Finally, an affordable class-A amplifier for the masses. SMSL VMV A1 amplifier & VMV D1SE DAC review
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 2 ส.ค. 2024
- #hifi #audiophile #amplifier #stereo #Integrated amp #DAC
Patreon account: / thomasandstereo
Non-affiliated link: hifi-express.com/products/sms...
Gear used in this review :
Silverline Sonata speakers
QAcoustics concept 500 speakers
Triangle Br03 Speaker
Klipsch RP600M Speaker
Sound Artist SC65 Speaker
Exempler Model XL-III Speaker
SMSL VMV A1 amplifier
SMSL VMV D1SE DAC
SMSL M400 DAC
IFI NEO DAC
Reisong A12 Tube integrated amp
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How would you describe Class A sound? Please keep in mind I am generalizing about the class-A sound. Not all my class A amps are on the 'lean' side. For those who have never heard class A sound, are you curious and would consider getting the Reisong A12 or VMV A1?
Non-affiliated link: hifi-express.com/products/smsl-vmv-a1-high-resolution-class-a-power-amplifier
I used to have an old Yamaha CA-2010 that was class A/AB that you could switch on the fly (30 watts class A, 120 watts Class AB.) and I couldn't tell the difference. Reading about it others said the same thing. Maybe the AB mode was that good? It got medium hot and is the hottest home amp I've ever owned. All other class AB amps I've had barely get warm tho I do like amps that are 100 watts/channel and up. I typically run them @ 4 or 2 ohms for the major channels.I once had a class D plate amp in an active subwoofer but it died so I'm 0/1 with class D. Now I do passive subwoofers with class A/B amps. I expect to get 20 years or more out of my amps and esoteric amps don't interest me whatsoever.
Had a Marantz pm 80 for years, and currently an Arcam p240 power amp. Both class A, though the Arcam can switch to ab above 50 watt power. Speakers are musical studio, gx 200 gold (the previous version) and my good old Marantz av8003 pre. For me they sound more natural, very dynamic and open. I had a neighbour over who literally got a tear in his eye from Tracy Chapman - Sorry. It just sounds so lively, open and warmer then i.e. a rotel ab amp.
Hard to say if it is specifically class A sound, it depends on so many factors. Regarding bass, i have no issues with the MS. Plenty bass.
Cheers.
Why would anyone design a class A amp to be lean?
@@Scottlp2Think of it as neutral then. No bloated bass.
@@r423sdex i got the bluenode 2i on the marantz av8003, optical, and that does a better job then the internal dac. Well, for me at least:)
Some day i wouldn't mind a preamp with a seperate dac, or an amp with dac. But until then, happy :)
Thank you Thomas, always enjoy your reviews. Keep up the good work.
Your reviews are showing a lovely refinement I appreciate!
Perfect addition for a audiophile's kitchen. I've been looking for a Class A Hotplate. This will look great on the counter and love the idea of adding a built-in amplifier....Nice video Thomas
Thank you do the comprehensive review. Desk top set up. I paired with Dali Spektor 2 and this rounded off the sharpness.
You have an amazing assortment of speakers I have never heard of!!
Really like your reviews. Thank you, Thomas.
My pleasure!
Wow. Sounds very clean. I like both presentations.
Glad you like it!
Very interesting Thomas! But you know how I feel about the music that you play at the conclusion. lol. one of your best videos!
I totally agree with your Class A sounding, match with tube pre-amp which smoothen the edgy on higher frequency. (front tube + rear solid) is my preference. Never thought class A could lead to this price stage. Looks like making near-field experience more and more like listening to Hi-Fi now.
Actually this make me ( sounded a bit crazy) but bridging with bi-amping, using class A amp to drive the mid and upper range, while class AB to drive lower bass.
Thanks for sharing Thomas
Excellent presentation, Thomas, as always.
Glad you enjoyed it
Your presentations are very thorough and concise; yet, in layman's language. Keep up the good work.
Thanks, will do!
Thank you for the information and the video. Your content is very pleasant to watch and very informative.
🧡 from Greenwich, London.
J
So nice of you
I bought this amp and paired it with Zu Omen DW's and Schitt Freya. Awesome synergy. Thanks for your review and for bringing this amp to our attention.
Yup!! This thing is incredible, didn't you just buy it? Remember to run it at volume 67.
@@ThomasAndStereo yes. Just bought it. 67. Got it. 👍
Thanks for the review ☺️.
My pleasure 😊
wow, thanks for sharing the pure amp mode hack. i actually wanted to sell it as sounds get brighter though Instrument seperation is better. I ended up saving it by adjusting the treble down and now it sounds good. In case anyone wants to pair this with RME adi 2 dac, be warned that there is some conflict on the remote control, which i blocked the infrared bulb on the A1 and control the volume on the dac instead.
Cool, good to know.
