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SMSL A50 Pro 3-channel amp

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ppataki

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Not sure if this amp has been discussed here before, if yes please delete this thread

I have just come across with this new amp from SMSL, the SMSL A50 Pro
It is a 3-channel amp with a full adjustable crossover (both LPF and HPF) using the MA12070P chipset. Also DAC and BT integrated, there is even an ARC HDMI connection available.
2x70W at 4 ohm + 1x100W at 2 ohm

All this for 90 dollars....

Would be great to see some measurements about it :)

hifi-express.com

SMSL A50 PRO 2.1 Channel MA12070P*2 BT5.0 HDMI ARC Power Amplifier

SMSL A50 PRO 2.1 Channel Power Amplifier Experience superior audio performance with the SMSL A50 PRO 2.1 Channel Power Amplifier, featuring advanced connectivity options and versatile controls. High/Low Pass Filter The amplifier includes adjustable high-pass and low-pass crossover points...
hifi-express.com hifi-express.com
 
Interesting implementation. Not sure about that amp chip, definitely would benefit from a proper scrutiny.
 
well fair play to smsl... they have a product page up plus manual

firstly i think the need for a 2.1 powered 3 channel amp is kind of... anachronistic... 10yrs ago given passive amps arent really too popular?

2ndly manual says 70w x 2 at 4 ohm so you can guess perhaps 35-40w? But only subwoofer 100w at 2 ohms which tells a lot about how much actual power is getting to the sub

3rdly it is a AV focussed unit with usb hdmi e-arc and optical and 3.5mm in

4thly the manual does not explain how the sub cutoff works

but you look at the website and it seems like is pretty decent:

"The amplifier includes adjustable high-pass and low-pass crossover points, ranging from approximately 50Hz to 600Hz, with 10 selectable crossover points each. This allows precise control over the frequency distribution, and the volume of the passive subwoofer can be adjusted independently."

so hi-level goes from 0-10... i assume 0 is off and i would assume there's 10 points you can cut between 50-600 so roughly every 50-60hz?

so its 50-100-150-200- etc etc.

and same with the low cut for the sub?

does that sound right?

to compare to my crappy arylic bp50 this one has a cut from 50-300 in 1hz increments (!!!) which is ridiculous but i think 10 cut-off points if its regular from 50 to 600 is also not optimal but its better than nothing.

also the BP50 does a single cut... ie. if you cut it at 80hz it sends < 80hz to the sub and the > 80hz to the mains

this has independent L/R and sub cut i beleive

its strange they are still this complex and not 100% well thought out but for under $100... well... close enough
 
SMSL A50 Pro is a fully digital amplifier using two Infineon MA12070P chips. This amplifier chip directly inputs and processes digital signals.
One of the two MA12070P chips functions as a stereo 2ch BTL amplifier. The other is a SUB output amplifier with PBTL connection.

The input PCM digital signal is input to the MA12070P, and through digital calculation, it becomes a PWM signal similar to a class D amplifier and drives the speaker. There are no elements that handle analog signals. So no DAC is required. However, so that analog input signals can also be handled, analog signals are converted to digital signals by an ADC converter and then input.
MA12070P is a digital input version amplifier IC of MA12070 used in SMSL AO200 and A12. It has a program function and various functions can be incorporated into the amplifier chip using software.
 
I find it odd that a "new" product that is released in 2024 -especially one from SMSL - is compatible with ARC (HDMI1.4; circa 2009) but not with eARC HDMI2.1; circa 2017).
Plan for "planned obsolescence" with your next TV purchase...:facepalm:
 
pseudoid said:
I find it odd that a "new" product that is released in 2024 -especially one from SMSL - is compatible with ARC (HDMI1.4; circa 2009) but not with eARC HDMI2.1; circa 2017).
Plan for "planned obsolescence" with your next TV purchase...:facepalm:
Click to expand...
EARC was developed as a new format for promoting Dolby Atmos and DTS:X, which are multi-channel audio technologies. The bandwidth required for stereo sound can be fulfilled by ARC alone. However, this amplifier cannot power on/off with the TV, only volume can be linked. The HDMI CEC functionality is incomplete, and it can be optimized.
 
What's really the point of the powered subwoofer out?
I don't know of any affordable passive non-DIY sub that's also fine with just 100W of power.
Two RCA sub outs with independent delay settings would be better
 
I never see passive subwoofers. It would much more universal to have a coaxial sub out and deliver more power to the speakers.
 
