Pyle Home Home Audio Power Amplifier System 2X40W Mini Dual Channel Sound Stereo Receiver Box w/ LED For Amplified Speakers, CD Player, Theater via 3.5mm RCA for Studio, Home Use Pyle PCA2 Black

I purchased this unit (PCA2) for my office desk.I wanted an inexpensive, but functional unit. I hadn't looked for such a device before so I didn't really know what I would find. I did look at several units designed for more karaoke functions with dual microphone inputs on the front, so I filtered those out.I just want to say I found it! This unit is the perfect size and has all the features I could want (plus some I was very pleased to discover).Observations:- Size: Perfect for my desk.- Case: Black Metal case, solid. Seems well constructed. It does have some weight to it for the size due to the components required inside.- Sikscreening: Looks good, all words are clear and crisp and straight and aligned where they should be. Both front and rear.- Potentiometers: Feel very smooth and provide a good resistance while turning. There is no discernible audio loss while moving them, no crackling or static. Very pleased here.- Buttons: The buttons do depress with a click and they do bottom out when fully depressed. They don't sink into the unit so there is some backing here which is good. So they feel solid and you get a good click.- Knobs: A little cheaper. The white location marker looks to be painted on a bit hastily. it is not as crisp as the silkscreening on the case. Although nothing wrong with them functionally.- Rubber feet: A good thing for my desk- LCD display: Blue. Neat feature is it provides volume level when using the remote. Shows Aux , Blue for BT. properly switches to the new function as expected. Doesn’t seem overly bright. characters are crisp.- Heat: there is 'some' heat but the top vents seem adequate and it never gets what I would consider 'hot', or excessive.- Dual, or even triple volume controls if connecting a device that has volume controls (Alexa has volume controls) plus the remote's volume control plus the master volume control on the unit. Just make sure all are at a suitable level in such cases. I have to turn down the master volume then adjust as necessary once playing music.Rear connections:- Speaker connections are tension type (and just as described). The actual wire hole is a bit small, but this is a reminder that you do not need heavy gauge wire based on the Ohm rating for this unit.- RCA-R/L: A bit disappointed in the RCA connection. Rather, disappointed more so that there is not a built-in 3.5mm input. But, I will say there is nothing wrong technically with the RCA connections, and they do work as expected to provide stereo (left and right) input. If you really needed to you can get a RCA to Female 3.5mm adapter if your device outputs using this type of connection.Function Testing:- My primary focus: Connecting my Alexa via Bluetooth. Works perfectly! I am grateful for the Bluetooth card in this unit! I also used Alexa's 3.5mm output jack and tested the RCA connection. (I had an RCA cable on one end (to this unit) and the 3.5mm connection on the other end (to my Alexa). This also worked. I am not currently using the RCA as I wanted to simply confirm the RCA ports worked.- I also found that the buttons on the front of the unit worked with Bluetooth. I was able to advance songs using the next button.- With the Bluetooth functionality there are a lot of device connection options for me and this was one of my main requirements.Additional features:- FM: I connected the supplied FM Antenna and switched it to the radio. (The antenna has a plastic end to it which fits over the center 'post' inside what looks like a coaxial connection. )The buttons on the front of the unit didn't allow much functionality here for using FM other than advancing station presets once I figured that out.However, the remote provided 35 channel memory (I ran the scan a few times and it ended up only finding 25 the first time through, and on subsequent scans after I adjusted the antenna, found 35 channels!! Don't know what the limit is, and does not seem to be listed anywhere?While there is no specific button labeled to start the scan for the memory, I found it by accident. I used the [Play/Pause] button. There is station seek up/down, and a number pad for direct frequency tuning. I was pleased to discover these functions from this priced unit. I would almost say 'additional' functions since I didn't see anything in the description about this, or I just missed it? And, nothing in the manual about it either.- I presume these same buttons on the remote and on the unit control the SD card and USB similarly.- Remote: As mentioned, the remote provided additional FM functionality. It also provides volume up/down which shows the volume level from 0 to 32 on the LED display. This works independent of the master volume knob on the front. (Does not turn the knob when using remote).- Oddly, you can power the unit off with the remote while the toggle switch on the unit is still in the On position. Just have to flip it to off and back on, or use the remote again.- Remote is a bit less expensive, but given the price point of this unit I'd rather not pay more for a better remote. Functions on this remote work fine. I believe the receiving 'eye' is next to the LCD and since the remote is Infrared, you must point directly at the unit. No issues there for me, just observational.- You can change the mode with the remote, as expected.- Equalizer: Normal, Rock, Jazz, Classical, Pop and Cut (Cut could be country?). Only controllable through the remote.