Thank you for the information about the pure amp mode👍
You bet! Yeah, its weird they don't mention it anywhere. It seems you really like your A1.
I love class A sound, so I stepped up to Sugden A21SE
@@ThomasAndStereo It would need interesting to know if other SMSL amps could function as pure power amps e.g. SA400
@@r423sdex I would rather control volume over my CXN v2 to be honest.
@@DigitalPhilosophersowning a smsl vmv a1 and loving i really interested what the sugden adds to it. What speakers you pair it with? Please let me know, thanks.
Another interesting video. Appreciate the sound clip at the end in addition to the excellent presentation.
I never really thought about the sound of class A as I have always had AB. I do recall being unimpressed by the venerable Pass F5. I listened for a while in a home driven by a fairly good turntable. I thought... that's an F5? That's vinyl? Probably just hearing the lean and not so dynamic attribute. Now I do love the SIT3 but that is more like a triode.
Yeah, some people like it while others don't, it is a good idea to try different type of sound to find the right one for you. SIT3? Interesting.
F5 is an amp that requires high voltage gain preamps (solid state / tube). When setup correctly it is astonishingly good, especially the bass! Without this it is slightly lean but still amazing with the right setup, it's extremely agile with lots of detail and air although it is very neutral and unforgiving for some. This downside is fully removed with the preamp, enjoy :)
@@MusicLover-01 - thanks for the great explanation. Makes perfect sense. As I thought about it, I am often attracted to the sound of Pass products, so it is not class A that was the issue, just the way the F5 was matched.
Back in the day, I clearly remember walking in to a stereo shoppe in the peak of summer, they were running a set of Belles Research pure class A mono blocks, the damn things heated a fair sized listening room to the point where you couldn't stay in the room for more than 5 minutes. Vancouver has had a very hot summer, I can't imagine living with a class A design anymore. I will keep my Bryston B60r.
Great video, as always. I just received topping pre90 and liked it, so the recent meme you posted hit the mark like hell 😂😂 Hope you cover the pre90! Never heard class A. I use the class D, XTZ Edge and I think it's right that there could be more mid-range volume.
Yeah, I will review the Pre90. What do you like about it?
I've been living with the class A Krell 403 Evolution for about four months now and heating my home theatre nicely in the NZ Winter months. I would describe the highs as "extended" but creates a nice tonal balance since the Krell delivers bass with aplomb. I also have a Rowland 304 class D amp and it is a bit sweeter all around, a bit more tube like and doesn't have quite the level of micro-dynamics as the Krell. I would say cable matching synergy is more important with the Krell than the Rowland, which tends to be more forgiving. I think I do prefer the highs of the Rowland better, a bit "less in your face" but the other side of it is the Rowland is a bit more relaxed and doesn't have the same level of dynamics or transient attack. I think my Revel Salon2s benefit from the additional power (800W into a four ohm load) and seem to prefer more power.
Nice, thanks for the comment
@@ThomasAndStereo Thanks Thomas, always enjoy your videos, great job! :)
I own Zu DWs, Tekton DI's. I will have to buy this amp, I guess. Pearl Acoustics-Harley loved the amp too. He mentioned your review in the episode!
Yeah, really cool! There is coupon code you can use and they are having a black Friday sale.
I just got a third hand set of Genelec 8040 speakers for under €1k. (they still look brand new)
Was fantasizing for years about new pc speakers and was about to buy some second hand kef ls50 wireless but a buddy recommended the 8040s and also recommended to not buy a speaker with under 6.5" woofers cuz I'd probably be missing some low end, according to my buddy. Ended up buying 2x 8040.
Very happy with them! Massive upgrade to my old speakers, even tho I still need proper stands for them. At least they have dip switches on the back to adapt the sound for things like being on a desk/mix panel.
I dont usually (actually, never) hear people talk about genelec on hifi channels, probably because they are professional near field monitors and not hifi speakers : p Kindof curious tho what hifi youtubers would think about the genelec (8040 or better) sound quality and music listening experience ;)
Yeah, never heard those but sounds interesting.
I’ve noticed the same static problem with smsl! The static comes in and out and changes when I move the unit or cables around which leads me to believe it’s a shielding issue. Sometimes I have to turn down the volume to lower the noise floor enough and sometimes it works fine at max volume.
Looks like the chassis is used for heatsinking in this bad boy. Thanks for the nice review.
Yeah, cnc aluminium body I think.
I just bought the SMSLAO200 it came in the exact same box very solid build..
The amp not the box, although the packaging is very good too 😁
The 4 different class A amps I've owned, from Pass Labs Alpha series to a Shanling integrated have all had that smooth thicc sound, I've never experienced a thin sound from a class A amp, you are the first person that I have heard describe class A as a thin sound.
