Great question! I didn't mention it in the video because both inputs were equivalently good (assuming equivalent source quality). I.e. it's like the FX Audio.
I have modified both TI 3255 and Infineon Merus 12070 amps. They are alike yet very different. I keep the Infineon under my bed, secondary system and the 3255 in my main system. The SMSL with Infineon has several electrolytic coupling caps that cause that congested sound. After upgrading to proper PP caps it sounds a whole lot better. The sound adjustments can help in certain situations but it sounds better without them. And it is not as powerful as the TI, by far. And you can't do anything about it because the PS is internal. It does not need a DAC chip but it does need to convert PCM to PWM signal. So it stays digital, but a totally different kind. And you lose just as much as dac conversion. I have a pair of Fosi ZA3's and Ayima A70 mono's, both TI 3255. They don't need coupling caps and upgrading the $0.50 opamps for Sparkos makes a big difference, lifting them to true audiophile territory. I have put my 300b tubeamp and $5k transistor amp back in the box. Yes, they are that good. And they have substantially more power than you can upgrade with a heavier PS from 32V to 48V5A or 10A to fully use their potential. The Ayima has only 1 opamp and sounds a little less powerful than the Fosi ZA3's. But Fosi can be upgraded with 1 opamp per side. Also I think a sub out is far more useful that tone control for audiophile systems. I use a Laiv Harmony dac and a 3 arm vinyl setup. The mono's are fully capable of getting the best from the Laiv. I know because vinyl beats it handsomely.
Thank you for sharing your experiences. I believe good, informative comments like yours are a fine supplement to the professional reviews. I can sometimes learn from them, or get a different insight. Cheers!
It's not in the same ballpark, but I have the Aiyima T9-Pro with the LG tubes, driving my Joey Roth Ceramic 2.1 speakers as the T-Amp it came with died. It really is unbeliably good for close circuit listening for desk based users, esp with the sub-out. It sits nicely on the K7 I used a the DAC with close to the same foot print.
Well, I'm a bit late to *this* party. I was excited when I clicked to watch, but that's because I had confused the SMSL A200 for the SMSL D200 monoblocs, which IIWI Reviews absolutely *raved* about. Perhaps you could review them sometime? They are on the expensive side, but if they're *that* good, they may be worth saving up for.
I waiting 2 Fosi za3 to pair with my Topping DX9 or DX3 Also bought SA-200 op amp from Aliexpress and Vivid v7 from Burson The SA-200 I couldn’t find any reviews. But it’s a fully discrete op amp. Maybe it goes in the XLR inputs
my research I found that smsl a300 and ao200 is a lot better. I hear smsl ao300 is good and comes with sabor dac. I made a few shorts sound demo of Geshelli dac playing through my monitors with decent quality sound and different genres, I think I am the first one to make Geshelli sound demo with sparkos and akm4499 chip
Because that's all I have to go on and it's not really that relevant anyway for most people's setups where either of these will be plenty powerful enough
I haven't tried the GT4 yet, but the Voyager is still their premium offering so it should be the better amp and preamp still. Both are excellent though...
I'm looking for the warmest cheap amp. I thought maybe the Fosi V3 with the SMSL SU-1. But I'm also considering the much more expensive Denon PMA-600NE. I need to power my new Wharfedale Diamond 220 in a small, very bright room in my little apartment, and I have tinnitus, so I'm very sensitive to sibilant treble. I wonder if the sound signature of the Ayima A70 isn't pretty much the same as the Fosi V3? Personally, I don't need an amp for anything but playing music from my PC.
Maybe consider a class A amp as class d isn’t normally considered to be to be warm. Or you might consider a tube preamp with a class d amp to tame the highs, and give a more realistic soundstage.
@@OGNewb Thank you @unewb. Actually, I already have a three-year old Fost T20 Tube Headphone Amp. However, I don't know if I could use the speaker aux out in order to hook it up to a Fosi V3 or not. Would that work, or would I need to buy something like the Fosi P3 Tube PreAmp?
I'd take the V3 Monos over the A70 if you want a warmer/smoother sound. The ZA3 is also a good choice if you want one amp instead of two. If your tube amp has a preamp output, you can definitely use it before the power amp/integrated amp to add some extra tube colouration.
@@PassionforSound This reminds me, Lachlan. I've been meaning to ask you if you could review or recommend a good tube preamp to use with these inexpensive Class D amps? Particularly the ones used as monoblocs.
