SMSL AO10 Bluetooth 5.3 Amplifier - Measurement and Review

[FanatNsk]

Price ~$100

Specification:​

• Line in 2xRCA and Bluetooth
• SINAD -74dB THD 0,016% THD+N 0,019% at 5W on load 8 ohm
• Power 2x33W into 8 ohm load with THD+N <1%
• Efficiency 79% at maximum volume without sine wave distortion.
• Two class D amplifier chips TPA3116 are used.
• The new Bluetooth 5.3 technology has both low power consumption andhigh sound quality. (real tested)
• Digital volume control, remote control.
• 5 equalizer mode
• With tone adjustment, treble and bass can be adjusted separately.
• Silent - Pop sound control circuit.
• With trigger on/off function.
• Integrated impulse power supply, protection against switching on during voltage surges.

Appearance​

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Measurements in RightMark Audio Analyzer Pro 4.5​

1. Measurements via RCA input at 1W power with 4 Ohm load​

There is a channel imbalance 0.2 dB, and a decline SPL in the high-frequency region.

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2. Measurements via RCA input at 1W power with 8 Ohm load​

There is no channel imbalance, why is there an imbalance at 4 ohms? It’s a mystery...

3. Measurements via Bluetooth 5.3 SBC input at 1W power with 4 Ohm load​

The frequency response drop at low frequencies is greater than when testing through the RCA-input, while in the high-frequency region there is a slight unevenness of the frequency response. In tests of other devices with Bluetooth, I observed a strong roll-off of the frequency response after 15 kHz, but this is not the case here. Also, the channel imbalance that I saw when measuring with a 4 ohm load via RCA-input magically disappeared.

4. Measurements via Bluetooth 5.3 SBC input at 1W power with 8 Ohm load​

The channel imbalance of 0.2 dB has appeared again; it seems to be some kind of spontaneous problem with the volume control. Nevertheless, these are the best frequency response measurements for Bluetooth devices that I have seen so far.

Measurements in REW (RoomEQWizzard)​

SINAD -74dB at 5W on load 8 ohm​

THD at different power levels on load 8 ohm​

Max 2x35W at THD 1%

Multi-tone signal with on load 8 ohm a power of 500 mVrms​

Visible noise -70dB at low frequencies and increased distortion in the high-frequency range.

THD at different frequencies at 1W on load 8 ohm​

The distortion graph matches the measurements on a multi-tone signal, with increased distortion in the low- and high-frequency ranges and low distortion in the 1 kHz region.

Intermodulation distortion at 1W on load 8 ohm​

IMD CCIF 0.15% For mid-range desktop speakers, this quality should be sufficient.

Video review​

Conclusions​

At a relatively low price ($100), it offers decent power and characteristics suitable for mid-range and budget desktop speakers. The new Bluetooth 5.3 version takes frequency response quality to a new level—a feature that will be useful for streaming audio users who prefer to transmit audio over the air.

P.S. To receive a 5% discount, enter promo code fanatnsk when placing an order through aoshida-audio.com

 

[Hellboy.]

Surprise to see SMSL knows about 12v trigger.