Yes it has body, for me, it does not have bloated bass so some might hear it as thin. So it might be a different way to describe the same thing. I call it body and weigh while you call it thick.
@@ThomasAndStereo definitely not bloated. bloated and thin are extremes, class A to me strikes a nice balance in between the extremes, even though the "edges" of music seem to be smoothened out to create more PRaT, though I don't like using that word, the timing of the music seems to be more organic and pleasurable to the listener
I've never heard anyone call a true Class A amp thin before either. Calling it thin with body and weight is like saying it's bright and dull. They're contradictory. Thomas is always very eloquent in describing his listening experience, and that's why he's so interesting to listen to, but on this occasion, it's a little confusing.
@@geevee1045 For me there is mid bass and mid range. When the midbass area is tilted up, it will give the feeling that there is a lot of meat cause the bass is stronger that what it is 'suppose' to be. I usually call this V curve. (Assuming the top end is tilted up) When it is not tilted up, I define the bass as linear. The problem is when you are used to tilted up bass which most gear are voiced these days, when you listen to something that is not, you would find it thin. However, if it is linear, I find calling it thin incorrect so I use the word lean. However, the perception is when you AB test it, it sounds thinner. Now for me, thin means probably there is a dip in the mid-bass somewhere.
Now the midrange is different than the mid-bass. In this specific case, the midrange is forward and for me, that is why it sounds full. So that is why it is possible to have a full midrange but the overall presentation stays lean. (Cause there is no bump in the midbass)
I am happy with my 150 Euro Claas A from Breze audio. 2x10W. A steal. If you add a tube pre or tube DAC (Xiangsheng) about the same price. Very nice 👌👍 😁
Thank You !!!!
You're welcome!
Hi Thomas. I am lucky enough to have been listening to a Luxman 590 mkii today in fact. The bass was amazing, as well as a liquid midrange and lovely highs. It is definitely not thin sounding but is £7k. Give one a go if you get the chance. You will not be disappointed. :0)
Thanks for the info! One day hopefully.
I’ve had the Luxman 590 now for 6 months, don’t miss the 200 watt McIntosh at all. The Luxman is certainly my last Intergraded, check out the wattage requirements 320… this is a true Class A… the term class A is used by so many,
power requirements tell the real story. Enjoy yours. I look forward to hitting that power button every day. 🤓
I can hardly tell the difference between sound colors on the SMSL SU-9. Thanks for the video!
Yeah, minor differences.
Class A amplifiers are typically around 10-20% efficient. That is, if you put in 100W of electricity, you get 10-20W of audio power out. The rest is lost to heat. The SMSL VMV A1 amp claims 15W into 4 ohms, with a 30W power draw. Wow, that's 100% efficient, even beating out the best class D amps by a mile. So one of these claims is suspicious. If I were to guess, I would say this amp is class AB with the first few watts in class A, and the remainder being class B (this is how all AB amps work). Compare to the Schiit Aegir which also claims to be class A "with over 10W of Class A standing bias". Given that its total output power is 40W, the remaining power above 10W is most likely class B for a class AB amp overall. Total power draw of the Aegir: "450W max".
Yeah, really possible. I wish I knew more about amp design to speak to it.
Spoken like someone who builds amps? The sound confirms this theory to me I.e. a class AB biassed heavily into class A. Bravo 👏
@@MusicLover-01 I've built amps, but others' designs - I'll leave design to those who actually know what they're doing. :-)
What you're saying makes sense, but this amp has two characteristics of a class A amp : a high heat signature and low output power. That makes me think it is a true class A. Your thoughts?
@@stevenholt5484 Class AB gets plenty hot and basing the judgement of what class something is strictly on heat and power output makes no sense.
My 500w per channel pure class A is warm rich and endless supply of power. I'm constantly having to top up my electricity key with 50P's. It weighs 50kg of solid heat sink and reminds me of LA'S electricity cables that lose 50% efficiency due to heat generated via its conduit. My speaker cables are half inch in diameter which needs to be silver soldiered directly to speaker posts.
Interesting,what ya gotta? Sounds cool. More detail please,less tease.....
Great. Thank you for the detailed review. Do you think i can drive Elac D2.0 B6.2?
For a few years I had a JFET head unit in my car - a Fujitsu Ten that, I think, was class A. Sonically, it was wonderful. I even had someone who admits “I’m not an audiophile” tell me “that’s a really nice radio. I *LOVE* Class A - my main system amp is the DECware Zen Amp. Especially with good speakers it is unmatched, especially for the price. As for bass response, my RESPONSE is “THE SPEAKER DESIGN IS TO BLAME!” I mean - WHY would you fault an amp with a glorious midrange and delicious high end for not having “good bass” if you don’t also consider that MOST speakers are designed for class AB (or even class D!) amplification?
I ordered it. Probably i will get it next week.
Cool, what speakers?