@HareDeLune I'd check out the xDuoo TA-66 and TA-26S as two excellent options. I've got a friend of the channel using the TA-26S as a tube preamp with a Ray Tubes 6SN7 Reserve tubes and he's loving it!
I keep a class d amp in my house just to sound test different speakers. I’m not a fan. However, RSL, known for their subwoofers, has a neat little class d amp for $100. Tone ctrls, sub out, dac, and a cool bypass switch for sub woofer frequency control.
@ yeah, I’m not sure how all that gizmo stuff works. I probably misspoke with my description. That switch does filter out some bass to the speakers - I guess to take some load off the speakers when a sub is used. But it’s a cool little amp. It really shines with good speakers. Even the small speakers RSL makes are okay, but really good with their 10E SUB. A nice sound for cheap. My son lives in the dorms at Barksdale Air Force base and gets lots of compliments. I’ve been using their speakers for surround duty. A really good company to do business with.
@@s.daniel9224 Yeah, I'm using mine at my desk with a pair of CG3Ms and a small old B&W sub, and a Nitsch Pietus Maximus for a DAC and preamp. Before the Pietus I had a FiiO K5Pro ESS, which did just fine for a lot less money. It paired well with the RSL amp for a great bang-for-the-buck setup.
You're putting out more content than it's worth. I hope you have some passive income to support this rather fruitless endeavor. Pretty sure you also put out a video saying you're quitting, but you never even slowed down. Loads of youtubers make "i quit" videos and then keep going. Odd behavior.
You are obviously unfamiliar with this channel, and yet you come here to challenge and insult the host? You've been living alone too long. Put the keyboard down and go for a walk or something.
Did you find the A70 to have good RCAs and XLR inputs like the FX-Audio L07, or did you feel the A70 RCAs are “not great” like the Fosi Audio ZA3?
Great question! I didn't mention it in the video because both inputs were equivalently good (assuming equivalent source quality). I.e. it's like the FX Audio.
@ thank you, good Sir!
I have modified both TI 3255 and Infineon Merus 12070 amps. They are alike yet very different. I keep the Infineon under my bed, secondary system and the 3255 in my main system.
The SMSL with Infineon has several electrolytic coupling caps that cause that congested sound. After upgrading to proper PP caps it sounds a whole lot better. The sound adjustments can help in certain situations but it sounds better without them. And it is not as powerful as the TI, by far. And you can't do anything about it because the PS is internal.
It does not need a DAC chip but it does need to convert PCM to PWM signal. So it stays digital, but a totally different kind. And you lose just as much as dac conversion.
I have a pair of Fosi ZA3's and Ayima A70 mono's, both TI 3255. They don't need coupling caps and upgrading the $0.50 opamps for Sparkos makes a big difference, lifting them to true audiophile territory. I have put my 300b tubeamp and $5k transistor amp back in the box.
Yes, they are that good. And they have substantially more power than you can upgrade with a heavier PS from 32V to 48V5A or 10A to fully use their potential.
The Ayima has only 1 opamp and sounds a little less powerful than the Fosi ZA3's. But Fosi can be upgraded with 1 opamp per side.
Also I think a sub out is far more useful that tone control for audiophile systems.
I use a Laiv Harmony dac and a 3 arm vinyl setup. The mono's are fully capable of getting the best from the Laiv. I know because vinyl beats it handsomely.
Thank you for sharing your experiences. I believe good, informative comments like yours are a fine supplement to the professional reviews. I can sometimes learn from them, or get a different insight.
Cheers!
SMSL looks more fun with VU meters though.
It's not in the same ballpark, but I have the Aiyima T9-Pro with the LG tubes, driving my Joey Roth Ceramic 2.1 speakers as the T-Amp it came with died. It really is unbeliably good for close circuit listening for desk based users, esp with the sub-out. It sits nicely on the K7 I used a the DAC with close to the same foot print.
Thanks for sharing your experiences with us!
Well, I'm a bit late to *this* party.
I was excited when I clicked to watch, but that's because I had confused the SMSL A200 for the SMSL D200 monoblocs, which IIWI Reviews absolutely *raved* about. Perhaps you could review them sometime? They are on the expensive side, but if they're *that* good, they may be worth saving up for.
I've produced that video already and it's coming soon... 🙂
@@PassionforSound
Woo-hoo!
