SMSL A300 Stereo Amplifier Review

[trevor_bartram]

Also louder if the display is running at full power

Does the A300 have a setting that turns off the display automatically when there's no control (remote or front panel) activity?

 

[trevor_bartram]

I have both devices and the AO300 is nothing other than the A300 with additional features. The A300 is only useful with an analog input, the USB input is noticeably worse. The A300 is particularly interesting bridged with 400 watts of power at 4 ohms.
In terms of sound, the Topping PA5 II is definitely better for me.

Does the A300 sound better than the AO300? In other words is the AO300's DAC at fault?

 

[Romario]

Iirc the usb uses the Bluetooth dac, hence the poor performance.

 

[Roland68]

Does the A300 sound better than the AO300? In other words is the AO300's DAC at fault?

Iirc the usb uses the Bluetooth dac, hence the poor performance.

No, analogue both sound the same to me, it would be strange if it were otherwise, as the circuit and components are actually the same.
The AO300 has the XMOS XU-316 and the CS43131 built in, which is known to be good and transparent. SMSL has experience with the chip and I assume the same good implementation as usual.

The A300 has a Chinese 1 €/$ combination chip installed with USB, Bluetooth and DAC functionality. A sound stopgap for me via USB, not really bad.

The A300 doesn't sound any better to me with one of the top DACs than the AO300 with the built-in CS43131.

 

[A Surfer]

When the AO300 was compared to NAD C340 & both Panasonic DVDA player & Schiit Modi 3 there was something missing with AO300, less 'there'.

Then would it not follow that if something is missing it could not be tonally perfect?

 

[Bleib]

Does the A300 have a setting that turns off the display automatically when there's no control (remote or front panel) activity?

No. I was talking with SMSL about this when I owned the amplifier, they offered me to send the amp to them to have a new firmware installed which would've allowed for the screen to be turned off completely.

I returned the amp and bought a Topping PA5 II plus instead

 

[trevor_bartram]

Thanks everyone. These amp choices were going to be a backup in case my 22+ year old NAD C340 dies. I'm going to keep searching.

 

[Bleib]

Thanks everyone. These amp choices were going to be a backup in case my 22+ year old NAD C340 dies. I'm going to keep searching.

With a bit money and less functions I can recommend TP RA3. It's cleaner and a well built cool running unit
Wiim Amp Pro seems great as well, this one has tons of functions
Both are better also when it comes to the frequency response than A300

 

[gerlando]

Sorry, how to connect an headphones to this?
Thanks.

 

[Bleib]

Sorry, how to connect an headphones to this?
Thanks.

It's not made for headphones, just stereo speakers

 

[Roland68]

Sorry, how to connect an headphones to this?
Thanks.

Have you perhaps confused it with the SMSL AO300?

 

[A Surfer]

Have you perhaps confused it with the SMSL AO300?

That is a safe bet.

 

[Roy_D]

Is there any reason to not assume the Loxjie A40 and SMSL AO300 will have the same poor crosstalk, load dependant tonal differences and power envelope as this A300 given they all use the MA5332MS?

 

[Roland68]

Is there any reason to not assume the Loxjie A40 and SMSL AO300 will have the same poor crosstalk, load dependant tonal differences and power envelope as this A300 given they all use the MA5332MS?

It's safe to assume there's no difference. Powered by the same source, I couldn't detect any difference between the A300 and the AO300.

 

[Roy_D]

It's safe to assume there's no difference. Powered by the same source, I couldn't detect any difference between the A300 and the AO300.

Thank you. Roland. I had the A300 for short time but it did not make me go thump. Later the Aiyima A80 did but sadly returned recently due to some specific spdif compatibility issues. Looking for alternatives.

 

[Roland68]

Thank you. Roland. I had the A300 for short time but it did not make me go thump. Later the Aiyima A80 did but sadly returned recently due to some specific spdif compatibility issues. Looking for alternatives.

Then go for one of the TPA325x-based PFFB amplifiers from 3E Audio, Topping, Sylph, or XRK Audio. They offer everything from DIY with a bare board to a finished unit; I can recommend all of them.
The Topping PA5 II, 3E Audio A5, and A7se are relatively inexpensive.

 

[Roy_D]

Then go for one of the TPA325x-based PFFB amplifiers from 3E Audio, Topping, Sylph, or XRK Audio. They offer everything from DIY with a bare board to a finished unit; I can recommend all of them.
The Topping PA5 II, 3E Audio A5, and A7se are relatively inexpensive.

Some promising machines these. Thanks!

 

[Lord Whimsey]

I've been using this amp for a couple of years in a budget system. I find it has superior transparency and tonality to HT receivers I've heard which are much more expensive. It's also far more transparent to an Onkyo A-9555 amplifier prior to mods.

The biggest downside sonically is that the amp has no slam. There are limited large scale dynamics. This is helped a little with a really good isolation, and a really good power cord (costing much more than the amp).

Let me ask, what specifications point out the lack of slam? Mind you, small small dynamics are no worse than other comparable amps.

 

[Bleib]

and a really good power cord (costing much more than the amp).

Sheesh, you're wasting your money

 

[ahofer]

I've been using this amp for a couple of years in a budget system. I find it has superior transparency and tonality to HT receivers I've heard which are much more expensive. It's also far more transparent to an Onkyo A-9555 amplifier prior to mods.

The biggest downside sonically is that the amp has no slam. There are limited large scale dynamics. This is helped a little with a really good isolation, and a really good power cord (costing much more than the amp).

Let me ask, what specifications point out the lack of slam? Mind you, small small dynamics are no worse than other comparable amps.

Welcome to ASR. Have you had a look around to get a sense of the audience? Here’s a summary I made.

Post in thread 'Message to golden-eared audiophiles posting at ASR for the first time...'
https://audiosciencereview.com/foru...-at-asr-for-the-first-time.17598/post-2155722


Slam is a subjective term that isn’t very useful, but I’m quite sure the aspects of equipment you like correspond to frequency and amplitude through time, like everything audible. But the first thing to do is to make sure the difference you heard was actually an audible property of the equipment rather than something created past the eardrum.