Stars Picker has on offer three The Affordable Systems (TAS) and they are:
- DALI KUPID speakers plus Cayin MT-12N valve amp (with 6P1 tubes) plus 2.5-metre-long Penny speaker cables for RM3,700.
- DALI KUPID speakers plus Aiyima A08 Pro amp plus Western Electric speaker cables for RM2,120.
- DALI KUPID speakers plus Fosi ZA3 amp plus Penny speaker cables for RM2,599.
I have already reviewed the DALI KUPID speakers with the Cayin MT-12N (with 6P1 tubes) valve amp (See https://www.av2day.com/2025/11/tas-dali-kupid-and-cayin-valve-amp/) and when I returned the Cayin amp to Stars Picker, I decided to pick up the Aiyima A08 Pro amp to pair with the DALI KUPID speakers since I have never reviewed Aiyima amps before.
The Aiyima A08 Pro amp is a Class D component featuring a TPA3255 Chip which can output a claimed 300 watts into 4 Ohms and is rated to easily drive 3-8 Ohm speakers. It is a small component measuring 12.3 cm (length), 15.2 cm (width) and 4 cm (height). Its design is quite unique and the VU meter on the left side of the amp is reminiscent of the meter found in the uber-expensive Nagra amps and it added an extra visual element that made the amp look quite attractive.
In the review system, I used a WiiM Ultra streamer, which costs RM1,999, and brings the total cost of the TAS to RM4,119.
Since the Aiyima amp is more powerful the bass goes deeper and tighter compared to when I used the Cayin nine-watter MT-12n valve amp. It was obvious that the Aiyima amp had better control of the DALI KUPID’s woofer and despite the fact that the woofer measures only 4½ inches in diameter, the bass could go quite low.
The sound quality was clear with more details and better soundstaging than with the Cayin. But in terms of warmth and overall enjoyment of listening to music, I experienced more pleasure with the WiiM-Cayin-DALI system. In the end it is the listener’s preference that matters. In terms of cost, the WiiM-Cayin-DALI system is more expensive.
Contact Stars Picker for a demo.
