Thanks for this....I have the ZA3's running balanced mono with Burson V7's....yet I have been curious about the LO7 and was considering a pair simply because they are so affordable, you just saved me a few dollars to aim in another direction...nice job.
Most class D amps have a very low power idle or standby state built in, so I wouldn’t call that a problem. The benefit of having a built in power supply is substantial for a desktop setup, though!
I have the S.M.S.L. A300 and am very pleased. Plenty of power, sounds pretty good, sub out and has handy BT. Amazing what they can do in such a small space.
Yes. Think of each part of your source chain as a filter that's taking away fine details and resolution (the stuff we want). Adding better components means less fidelity is lost through that filter so having a great DAC with great op-amps is a nice starting point, but what's after that might be filtering out what the DAC is able to let through. I hope that makes sense.
@@PassionforSound if everything in my life goes good, I want to put together a speaker system. There so many options. It is like being a kid in toy store. The sky is the limit. It helps thanx brother
I'd perhaps be swapping the op-amps in the V3 Monos or looking at the interconnects you're using to see if they're imparting some brightness/harshness.
Did you also noticed that the balanced connections from dac's sounding better than the rca's ones when having both? Another reviewer mentioned (well more than that) that those mostly are designed around their balanced designs and that the single ended implementations are more of an afterthought. Just bought a single ended r2r dac because I don't wanted to change my whole chain to balanced.
It's very much DAC and amp dependent so isolating which exact device is influencing the SE vs balanced performance is tricky. In this case, the amp sounded equally good from either input.
balanced cables doesn’t change influence sound quality of a signal unless long lengths about 25ft + are involved. that is it’s only purpose - to improve noise and signal degradation when longer length cables are necessary.
That's correct. However, with the different approaches many companies take to the design of their single ended and balanced stages, there can be noticeable differences between the two on some gear.
I didn't notice any significant differences outside of the changes made when swapping op-amps. All of these types of Class-D amps are fairly identical (tonally) with each other if they're using the same amp chip.
I had a brief play. Depending on what you can fit in there, there's room for a little tweaking, but it won't transform the amp so much as just adjust it slightly. 🙂
Its seems the same as SMSL A300 same infineon chip, same power, same monoblock stily but without remote and 1 input less, is weird see the same implementation of something 3 years old on the market
I understand getting these amps as a stepping stone. By the time you spend all the money on op amps you can just buy the cambridge AX100 lol It makes no sense.
There's no merit in some of these because you can't easily roll op-amps, but a pair of Fosi ZA3 or V3s with just a cheap, $20 op-amp upgrade will be excellent even without spending as much as the Cambridge. And then there's the size of the device. You won't be hiding the Cambridge very easily... Different products for different needs.
@@PassionforSound I wonder how the Cambridge AX35 $400 VS Fosi ZA3 in mono with the op amps. Some people say the AX35 is a way better option. I was always curious.
Congrats on clocking up 40k Subscribers!! You definitely deserve it for the time you must put in
Thank you! ♥️
Thanks for this review.
My pleasure
Thanks for this....I have the ZA3's running balanced mono with Burson V7's....yet I have been curious about the LO7 and was considering a pair simply because they are so affordable, you just saved me a few dollars to aim in another direction...nice job.
Excellent. It's a decent amp, but not better than the alternatives unless you're all RCA based.
Most class D amps have a very low power idle or standby state built in, so I wouldn’t call that a problem. The benefit of having a built in power supply is substantial for a desktop setup, though!
Was a big fanboy where the ti3255 chip was concerned but since buying the SMSL AO300, my tune has changed. Thanks for the details.
I have the S.M.S.L. A300 and am very pleased. Plenty of power, sounds pretty good, sub out and has handy BT. Amazing what they can do in such a small space.
Try A400
yest another great review - thanks
Thank you! I'm glad you liked it
Great sharing. Thanks.
If your dac has sparkos is it really necessary to get sparkos for the amp? if so how more difference would it make
Yes. Think of each part of your source chain as a filter that's taking away fine details and resolution (the stuff we want). Adding better components means less fidelity is lost through that filter so having a great DAC with great op-amps is a nice starting point, but what's after that might be filtering out what the DAC is able to let through. I hope that makes sense.
@@PassionforSound if everything in my life goes good, I want to put together a speaker system. There so many options. It is like being a kid in toy store. The sky is the limit. It helps thanx brother
so how does this compare to class ab amps
It depends on the class AB amp. The class of amp doesn't define its sound so much as the quality of the circuit and the components used.
Does it fall over from the weight of those cables?
Actually, yes. That's a good point if it's at the back of the shelf/bench and doesn't have anything to support the cables at the back.
Fosi,V3M is almost too bright for my system. However, I'm using RCA inputs. Thoughts?
I'd perhaps be swapping the op-amps in the V3 Monos or looking at the interconnects you're using to see if they're imparting some brightness/harshness.
@@PassionforSound Thanks. I switched both my interconnects and speaker cable and was able to tame the brightness.
@boomerscs9193 fantastic. Glad you could tame it!
Did you also noticed that the balanced connections from dac's sounding better than the rca's ones when having both? Another reviewer mentioned (well more than that) that those mostly are designed around their balanced designs and that the single ended implementations are more of an afterthought.
Just bought a single ended r2r dac because I don't wanted to change my whole chain to balanced.
It's very much DAC and amp dependent so isolating which exact device is influencing the SE vs balanced performance is tricky. In this case, the amp sounded equally good from either input.
@@PassionforSound Makes perfect sense. Thank you!
balanced cables doesn’t change influence sound quality of a signal unless long lengths about 25ft + are involved. that is it’s only purpose - to improve noise and signal degradation when longer length cables are necessary.
That's correct. However, with the different approaches many companies take to the design of their single ended and balanced stages, there can be noticeable differences between the two on some gear.
Which amp has the best bass?
I didn't notice any significant differences outside of the changes made when swapping op-amps. All of these types of Class-D amps are fairly identical (tonally) with each other if they're using the same amp chip.
Has anybody swapped the op amps yet?
I had a brief play. Depending on what you can fit in there, there's room for a little tweaking, but it won't transform the amp so much as just adjust it slightly. 🙂
I never turn off my Purifi Audio class D amp .
Still no musical fidelity A1 clone?
No and nothing on the horizon as I'm booked until Christmas with other products already.
Its seems the same as SMSL A300 same infineon chip, same power, same monoblock stily but without remote and 1 input less, is weird see the same implementation of something 3 years old on the market
There are a lot of VERY similar products on the market like these.
I understand getting these amps as a stepping stone. By the time you spend all the money on op amps you can just buy the cambridge AX100 lol It makes no sense.
There's no merit in some of these because you can't easily roll op-amps, but a pair of Fosi ZA3 or V3s with just a cheap, $20 op-amp upgrade will be excellent even without spending as much as the Cambridge. And then there's the size of the device. You won't be hiding the Cambridge very easily... Different products for different needs.
@@PassionforSound I wonder how the Cambridge AX35 $400 VS Fosi ZA3 in mono with the op amps. Some people say the AX35 is a way better option. I was always curious.
Very sorry to do this but, the lack of auto start is a total……. non starter.
Lol. I see what you did there!
Why are you "ROLLING" your op amps ? Have you tried CHANGING them instead ? Nothing is sadder than middle-aged men trying to sound "cool".
It's not about trying to sound cool. It's just the commonly used term. I don't understand why as most op-amps are square or rectangular...