330 Watts for $195!? Giant Killer or Giant Disappointment? SMSL A300 Speaker Amp Review
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 26 มิ.ย. 2024
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0:00 Start
0:50 Intro
2:01 Sponsored Content Squarespace
4:05 SMSL A300
5:28 On the Back
7:04 On the Back Again
8:38 How it Works
12:02 How to Bridge this Amp
18:01 How it Sounds
19:14 Final Thoughts
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Will this work with a pair of Bose 901 with their active eq? If not, do you know any budget amps that will work? I'm not having luck looking for modern receivers with tape loops. Please help!
Thanks for the great in depth discussion of the bridging mode, very helpful
The mains filter appears to start the roll off around 90-100hz and 24db/octave. Cool that they include a high pass filter at all. Most don't in these cheap amps
I've had the A300 for a few weeks after the AO200 .....you're spot on as usual Randy...the Infineon modules in the A300 are better in every respect...the elephant in the room is the price....I have a Rega BrioR and a Yamaha AS 501...you know the rest. Like you said I don't know how long this amp will live but I can't ignore or talk myself into denying it kicks the Rega and the Yamaha to the curb for value....there I said it
these class d's are getting better and better. this one has 2 analog inputs which is good. I think if I was spending $400 I'd be looking hard at emotiva and Yamaha products too.
Emotiva is a logical step up... I agree 100%
@@DPSingh-px4xu
How does one step-up from a pair of integrated amplifiers to a pair of MonoBlock amplifiers with active crossovers? Oddly, the Yamaha & Rega both have tape loops but neither even has a PreOut. Forget any Home Theater ByPass (which is a MainIn btw). They're incomparable.
If there's an elephant in the room, I can't see it. How can worthless junk be priced too high or low?
Reggae, Funk & Brass 🔈🔉🔊
@@cheapaudiomanhow do you think the wiim pro and fosi v3 would stack up compared to these amps or emotiva?
My friend owns the S801 and it rocks the butt off any speaker
Have this one for over 6 months. It works really fine, actually sold my Rega Brio R as I felt no use anymore for it. Hi-pass filter is cut at 50Hz, as stated by the specs in manual.
100 HZ
I'm really enjoying the sound of my Fosi Audio V3 so far! Thanks a lot! It bugs me when audiophile elites look down on these little class D gems. We really need a detailed test to figure out their power limits and when they might have sound issues. It's super important, and still a bit unclear, to know how well they truly deliver power and handle big demands from thirsty and hungry 4 Ohm speakers.
Most of them are moving to class d purfi ice and hypex
I just bought this amp in early June and paired it with the Elac Debut 2.0 B5.2 bookshelf speakers. I have zero experience with home audio, and this is a desktop setup that provides audio for my PC in a small home office, as well as serving as my home stereo. The A300 seemed like the best fit for the speakers and received high praise from other TH-cam reviewers. I went with the Elacs because they were designed to be shoved against the wall with little to no toe-in, which was the only option for my setup, (the "speakers you can put against the wall" video was invaluable!). When the Elacs were marked down to $200 it was time to pull the trigger. The A300 looks cheap and the display is ugly, but I can't say anything bad about how it sounds, and I haven't had a single audio issue, or noticed any latency between the video and audio. I thought about pairing it with a D300, but I'm holding off for now. The only thing I hate is that the panel controls are all but impossible to use in low light conditions, especially the volume knob. The volume knob is crap. In fact I'm pretty sure they mixed actual feces of an indeterminant origin in with the plastic that they made it out of.
Actual poo in the plastic ? Same; I thought I could smell the backside of thee unit for a minute
9:48 E1 means the Tx and Bx treble/bass settings are active. They are ignored in all other Ex settings. I’ve had this amp for about 6 month now. Love it. I run a Schitt Loki Mini+ between my DAC and the A300, so mine lives on E0 anyway.
Good to know. I guess that's why it goes back to E1 after the treble or bass settings are used. I like E3 for bass!
