This is my first foray into the world of class D amplifiers, I must say, I am thoroughly impressed how it drives my old Yamaha NS1000Ms which are considered as truth serum speakers as they will reveal all the flaws in the source. I was a bit skeptical as it was going against the amplifiers that I use, namely PC2002M and MX-1. These are huge old-fashioned amplifiers with massive transformers and capacitors and here we have a small box claiming all the specs. After setting it up and listening to it for a week, I have decided to keep it and not return it, that's how impressed I am with the SA400.
I purchased this amplifier recently and i really like the sound coming out of such a small device, my only concern is the heat coming from this unit, must admit i did hear the fan working after i turned the volume down.
Please do a review/comparison to smsl vmv a1 class A amp… they are similarly priced and would love to know what you think… Also does this get hot? I saw other reviewers complaining that it gets hot which is strange for class D and is concerning for longevity..?
I currently use a Hegel H160 -> Maggie LRS (2.8ohm).. Maggie’s bring many of class d or power amps to their knees after loud long listening session my triggering thermal protection. Hegel had a rock solid current and damping factor greater than 1k and stable down to 2 ohms. I wonder if the SA 400 would work with magnepans or if I’m better just saying put. Also did you bypass the internal Dac as I don’t care for smsl or topping dacs.
Hey Ace, this thing doesn't have a DAC, it's only an integrated amplifier. Their VMV A2 integrated has a DAC inside. Hegel makes outstanding amps, I had briefly their H190 for two months or so, I loved it, you should stay put. As a side note to you, the first package for THAT review that everybody are waiting for.. was lost in transit and yesterday a new package was sent my way. It should be here soon and I'll start working on that one.
@@Soundnews Thanks Sandu! I know all of us over on the headfi thread are awaiting your review and checking yt daily for updates... There is 1 guy who received that amp and he has very positive initial impressions. If you're looking for more content Holo Audio just released their Spring 3 R2R dac. The feedback from Tim at Holo Audio is that the Spring 3 KTE version is 90% of the performance of the Holo May ($6k dac) and 95% of the performance of their Serene ($3k Preamp). They made a bunch of improvements and their USB input came from the May so it's a legit Dac + Preamp option for ~$3k.
Love your reviews. Just subscribed. Can anyone please help me ? - I am confused. Is the SMSL SA400 a power amplifier (that works best connected to a pre-amplifier like my Topping Pre90) or is the SMSL SA400 an 'integrated' amplifier that can be connected directly to a source like a DAC ? It is advertised as a 'power' amplifier but seems more like an integrated ? Thank you, Peter.
I have the DA-9 as well. It depends on your loudspeakers, with mine SA400 is better controlled in the sub-bass and it is way punchier. Reference 3 are not that sensitive (~87 dB) and need more power to sound at their best. Infineon modules from DA-9 are...not that clean sounding, transparency is not their best trait. I find DA-9 less revealing, but extremely impressive nonetheless at its respective price point. If you are not driving standfloors, then DA-9 should be more than enough.
Any amp and dac suggestions for my diana's and aryas would like a pretty punchy amp ,with no upper freq harshness,with good balance of emotion and detail in the mid range.This is a pretty detailed of what i want but please help out 😅 lookin for below 1.6k usd ^ Lookin at singxer sa-1/Flux Lab Acoustics FA-10/cavalli lquid plat if thats a good choice.Feel free to recommend other if thats not a good choice Thanks :)
If you need Thor's slam and impact, get the Soloist 3X, followed by the FA-10. If you need a slight treble roll-off and a mellower sounding amp, then Singxer SA-1 is that amplifier.
Hi mate. The best amplifier made by Burson is Soloist 3X. You are missing the DAC section of the Conductor, but you getting more power and more importantly: cleaner power. Soloist's volume implementation is far superior to that of Conductor, hence obtaining a higher signal to noise ratio and dynamic range. They don't sound very different, they are very alike, but Soloist is even cleaner and more powerful. Get the Soloist if you already have a nice DAC.
My lavalier mic started clipping from 06:22 onwards, sorry for that. Will use a new mic in the next video.
hopefully it's louder too
@@goodnightmoon Noted...Rob Halford will envy my next mic :)
This is my first foray into the world of class D amplifiers, I must say, I am thoroughly impressed how it drives my old Yamaha NS1000Ms which are considered as truth serum speakers as they will reveal all the flaws in the source. I was a bit skeptical as it was going against the amplifiers that I use, namely PC2002M and MX-1. These are huge old-fashioned amplifiers with massive transformers and capacitors and here we have a small box claiming all the specs. After setting it up and listening to it for a week, I have decided to keep it and not return it, that's how impressed I am with the SA400.
Great review. Did you try Sabaj a30a?
Hi
Great review
Do you think its will be good for ls50 meta ?
Did you try the SA400 with the LS50's?
I purchased this amplifier recently and i really like the sound coming out of such a small device, my only concern is the heat coming from this unit, must admit i did hear the fan working after i turned the volume down.