@@ThomasAndStereo right now I have quite old megnat vector 22 90db. And plan to buy Klipsch RP 600.
@@ThomasAndStereo do you think SoundArtist sc8b whuld be a good match?
@@akramhossain1931 Sc8b has a linear bass, I would get something with more bass power.
Generally, I would have thought shouty and lean would be more class ab-like. I always thought a class A amp would be smooth and full bodied particularly in the midrange with good depth. Class D less dynamic and along with class ab, having less depth in the soundstage. Tube more warm and syrupy, less dynamic, less etched but an even deeper stage.
high-end Class D is very different from low-end Class D. A high-end Class D will hold it's own against Class AB
@@drtod While some may disagree, I could happily live with either.
Remember the Musical Fidelity A1 in the mid 80s? Never mind eggs you could
melt LPs on it.
I have an A100 safely boxed up here. Hot enough for breakfast even with internal fans!
After that experience I'd go with the Vidar for year- round music 🎵
(I only run my class a tube amp in winter;-)
Curious what you thought of the D1SE in any of the "tube" or "rich" sound color modes? Seems like you eluded to it not being as smooth as the M400 overall? What about compared to Ares 2? Quite curious about all these DACs.. 🤔
Thomas, have you reviewed the Vista Audio Spark integrated amp? It might be interesting to compare to the SMSL VMV A1 - the Spark is Class A/B, 20W/ch, 2 inputs, and is just $389.
Thanks, great review ! Question : Triangle Comètes are considered to be open and Bright ! In addition, they are Efficient ! Do you think this association might lead to listener fatigue ! Thank you again.
Yeah, there is that danger, you would need a smooth sounding amp and DAC to pair with it if you want to try an A1. It might still be ok if you don't play it loud.
There is so many variations of Class A out there. Some require only 120 watts
to deliver 25 watt output while others require 320 watts to deliver 30 watts.
I think some amplifier’s might only be putting out a few watts in class A before they switch to A/B while others stay Class A up until the 30 Watts they claim.
Manufacturers aren’t very clear on their approach but look at the specs for required Wattage, the difference between a $2,000 & a $12,000 amp are reflected in these wattage requirements from my experience. Check out the Musical Fidelity A1 verses a Luxman 590 AXII. Substantial difference both in price and specifications. 🤓
Class-A amplifier for the masses...
that can take the HEAT!!!
Being a Class A amp builder myself and knowing the limitations of the laws of physics in thermodynamics. As soon as you say it’s CLASS A and at that size and weight for the power output . Anybody familiar with a high bias of a true CLASS A the size and surface Area needed to cool it off immediately knows that chassis size combination is not possible to drive the heat dissipation needed and survive.
So they’re basically kind of pushing the limits and playing with the wordage in meaning of CLASS A.
Truly believe with the way they have it set up it has its clarity and good points with low distortion so they could get those ultra low numbers that are good for sales for the numbers People.
But when you spent years building Class A amplifier you immediately know this is not a TRUE Class A amplifier.
Yup, that was my first question to them since it does not make sense. As I mentioned in the video, it is only heavily biased into class A but you can go 100% class A with it by adjusting the meter inside.
@@ThomasAndStereo I would like to see that temperature rise
@@ThomasAndStereo how do you adjust the metter inside
hi there so which true class A would you recommend which sound like tube or neutral l, i have a par of full range drivers , i have also been looking at aliexpress , i have a rotel power amp
Does the “power amp” mode at 67db apply to headphone out also? Would love a cleaner sound this way as I intend to use my dac’s preamp functionality for the volume control instead.
Sorry I don't know.
Hi Thomas, thanks for another excellent review. Between this and the IOTAVX SA3, which one would you recommend?
Depends on your speaker, iotavx have better chance to pair with a lot of speakers while this one, if it pairs well, will sound better but only if it pairs well. Sensitivity is important
@@ThomasAndStereo Thanks Thomas, I got this and paired it with my Triangle Borea BR03 and I am very pleased with the sound
Thomas, Finally + Affordable?? Have you completely missed the Nobsound NS-02G ?? Sorry but I Really appreciate that SMSL has finally decided to go Class A for those that have Honestly not heard the benefits of what it can do in the right setup. But you can buy two of the Nobsound for the price of the SMSL!!
I am currently using the Nobsound in a desktop setup paired with a small preamp and KEF speakers, trust me...more than enough power in the amp!! Hope you can give that amp a listen for comparison? Cheers My friend!
Hi, can you detail which Nobsound are you referring to?
Thank You for this review. I'm using this one with the RME ADI-2 DAC and old cabasse bookshelves for my computer audio, and like it a lot, mostly for resolution and clarity without being bright. However I wish it had one more audio input and am puzzled by the fact that the spikes have different length and the unit doesn't stay flat ?
Maybe they did that so people will not put stuff on it? Usually a power amp will have only one input.