@@simpsonbergman2185 Exactly. Adjust the bass or treble and no matter what EQ setting you had, it will go back to E1.
Sounds like plenty of power in 2 channel mode. My NAD C316 is only rayed at 40 watts, but it drove my towers perfectly fine for years until I upgraded last year. Now it drives my second system.
I bought 2 of these amps a few months ago. They are amazing. I use them with 2 pairs of my DIY speakers. The large 2 way speakers i use the amps as a stereo pair and Passive Bi Amp the speakers. One amp doing left channel Bass and Tweeter and the other doing the right channel Bass and Tweeter. I use a Schiit Audio Saga with a Tungsol 6SN7 GTB valve. In the second speaker set up i use full range drivers in the main speaker and a pair of Ripol Subs which have a pair of 12" bass drivers in each Ripol cabinet. These Subs have a Sub Amp with integral phase , level x over adjustment. I use 80 hz as the sub x over. I then use the A 300 as BTL Mono Blocks . I connect the right channel from the Saga to the Left input of the right amp. I then connect the Left Channel from the Saga to the left input of the Left amp. I do not daisy chain the amps using as you did. In both systems the amps sound absolutely fantastic they are very fast, dynamic with superb bass control and power. The mid range is wonderful and the high frequencies are clear and open and no harshness. The soundstage and imaging is enormous and clearly defined. i do not use the eq settings as they not only change the sound balance but add a sense of falseness to the sound. I tried the on board SUB with the subs and that sounded POOR as it was too high from my set up . These amps are true giant killers and i just love them. The manual !!!! is basically very poor and i also spent ages trying to get my head around it. But when i worked it out it was simple to implement the BTL set up.
Hard to read all that right now but I think I’ll just buy some old stuff
My wish is that one of the channels with test equipment checks this amp out in stereo and bridged mode. Thanks for the video, great as always.
Hi Randy! Thanks a lot from France! I really enjoy listening your comments and I was definitelly inspered by you while acquiring my last 2 paurs of speakers (Polk Reserve and also Klipsh RB81 mkII) and boths sound fantastic in their systems. Keep doing this awesome chanel! Hugs from France!
I've purchased a handful of products based on your recommendations, the Wiim mini is amazing, the Fosi V3 is also amazing. Using an old Emotiva XDA-1, it definitely sounds better than the $$$ would suggest.
I have it for almost a year. I saw some people having issue with them making noise/hiss, however I did not experience any of that. Mine is dead silent. Popular screen glitch exists but it only happens when scrolling through options and it's not like im doing it everyday.
I have it paired with KEF Q150+SMSL Sanskrit mk3 dac and it's a very enjoyable combo (just bought REL T5x, I skipped the highpass filter as I have it connected via the high level). I use this setup for nearfield as a pc speakers with an option to just roll back 2m from the desk where it sounds even better when I really want to get into music. Incredibly versatile setup and it works exactly how i wanted.
SDB is a lovely feature for me, like seriously I love it. It works awesome when I listen nearfield, on lower volumes. It boosts the frequencies that just make it more fun to listen (i believe it creates a V shape eq which is a nice addition on lower volumes when having it perfectly flat sometimes feels too flat). Also, I'm pretty sure the SDB eq level lowers with volume but feel free to correct me if i'm wrong on this one.
It would be nice to have some different knob. Even though it's in my reach I still change the volume with a remote. The knob they used feels kinda wobly, unprecise and cheap. Don't like it at all.
I'm not super experienced and I didn't go through tons of equipement that I can compare it with, but I can say that I have no regrets and just enjoy the music.
What do you think of the Sanskrit 3? I think its a little gem but not many reviews on it only the older models
@carlitosgomez71 I used to have one. Very good but jump up to the Topping D50. Night and day
Buy the Topping D50 and you'll be much happier. 😊
The SMSL AO-300 (confusing because of the similarity of name) is an AL 200 with a subwoofer output, and honestly I don't know if there are any other differences that aren't cosmetic. Would love to see a review.
