SMSL PA-X Stereo Amplifier Review

[Serg]

Putting aside the unit failure, these features and measurements seem very meh for $700.

• No trigger
• RCA better than balanced
• Fine but not great sinad
• Frequency droop
• Power specs slightly under
• Crosstalk

Given the state of the industry, this is a hard pass.

I could not agree with you more on all your listed aspects... I would only add one: support and repair for the product is almost nonexistent.

 

[375HP2482]

I will open it later and see what I can figure out.

Problems related to full-power testing below the AC-line supply frequency are often related to power supply stress.

Your testing might make SMSL rethink this, from the spec sheet:

 

[MCH]

I will open it later and see what I can figure out.

There aren't any internal pictures of these smsl gan amps online, if you open it, i would be curious to see it. Thanks

 

[M.C. Logan]

I initiate almost everything from Roon and the trigger out from my streamer turns on the amp and everything just goes. I consider triggers a critical feature for frictionless, modern operation.

My pre and power amps, streamer, CD player are designed for 24/7 operation, why would i worry about switching them on and off? Input power surges are more likely to degrade components than leaving them on and idle.

 

[M.C. Logan]

This is so strange. “Unless someone I personally know does something, it must be fringe”.

Or, maybe, you just know people of a similar demographic or with similar preferences to yourself, and there’s a whole big wide world out there that doesn’t things differently.

OK, so what is this vast base of people who find triggers so vital? It's a feature which has only ever been present on gear designed for custom install for the most part of the last 40 years.

 

[obsessive9119]

My pre and power amps, streamer, CD player are designed for 24/7 operation, why would i worry about switching them on and off? Input power surges are more likely to degrade components than leaving them on and idle.

Well sure, you don’t need triggers if you never turn anything off. But who’s the edge case, now? Standby exists for a reason.

OK, so what is this vast base of people who find triggers so vital? It's a feature which has only ever been present on gear designed for custom install for the most part of the last 40 years.

The vast user base are all the people you see complaining about triggers not being included on SMSL gear….

 

[delta76]

Consumer audio is a fashion business.

worse, fast fashion business.

 

[pma]

worse, fast fashion business.

Yeah. You got it well.

 

[M.C. Logan]

Well sure, you don’t need triggers if you never turn anything off. But who’s the edge case, now? Standby exists for a reason.

The vast user base are all the people you see complaining about triggers not being included on SMSL gear….

Which is a few dozen persistent people on ASR, corner, not even edge, case. I mean, how lazy is someone who can't be arsed to press two or three switches on their gear or a couple of buttons on the remote?

 

[ExUnoPlura]

My pre and power amps, streamer, CD player are designed for 24/7 operation, why would i worry about switching them on and off? Input power surges are more likely to degrade components than leaving them on and idle.

Since you seem obsessed, my Benchmark does 20W idle but 1/2W in standby. I'll take the savings!

 

[M.C. Logan]

Since you seem obsessed, my Benchmark does 20W idle but 1/2W in standby. I'll take the savings!

Solar and batteries, don't care. Not that the few watts my gear uses *in idle* matters much. You do know things can have standby mode *without* needing a trigger? Input detection, like most subwoofers do.

 

[ExUnoPlura]

Solar and batteries, don't care. Not that the few watts my gear uses *in idle* matters much. You do know things can have standby mode *without* needing a trigger? Input detection, like most subwoofers do.

Your justifications are wandering around the map. People are both too lazy to push buttons on a remote and should maybe choose components that can standby with input detection rather than with triggers? I think we are in the tall grass here: some people like triggers and the value proposition that they provide and you clearly don't.

 

[M.C. Logan]

Your justifications are wandering around the map. People are both too lazy to push buttons on a remote and should maybe choose components that can standby with input detection rather than with triggers? I think we are in the tall grass here: some people like triggers and the value proposition that they provide and you clearly don't.

I never suggested that people should choose components with input detection, I only pointed out that they exist. I understand that *some* people find them useful, my point is that for *most* people they are an irrelevance at best and a confusing feature, they have no idea the purpose of, at worst. Which comes full circle as to it being an apparent huge negative point here at ASR, whereas IRL most people, aside from custom installers, are completely oblivious of the feature. There are also alternatives, which most people do use, remote controls and apps, and smart plugs for legacy devices. Maybe it's just a USAican thing, what with oversized living rooms?

 

[GXAlan]

I understand that *some* people find them useful, my point is that for *most* people they are an irrelevance at best and a confusing feature, they have no idea the purpose of, at worst.

For most people, a Sonos or Bose WiFi speaker is plenty. At this point, high performance audio is pretty good across the board. You have to win on feature set.

SMSL has decided that they are selling enough products without 12V triggers while vocal members here think the trigger is necessary to be an enthusiast level product. The market will dictate who is right.

Remote controls, apps, and smart plugs are solutions, but just as universal remotes have fallen out of favor among the general soundbar loving public in favor of HDMI CEC, 12V triggers have become preferred among enthusiasts with multiple boxes to power your music (when HDMI CEC is not available).

Just because you say that *most* people don’t want 12V triggers doesn’t actually make it a fact or true statement. It’s definitely true for the general public, but as you look at the total addressable market for this SMSL desktop amp? Not quite as straightforward.

 

[SoySalsaPicante]

Panamax makes a power strip that includes 4 high-current sockets that are 12V trigger-activated. This should solve the problem for any device that returns to full power state upon restoration of AC power.

 

[CedarX]

Panamax makes a power strip that includes 4 high-current sockets that are 12V trigger-activated. This should solve the problem for any device that returns to full power state upon restoration of AC power.

I think it’s worth mentioning that, although it solves that 12V trigger problem, in effect, it mimics a power outage every time the trigger is activated… which may create other problems depending how the device power switch is wired.

 

[GXAlan]

Say what? No other reviewer has a poll. That I have it, is something extra. It is pretty bad form to damn the review because I didn't provide a poll. If that is all that it takes to lose "credibility" in your eye, then I suggest going and reading other people's reviews.

People like consistency. Why have voting for some failed products (Devialet) and not others?

Panamax makes a power strip that includes 4 high-current sockets that are 12V trigger-activated. This should solve the problem for any device that returns to full power state upon restoration of AC power.

Which model is that?

I know of this product, but obviously something from Panamax might look nicer.

Amazon.com

I know of component width power centers, not not power *strips* and would love one with more than two AC outlets.

 

[SoySalsaPicante]

People like consistency. Why have voting for some failed products (Devialet) and not others?


Which model is that?

I know of this product, but obviously something from Panamax might look nicer.

Amazon.com

I know of component width power centers, not not power *strips* and would love one with more than two AC outlets.

Panamax M8 AV Pro is the one I was thinking of.

 

[xanalog]

I know of this product, but obviously something from Panamax might look nicer.
https://a.co/d/gecYY7C

These types of designs bug me because of the same-but-wrong orientation of the 3rd/safety-ground pins.
If you have more than two wall-warts, such arrangements become near impossible to plug them into.

 

[obsessive9119]

This should solve the problem for any device that returns to full power state upon restoration of AC power.

Unfortunately a lot of devices power on to standby