@@ThomasAndStereo I absolutely agree with single input for Power amps, but this one having volume or gain control on the front panel could also be used as a pre-main amp. BTW, I always wonder how loud it should be set when you pair it with a preamp... Currently, I run it at 50% and control the volume on the ADI-2... Some people say it should be set to 100% but I am not sure about that...
@@vintagerider4301 I guess you missed the part where I said this amp goes in to AMP mode if you put the volume to 67 and 68. Also, I think you have to worry about 'cross talk' when you start adding more inputs. I forgot the exact term .
@@ThomasAndStereo OMG, I didn't even notice that in the manual either - That makes all my dumb questions clear now. Thanks so Much !
Thomas, you mendioned Pass XA30.5, how was that amp for you? Any experience in pairing with different preamps?
Great video, as usual, btw:)
I remember chatting with my friend who owns one and one thing we noticed that it has some tube characteristics. I had it only for a short period, it sound just ok with less sensitive speakers. Only sounded better when using more sensitive speakers. I remember the Class D Bel Canto did better with the pioneer S3EX.
Dac comes out so quickly nowadays, you posted this D1SE review 3 days ago, D2 is already almost out
This AMP looks great, still in the hunt for something else than an A/B amplifier. So I have been trying some tube amp, Prima Luna and Cayin. The Cayin MT-34L was really incredible. Now I am curious about this amp, I like the fact that is very compact and could be an easy second amp. Since you are a Focal expert I was wondering if it could be a good pairing with my Focal Chora 806 (89db).
Hmm, it's ok but you have to like the linear class A sound. I have 2 of these and will put one up for sale soon as well as the Willsenton R8
@@ThomasAndStereo ok sounds good, let me know when it's on the market, that would be great.
@@ThomasAndStereoHi Thomas, any update on the sale of the SMSL A1? Maybe we could talk price on a private email.
@@ferdi9554 Sure, my email is turbotan@gmail.com
Hi Thomas, I'm shopping for a DAC in this price range.
To your ear, how does the VMV D1SE compare to the Topping D90 or D90SE?
Thanks!
Which one has a better soundstage instrument separation?
Thomas what are your thoughts on the difference in sound between SMSL A1 vs Cayin CS-55A?
Hi Thomas. Since you also briefly mentioned the premium SMSL DAC in this review, I was wondering how the old Musical Paradise DAC you have holds up to the onslaught of new DACs in the market these days. Thanks!
That musical Paradise have something none of these new dac have. It is a roundness to it that perhaps is brought forth by the tubes. For musical enjoyment, I would say that DAC is still hard to beat. If you want to analyze music, sure, all these DAC will smoke it.
@@ThomasAndStereo I have had my eyes on that one since. Buy is now currently unavailable. I may ha e to email Garry to check maybe he has one just hiding somewhere he can part with. Thank you for the response. Appreciate it much.
hi Thomas, can i use headphone output in the back of "SMSL VMV A1 Amplifier Class-A" to connect to my subwoofer. thanks
Dear Thomas in some of your videos I saw a Unison Research Simply Italy. It is also part of the Russ system. I don’t know if this is the good place to ask you suggestions. If it isn’t please ignore what follow. I would like to ask you some suggestions about this integrated class A tube ampli. It’s the same ampli I have paired with Opera Prima Loudspeakers. I’m not completely satisfied especially when I hear music for large ensemble and orchestra. My ears ask for more boost and drive. At the same time it goes very well with jazz combo and vocal music. I would like to have some suggestions about a good valve phono stage and speakers. (My sources are Gyrodek Michell with Rega Exact and Rega MM MK3 phono stage). In any case thanks for your great channel!
So you have the simply Italy and find it not satisfying enough due to lack of power for grand orchestra? I am not into phono so I would not know. The unison R is 12w I think, you probably need something with more watts. Forsure the Doge 10 can do it but it depends what you are looking for.
the physical size doesnt convince me it's a full Class A. maybe i am not updated. as it's usally big torroid Transformer and big Capacitor. still Thomas, great content you put out here. it's always so balance and level headed in your analytics.
As I mention in the video, it is not a full class A bit heavily bias into class A. It can run in true class A and you have to open it to switch something but the heat will kill it. Thanks for the encouragement.
nothing beat the clasA amp interms of quality of midrange frequecny the vocal is very loud and clear and have deep in it which is sound so good.... of course theres a drawback but u cannot get the best in both world efficieny and power is very hard to balanced.
I have treble issues that mess with my head nerves. Would you say this is less harsh or warmer? sound. I think I would like a warmer sound. I’m looking at this DAC the SMSL SU-9 and the SMSL SU-8S, SMSL DO200, LOXJIE D50, LOXJIE D40, SMSL M500 MK2, and the SMSL VMV D1SE or the SMSL SU-9N. I stream music with Tidal and never heard MQA but would like to have. I have an SMSL SP200 Amp with Hifiman Ananda and soon will get Focal Clear or Elex.
