SMSL A50 Pro Amplifier Review

[A Surfer]

No. A sound bar is not useless. It isn't meant to replace a dedicated audio system, but that doesn't mean they are useless, or that they can't provide listening pleasure. Each to their own.

 

[Lujiez]

I use a SMSL A50 Pro in by bedroom as a soundbar (two DIY speaker 7"+1") for my TV and as a radio player (Radio Paradise ).
No problems, can't hear noise. Most amplifier with HDMI-ARC are much more expensive.

I too have one of these. The only reason I bought it was because I wanted the cheapest way to have my speakers powered by a few watts as I have them on my desk for my speakers and 3 subs. I first used the 3.5mm input and it was the loudest noisiest amplifier ivevever heard! However in usb mode when I’m playing music at 75db I can’t even hear the noise unless my ears pressed up against the tweeter it’s dead silent! Im actually using it with kef ls50 metas and have the hpf set at 100hz. So
1 I need even less power
2 it’s dead silent in USB mode
3 it’s tiny
4 it’s cheap
5 I now have an hpf
6 hopefully I can use it for a 2.1 system in the future
I really hope my hearing ain’t tgat bad because it sounds perfect to me!
Ironically I have 2 x mcintosh mc75 monoblocks I can use instead, but this is more than good enough for my specific needs

 

[Lujiez]

Keep in mind SMSL

But this is a SMSL amp not a SMSL DAC nor a Topping amp. If this was a Topping amp, or a SMSL DAC and measured like this then it would be an exception.

SMSL are not known for their amps.

I use it as a dac amp for my makeshift studio lol when I first tried the 3.5mm in it was shocking, however through USB mode which is the only other way I’ve tested it, I’m listening at 75db. There’s no audible noise unless I really try hard to listen with my ear pressed up against speaker when play at reference but recording a blank space. I was actually quite surprised as it was more quiet than my Yamaha by a mile and I haven’t even used my adum 4166 usb isolator yet

 

[Lujiez]

Yes, that’s why I said I wasn’t sure who uses “low-power, passive subs.” So implicit in my using it is that I had a use case for it.

Which, I dunno, a passive 2.1 nearfield setup for gaming?

Spot on! Is it bad I’m using this as a reference setup for my audio editing lol I got 2 kef ls50 metas crossed over at 100hz (so I need even less power to get 75db @ 1.2m away) and have 2 perlisten r8s subs. It was at first going to be used via 3.5mm from my interface to go just to my kefs with the hpf set and the subs throigh other outputs m.but to my ears throigh usb it’s perfect! I’m 45 maybe I need my ears checked lol. Ironically I have a pair of macintish mc75 monoblocks I can use too, but I want the tiniest amp possible and throigh usb it’s much better than my Yamaha as-500 or something which had a really audible noise floor, plus it’s full rack size compared to something the size of a wallet.
I think 50wv trs would be sufficient for a 10 inch sub lying around in a box from your first car in your 20s kinda situation.
But yeah it was a great unit in theory but the analogue in is bad and how many people own a passive sub!?! In saying that can I use it with my powered sub which has a broken amp and run high level input? That would be good lol

 

[LtMandella]

We consider this (see below) very poor distortion performance for an amplifier, but fantastic performance for a loudspeaker! This starts to puzzle me more and more: why all this focus on electronics while our loudspeakers show so much more distortion...

View attachment 504440

because distortion in playback chain is "additive"?

 

[A Surfer]

True about the additive nature of distortion, but if I added 10 inaudible distortion products together, do they actually sum into a single instance of distortion? Genuine question.

 

[Firulais71]

You really have to wonder who this is for. How many people are running passive subs? The number must be minuscule.

I am actually one of those people, maybe -- been meaning to build a Voxel DIY mini sub for ages. So something like this would be ideal if the performance was better. But still... how many of us are there? Dozens?

Hi, I'm actually currently looking to build a 2.1 system for my home office with two Elac bookshelf speakers and a passive subwoofer I salvaged from an old Samsung home theater system. I've been searching for a 2.1 amplifier with a Toslink input and integrated DAC for quite some time.

