SMSL DA-6 Stereo Amplifier Review

[Bruce Morgen]

3x? The prices i see is +33%

Sorry, I was thinking of the newer PA5.

 

[Sokel]

With this budget I always can’t figure out why one would want passive and not active setup…

I would expect Dedicated amp customers to be those who think mix and match would do better, willing to spend more and play around with cables etc. at this price point and compactness it seems actives are much better

For 300 euro my Fostex's with their stated 0.05 THD is more that I need for Pc nearfied monitors.
Mix'n'match are for fun with bigger gear.

 

[RandomEar]

It's widely accepted that 2dB is the minimum discernible volume difference, not sure if that rule of thumb applies to channel imbalance in a stereo application.

I think you mean 0.2 dB, right? Because most people can discern 0.5 dB difference in tone tests. And even at 0.25 dB, many fare better than random chance. In my nearfield setup, I had to dial in -1.2 dB on the left channel because without that, the stereo image is very obviously non-centered.

I'd say 1 dB of imbalance is fair for a low-cost device and won't bother most people. But 2 dB should be audible for many and I'd consider it a small flaw.

 

[Music1969]

It's widely accepted that 2dB is the minimum discernible volume difference, not sure if that rule of thumb applies to channel imbalance in a stereo application.

No approx. 1dB

Anyway the channel imbalance with volume pot could be 2dB anyway

This SMSL has no channel imbalance, as Amir noted...

Potentially more signifcant than the marginal SINAD difference

 

[SmackDaddies]

Topping pa3s seems to be the best choice in this class imo.

No remote, no display, speaker terminals are stacked. It does have balanced and RCA inputs though. Different enough. Features are important

 

[Robbo99999]

I have a question re these types of products. What would most people use this for? Would it mostly be used for driving passive desktop speakers at a computer - so a pair of speakers used as PC Desktop work/entertainment speakers. So used within a system that is based around a desk working/listening position. I'm thinking that this would be it's most sensible use as it doesn't deliver tons of power.

 

[xaviescacs]

This 6 line of SMSL is really good in design and functionality. I have the DAC and the HPA and love both.

 

[Jim Shaw]

You will not believe... https://www.amazon.com/MX5-Headphone-Amplifier-1600mWx2-Silver/dp/B09NZSK2H5
Costs as much as 2, not 3

https://www.amazon.com/S-M-S-L-AD18-Amplifier-Bluetooth-Subwoofer/dp/B071JN7GXN/ref=pd_lpo_1?pd_rd_i=B071JN7GXN&psc=1

Cheap but bad

Thanks for this. Looks like just what's needed. $300? Well, China is figuring it out: there's nobody else to make it.

 

[F1308]

Oh, please, could "There is no headroom as expected..." be explained ?
I mean just the lack of it, not the reasons to expect any.

Thank you...

 

[uwotm8]

there's nobody else

Well there was some Nu Force stuff: https://www.wired.com/2008/08/nuforce-icon-desktop-amplifier/

 

[AudioSceptic]

Well that's a nice one home/desktop audio unit with proper connectors used

I was thinking that this is nowhere near powerful enough with only 13 W into 8 Ω, but then remembered that this is about what the original Naim Nait could manage.

 

[SmackDaddies]

I have a question re these types of products. What would most people use this for? Would it mostly be used for driving passive desktop speakers at a computer - so a pair of speakers used as PC Desktop work/entertainment speakers. So used within a system that is based around a desk working/listening position. I'm thinking that this would be it's most sensible use as it doesn't deliver tons of power.

exactly, as Amir said

 

[AudioSceptic]

With this budget I always can’t figure out why one would want passive and not active setup…

I would expect Dedicated amp customers to be those who think mix and match would do better, willing to spend more and play around with cables etc. at this price point and compactness it seems actives are much better

Play around with cables? Just use something basic.

 

[Jim Shaw]

I have a question re these types of products. What would most people use this for? Would it mostly be used for driving passive desktop speakers at a computer - so a pair of speakers used as PC Desktop work/entertainment speakers. So used within a system that is based around a desk working/listening position. I'm thinking that this would be it's most sensible use as it doesn't deliver tons of power.