It seems they recently updated the specs on the crossover, before (and still on few web pages) it was an odd range of 50-120hz for lp & 200-600hz for hp while now it’s a more classic 70/90-250hz.
I might use it as plate amp, to power two 3 way with only a 4 digital ch dsp.
 
I think this is a god option/ solution for anyone with a passive subwoofer. I wish the high pass and low pass crossover points coincided. Also i'd rather have a coaxial in rather than hdmi arc, specially an outdated version of it. Still, it's something different and that has no much competition regarding features like passive subwoofer out with hpf. Also quite cheap!
 
Bonjour à tous ^^

Cet ampli est une blague, l'ARC CEC est inutilisable, à titre d'exemple (il y a d'autres soucis) si vous voulez mettre en sourdine depuis la télécommande de l'ampli c'est bon mais si vous le faites depuis la télécommande de la TV seules les enceintes sont coupées, le caisson de basse reste actif au même niveau !

Comme souvent SMSL sort un produit sans même l'avoir testé correctement... Je parle d'expérience car j'achète leurs produits depuis plus de 8 ans maintenant.

Ils vont sans doute rectifier ce qui ne va pas au fil du temps mais comme à chaque fois les premiers acheteurs n'auront que leurs yeux pour pleurer...

= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
Hi everyone ^^

This amp is a joke, the ARC CEC is unusable, as an example (there are other problems) if you want to mute from the remote control of the amp it's good but if you do it from the remote control of the TV only the speakers are muted, the subwoofer remains active at the same level!

As is often the case with SMSL, they release a product without even having tested it properly... I'm speaking from experience because I've been buying their products for over 8 years now.

They will undoubtedly rectify what's wrong over time but, as always, the first buyers will only have their eyes to cry about it...
 
Last edited:
stbitw said:
Bonjour à tous ^^

Cet ampli est une blague, l'ARC CEC est inutilisable, à titre d'exemple (il y a d'autres soucis) si vous voulez mettre en sourdine depuis la télécommande de l'ampli c'est bon mais si vous le faites depuis la télécommande de la TV seules les enceintes sont coupées, le caisson de basse reste actif au même niveau !

Comme souvent SMSL sort un produit sans même l'avoir testé correctement... Je parle d'expérience car j'achète leurs produits depuis plus de 8 ans maintenant.

Ils vont sans doute rectifier ce qui ne va pas au fil du temps mais comme à chaque fois les premiers acheteurs n'auront que leurs yeux pour pleurer...

= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
Hi everyone ^^

This amp is a joke, the ARC CEC is unusable, as an example (there are other problems) if you want to mute from the remote control of the amp it's good but if you do it from the remote control of the TV only the speakers are muted, the subwoofer remains active at the same level!

As is often the case with SMSL, they release a product without even having tested it properly... I'm speaking from experience because I've been buying their products for over 8 years now.

They will undoubtedly rectify what's wrong over time but, as always, the first buyers will only have their eyes to cry about it...
Click to expand...
It's not just SMSL. I have some friends that work in the electronics/ tech sector and they tell me there's a trend in which companies release products in beta stage. There's a rush to release new products in an effort to avoid sales numbers droping or being killed by the competition. It's survival of the fastest right now.
 
zeluxao said:
It's not just SMSL. I have some friends that work in the electronics/ tech sector and they tell me there's a trend in which companies release products in beta stage. There's a rush to release new products in an effort to avoid sales numbers droping or being killed by the competition. It's survival of the fastest right now.
Click to expand...
Effectivement cela ne se limite pas à SMSL mais ce fil concerne un produit spécifique de cette marque.

Sinon plus généralement, le problème vient du fait que si les gens acceptent de passer pour des imbéciles en payant le prix fort pour avoir des produits à la limite de l'utilisable (je n'ai cité qu'un des nombreux problèmes que j'ai relevé sur cet ampli, si j'ai le temps je posterai la liste complète), alors nos amis chinois les prendront pour des imbéciles en leur vendant des produits dysfonctionnels, tout simplement...

= = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
It's not just SMSL, but this thread is about a specific SMSL product.

Otherwise, more generally, the problem is that if people are prepared to be taken for fools by paying full price for products that are borderline usable (I've only mentioned one of the many problems I've found with this amp, if I have time I'll post the full list), then our Chinese friends will take them for fools by selling them dysfunctional products, quite simply...
 
Bizarre!

I can certainly see a massive hole in the market for a digital preamp with sub out and bass management, as indeed can WiiM.

But why a 3 channel power amp?
 
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