Impressions: SMSL PA200 GAN FET Class-D Power Amp

[goryu]

They don't state, but the bandwidth is excellent, with frequency response solidly flat through the entire audible band.
View attachment 435076


-Ed

That's measured only at 8Ohms, you need to see what it does at other loads...Class d amps without post filter feedback will have varying response with load variations. Many of the current crop of gan amps have old class d designs without post filter feedback. Curious if this one does too...

 

[Subjective]

Hi @EddNog it is a nice review!
I wonder how that works. RCA has up to ~2v.
When using XLR that "usually" use higher voltage ~4v or so.

Why I ask is that my preamp has RCA out and I have a signal cable that has RCA in one end and "convert" with a XLR in the other end.

But of course I just will be able to give max 2v into this amp.

Question regarding this:
* What is the defined input voltage on the XLR input?
* Will it matter in the output power delivery to the speakers? (I mean if ~ 4v is max output watt out to speaker but my preamp only gives max 2v to the amplifier..)
* There is no high or low gain to solve that "issue"?

Thanks!

 

[Deleted member 72219]

Hi @EddNog it is a nice review!
I wonder how that works. RCA has up to ~2v.
When using XLR that "usually" use higher voltage ~4v or so.

Why I ask is that my preamp has RCA out and I have a signal cable that has RCA in one end and "convert" with a XLR in the other end.

But of course I just will be able to give max 2v into this amp.

Question regarding this:
* What is the defined input voltage on the XLR input?
* Will it matter in the output power delivery to the speakers? (I mean if ~ 4v is max output watt out to speaker but my preamp only gives max 2v to the amplifier..)
* There is no high or low gain to solve that "issue"?

Thanks!

I don’t think this will work. The bridged mono mode requires a true differential signal for the amp to produce sound.

-Ed

 

[LumiAudioNut]

Hi Eddnog. Great review! I've had my eye on the PA200 GaN amplifier almost since the day it appeared on SMSL's website and, as far as I can tell, you're the first reviewer. Thank you for posting your impressions and getting this thread started on what I'm guessing will only be the beginning of a trend towards more small (and powerful) affordable GaN amplifiers possessing good measurements (hopefully Amir gets a chance to test this little dynamo).

Since I already own and have been favorably impressed by the SMSL AO200Mk2 (which also has Infineon chip with roughly the same power ratings as the PA200), I went ahead purchased a PA200. First I tried it out in stereo mode (with good results) and was curious to see if it would work in bridged mono mode with a preamp that was only capable unbalanced RCA output. It worked! Specifically, I used RCA to XLR cable to connect the RCA out on a Schiit Lyr+ preamp/headphone amp to the XLR balanced mono only input of the SMSL PA200. Anyway, it sound so good that I am considering buying an additional PA200 to use in a dual mono configuration.

-Lumi

 

[Deleted member 72219]

Hi Eddnog. Great review! I've had my eye on the PA200 GaN amplifier almost since the day it appeared on SMSL's website and, as far as I can tell, you're the first reviewer. Thank you for posting your impressions and getting this thread started on what I'm guessing will only be the beginning of a trend towards more small (and powerful) affordable GaN amplifiers possessing good measurements (hopefully Amir gets a chance to test this little dynamo).

Since I already own and have been favorably impressed by the SMSL AO200Mk2 (which also has Infineon chip with roughly the same power ratings as the PA200), I went ahead purchased a PA200. First I tried it out in stereo mode (with good results) and was curious to see if it would work in bridged mono mode with a preamp that was only capable unbalanced RCA output. It worked! Specifically, I used RCA to XLR cable to connect the RCA out on a Schiit Lyr+ preamp/headphone amp to the XLR balanced mono only input of the SMSL PA200. Anyway, it sound so good that I am considering buying an additional PA200 to use in a dual mono configuration.

-Lumi

Thanks so much for trying this out, Lumi! Even more importantly, I am so happy to hear someone else is enjoying these amps as much as I am!

-Ed

 

[goryu]

Anyone find out if this has post filter feedback or runs open loop? Nothing about the actual design on the manufacturer's web site...