- I also wanted to try and understand what other reviewers noted about hearing a buzz or the '60hz' noise... I tested this by connecting to bluetooth with nothing playing. I turned the master volume knob all the way up, and used the remote to turn it to 32. There was nothing. I plugged in my Alex using the RCA cable described above and performed the same test. Still nothing. To be honest, that sort of noise usually comes from a faulty cabled connection. I typically hear something like that when using a headphone jack that isn't properly connected, or my thumb touches the headphone jack while the other end is plugged in.... but did not get any unwanted/unexpected noise from this unit using RCA or Bluetooth. Perhaps this issue was corrected with this model versus a previous model?Options not tested:- SD Card and USB. Honestly, I don't have any music anymore stored on data drives. So I likely won't be using these functions, but I'll definitely give a nod for the availability.(I'll give the benefit of the doubt and presume these both function perfectly and the remote provides forward/back, pause, play features here!)(Side note: the USB port does provide power. So a potential charging port? Not sure the exact output volts/amps, but it did charge my phone-although very slowly.)Bottom Line: 5 stars- I am seriously considering purchasing additional units. Another for my garage would be great. I am extremely pleased however with the features of this 2 speaker unit. The sound is great for my needs and with the unit's size and the 2 desktop speakers it fits my space. I am not a hi-fidelity junky but what I hear out of this unit sounds great to me. I've cranked it as loud as I am comfortable with for my speakers and was not disappointed. I could also connect my phone (via BT) if I have anything not available through Alexa. I still have the RCA connection available for any other devices I want to connect via wire. Overall, I give this a solid 5 stars. I cannot find anything that is sub-par to what I purchased, and only found good surprises on functionality once I began playing with this solid unit.++Update: The picture at the top of the listing is correct for the unit I have. The lower pictures which show a red, bright LED indicating Power, as well as the description which calls this LED out as one of the features is not present on my unit (thankfully that massive, bright 10mm RED LED is not part of my device as I would have covered it with tape! ) .. It appears the seller updated the case and removed that LED on this unit and added 4 additional buttons but did not correct the lower description and some of the additional pictures. Or, they just mixed two of their units into one listing?- Also, I recommend to the seller to include a better manual, as well as call out some of the additional features available to this unit that are not mentioned anywhere!

I read the amazon reviews for the Pyle Home PCA2 amplifier while searching for an amp to use with my new fifty-eight inch HD television. I have good quality Yamaha speakers that I formerly used with my, about to perish, stereo receiver for amplifying and processing the TV's audio in my average sized home living room. I was concerned about the Pyle amp due to reviews that spoke of overheating and premature burn outs of the PCA2. I purchased the amp and received it. I am not an electronic technician or expert, so don't do what I did unless you are sure you know what you are doing and it will be safe. Without plugging The Pyle am in -I removed four screws from the right and left sides (eight total screws), and was able to remove the black cowling. There are air vents on both the left and right sides. On the inside of the cowling there is a black fiber material covering those vents. That fiber might have been meant to prevent dust from getting inside of the unit. I felt that that fiber was not very porous, and quickly became clogged, restricting proper ventilation. I removed that fiber from both the right and left sides - probably voiding the warranty. Included with the amp are four, small, rubber pads/feet with a peel and stick adhesive feature. I put those rubber pads/feet on the left end of the amp, one on each corner. I operate the amp with it standing upright on it's left side. The air vents now allow air to travel underneath the amp, and rise via air convection currents through the amplifier, probably helping to keep it cool. Remember, the Pyle PCA2 is a 'home' amplifier - not an auditorium amplifier. I set and leave the volume setting on the Pyle PCA2 at about sixty-five percent the total possible volume of the amp. I adjust my volume/loudness needed for listen in my living room. I've found that I need to use less than half of the full volume of my TV's audio controls to power the Pyle amp. I can turn-up plenty of volume this way, and never cause the Pyle amp to overheat or burn up due too much wattage being put in from the TV, or too much wattage blasting out of the Pyle amp. I have checked the Pyle amp several times for over heating and the amp has never had any heat above room temperature. It obviously is not heading toward a burn out. Consider this: do not run too much wattage from the TV's audio control into the Pyle amplifier. And don't turn the Pyle volume above about seven and a half or eight, and never to eleven! I also turn off the amplifier and TV when they are not in use. Also remember to occasionally disconnect the amplifier, unplugging it first, and remove the cowling to inspect and clean the internal components of dust and debris that could cause over heating. I feel the PYLE PCA2 is a fine piece of equipment when used in most ordinary comfortable volume, not extreme, home or office purposes. It is not a 'the house is a 'rocking' piece of equipment. It is a good value for the price!