That is my intended application, and I'm grateful to learn of the MX5.

In mixing/editing audio and video, there are times when I want good headphones over monitors. But active monitors rarely offer a good headphone output. The digital inputs are needed to get around the built in limited analog parts of a laptop.

One can do all this with separate components, but the result is a tangle of cables and wires -- in a place that already has too many wires and cables. And the MX5 seems small enough to still fit the desk's real estate. The Bluetooth could be handy for a little music while working. The remote control might be useful if the MX5 ever becomes a small room music player.

I'm glad to learn of the solution made by Topping, that seems to make good stuff. I'm saving up for one.

 

[Robbo99999]

That is my intended application, and I'm grateful to learn of the MX5.

In mixing/editing audio and video, there are times when I want good headphones over monitors. But active monitors rarely offer a good headphone output. The digital inputs are needed to get around the built in limited analog parts of a laptop.

One can do all this with separate components, but the result is a tangle of cables and wires -- in a place that already has too many wires and cables. And the MX5 seems small enough to still fit the desk's real estate. The Bluetooth could be handy for a little music while working. The remote control might be useful if the MX5 ever becomes a small room music player.

I'm glad to learn of the solution made by Topping, that seems to make good stuff. I'm saving up for one.

Right I see what you mean, this product reviewed (the SMSL DA6) doesn't have a headphone out unlike the Topping MX5 (which does), and you use passive desktop speakers with an amplifier similar to the one in this review, therefore you think the Topping MX5 is the ideal solution. I did some mental gymnastics, but I see what you mean! (And yes, in answer to my question, you think most people use this for amplification of desktop speakers). That does seem like a good combo, the Topping MX5, when mentioned in the context of how you use it.......which is probably pretty similar to how 90% of users would (want to) use an amplifier like this I would think.

 

[uwotm8]

this is about what the original Naim Nait could manage

I was using a garage made SE tube amp with 1-3W output I guess and that was nice for background/comfort level desktop listening

 

[YSC]

Play around with cables? Just use something basic.

Man you misunderstood my intention I am a active guy, which imo is far superior at the budget range and that the overall package will be much smaller with passives. So I wonders as most ppl who go passive+ amp Route are either tower speakers with great amp, or some ppl who believe in those cables stuffs to mix and match components. For the prior group who need a powerful speaker this tiny uninteresting looking amp with minimal power seems useless, and for the latter this basic amp don’t do also.

So I wonders if this power could be enough for really good bookshelf speakers like revels to make it work for some tiny home where a small amp with small footprint is desirable, if not it seems like a very niche market

 

[Tangband]

Man you misunderstood my intention I am a active guy, which imo is far superior at the budget range and that the overall package will be much smaller with passives. So I wonders as most ppl who go passive+ amp Route are either tower speakers with great amp, or some ppl who believe in those cables stuffs to mix and match components. For the prior group who need a powerful speaker this tiny uninteresting looking amp with minimal power seems useless, and for the latter this basic amp don’t do also.

So I wonders if this power could be enough for really good bookshelf speakers like revels to make it work for some tiny home where a small amp with small footprint is desirable, if not it seems like a very niche market

Its good enough If you dont play your music very loud.. And If you already have the passive speakers.
Those moderns class D amps sometimes sound better and somewhat clearer than older, much more powerful class A/B amplifiers.

For a beginner in hifi and for desktop use : Its probably much better value to buy two active jbl 305 with inbuild poweramps and dsp.

 

[HighFutility]

I think we will need a separate forum post for smsl amp/dac hierarchy. It seems they have a new product every month and no mention of it on their website. I find it odd that these products are being sold before they even get listed on their respective websites.

 

[PeteL]

Oh, please, could "There is no headroom as expected..." be explained ?
I mean just the lack of it, not the reasons to expect any.

Thank you...

That's a characteristic of Class D amplification. The instantaneous max power is the same as continuous. Past that it's hard clipping.