 

[JZXZMM]

View attachment 432485

View attachment 432486



View attachment 432488

I got (back) into hi-fi listening a couple of years ago, after quite a long hiatus, and started playing catch-up, and one of the hardest games of catch-up was my power amp game. Long story short I started with Fosi ZA3s, then V3 Monos, then Topping B100s, and finally auditioned a Hypex nCore-based amp, and there was just something lacking with each of them. The V3 Monos had plenty of power, but the sound wasn’t as good as the amazing B100s. The B100s unfortunately just didn’t make enough power to really make my LS50 Metas sing, even when high-pass filtered and supplemented by my mighty SVS SB-3000 subwoofer handling the bottom-end. The B100s cut-out in my numerous times because of safety mechanisms. I loved their sound (could be that they’re class-B as opposed to class-D? Or could just be their insane measurements), but the power limits weren’t practical. I had been researching higher-end class-D amps so I tried an IOM Ultra (NC252MP) which sounded good and was plenty powerful, but still not as good sounding as the B100s. Plus the power-on/-off pop was annoying me, so I gave that amp to my dad, who happily replaced the pair of V3 Monos I had given him with it. Finally I read that people say GAN FET class-D amps wouldn’t be truly beneficial until they took advantage of the technology and came out with a design that utilized a much higher switching frequency (say, 1MHz) than MOSFET designs (400-600KHz).

Then came along SMSL’s new PA200 power amp. Based on Infineon’s latest GAN FET technology, these amps truly use a 1MHz switching rate. They have an integrated, bypassable Texas Instruments chip-based volume control if you run the amp stereo via single-ended input. The amp also allows bridging via balanced, differential input (which bypasses the volume control by default). Power figures are astonishing, but moreover, the rated THD+N approach the numbers of the vaunted Topping B100 and B200 amps. Could these finally be the holy grail of amps with class-D efficiency and power but class-A/B sound signature combined with near-SOTA measurements? I decided it was time to find out, so I ordered up a pair.

Got them for about $700 shipped for the pair after combining store coupon from SMSL’s AliExpress store plus various seasonal AliExpress app coupons. The came in, I hooked them up, and listened…and hallelujah!!! These sound as good as the B100s at low to mid volumes, but with absolutely vast power on tap. I had heard that LS50 Metas need big power to truly sing, but I never really believed or understood that until now. They really blew the B100s away at high volumes. I literally didn’t even know my speakers could sound so good. Blew away the NC252MP. Blew away the V3 Monos. Blew away the B100s. I haven’t heard B200s, but in my mind they may be the only thing that comes close in this price range, but actually they cost almost 50% more MSRP.

Negatives? Just a couple:
1) no 12V trigger. Really miss that from the ZA3s and NC252MP, but then again on the NC252MP it was annoying due to the pops when powering on or off, and there was no trigger bypass on the NC252MP see edit below
2) only comes in silver, and the rest of my gear is black—first world problems
3) no signal-sense auto-on/-off but see edit below
4) also a faint pop when powering on, so I am just leaving them on, since the GAN FETs are efficient enough when idle

Summary: SMSL PA200 sounds amazing, has ridiculous power, especially in bridged mono mode, and build quality is excellent. You just need to get over the lack of black color way and lack of power-on/-off automation.

EDIT: Somebody pointed me to this product, which resolves the lack of 12V trigger, because I tested the power-on behavior of the amps when power is cut and restored while the amp is on, and it powers back up on its own once power is restored:

Amazon.com

-Ed

View attachment 432485

View attachment 432486

View attachment 432487

View attachment 432488

I got (back) into hi-fi listening a couple of years ago, after quite a long hiatus, and started playing catch-up, and one of the hardest games of catch-up was my power amp game. Long story short I started with Fosi ZA3s, then V3 Monos, then Topping B100s, and finally auditioned a Hypex nCore-based amp, and there was just something lacking with each of them. The V3 Monos had plenty of power, but the sound wasn’t as good as the amazing B100s. The B100s unfortunately just didn’t make enough power to really make my LS50 Metas sing, even when high-pass filtered and supplemented by my mighty SVS SB-3000 subwoofer handling the bottom-end. The B100s cut-out in my numerous times because of safety mechanisms. I loved their sound (could be that they’re class-B as opposed to class-D? Or could just be their insane measurements), but the power limits weren’t practical. I had been researching higher-end class-D amps so I tried an IOM Ultra (NC252MP) which sounded good and was plenty powerful, but still not as good sounding as the B100s. Plus the power-on/-off pop was annoying me, so I gave that amp to my dad, who happily replaced the pair of V3 Monos I had given him with it. Finally I read that people say GAN FET class-D amps wouldn’t be truly beneficial until they took advantage of the technology and came out with a design that utilized a much higher switching frequency (say, 1MHz) than MOSFET designs (400-600KHz).

