SMSL PA-X. New GaN amp 2x250W

[Guddu]

This amp is rather intended for an audience looking for power... certainly at the expense of low distortion (all things considered)

It could be introduction of something that may turn out to be really competent like tpa3255 with its evolution cycle.
As it is right now, that higher frequency response variation isn’t desirable but could end up working fine for most speakers taming down fatigue a bit.
Power output numbers displayed are amazing for it.
If it has got decent noise/distortion measurements then Amir might have a sample already or soon enough.

 

[djsolidsnake86]

this pa-x has better sound than pa200 or not?

 

[MCH]

It could be introduction of something that may turn out to be really competent like tpa3255 with its evolution cycle.

My bet is that it has one of those decades old infineon/international rectifier irsxxxx like it's brother the pa100. Maybe the irs2092. If it hasn't evolved since the early 2010s.... (no idea, just guessing)

 

[Guddu]

My bet is that it has one of those decades old infineon/international rectifier irsxxxx like it's brother the pa100. Maybe the irs2092. If it hasn't evolved since the early 2010s.... (no idea, just guessing)

They mentioned it’s Infineon’s latest…..

 

[Mike_Trueman]

SMSL power amp with 2x200W @8ohm is very nice. SMSL PA vs a Hypex amplifer would be a nice battle to see.

 

[MCH]

They mentioned it’s Infineon’s latest…..

View attachment 443876

Latest....
My guess is 99% unfounded but not 100% unfounded. If you look at the promo picture on Apos website it shows a SOIC 16 controller at the left of the picture, behind the mosfets:

you can check the class D offering at infineon website, the 3 remaining soic 16 controllers are IRS chips from the 2000s - early 2010s:

Class D Audio Amplifier IC - Infineon Technologies

Discover our Class D Audio Amplifier IC Solutions - Revolutionary Multilevel Class D Amplifier ICs for Cooler, Smaller, and Lighter Audio Amplifiers

www.infineon.com

absolutely nothing bad about it, if they run cooler or they have a higher efficiency, i am all in, but cutting edge technology they are not....

 

[djsolidsnake86]

do you recommend pa200/pa-x?

 

[totti1965]

0.003% is just 90 dB SINAD
Bruno Putzeys is recommending GAN Technology only from 1.000 Watts on:

Life on the Edge - A Personal Perspective on the Past, Present, and Future of Class D Audio Amplifiers - HomeTheaterHifi.com

The past quarter century of class D developments look strikingly different when seen through the eyes of the audio consumer and through...

hometheaterhifi.com

 

[LumiAudioNut]

I addition to my recent SMSL PA200 GAN amplifiers, I've purchased a pair of PA-X GAN amplifiers and have tried them out in monoblock mode. Spoiler alert, I'm sure I could [wouldn't ] tell them apart in a blind test.

Two poor decisions on my part:
1). Even though the PA-X's are only rated into 8 ohms when used in mono-block mode, I've been running them into my 4 ohm nominal Magnepan 2.7i speakers (those ridiculously poor WAF factor black door like things on the sides) for about a week now without any issues. Due to living in a condo, I haven't listened to them at very load levels, so I've probably never exceeded a few 10's of watts. Also, please keep in mind that Magnepans present a mostly resistive load to the amplifier (meaning that thier impedance barely changes with frequency). Interestingly, I was able select a 4 ohm load in the PA-X menus, but front still indicates 8 ohms. I have no idea if amp is actually set to 4 or 8 ohms.

2). A PASS LABs HPA-1 single ended only preamp/headphone amp is feeding the PA-X's using a pair of XLR into RCA audio cables. Incidentally this preamp has been measured by Amir and did rather poorly, but I prefer the coloration it provides compared to my Schiit Kara preamp (measures superbly, at least in passive mode. Also measured by Amir).

Anyway, despite all the facts mentioned mentioned above, it sounds swell to me and, in fact, I prefer this setup to anything else I've tried over the years. This includes the March Audio Purifi amplifier (measures superbly as per Amir's earlier review) that you can see in the bottom right of the first picture.

Mod edit as requested.

 

[djsolidsnake86]

I addition to my recent SMSL PA200 GAN amplifiers, I've purchased a pair of PA-X GAN amplifiers and have tried them out in monoblock mode. Spoiler alert, I'm sure I could tell them apart in a blind test.