When you do the comparison, please use 48v power supply for Fosi Audio v3. Considering this SMSL A300 price, I would say using 48v power supply for Fosi Audio v3 makes a lot of sense.
Greetings Randy, I'm glad to see this review, cause I have been listening to my SMSL A300 for 1 1/2 years. With your input, I have the sckiit Modi, Wiim Pro with the OSD Audio Pre. Coming out of thr Emotiva B1+ and there Airmotiv SE8..Loving it All..Thx
Interesting review! I’ve owned one for a few months and really like it. Not a fan of the flush volume wheel though. Nor the screen.
Thank you for all your awesome video reviews.
Hi Randy absolutely love your channel been watching and learning for years now. Really enjoy your reviews and your personality 👍. Had this amp for a few weeks listening to it in 2ch, great sounding. However to much confusion for bi-amp poor instructions from such a reputable co. not to mention the terrible off axis function of the remote, very disappointing. Loved it in terms of sound but unfortunately returned it. Thank you for this great review as always 👍
mono audio is always assigned to left channel in stereo setup, to allow use of TS plug instead of TRS plug.
I will definitely audition this one, keep up the good work
Have been using this amp to power 4 klipsch rb 51 mkii in parallel (4 ohms) and sub( not really needed) for more than a year and still running strong. Barely gets warm. I listen to it daily for 3 to 4 hours. Mostly 60-75 db with 85 -90 db now and then.
Really enjoyed this review, the Squarespace spot was hilarious 😂
Would love to see you review the Encel Brains, it’s an Australian built integrated class A/B amp which I’ve recently picked up. I love it, but I bought it when it was brand new to market and would love to hear your thoughts on it!
Great channel love your sense of humor and your honesty
Glad you enjoy it!
How did I miss this video oh nooooo! (Awesome video by the way)
I have had this amp for quite a while. It does generate some audible high frequency noise in standby. This has been well documented in other forums. As far as I can tell, it is not audible when music is being played - even at low listening levels. It is a very good sounding amp and I have been very happy with it as a secondary bedroom system. I use it with a Schiit Mani 1 and a Modi 3+ and it sounds really great. I love that it has two inputs. I tried it with the SMSL SU-1 DAC and it sounded very thin and bright in direct mode. I have paired the SU-1 with the Fosi Audio V3 in another bedroom and this combination sounds even better to me than the A300 with the Schitt however, the A300 offers a lot of functionality over the SU-1 with the A3 (remote control with multiple analoque inputs, bass management, etc...). Either setup is an easy recomendation depending on what your needs are. Also, like Randy said, there is no need to buy two of these. One has more than enough power to deafen you and anger your neighbors.
The Fosi sounds better to you? What speakers are you using?
Same at my a300. Its a ground Problem from the energyconnector. In german kältegerätestecker. No ground!!
I don’t know how good is the 3255 ship on the Fosi V3 but the A300 is my absolute best Cass D amp. It compete with my vintage SANSUI & KENWOOD vintage amp. I use it since 1 year.
I have the A300 hooked up to the D300 DAC, it's wonderful. Thinking of getting another A300 to do the mono thing. An image of the interconnects would be really helpful, please.
nice catch on the Squarespace callout. It's like you were speaking directly to me.
The fact this actually *has* a high pass filter is great. That's not common. And the RSL 255 which also does doesn't seem to have a remote.
I bought two of these to use as dual monoblock at my desk but one of them had horrible hiss. If you get one that hisses know they don't all hiss... I also A/B'd with the ayima a07 at the same time. I could barely hear any difference between the smsl (the one that didn't hiss) and the a07 as normal listening volume. I used them with sony bookshelfs as well as Philharmonic BMR monitors.
Randy. What do you use as a audio player when using these amps? And what speakers are you using?
I have one of these with my pair of Wharfedale 12.1s. I cannot imaging better value for less that 500 quid. Just a good sounding system in the bedroom
191K subscribers! Come on, let’s go!
