP, but I’ll talk about them a little later, when we start to deal with the control application.
The built-in amplifiers are, of course, switched-mode, and this is also Lyngdorf’s own development. The output power is not a record, but quite sufficient for rooms of 25 – 30 sq. m and speakers with a sensitivity of 88 dB / W – 2 x 120 W RMS at four ohms and 2 x 60 W at eight. The maximum output current can reach 30 amperes, and the level of distortion at rated power does not exceed 0.05%. Not bad at all for class D.
On two coaxial inputs and HDMI, the eARC amplifier accepts PCM with a resolution of up to 192/24, on two optical inputs – up to 96/24. There are two analog inputs: Phono (yes, the amplifier has a built-in phono preamp for MM heads!) And a linear RCA input with a maximum level of 4 V. Another balanced XLR connector is intended for a Room Perfect system calibration microphone.
If you have problems with bass in the room, try Open Air – the heaviness will go away from the lower register, the sound will literally open up.
There are an unimaginable number of settings in the TDAI 1120, but everything is described in detail and sensibly in the user manual. A giant display that takes up half of the front panel helps a lot in work – a lot of different information is displayed on it. Traditionally, for Lyngdorf controls, the minimum is an encoder responsible for adjusting the volume and navigating through the menu, a Source / Mute knob and a Standby button.
The black and white graphics of the Lyngdorf Remote control application are also made in a truly Scandinavian style. There are a lot of sections in it, but you won’t get confused – everything is built quite logically and works well. The smartphone quickly finds the TDAI 1120, the start menu with a large volume control and its value in dB is immediately displayed on the screen. A fascinating quest in modes and settings can be described for a long time, but I will focus on those that are directly related to sound.
The Bass 1 and Bass 2 settings are useful when listening at low volumes, they add energy and velvet to the lower range, but since the rise is small, there is no noticeable room resonance. In this case, the local attenuation at 3 kHz is softened by the voice sibilants. The same thing happens on Music, but without raising the bass. Choosing Action, we got an emphasis on the shock lower range, which can be useful when watching movies. If you have problems with bass in the room, try Open Air – the heaviness will go away from the lower register, the sound will literally open up. I liked that all the presets work delicately, without any harsh interference with the original characteristics of the phonograms and do not disrupt the construction of the sound stage.
By the way, this is one of the characteristic differences of the Lyngdorf technique – you will never guess that there is a switching amplifier inside.
If none of the ready-made options fit, you can use the classic tone block with high and low frequency control, and not only the correction depth, but also the center frequency is set in it. This is convenient when you need to correct the frequency response of speakers or to weaken a standing wave. Room Perfect handles the latter problem much better, though.
As a streamer, TDAI 1120 did not give any particular reason for criticism – the content from Spotify sounded quite comfortable, without annoying artifacts, although the resource was far from the best in terms of quality. By the way, this is one of the characteristic differences of the Lyngdorf technique – you will never guess that there is a switching amplifier inside. No dryness at the top, correct detailing without enlarging the nuances, not squeezed bass.
The advantages of the proprietary circuitry were especially evident when we connected the amplifier via coax to a Lyngdorf CD 2 CD player.
A clear, precise and energetic sound was obtained even on the Neutral preset (linear characteristic), and if you choose the right correction, you can build an effective presentation of any genre.
The Lyngdorf TDAI 1120 is one of the few amplifiers that maximizes the benefits of an all-digital path without any of the sonic disadvantages typical of such devices.
To get an advanced system for all occasions, you just need to add columns. And the built-in phono stage will add a touching note of nostalgia to the project …