Then came along SMSL’s new PA200 power amp. Based on Infineon’s latest GAN FET technology, these amps truly use a 1MHz switching rate. They have an integrated, bypassable Texas Instruments chip-based volume control if you run the amp stereo via single-ended input. The amp also allows bridging via balanced, differential input (which bypasses the volume control by default). Power figures are astonishing, but moreover, the rated THD+N approach the numbers of the vaunted Topping B100 and B200 amps. Could these finally be the holy grail of amps with class-D efficiency and power but class-A/B sound signature combined with near-SOTA measurements? I decided it was time to find out, so I ordered up a pair.

Got them for about $700 shipped for the pair after combining store coupon from SMSL’s AliExpress store plus various seasonal AliExpress app coupons. The came in, I hooked them up, and listened…and hallelujah!!! These sound as good as the B100s at low to mid volumes, but with absolutely vast power on tap. I had heard that LS50 Metas need big power to truly sing, but I never really believed or understood that until now. They really blew the B100s away at high volumes. I literally didn’t even know my speakers could sound so good. Blew away the NC252MP. Blew away the V3 Monos. Blew away the B100s. I haven’t heard B200s, but in my mind they may be the only thing that comes close in this price range, but actually they cost almost 50% more MSRP.

Negatives? Just a couple:
1) no 12V trigger. Really miss that from the ZA3s and NC252MP, but then again on the NC252MP it was annoying due to the pops when powering on or off, and there was no trigger bypass on the NC252MP see edit below
2) only comes in silver, and the rest of my gear is black—first world problems
3) no signal-sense auto-on/-off but see edit below
4) also a faint pop when powering on, so I am just leaving them on, since the GAN FETs are efficient enough when idle

Summary: SMSL PA200 sounds amazing, has ridiculous power, especially in bridged mono mode, and build quality is excellent. You just need to get over the lack of black color way and lack of power-on/-off automation.

EDIT: Somebody pointed me to this product, which resolves the lack of 12V trigger, because I tested the power-on behavior of the amps when power is cut and restored while the amp is on, and it powers back up on its own once power is restored:

Amazon.com

-Ed

NO 1Mhz!!!
IRS20957 MAX operation frequency is 800kHz，and MIN deadtime is 15ns.
And deadtime of 1ET400A is 4.3ns.
Maybe like this. AD825+IRS20957+GaN

 

[Deleted member 72219]

NO 1Mhz!!!
IRS20957 MAX operation frequency is 800kHz，and MIN deadtime is 15ns.
And deadtime of 1ET400A is 4.3ns.
Maybe like this. AD825+IRS20957+GaN

And you’re positive those are the exact components within?

No matter, I am happy with the sound. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

-Ed

 

[LumiAudioNut]

A subjective review (heresy I know!) just dropped that features a a few minutes devoted to the PA200 (starting at about the 11 minute mark). Jay's sentiments seem to agree with those expressed by the OP as well as others on this thread (including my own).

 

[Guddu]

Normally we would see a new product by a few brand like topping, SMSL etc. measured here either right around the release date or soon after.
When I don’t see a review of such product from those such brands here, I suspect the measurements might not be worth the showcase……. not implying the product is bad though.

 

[Deleted member 72219]

Normally we would see a new product by a few brand like topping, SMSL etc. measured here either right around the release date or soon after.
When I don’t see a review of such product from those such brands here, I suspect the measurements might not be worth the showcase……. not implying the product is bad though.

From my perspective, what I got (from a measured performance standpoint) was sort of a pair of Schiit Vidars for the price of just one, if you believe the THD+N and power figures from SMSL.

-Ed

 

[Artcore87]

View attachment 432485

View attachment 432486

View attachment 432487

View attachment 432488

I got (back) into hi-fi listening a couple of years ago, after quite a long hiatus, and started playing catch-up, and one of the hardest games of catch-up was my power amp game. Long story short I started with Fosi ZA3s, then V3 Monos, then Topping B100s, and finally auditioned a Hypex nCore-based amp, and there was just something lacking with each of them. The V3 Monos had plenty of power, but the sound wasn’t as good as the amazing B100s. The B100s unfortunately just didn’t make enough power to really make my LS50 Metas sing, even when high-pass filtered and supplemented by my mighty SVS SB-3000 subwoofer handling the bottom-end. The B100s cut-out in my numerous times because of safety mechanisms. I loved their sound (could be that they’re class-B as opposed to class-D? Or could just be their insane measurements), but the power limits weren’t practical. I had been researching higher-end class-D amps so I tried an IOM Ultra (NC252MP) which sounded good and was plenty powerful, but still not as good sounding as the B100s. Plus the power-on/-off pop was annoying me, so I gave that amp to my dad, who happily replaced the pair of V3 Monos I had given him with it. Finally I read that people say GAN FET class-D amps wouldn’t be truly beneficial until they took advantage of the technology and came out with a design that utilized a much higher switching frequency (say, 1MHz) than MOSFET designs (400-600KHz).