Two poor decisions on my part:
1). Even though the PA-X's are only rated into 8 ohms when used in mono-block mode, I've been running them into my 4 ohm nominal Magnepan 2.7i speakers (those ridiculously poor WAF factor black door like things on the sides) for about a week now without any issues. Due to living in a condo, I haven't listened to them at very load levels, so I've probably never exceeded a few 10's of watts. Also, please keep in mind that Magnepans present a mostly resistive load to the amplifier (meaning that thier impedance barely changes with frequency). Interestingly, I was able select a 4 ohm load in the PA-X menus, but front still indicates 8 ohms. I have no idea if amp is actually set to 4 or 8 ohms.

2). A PASS LABs HPA-1 single ended only preamp/headphone amp is feeding the PA-X's using a pair of XLR into RCA audio cables. Incidentally this preamp has been measured by Amir and did rather poorly, but I prefer the coloration it provides compared to my Schiit Kara preamp (measures superbly, at least in passive mode. Also measured by Amir).

Anyway, despite all the facts mentioned mentioned above, it sounds swell to me and, in fact, I prefer this setup to anything else I've tried over the years. This includes the March Audio Purifi amplifier (measures superbly as per Amir's earlier review) that you can see in the bottom right of the first picture.


View attachment 444901
View attachment 444902
f

The pax sound better than pa200 or is the same with more power?

 

[goryu]

"With a switching frequency of up to 1MHz"....so what is the actual switching frequency???

 

[LumiAudioNut]

The pax sound better than pa200 or is the same with more power?

I made an oopsie in my original post. I had meant to say that I'm pretty sure that I wouldn't be able to tell the difference between the PA-X's and the PA200's in a blind test but, on the other hand, it certainly isn't any worse and might even be slightly better.

I wonder if a moderator could help me edit the original post by adding the word 'not"?

 

[djsolidsnake86]

I made an oopsie in my original post. I had meant to say that I'm pretty sure that I wouldn't be able to tell the difference between the PA-X's and the PA200's in a blind test but, on the other hand, it certainly isn't any worse and might even be slightly better.

I wonder if a moderator could help me edit the original post by adding the word 'not"?

ok, are you experiencing the pop sound when turning it on?
and have you listened other amplifiers like hypex or icepower for a comparison?

 

[LumiAudioNut]

ok, are you experiencing the pop sound when turning it on?
and have you listened other amplifiers like hypex or icepower for a comparison?

There is no audible popping sound for either the PA-X's or PA200's during power up. The same is also true for the AO200Mk2 and VMVA1 amps. SMSL seems pretty good in this regard.

 

[Billy Budapest]

That DAC could use a new naming consultant. They named it the SMSL SUX?

Like the 6000 SUX?

 

[Ma151]

Guys, I would like to replace my "aging" Denon PMA-800NE with a amp that meassure better AND has balanced inputs.

I'm looking at the PA-X, VMV A1 Pro (two) or Purifi or Hypex amps...

Do you guys think the PA-X would be on the same level of Purifi and Hypex more "entry" modules ?

Any more recomendations ?

It will be driving a Monitor Audio Silver 50 and the dac will be the DAC on the wiim ultra (when I'm watching TV) and the DAC on my Ibasso DX340 LO for music (hence why I want a amp with balanced inputs).

 

[SoySalsaPicante]

Guys, I would like to replace my "aging" Denon PMA-800NE with a amp that meassure better AND has balanced inputs.

I'm looking at the PA-X, VMV A1 Pro (two) or Purifi or Hypex amps...

Do you guys think the PA-X would be on the same level of Purifi and Hypex more "entry" modules ?

Any more recomendations ?

It will be driving a Monitor Audio Silver 50 and the dac will be the DAC on the wiim ultra (when I'm watching TV) and the DAC on my Ibasso DX340 LO for music (hence why I want a amp with balanced inputs).

Far better choice for less money than PA-X would be an IOM Ultra (Hypex NC252MP) considering you have a WiiM Ultra since they would look so nice together as a stack, and you can order the IOM with both, RCA and XLR inputs. Definitely more than sufficient power for driving those specific speakers.

 

[Ma151]

 

[Billy Budapest]

That does have a beautiful display.

 

[Panelhead]

I had a preamp/dac, like 2009 era, that had used a PGA4311 controller. Same controller, just four channels in a stereo balanced topology. That volume controller is ancient too.