They look nice. Thank you Randy.
@cheapaudioman Is the specific amp good also for Magnepan and how quite is it?
I have a SMSL M400. Good DAC/Preamp.
This BTL mode is a croc! It’s bad enough one has to introduce yet another interconnect, but a long one is needed for those who have their monoblocks near the speaker to make for shorter speaker cables.
Wish they would make a straight up power amp.
hooked it up to my marantz AV1510 pre outs....what a difference in seperation and sound stage ...front channel bliss
So , if I sum up videos from few days ago and I own A300 for 5 months now, which is fed by Google chromecast audio puck(still going strong), and drives Elacs Debut Reference , would it be a great improvement to add an SU-1 in that chain (via Toslink from the Puck)?
That bridge mode setup is hilarious 😂 why!?! 😂😂
Any recommendations for a good phono preamp to pair with this?
can it use the usb port on this to get a dsp from a PC for audio in? So if you do not have a dac it can still get a signal from a computer or dap?
Great vid, Randy. Very funny throughout!
Glad you enjoyed it!
Your bridging description earned a resub. Thanks!
Glad you put in the comment about the scammers trying to scam people in the comments section!
Did we use power-hungry speakers that would sound better when this system was in bridge mode? Then use those same power-hungry speakers with the system not in bridged mode. To get a good sound comparison that way. Please forgive me if you mentioned all of this, and I somehow missed it, lol. Love your channel, I appreciate everything you put out!
🎧🔊👍
I bought one! For the price it is an absolute bargein! If you think that the T9 can be compared to it, then no. This is definitely a more powerful and fuller sounding amplifier.
Definitely a better amp than T9
Love your videos!
ive been looking for S.M.S.L. AO300 which i'm interested on buying and cant find any on youtube. is it a new released product?
I bought this amp for a friend and tried it first.
High pass filter is 50 Hz!
Low pass on sub out is 100 Hz!
Internal DAC sucks.
My favorite sub 200 usd amp.
Ah, this explains different numbers flying through this thread. So, HP Filter for main speaker 50Hz. I hope it's 24db per octave or even little steeper. Thank you 👍
Darn, just received the SMSL AO200MKII a couple days ago for my home office! Oh well, very happy with it 😊
Nice review thank you Randy. When using 2 A300 together in bridge mode, Do I get 2 sub outs then, for 2.2 stereo setup? Cheers
...i am a bit concerned about the implementation of bridge mode, though. That slave unit controls are not disabled gives a hint, that it wasn't well thought through...or probably decided for most cost efficient option.
...still good, they implent this feature. I think the advertised wattage numbers are marketing jokes for those little desktop amps (which they are primarily). So scaling up power by giving option for using them as monoblocks is just great!
I have these amps in a 2.2 setup. However, I don’t use the BTL-R rca connection and simply set the A300’s up like mono blocks with each set to the same volume level. My 2 subwoofers are then set up as stereo subs in this configuration.
@@user-jf2cf4ct3f I see. But how does the amp knows in your case, that it has to operate in bridge mode, using the full amppower for only one channel? Is there another bridge mode setting in menu? Cheers
Good question. There is an option to put each into monoblock/BTL mode. It is “ br1”. I have my speakers connected left neg and right pos on each amp. As Randy pointed out, there is no bridge label on the back, so I was surprised this morning that when I changed to “br0” in this configuration that music still played. Only difference I quickly noticed was that it impacted the volume. I also looked at the ASR forums that have photos of the different connections (see”New SMSL A300 Class-d Power Amp” page 3 July 2022.) I believe another advantage by using these as mono blocks might be that there is now no crosstalk. The A300s offer a lot of great options for integrated amps.
Im still a bit confused... I was hoping that it would take both Left & Right inputs and combine them into a single (mono) output. Is this possible? Thts exactly what I need to do, take L&R and combine to mono in a decently powerful amp. If this cant do it, do you know something that will?