In another thread, someone recommended the SMSL DA100 (a 2.1 amp that supports a passive subwoofer). According to its specs, it has what I need, but I'm worried it might perform just as poorly as the A50 Pro.

Unfortunately, the DA100 hasn't been reviewed here yet.

Regards.

 

[Roland68]

Hi, I'm actually currently looking to build a 2.1 system for my home office with two Elac bookshelf speakers and a passive subwoofer I salvaged from an old Samsung home theater system. I've been searching for a 2.1 amplifier with a Toslink input and integrated DAC for quite some time.

In another thread, someone recommended the SMSL DA100 (a 2.1 amp that supports a passive subwoofer). According to its specs, it has what I need, but I'm worried it might perform just as poorly as the A50 Pro.

Unfortunately, the DA100 hasn't been reviewed here yet.

Regards.

The poor performance of the A50 Pro is due to the poor integration of the amplifier ICs and the cheap all-in-one soundbar chip, which SMSL presumably ground down for good reason.

The amplifier ICs in the DA100 seem to be better integrated, but it likely uses the same all-in-one soundbar chip.
Nevertheless, the device could be significantly better and, at around €100, worth a try.

I currently wouldn't know what to recommend for a 2.1 system with a subwoofer amplifier and high/low-pass filters. Most options cost three to five times as much and are often not ideal.
A cheaper alternative would be a used AV receiver plus a mono amp, but that takes up a lot of space.

 

[Firulais71]

The poor performance of the A50 Pro is due to the poor integration of the amplifier ICs and the cheap all-in-one soundbar chip, which SMSL presumably ground down for good reason.

The amplifier ICs in the DA100 seem to be better integrated, but it likely uses the same all-in-one soundbar chip.
Nevertheless, the device could be significantly better and, at around €100, worth a try.

I currently wouldn't know what to recommend for a 2.1 system with a subwoofer amplifier and high/low-pass filters. Most options cost three to five times as much and are often not ideal.
A cheaper alternative would be a used AV receiver plus a mono amp, but that takes up a lot of space.

Hi Roland, yes, the DA100 does seem better than the A50, but until I'm certain of its performance, I think I'll postpone this project.

Hopefully, we'll be lucky and Amir will get a DA100 for testing, because it's a device that's practically unreviewed elsewhere, and I only found one video on YouTube that mentions it, and even then, it's very superficial.

Best regards.

 

[truth_soldier]

Hi Roland, yes, the DA100 does seem better than the A50, but until I'm certain of its performance, I think I'll postpone this project.

Hopefully, we'll be lucky and Amir will get a DA100 for testing, because it's a device that's practically unreviewed elsewhere, and I only found one video on YouTube that mentions it, and even then, it's very superficial.

Best regards.

yes, I'm confident the DA100 is better than the A50 Pro. The A50 uses the old MA12070 class-d amp chips made by Infineon (which are no longer made) and it had no output filter (inductors and capacitors) between the amp chips and the speaker terminals. The DA100's amp chips are the new class-d TAS5827 released in 2023 by Texas Instruments the same company that makes the popular and more powerful TPA3255 class-d amp chips. While the chassis and the rest of the circuit looks nearly identical between the A50 and DA100 I would not compare the two given the completely different amp chips and implementation (output filters).

 

[Firulais71]

yes, I'm confident the DA100 is better than the A50 Pro. The A50 uses the old MA12070 class-d amp chips made by Infineon (which are no longer made) and it had no output filter (inductors and capacitors) between the amp chips and the speaker terminals. The DA100's amp chips are the new class-d TAS5827 released in 2023 by Texas Instruments the same company that makes the popular and more powerful TPA3255 class-d amp chips. While the chassis and the rest of the circuit looks nearly identical between the A50 and DA100 I would not compare the two given the completely different amp chips and implementation (output filters).View attachment 514192

Hey man, thanks a lot for this update, it really helps clear up my doubts about the AO100 that was recommended to me. Everything points to it performing better than the A50. I hope someone reviews it soon so I can be sure I want to buy it.