Look into SMSL D300...superb natural sound...tested against M500mk2 and Topping E50...but no MQA, so Qobuz would be an idea
Hi Thomas ... do you think he would be able to play my Ar11 which have 86db at 4ohm? thank you.
Hi Thomas,
I have Cayin CS-55A, could you give me a little bit about compassion between Cayin a55 and smsl A1 in sound quality.
Thank for your video.
I think the only thing the A1 has a chance against the Cayin is the linear midrange, meaning it is a bit different and possibly fuller in the mids, I did not AB test them so this is going by memory. I would guess everything else Cayin can challenge, if not better. If you plan to buy for fun because it will sound different, sure but if you plan to buy for upgrade, you would look for something way higher end.
I'm thinking in buy this amp but I have the bro3s and the klipsch rp 600m and the y amo c93ii maybe if someone have the same speakers with this amp or try it with any of them please can let me know if sound great or if the sabaj a30a is a better buy thanks and Thomas great video man like always
This amp has very good synergy with the klipsch. It even allows you to use a bit of toe in whereas with other amps the klipsch must always fire straight.
4:45 can you see that evil glint in his eyes? :D
Thank you Thomas for a great video. How does it compare to Sprout 100?
Well, the Sprout 100 does have the lean midrange that is typical of class D but with less body. In theory, you should hear the difference in the mids where the A1 will be more forward with body within minutes of listening to. Sprout 100 has more value if you don't care about the class A sound because it has bluetooth and phono. The A1 is more of a niche market product.
Thank you very much. How do you think sprout will pair with Wharfdale Denton or Linton? I read somewhere that it pair well with klipsch heresy.
How about this compared to sparx vista.
@@DarkKnight-yc8nw I never heard the Denton and Linton, sorry.
@@DarkKnight-yc8nw Nah, unless the Vista is class A.
Have you ever listened to Focal Aria 936 K2. I need some opinion.
Are you able to give a more complete direct comparison of this to the Yamaha wxa-50, please? I have the wxa 50 and am always on the lookout for something else of a similar size but better sound quality
If you like the WXA50 sound, you might want to stay in the class D world. This will sound different and not necessary better, depends on your taste. Just that this one, the mids will be more forward.
@@ThomasAndStereo thanks for the reply! I don't mind the sound of the wxa 50, particularly after adding a subwoofer as I found the class D didn't offer enough low end with my speakers. I have heard my speakers with a class AB amp and they sounded a fuller and richer, particularly in the low end.
If it is just the mids sounding a bit more forward then I suspect the upgrade probably isn't totally justified for me, given the ease of use and streaming features in the Yamaha, which I would probably end up using as the streamer.
Many DACs have changeable filters but sometimes you won’t notice any difference in sound, but with the D1SE you say that one can turn it from ice cold crystal clear to cosy tube warmth in good SQ, isn’t it? Wouldn‘t that turn it into a swiss army knive of DAC‘s? Wouldn‘t that make it outstanding, that one trait that others do not have?
Btw. My beloved Threshold class A amp (do not own it anymore) was never on the lean side. Those 200 Watts were full bodied and with bass authority.
You can have Full body mids and still have a linear presentation. Mid range can be full body but when I hear there is no bump in the mid bass, then for me it is not warm and lean. You can call it linear.
HI Thomas, how would this amp match with the Magnapan LRS speakers?
i was wondering if you might be able to help me with a recommendation for an amp that can drive those speakers for around $3k.
i have been researching and have not been able to reach any conclusions.
do you have any thoughts on a Arcam AVR10 , or a Schiit Ragnarok or a Hegal h 190.
thank you
I would not use it with the LRS. Sorry, I have not heard those 3 amps
This could be a very interesting pairing with my Wharfedale Linton Heritages... Watch this space!
Hi will this so full decoding of MQA via coaxial? (And yes yes I know MQA SchmankQA :p)
If turning the dial to 67, 68 turn it into Amp mode, how about turn it further to 69 or 70?
can you comment on the coloration? I see some people are shocked by this function - like 10 DACs were integrated into one.
I did not test that extensively, I simply went one by one to find the one I like and then stick with it.
How does the SMSL VMV D1SE compare to the M400 DAC?
Hello Thomas would you say that a Sugden A21 or AI-4 as having a lean bass presentation?
Sorry, I never heard those.
@@ThomasAndStereo Hello Thomas, I’m currently running a Sugden ANV-50 which is kinda like your VMV but with a ton more power and I can confirm that It has dinosaur balls bass. 😝🙃😉
Sugden A21a is definitely tuned to be more towards the “warm and smooth” sound relative to my top end Yamaha. Could be preamp tuning idk
Good job
wow a step up from aegir is quite a statement. is there a more detailed comparison from your friend on this? TIA
Nah, I personally would not say 1 step up so that is why I said it should be in the same ball park. I did hear the Aegir once and it sounded pretty ok.