Then came along SMSL’s new PA200 power amp. Based on Infineon’s latest GAN FET technology, these amps truly use a 1MHz switching rate. They have an integrated, bypassable Texas Instruments chip-based volume control if you run the amp stereo via single-ended input. The amp also allows bridging via balanced, differential input (which bypasses the volume control by default). Power figures are astonishing, but moreover, the rated THD+N approach the numbers of the vaunted Topping B100 and B200 amps. Could these finally be the holy grail of amps with class-D efficiency and power but class-A/B sound signature combined with near-SOTA measurements? I decided it was time to find out, so I ordered up a pair.

Got them for about $700 shipped for the pair after combining store coupon from SMSL’s AliExpress store plus various seasonal AliExpress app coupons. The came in, I hooked them up, and listened…and hallelujah!!! These sound as good as the B100s at low to mid volumes, but with absolutely vast power on tap. I had heard that LS50 Metas need big power to truly sing, but I never really believed or understood that until now. They really blew the B100s away at high volumes. I literally didn’t even know my speakers could sound so good. Blew away the NC252MP. Blew away the V3 Monos. Blew away the B100s. I haven’t heard B200s, but in my mind they may be the only thing that comes close in this price range, but actually they cost almost 50% more MSRP.

Negatives? Just a couple:
1) no 12V trigger. Really miss that from the ZA3s and NC252MP, but then again on the NC252MP it was annoying due to the pops when powering on or off, and there was no trigger bypass on the NC252MP see edit below
2) only comes in silver, and the rest of my gear is black—first world problems
3) no signal-sense auto-on/-off but see edit below
4) also a faint pop when powering on, so I am just leaving them on, since the GAN FETs are efficient enough when idle

Summary: SMSL PA200 sounds amazing, has ridiculous power, especially in bridged mono mode, and build quality is excellent. You just need to get over the lack of black color way and lack of power-on/-off automation.

EDIT: Somebody pointed me to this product, which resolves the lack of 12V trigger, because I tested the power-on behavior of the amps when power is cut and restored while the amp is on, and it powers back up on its own once power is restored:

Amazon.com

-Ed

Why get the NC252MP with 150wpc into 8 ohms when for 695 from Buckeye you can get the ncore amp that has 350w into 8 ohms (and both obviously do more into 4)?

All your statements about switching frequency and analog sound are nonsense.

Also if the B100 wasn't enough, you could just get the B200, tons of power, I guarantee more than these can put out continuously for any length of time. Multiple hypex options with way more power too. nc500x for 995 with 380wpc/700wpc.

If the 90db sinad someone mentioned is accurate (and I don't know if it is I haven't seen it myself) then this smsl amp is FAR inferior to hypex, topping, or purifi. like not even close.

You say you didn't want to try the purifi amp one user suggested to you because "if it sounds the same as the hypex you're not interested". The reason he's saying that is because the hypex and purifi amps, at least in the scientific terms valued by the mindset of this forum, are both so incredibly good that they are essentially technically perfect amplifiers, beyond the threshold of human audibility. The new eigentacht 2 purifi also has more power.

The smsl amp looks cool but I need to see detailed testing of it.

You also could have gotten a Tripath TA3020 based amp that can do ~200w into 8 ohms and 400 into 4. If you value subjective impressions the Tripath amps were often described as sounding almost tube like (very analog)... but they don't exhibit elevated even order harmonics and have extremely low distortion so who knows what that meant lol. I can say my own TA3020 sounds incredible. Transparent, low noise, very "fast" with all the micro-details and micro-dynamics you could want =P The Tripath solution is DIY (buy completed amp board, completed PSU board, but no case and wires that's on you) but you can get them for say 230-300 bucks a pop depending on configuration (that's for a board AND smps combined, or the option of the board+smps in one). You can also run them in a bridged configuration and get way more power if you wanted. they make great killowatt+ level subwoofer amps for this reason, except they're only rated to 4 ohms in that configuration, and I'm guessing THD is worse in this configuration as is usually the case, probably also the case with your SMSL amps.

I was hopeful about these SMSL amps, but if the 90db sinad measurement is indeed accurate, they're out. Absolutely NOTHING beats hypex, purifi and topping b/la series amps for performance, value, and power. Nothing. Period. Well if you're ok with semi-DIY Tripath is still great. We're only talking 2 zeroes in THD instead of 3 zeroes, but I don't think you're gonna hear that... but they're not necessarily load independent. Nor is the noise floor as vanishingly low, although it's still sufficiently low. But IMO, AFAIK, you can't beat ~$230 dollars for 200w 8 ohms 400w 4 ohms at .1% thd from the ta3020 v4d from connexelectronic where value is concerned.