Cheers.

 

[Roland68]

yes, I'm confident the DA100 is better than the A50 Pro. The A50 uses the old MA12070 class-d amp chips made by Infineon (which are no longer made) and it had no output filter (inductors and capacitors) between the amp chips and the speaker terminals. The DA100's amp chips are the new class-d TAS5827 released in 2023 by Texas Instruments the same company that makes the popular and more powerful TPA3255 class-d amp chips. While the chassis and the rest of the circuit looks nearly identical between the A50 and DA100 I would not compare the two given the completely different amp chips and implementation (output filters).View attachment 514192

It's already been mentioned that the amplifier ICs in the DA100 are probably better integrated.
But unfortunately, that doesn't change the fact that most soundbar DSP ICs are abysmal, with abysmal performance (AD/DSP/DA).

It would be great to see measurements of the DA100, because hope springs eternal.

 

[truth_soldier]

It's already been mentioned that the amplifier ICs in the DA100 are probably better integrated.
But unfortunately, that doesn't change the fact that most soundbar DSP ICs are abysmal, with abysmal performance (AD/DSP/DA).

It would be great to see measurements of the DA100, because hope springs eternal.

sure, measurements might help support or refute the only review/opinion that I have seen so far who says the DA100 sounds very good (for the price I assume).

 

[Roland68]

sure, measurements might help support or refute the only review/opinion that I have seen so far who says the DA100 sounds very good (for the price I assume).

We all know that reviews without measurements are worthless.
Every device is supposedly fantastic and so much better than the next one, or the one before it, and this has been going on for decades.
Yet there are 35-40 year old amplifiers that have better or equally good measurements than current amplifiers, and sound just as good.
Isn't that strange?

You'll find a glowing review on ASR for almost every poorly measured and audibly inferior device, praising it to the skies.

 

[truth_soldier]

We all know that reviews without measurements are worthless.
Every device is supposedly fantastic and so much better than the next one, or the one before it, and this has been going on for decades.
Yet there are 35-40 year old amplifiers that have better or equally good measurements than current amplifiers, and sound just as good.
Isn't that strange?

You'll find a glowing review on ASR for almost every poorly measured and audibly inferior device, praising it to the skies.

they aren't worthless to me even if I don't take a single opinion as meaning very much, but I'm fully aware of the "we all" you're talking about though.
I don't see the relevance of 40 year old amps. People who want those are probably not looking to buy an integrated amp with HDMI+USB input that's the size of the palm of your hand and sips power.

 

[Secco]

I moved in to my house 5 years and I have 2 Bose speakers in my ceiling in the living room that have never been used. The wiring and everything is there.

I was looking at the SMSL A50 as it looked pretty easy to connect with HDMI.
You can tell by the fact that I haven't done anything for 5 years, that top of the range is not my priority. I just want something that I can play my TV audio through the Bose speakers.

Any recommendations.

Thanks in advance
Michael

 

[mcbain80]

Hi
I was thinking of this to my mother-in-law as a easy setup for her TV with B&W LM1. Now she has Nuforce amp with analog input from headphone connection with noticeable noice and hum. As the old amp is always on, it’s perfect for nonsense setup but will the SMSL go to standby automatically as it’s been the regulation for decades?

My question is that does it operate like sounbar/AV-amp and turn on/off via HDMI-CEC and control the volume without the amp’s remote, so the headless guy can be tossed inside a closed cabinet?

How does the BT work, would it switch input, if connected and playback started? Again the goal is to use it without the remote. Maybe switch back to TV by tuning the TV on/off.

H/K Citation amp was my initial goal, but the heat up issues made me pass it.

Results are not good but I would like to see a fixed mk2 version.
I think this is a perfect companion for a set of old speakers just laying in the living room as the owner doesn’t want to operate the older bulkier amp. Plus you can get those crap passive subwoofers next to nothing to add some boost.