I got smsl ao 200 .with my quad and hafler set ups . It does well in comparison 👏
So can it be used as a power amp for front channels only and still control everything from my Marantz unit?
A "Children" story: Couldn't find my car keys. Turned out my 2yo daughter had taken them and reached through the port on the front of my floorstanding speakers and put the keys there. Because obviously, that is where they should go.
This sure is a fun hobby...!
Looks like a decent little amplifier
How many times can we fill out the form just 1 ?
Thanks!
Hey Randy. Love the content and the review. I'm a visual guy. I'm wondering if you could show how to bridge the two amps with actual wires connected. A good visual is worth a thousand words. Thanks so much again for the content. Love the porcelin sucking device. Cheers.
I should have done a picture of the wiring setup
@@cheapaudiomanI think Randy did a pretty good job explaining how to set things up, but I’m also very visual, a few pics would help. The one thing I wished he’d have mentioned is whether the slave unit needs to have its EQ setting match the master unit, or if the master unit’s EQ setting informs the slave unit. That’s important info.
Thank you for all you do. I would have appreciated some type of drawing for what wire goes where....visual learner. :-)
I think the step forward here might be the internal power supply. The power supply bricks for many of these amps are bigger than this whole unit. How do they do that? Apparently it supplies decent current. No gigantic transformers like other classes of amps.. Nice. Efficiency is a commendable trait which should be valued.
Using switching power supplies. With good engineering, as good as any LPS.
Great Show
Guess, I'm a little late for the give aways but not for the content. Great channel man. I got one smsl Ao200 but had to return it. It got a fried output, so I probably i will buy a smsl a300 intead. Only set back for this set-up is the lacking of balanced inputs.
They need an option in the menu to turn off the IR if it's the slave amp. Maybe use BR2 for slave and BR1 for the master amp
Another interesting one, or two 💪🏼
Any plans for you to review the SMSL AO300??
I bought the Sony height speakers several years ago for $99. The price has doubled! I use them high up on my front wall over my front towers, but I have a hard time hearing the Atmos sound from the movies I watch. They seem to get drowned out by my towers. Wonder if these Emotiva's would be better? I've always heard that the upward firing, bouncing off the ceiling method doesn't work that well either. Maybe it would be better to mount my Atmos speakers on the side walls?
How do these smsl amps compare to the sabaj amps?
@cheapaudioman could you do a video for some car guys? my garage needs a sub and i want to use my boston from my car in winter but need a 1000w amp and im not bougie im on a budget
I’d like to know how the V3 with 48v handles the source point 8
Can these be bridged to share a common ground?
I feel like it would be far simpler to just set to monoblock mode, and split the rca source cable (left to one block, right to the other block) and then set each block to the same volume. Then you dont have to use the silly crossconnect rca, and dont have to cover one of thr IR sensors - remote would simply keep both blocks at the same volume.
Bit weird how they decided to implement the crossconnect...
Question! I'm running a Wiim pro through an Onkyo TX-NR515. In your opinion, do I need a separate DAC? (I know I don't NEED one but what is the overall difference)
How it sound in comparo with Ayima T9Pro?
Can you please do a review of the affordable Mission 778 integrated amp
killer little amp. have Energy veritas minis and a Velodyne mini v sub. as simple as it gets and loud as one would ever want
pretty sure I read the crossover is at 100
Just bought one, class d is shaking things up 😊😊
According to SMSL's website, the sub cutoff is 100Hz, and the HPF is 50Hz. IDK why.
So in mono block mode you need duct tape for even volume control. Sounds like it was designed by Red Green. 😊
The handymans secret weapon....... Duct tape! 😂
If you can't be handsome you should at least be handy
Please compare it to the V3 Cam. Im love my V3, but want to know if it’s worth the upgrade.
this or fosi? which is louder?