I waiting 2 Fosi za3 to pair with my Topping DX9 or DX3
Also bought SA-200 op amp from Aliexpress and Vivid v7 from Burson
The SA-200 I couldn’t find any reviews. But it’s a fully discrete op amp. Maybe it goes in the XLR inputs
I haven't heard of that one, but it would be interesting to try
@ Give a try. I has a great price. Horizontal and vertical design
I just bought in this 11.11 sale and I’m waiting for it
my research I found that smsl a300 and ao200 is a lot better. I hear smsl ao300 is good and comes with sabor dac. I made a few shorts sound demo of Geshelli dac playing through my monitors with decent quality sound and different genres, I think I am the first one to make Geshelli sound demo with sparkos and akm4499 chip
The power ratings listed on these amps are spurious... Not sure why youre going off them.
Because that's all I have to go on and it's not really that relevant anyway for most people's setups where either of these will be plenty powerful enough
Hey soloist gt 4 or voyager as a preamp/headphone choice?
I haven't tried the GT4 yet, but the Voyager is still their premium offering so it should be the better amp and preamp still. Both are excellent though...
@@PassionforSoundI was asking cause its for a desktop setup with speakers mainly
@Leo-yn5fx the preamp output is basically identical to the headphone output so it's worth the extra if you're chasing the premium possible sound.
I'm looking for the warmest cheap amp. I thought maybe the Fosi V3 with the SMSL SU-1. But I'm also considering the much more expensive Denon PMA-600NE. I need to power my new Wharfedale Diamond 220 in a small, very bright room in my little apartment, and I have tinnitus, so I'm very sensitive to sibilant treble.
I wonder if the sound signature of the Ayima A70 isn't pretty much the same as the Fosi V3? Personally, I don't need an amp for anything but playing music from my PC.
Maybe consider a class A amp as class d isn’t normally considered to be to be warm. Or you might consider a tube preamp with a class d amp to tame the highs, and give a more realistic soundstage.
@@OGNewb Thank you @unewb. Actually, I already have a three-year old Fost T20 Tube Headphone Amp. However, I don't know if I could use the speaker aux out in order to hook it up to a Fosi V3 or not. Would that work, or would I need to buy something like the Fosi P3 Tube PreAmp?
I'd take the V3 Monos over the A70 if you want a warmer/smoother sound. The ZA3 is also a good choice if you want one amp instead of two.
If your tube amp has a preamp output, you can definitely use it before the power amp/integrated amp to add some extra tube colouration.
@@PassionforSound
This reminds me, Lachlan.
I've been meaning to ask you if you could review or recommend a good tube preamp to use with these inexpensive Class D amps? Particularly the ones used as monoblocs.
@HareDeLune I'd check out the xDuoo TA-66 and TA-26S as two excellent options. I've got a friend of the channel using the TA-26S as a tube preamp with a Ray Tubes 6SN7 Reserve tubes and he's loving it!
I keep a class d amp in my house just to sound test different speakers. I’m not a fan. However, RSL, known for their subwoofers, has a neat little class d amp for $100. Tone ctrls, sub out, dac, and a cool bypass switch for sub woofer frequency control.
I love mine. The switch, however, is to engage a high-pass filter for the speakers. It does not affect the sub/pre output in any way whatsoever.
@ yeah, I’m not sure how all that gizmo stuff works. I probably misspoke with my description. That switch does filter out some bass to the speakers - I guess to take some load off the speakers when a sub is used. But it’s a cool little amp. It really shines with good speakers. Even the small speakers RSL makes are okay, but really good with their 10E SUB. A nice sound for cheap. My son lives in the dorms at Barksdale Air Force base and gets lots of compliments. I’ve been using their speakers for surround duty. A really good company to do business with.
@@s.daniel9224 Yeah, I'm using mine at my desk with a pair of CG3Ms and a small old B&W sub, and a Nitsch Pietus Maximus for a DAC and preamp. Before the Pietus I had a FiiO K5Pro ESS, which did just fine for a lot less money. It paired well with the RSL amp for a great bang-for-the-buck setup.
this is the exposed guy right where ppl are talking about?
Exposed about what?
You're putting out more content than it's worth. I hope you have some passive income to support this rather fruitless endeavor.
Pretty sure you also put out a video saying you're quitting, but you never even slowed down. Loads of youtubers make "i quit" videos and then keep going. Odd behavior.
You are obviously unfamiliar with this channel, and yet you come here to challenge and insult the host?
You've been living alone too long. Put the keyboard down and go for a walk or something.