 

[Matamp]

Came here to say I'm shocked at how badly this little amp performed. I got one last year around black Friday and have been really impressed with it like literally shocked how good the sound was from such a cheap tiny box. I have only ever used it on the USB input not sure if that's skewing the perception from my end? It's connected to a windows pc so I'm running everything through EQ apo/peace which did take a bit of dialling in. It's also a desktop setup so nearfield, short speaker cable, and ridiculously cable that I think cost more than the amp new lol but was given it so free chunky copper is fine.

Could just be my ears are terrible because the speakers, monitor audio apex 10s (which I also love) reviewed really badly in TBF testing here, I'd checked that before I bought them but figured they were still my best bet for a super tight space and back to the wall placement and also were reviewed at retail cost and I paid a lot less, I'm under £250 total for the whole system.

Still after seeing this review I'm considering if there's a better amp with usb that could show me some incredible gains relatively cheaply, have I somehow lucked out with the speaker and amp flaws cancelling each other out, or am I just partially deaf?

 

[Lujiez]

Came here to say I'm shocked at how badly this little amp performed. I got one last year around black Friday and have been really impressed with it like literally shocked how good the sound was from such a cheap tiny box. I have only ever used it on the USB input not sure if that's skewing the perception from my end? It's connected to a windows pc so I'm running everything through EQ apo/peace which did take a bit of dialling in. It's also a desktop setup so nearfield, short speaker cable, and ridiculously cable that I think cost more than the amp new lol but was given it so free chunky copper is fine.

Could just be my ears are terrible because the speakers, monitor audio apex 10s (which I also love) reviewed really badly in TBF testing here, I'd checked that before I bought them but figured they were still my best bet for a super tight space and back to the wall placement and also were reviewed at retail cost and I paid a lot less, I'm under £250 total for the whole system.

Still after seeing this review I'm considering if there's a better amp with usb that could show me some incredible gains relatively cheaply, have I somehow lucked out with the speaker and amp flaws cancelling each other out, or am I just partially deaf?

I literally had to check if this was something I wrote!
Yep so what the issue is, is the actual Infineon chip. However in USB mode I too think it’s SUPER CLEAN. Just for fun you should try sending it a signal via RCA lol
But yeah, I used it as my reference setup in USB mode because it’s tiny, cheap and flawless. I’ve just put it in the bedroom and will soon connect it by ARC. I had it running with eq APO, on kef ls50 metas and used multi sub out/voice meter potato etc in a room with treatment and I honestly can’t complain! My old man gave me his mcintosh mc75 monoblocks and there is no audible difference even when I crank it to 80db. It’s amazing how far electronics has come. People really need to judge it also witg the digital input because it really does go from a 1/10 to a 6/10 IF it’s appropriate to have a digital source feeding it. In saying that, I want to look into “3E” brand amps from china. Apparently they make em for all the rest of chifi (well most) and they don’t advertise much and have great specs and features

 

[Matamp]

I literally had to check if this was something I wrote!
Yep so what the issue is, is the actual Infineon chip. However in USB mode I too think it’s SUPER CLEAN. Just for fun you should try sending it a signal via RCA lol
But yeah, I used it as my reference setup in USB mode because it’s tiny, cheap and flawless. I’ve just put it in the bedroom and will soon connect it by ARC. I had it running with eq APO, on kef ls50 metas and used multi sub out/voice meter potato etc in a room with treatment and I honestly can’t complain! My old man gave me his mcintosh mc75 monoblocks and there is no audible difference even when I crank it to 80db. It’s amazing how far electronics has come. People really need to judge it also witg the digital input because it really does go from a 1/10 to a 6/10 IF it’s appropriate to have a digital source feeding it. In saying that, I want to look into “3E” brand amps from china. Apparently they make em for all the rest of chifi (well most) and they don’t advertise much and have great specs and features

You still using the internal EQ on yours? I was at first but found it better setting fully to zero and using equaliser apo on the pc. Gonna test RCA tomorrow if I can find a cable just to explain the hate to myself