@@ThomasAndStereo did the aegirs also sound lean in the bass for you like how you described class A amps in general?
@@mykeldg Its being a while so I don't remember. Lean as in linear, I don't want people mistake it for thin though.
@@ThomasAndStereo thanks!
Hello,
Pair this amp with my Audio Research reference 5SE preamp and klipsch Cornwall Four speakers??
Thanks!
I know that might sound ridiculous but you will be very plesantly surprised if you did that.
my raspberry-pi not doing a lot already makes 53 degree celcius, thanks for showing!
Wow, seriously!
Are you sure that’s not the CPU temp….? 🤔
@@steven2809 Hi Steven, you are right of course, its the core's temperature..
Dear Thomas, I watched your videos about tube amps. I'm about to buy my first tube amp and have a question. Would you prefer any Willsenten, McIntosh or AudioResearch over Primaluna? If money is not the most important point. I guess the Primaluna gives me the most options with tube sockets and autobias. But McIntosh for example has a name since several years. I listened to some primaluna, mcintosh, Unison Research before but not in comprable setups.
My speakers are Quadral Aurum Orkan 9
I would say all those brands have their strength. Primaluna made some amps that I like but some that I thought was meh. So it really depends on the model. Also, Prima Luna, I heard it at my friend's place and did not test it seriously.
@@ThomasAndStereo I search for some device where I can get service is something is wrong and can switch tubes. Does that work with the Willsenten? Primaluna would be DiaLogue HP Premium, or Evo 4000 so biggest models in their series
@@ThomasAndStereo any models you can recommend for each brand?
@@baschii7603 Audio Research is vastly better than Primaluna.
How does this dac compare with Matrix mini-i pro 3 in terms of sound quality?
Mini i pro3 is smoother to my ears.
This amp may be the solution for a question I asked myself... why not bi-amp my 2way with tube am pushing high frequency and this solid state pushing bass. My tube am is 12 Watts...! Maybe..?
Yup, the fact that this has a volume control will let you bi amp easier since you might have to adjust the gain between your 2 amps but I would say getting something with more power makes more sense since you are using the tube amp to drive the top end and not this one.
About affordable amps. Matantz 6007 or Onkyo 9110? 🤔🤔
Have you ever had an accidental almost perfect speaker to amp match? Like when you hook all your speakers that you have to an amp, 1 set at a time of course, and it sounded ok, but not what you expected, then you remember the set you forgot you had, and just try them, not expecting much, but DAMN IT SOUNDS GOOD NOW??
Yup! All the time.
@@ThomasAndStereo sometimes its the cheaper ones the amp likes
@@ThomasAndStereo i had an optonica receiver that loved realistic mc 1200. " cheap" speakers
Sadly my A1 died after 7 months of light use. When that happened I had it working with a tube preamp and Buchardts S400mk2, and I was enjoying more of this combo, than my Doge 10 integrated. As the shipping to china for repairing is almost the cost of the amp new, I was wondering if it worths to purchase a new one. Looking in forums like this one, It seems like most A1 are doing well.
I would like to know too where else can I look for an amp with similar voicing, that does not surpasse 2 times the price of the A1 (Schiit has the Aegir, but by some review it seems it has a bright/lean sound). All advices are wellcomed.
I don't think there are any amp that will give this kind of sound at this price. Sadly you are the 2nd person I heard who have a unit died on them.
@@ThomasAndStereo Talking about Class A, what would be the price range of your next Galion class A model?
Which tube preamp are you using with the A1? I checked with my local dealer in Singapore and they are able to send in for servicing even after warranty period.
@@kouichi4 Hi. The preamp is a Chinese Audio Experience Synonyms Plus. Sadly I have no local SMSL dealer so I have to take care of the problem on my own.
Good to know how SMSL AMP performs for this price, Thank You Thomas I learnt more today cheers , I think you have really good energy to review audio gear for me it's too time consuming but , when I'm into it , just want more and more ,but so far my headphone msr7 and Toneking Shockwave lll with upgrade cable IEM with ifi zen amp/dac deliver better sound than my Emit 20 and Ikon 2 , I also own Quadral Taurin , I found my old Taurin is more comfortable to listen where newer speakers are more likely aggressive with cleaner sound and amazing separation.
Would this be able to drive JBL 570's? 10W seems very low considering the JBL asks for 25-100W
As long as you don't play it loud.
How would this amp do with Klipsch Cornwall IVs
I have never tried it.
How does this compare, sonically, to the Schiit Argir?
I did not hear both side by side so I don't know.
Sell the masses, live with the classes.