Wonder how the wiim pro and fosi v3 stack up
I have 18 of these. StillNnottNuffenough sound for my 14.7 cocaphanoueyn 12-67f series flutter ratio
What I am itching to know is how all the products you review sound compared to your vintage receiver I see in the background. I have vintage sansui gear but am hesitant to spend money on something thst may not sound as good as what I have
Cutoff frequency (in high pass mode): 50Hz
Thanks for the explanation of how to bridge...wait, WHA? LOL
Hi Randy, as always good and informative video. I think you missed to show in video footage how to do the monoblock, images says more than words.
Anyway, I'm wondering how 2 A300 in mono compares to 1 SA400 (smsl too).
I have paired my A300 with wharfedale linton 85th and for my ears sounds really good. My only complaing is the base blank high sound (specially on right channel) when on without music. It's really a nitpick, because to hear it you must be at less than 1 m distance and only when there is no sound at all.
I'm going to pair my linton's with an a300 too. How is it going for You? do you have others amps experiences to compare it to?
@@funcionyforma hi dude.
Yeah, I finally purchased SA400 and it's better than a300 (of course it must, cost almost 2x).
To my ears, SA400 has a bit better soundstage and definetively it's clean sounding, no hissing at all. But a300 was super good when not compared, my only complain was the hiss base noise. When sound and music was playing, it sounded great and hissing wasn't audible
@@NoivernMPA thanks man!
Better value then Emotiva?
I want to see you review the NuPrime Sta-100😁
the only think i miss in my A300 is sub out volume control
not a word about the quality of the integrated dac?
Anyone can tell me what the "additional info" line is for on the contest form?
It is there to tell Randy you like his beard. This is required to win the giveaway.
High pass is at 50hz per specifications page
Also could you do a review of the matrix mini 4 pro cause I’m thinking of buying it but I’d rather hear your take on it first
I owned this A300 amplifier, but I found the soundstage to be muddy and congested. The soundstage was also very narrow and intimate, which I didn't prefer. I think it may not be a good match for my speakers, as I prefer a wider soundstage with more clarity and separation. The amplifier also didn't seem to have enough power to drive my speakers to their full potential. Overall, I was disappointed with the sound quality of this amplifier and would not recommend it to others.
I have the SMSL A300, it is pretty good. It sounds good, looks okay, the blue display is horrible. I do not like the 50 Hz forced highpass filter, and the menu has a weird glitch where it will sometimes display nonsense characters scrolling through the menu. It sounds different than, but not better/worse, than my Aiyima A08 Pro, but the remote is good. I just ordered the AO300 MKII amplifier and DO200 MKII DAC, they arrive tomorrow and I am excited to hear them. I was also debating the Onkyo, Denon, Marantz, and Cambridge integrated amps, but like the balanced amp design for my upcoming setup.
50hz forced HP Filter? When adding a sub suppose? ....for me personally ok, if only fixed filter possible (to keep simple and cost efficient) than 60hz 24db per octave would be my favourite, though. .. anyways, thank you for sharing the info👍
I would look at Cambridge audio. I am not messing cheap amps or even avrs for music if I added everything up I been bought that was OK I could have gotten something great
@@BostonMike68I ended up getting A NAD C 372 Integrated amp, which is hooked into the pre-outs of my Denon X3500. I got the Q Acoustics 3050 towers bi-wired by the NAD, the 3090i center and 3020i for surrounds both powered by the X3500.
Subwoofer is still the RSL Speedwoofer 10s. My DAC is the Aune X8 18th anniversary for the Sparkos OPAMP. I cannot stop listening to my music, this is by far the best system I have owned yet! I am sure I would love the Cambridge sound, but this NAD is so good sounding and 150 watts a channel!
@ricsim78 Nad is a really good choice . I heard speedwoofers subs are unbelievable. I never heard the q acoustics but I heard good things about them and same that dac . It's sounds like you have done really good work and I'm glad you're enjoying your system
Is this Aunt better than the RSL you reviewed a few weeks ago? They seem to have similar functionality, except you actually know the crossover frequency on the high pass filter of the RSL. RSL.
I'll compare them in an upcoming video
@@cheapaudioman Cool! Can't wait!
how does this compare to the smsl al200