Integra DTA-70.1 Multi-Channel Amplifier Reviewed

Published On: July 8, 2011
Last Updated on: October 31, 2020
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Integra DTA-70.1 Multi-Channel Amplifier Reviewed

With nine channels of amplification, the Integra DTA-70.1 multi-channel amplifier might seem like overkill but with the many ways that to utilize those channels that Integra has offered this amp can fit any system's purpose.

Integra DTA-70.1 Multi-Channel Amplifier Reviewed

By Author: Andrew Robinson

Andrew Robinson began his career as an art director in entertainment advertising in 2003, after graduating from Art Center College of Design. In 2006, he became a creative director at Crew Creative Advertising, and oversaw the agency's Television Division, where he worked for clients such as TNT, TBS, History, FX, and Bravo to name a few. He now has one of the most popular AV-related channels on YouTube.

Integra_DTA-70-1_multi-channel_amp_review.gifThe world of multi-channel music and home theater may be an ever changing space filled with more new technologies and firmware updates than I'm sure most enthusiasts know what to do with. Yet one constant has been the need for a multi-channel amplifier, for no matter what your video or audio processing is doing you're always in need of solid amplification to make your loudspeakers sing. Amplifiers have evolved over the years to become more powerful, more efficient and subsequently more expensive in many cases. They've even grown to include up to seven channels of amplification, up from the original two or even one. However, few amplifiers offer the connectivity, power and number of channels that the Integra DTA-70.1, reviewed here, offers - all for a price that most enthusiasts can afford.

Additional Resources
• Read more multi-channel amp reviews by HomeTheaterReview.com's staff.
• Find a pair of floorstanding speaker or bookshelf speakers for the DTA-70.1 to drive.
• Explore audiophile grade source components in our Source Component Review section.

Retailing for $1,800, the DTA-70.1 is a nine channel, that's right, I said nine channel amplifier, churning out an impressive 150-Watts (tested with two channels driven) in a push-pull configuration. The DTA-70.1 has a dynamic power rating of 180-Watts per channel into eight Ohms, 300-Watts into four and a staggering 400-Watts into three - not bad for a sub $2,000 amp. But why nine channels? The DTA-70.1 is one of the few amplifiers to be able to take full advantage of the latest surround sound codecs by providing all the requisite loudspeakers with the power they crave without having to mix and match. Don't have a full 9.1 home theater? No problem, for you can use the DTA-70.1's extra channels to bi-amp your main left and right loudspeakers if you so desire. Along with packing potentially more power and channels than you'll know what to do with, the DTA-70.1 is also THX Ultra2 Certified.

The DTA-70.1 itself is a handsome piece of kit boasting an aluminum façade that bares Integra's trademark scoop design with a narrow shard of light that glows blue when the amp is in operation. Around back the DTA-70.1 has both balanced and unbalanced inputs as well as color coordinated, five-way binding posts that can accept all speaker wire types from spade terminations to bare wire. A 12-volt trigger, auto power on/off switch, speaker impedance selector switch and a removable power cord round out the DTA-70.1's list of features. The amp itself measures in at a hair over 17 inches wide by nearly eight inches tall and 17 and a half inches deep. It tips the scales at a surprisingly manageable 50 pounds, which is far from back breaking considering most multi-channel amps weigh in excess of 100 pounds or more.