The most important point though, and your most egregious mistake, is using the LS50 Meta speakers for your use case, i.e. cranking them, blasting them with the doors open, thinking you need multiple hundreds of watts for them. Your amp isn't the problem, your speakers are. Those are TINY PATHETIC ANEMIC speakers and very inefficient, and you're trying to make them do something they were not made to do. As soon as you start pushing the excursion of those TINY drivers their distortion shoots way up, because the woofer cone IS the waveguide for the tweeter... which is why KEF themselves are smart enough to cross them over to dedicated woofers in their real/serious speakers, you know... the larger ones. Have you not seen erins audio corner's klippel testing at various SPL levels, the distortion, multi-tone distortion, and compression graphs? WHY?! You need bigger speakers, more sensitive speakers. Those things aren't staying clean much higher than 86db, they're breaking 3% at what, the next test is 91 I think? Dude come on. Size matters. Those speakers are so overrated it's not even funny. The KEF coaxes have their strengths, I won't deny that at all, great for nearfield, low level listening, off-axis listening where you don't want a narrow sweet spot, fine. But you need to high pass those and cross them at like 100hz which is garbage, you don't want a sub playing up that high there's so many downsides to that setup. Get some real speakers that you can cross a sub to lower, and that are easily another 3db or 6db more sensitive and require half or a quarter of the power for the same volume, and have half the distortion at high levels. Derrrr I need 300 watts because my inefficient 5.25" speakers don't get loud enough... seriously what?! KEF makes great speakers that are a bad value if you spend enough money (blade 2 metas anybody?), but their itty bitty entry level stuff is just a bad value and there's so many better options unless you absolutely MUST have a coax for some reason... even then I think there are better options. At least you didn't get the q150, one of the lamest speakers to ever exist only suitable for surround channels. The LS50 is a nice speaker it just isn't made for what you want, it has EXTREME limitations, VERY early rolloff, no bass and no real output capability, not if you really want to crank it like I do, and like it sounds like you do... it's the wrong pick. It's about 4-16 times too small, in terms of driver surface area or cabinet volume, take your pick.

 

[Evo42]

Why such an argumentative, condescending and aggressive rant? Some interesting points but your tone and attitude to someone's initial impression post is poor. What did they do to you to get you so riled up?

 

[Guddu]

From my perspective, what I got (from a measured performance standpoint) was sort of a pair of Schiit Vidars for the price of just one, if you believe the THD+N and power figures from SMSL.

-Ed

I get it and I wouldn't worry about that too if the basic tests and observations are okay.
But a pair of PA200 goes around 850$ which is close to a previous Purify or Hypex NC/NCx amplifiers which at least have tested performance.

 

[Deleted member 72219]

Why such an argumentative, condescending and aggressive rant? Some interesting points but your tone and attitude to someone's initial impression post is poor. What did they do to you to get you so riled up?

It’s the internet, pal. Neither of us need to take all that seriously anyway ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

As I said, I’m happy with the setup and that’s really all that matters. Yeah, took me too much time and effort to get here, but I’m here. His rant changes nothing.

-Ed

 

[Deleted member 72219]

I get it and I wouldn't worry about that too if the basic tests and observations are okay.
But a pair of PA200 goes around 850$ which is close to a previous Purify or Hypex NC/NCx amplifiers which at least have tested performance.

Yeah I only paid like $700 shipped for the pair. The coupons/discounts really hooked me!

-Ed

 

[Evo42]

It’s the internet, pal. Neither of us need to take all that seriously anyway ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Yeah totally but it was a weird overtop argumentative tone, like they were arguing with their self.

 

[Deleted member 72219]

Yeah totally but it was a weird overtop argumentative tone, like they were arguing with their self.

Yeah, I apparently struck some chord there. I’m just some dude on the internet, don’t listen to me! LOL

I am impressed at the effort/energy, though!

-Ed

 

[Julf]

Why such an argumentative, condescending and aggressive rant? Some interesting points but your tone and attitude to someone's initial impression post is poor. What did they do to you to get you so riled up?

Maybe as an reaction to the rant full of hyperbole, errors and sales speak?

 

[Evo42]

Maybe as an reaction to the rant full of hyperbole, errors and sales speak?

I didn't get that just a passionate detailed subjective impression. Regardless the post was over the top attacking choice of speakers etc like they were offended or something.