Hmm, the Schiit Aegir is basically one giant heatsink, and the build quality is outstanding. The SMSL VMV A1 in that tiny case doesn't really inspire confidence in terms of cooling and longevity.
Yup, score 1 for Aegir. I think for people who have limited space, the appeal of a smaller amps would make sense. Especially when you also want to use the A1 as a headphone amp.
The aegir kicks ass. I stopped shopping for amps after I bought 2 with a Freya plus.
@@jonberg469 I have one, and I love it. With two and the Freya+ you should be set - it really doesn't get much better unless you spend a lot more money.
@@ThomasAndStereo It's nice to see a Class A offering at an affordable price, I really like that. Wow - I thought the A1 actually sounded better standalone, without the Freya fronting it - that's a first! The A1 does sound very, very nice.
@@decoryder Yup, there is no right or wrong answer in stereo. All a question of taste. In this case, you prefer a more revealing combo.
For RP 600m and BR03 how loud can you go? 70+ decibels too limiting I think. So in short if it can't go to decent volumes with speakers in the USD 1000 range it becomes a niche product I think for mainstream budget audio.....What can it power not Elac,Wharf, Q, Triangle B&W??? So Tekton and Zu only?
You can go louder than 70 dB but I find it sounds best not to push it beyond 70 to 75db. It is a niche product in some sense so you are better off with other amps if you want to play loud.
@@ThomasAndStereo Thanks for the reply. Guess I listen to music usually reaching at least 80-85db. Maybe the amp is great for a 2nd system where you hv sensitive speakers. Thought RP 600m sensitive enough for low power amps, guess it's not. Cheers.
Question, if you get a tiny hiss on the tweeters when the amp is not playing. And when the preamp is off as well. Any idea where to look for the issue? Funny enough, when i press mute on the poweramp, the hiss is gone. It isn't loud, noticed it when i was close to the speakers.
Amp is an Arcam p240, vdhull cables, monitor studio gx200 gold speakers. The amp is behind a simple net filter, but tested it with and without and had no effect.
Cheers!
Perhaps ask on the Arcam forum to see if this is normal noise floor for the P240.
@@ThomasAndStereo hi, ye tried finding an entry, but no luck yet
@@r423sdex been reading this now, complex subject for someone with a chemistry background lol. I saw some possible solutions, will look into it.
Thanks!
@@r423sdex will do, thanks man
@@r423sdex A ground loop would be a 50Hz or 60Hz hum (depending on your location) not a hiss.....
@thomas & stereo would you recommend pairing this amp with a focal aria 906?
I have not tried it but I would say you have 60% chance it will sound amazing unless you have a subwoofer.
I have a Naim amp (class A) with my 936 I really like the clarity of the sound. I must agree on the bass though it s a bit light, but I don't like too much bass and my room acoustic is really bad so...
@@ThomasAndStereo Did you mean I have a 60% chance it will NOT sound amazing unless I have a subwoofer?
@@mudibluz2006 without a sub, you have 60% chance it sounds good. With a sub, it will increase the chance it sounds good because the low end stronger bass will help with the lean nature of this class A amp.
@@ThomasAndStereo Thanks for the clarification!
And I can fry bacon on my Plasma TV (if it would be horizontal) haha
Will Sound Artist LS3/5a with SMSL A1 be just ok? or good?
The sensitivity of the Sound Artist LS3/5a is only 83db.
I probably would avoid it.
@@ThomasAndStereo thanks Thomas 😂
Hello Thomas, all of my amps are class AB, how does class D sound compare to class AB generally? Thanks.
th-cam.com/video/XOKLhnXR4As/w-d-xo.html
This is an old video I made, the class D sound has changed and some are very close to AB.
@@ThomasAndStereo thank you Thomas
Did you try it with the KLH Model 5? :-)
No I did not, I doubt it would be strong enough since that is a sealed cabinet design.
@@ThomasAndStereo Cool thanks 👍The retailer told me a Sugden should work good with them, I should ask which model! I listened to the hifi podcast, where they talked about speakers with a low Q (slow bass roll off) liking amps with a low damping factor, so maybe for the Model 5, I should try something with low damping, yet still enough power 🤔
The thin bass comes from marginal power (and resulting limited dynamic range), not from it being class A.
Well the characteristic carries over to even very efficient speakers. 10w is actually a lot of sensitive speakers. It's not thin, but more on the lean side.
How does it compare to Schiit Aegir? Aegir is not true class a but they are honest about it.
I did not compare but for Loic, he like this better. Soundstage was better with these if you have a sensitive speakers according to him.
My gryphon class a/b amplifier gets 47 degree at idle, measured at the heatsinks
Omg, really!
@@ThomasAndStereo yes 45-47 at idle without playing any music 😆
@@henriksrensen3220 lol
@@junior-OG ?