In terms of sound the DTA-70.1 is surprising in many ways. For starters it sounds nothing at all like the amplifier sections in most Integra or Onkyo receivers, which is what I was expecting. The DTA-70.1 has a far more laid back, full bodied sound that is spacious as opposed to the more direct, forward sound you'll find in many mass market amps and receivers. I connected the DTA-70.1 to my reference Onkyo receiver's preamp outs where it powered my five Noble Fidelity L-85 LCRS in-ceiling loudspeakers. In this configuration, the DTA-70.1's presence was immediately apparent, for the sound quality of my bedroom home theater improved dramatically. There was more detail, air and decay throughout which lent a greater sense of spaciousness and improved dynamics to the performance, be it music or movies. Midrange and treble clarity improved as the DTA-70.1 imparted more texture to the performance along with natural tone and weight which grounded things a bit when compared to my Onkyo receiver's internal amps. Soundstage-wise, the DTA-70.1 didn't disappoint, in fact it surprised me, for the depth of the soundstage seemed to extend back beyond my front wall an additional two to three feet, which it didn't do with just my Onkyo receiver calling the shots. In terms of soundstage width the DTA-70.1 wasn't as dramatic; however the level of detail and control exhibited throughout was. In terms of bass the DTA-70.1 was impressive though you're not about to mistake it for a Krell Evolution 402e or even a Mark Levinson No 533H, but still, for less than $2,000, the DTA-70.1 is no slouch.

Read about the high points and low points of the DTA-70.1 on Page 2.

Integra_DTA-70-1_multi-channel_amp_review_back.gifHigh Points
• The DTA-70.1 boasts all the channels of amplification you're likely ever to need and then some.
• Even with more channels than I'm sure most enthusiasts will ever need, the DTA-70.1 manages not to let them go to waste by allowing you to use the excess channels for bi or even tri-amping.
• The DTA-70.1's fit and finish is mass market for sure but by no means ugly or poorly constructed; in fact while it doesn't boast the same specs as the slightly more expensive Parasound 5250v2, I find it to be better looking.
• The DTA-70.1 has both balanced and unbalanced connection options, which is great and somewhat surprising given its asking price.
• The DTA-70.1's sound quality is a noticeable improvement over most receivers, which is good news for I believe that most consumers will buy the DTA-70.1 to beef up their receiver-based home theaters.

Low Points
• Because the DTA-70.1 has nine channels of amplification things can get a little crowded around back if you use bulky speaker cables, especially ones terminated with spade lugs.
• The DTA-70.1 should have enough power to drive most any modern loudspeaker with an efficiency of 90dB or better to theater-like levels, though if you have a larger room or inefficient loudspeakers such as electrostatics the DTA-70.1 may not be enough juice for you.
• At the end of the day you'll have to decide if the DTA-70.1's extra channels are worth the extra money, for if you don't plan on adding height or effects channels to your existing five or seven speaker setup or if bi-amping isn't important to you, then you will be throwing some of the DTA-70.1's $1,800 asking price away.

Competition and Comparisons
At $1,800 the DTA-70.1's only real competition is the Onkyo PA-MC5500, which like the DTA-70.1 has nine channels of amplification with the same power rating. In fact the two appear to be identical in more ways than one, though I maintain that the DTA-70.1 is the better looking of the two; however I'm not sure if the DTA-70.1's "looks" are worth an additional $200 over the Onkyo.

Other notable and affordable multi-channel amps to consider are Outlaw Audio's 7500 at $1,599, Marantz's MM8003 at $2,399, Parasound's 5250v2 at $2,850 and of course Emotiva's XPA-5 at $899. For more information on these multi-channel amps and more please check out Home Theater Review's Multi-Channel Amplifier page.

Conclusion
For $1,800 retail the nine channel DTA-70.1 from Integra is a great way to juice up your current home theater receiver without going broke in the process. While some may find nine channels of amplification to be a bit overkill, they're not superfluous for they can be used to bi-amp your left and right mains if need be. Still, with the Onkyo PA-MC5500 boasting a similar form factor and identical specs, many might be swayed to spend less and get the Onkyo. I didn't have the Onkyo on hand to do a head-to-head comparison so I can only comment on the DTA-70.1's performance, which if you have the right loudspeakers is fabulous and worth an audition.

Additional Resources
• Read more multi-channel amp reviews by HomeTheaterReview.com's staff.
• Find a pair of floorstanding speaker or bookshelf speakers for the DTA-70.1 to drive.
• Explore audiophile grade source components in our Source Component Review section.

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