What does SMSL do between two dac-amp releases? Simply release another one. Wonderful collection, Sandu, respect!👍
Great! I am loking forward to hearing more about digital amps in the near future. :)
*looking
@@richardsaila8073 👀
I use the SMSL DA9 for a desktop amp. I have essentially gotten the performance of great powered desktop speakers for a FRACTION of the cost.
Please do a review/comparison to smsl vmv a1 class A amp… they are similarly priced and would love to know what you think…
Also does this get hot? I saw other reviewers complaining that it gets hot which is strange for class D and is concerning for longevity..?
I have my eyes on that one for quite some time. Class-A, Noratel (audio-grade) transformer, JFET transistors, what could possibly go wrong?
I currently use a Hegel H160 -> Maggie LRS (2.8ohm).. Maggie’s bring many of class d or power amps to their knees after loud long listening session my triggering thermal protection. Hegel had a rock solid current and damping factor greater than 1k and stable down to 2 ohms. I wonder if the SA 400 would work with magnepans or if I’m better just saying put. Also did you bypass the internal Dac as I don’t care for smsl or topping dacs.
Hey Ace, this thing doesn't have a DAC, it's only an integrated amplifier. Their VMV A2 integrated has a DAC inside. Hegel makes outstanding amps, I had briefly their H190 for two months or so, I loved it, you should stay put. As a side note to you, the first package for THAT review that everybody are waiting for.. was lost in transit and yesterday a new package was sent my way. It should be here soon and I'll start working on that one.
@@Soundnews Thanks Sandu! I know all of us over on the headfi thread are awaiting your review and checking yt daily for updates... There is 1 guy who received that amp and he has very positive initial impressions. If you're looking for more content Holo Audio just released their Spring 3 R2R dac. The feedback from Tim at Holo Audio is that the Spring 3 KTE version is 90% of the performance of the Holo May ($6k dac) and 95% of the performance of their Serene ($3k Preamp). They made a bunch of improvements and their USB input came from the May so it's a legit Dac + Preamp option for ~$3k.
www.kitsunehifi.com/product/spring-3-dac/?attribute_pa_titanis-version=spring-v3-kte-preamp-module
Love your reviews. Just subscribed. Can anyone please help me ? - I am confused. Is the SMSL SA400 a power amplifier (that works best connected to a pre-amplifier like my Topping Pre90) or is the SMSL SA400 an 'integrated' amplifier that can be connected directly to a source like a DAC ? It is advertised as a 'power' amplifier but seems more like an integrated ? Thank you, Peter.
TY! for the review!
My pleasure
I am waiting for SMSL VMV A2 (class D) review compaired to SMSL SA400!!
Wondering if this is a significant step up from the DA-9? (Considering it's more than 2x the price)
I have the DA-9 as well. It depends on your loudspeakers, with mine SA400 is better controlled in the sub-bass and it is way punchier. Reference 3 are not that sensitive (~87 dB) and need more power to sound at their best. Infineon modules from DA-9 are...not that clean sounding, transparency is not their best trait. I find DA-9 less revealing, but extremely impressive nonetheless at its respective price point. If you are not driving standfloors, then DA-9 should be more than enough.
Any amp and dac suggestions for my diana's and aryas would like a pretty punchy amp ,with no upper freq harshness,with good balance of emotion and detail in the mid range.This is a pretty detailed of what i want but please help out 😅 lookin for below 1.6k usd ^
Lookin at singxer sa-1/Flux Lab Acoustics FA-10/cavalli lquid plat if thats a good choice.Feel free to recommend other if thats not a good choice Thanks :)
Burson soloist x3
+1 for Burson Soloist 3XP... recently got it and blown away.
If you need Thor's slam and impact, get the Soloist 3X, followed by the FA-10. If you need a slight treble roll-off and a mellower sounding amp, then Singxer SA-1 is that amplifier.
I am waiting for SMSL VMA A1 review and also compair with SMSL SA400.
Hi,does anyone here know the diff in sound quality between soloist 3x and conductor 3 performance in terms of sound qlty?
Hi mate. The best amplifier made by Burson is Soloist 3X. You are missing the DAC section of the Conductor, but you getting more power and more importantly: cleaner power. Soloist's volume implementation is far superior to that of Conductor, hence obtaining a higher signal to noise ratio and dynamic range. They don't sound very different, they are very alike, but Soloist is even cleaner and more powerful. Get the Soloist if you already have a nice DAC.
Compared to the SA 9 !? What DAC Pre Amp Up Front ?!?
Just need to ask how sa400 will perform with SVS Prime Pinnacles Floorstanding Speakers?
Pretty much the same as with my Reference 3
Jeez! What if SMSL released an AVR with all the surround codecs? Who knows....this company knows no limits
@@dungysphincter7974 An SMSL AVR with Dirac Live sound's good...
Someone has been playing Starcraft 😁
Sharp eyes. YEP, you got me 😁
O.T. Compa' try to try not Only chiese dac. Try a Metrum acoustic and feel the difference! By by compa'
Fuck yeah!