SMSL PH-1

[gjm]

https://www.smsl-audio.com/portal/product/detail/id/915.html

Promo info includes:

"Two years of tuning
The PH-1 wasn’t rushed. Over 50 op-amps were tested. The board was revised more than five times. Dozens of MM cartridges were auditioned. The end result is a phono amp that sounds refined, getting the best out of a wide range of gear."

 

[abrcdbra]

What about the essence?

What is the topology of the RIAA amplifier? What is the permissible overload? What is the correction error? What is the quality of the components of the correction circuits?

Without this data, it is just another box for $69.

 

[gjm]

What about the essence?

What is the topology of the RIAA amplifier? What is the permissible overload? What is the correction error? What is the quality of the components of the correction circuits?

Without this data, it is just another box for $69.

Review the blurb on the website - it may answer some of your questions.
If we are fortunate, @amirm will have an opportunity to work his magic at some stage, and then we will know more from an independent source.

 

[abrcdbra]

If we are fortunate, @amirm will have an opportunity to work his magic at some stage, and then we will know more from an independent source.

Let's hope that SMSL reads this forum and will figure out what the people want)

 

[MCH]

I must say that at this price and with headphone amp, if it performs half decently, it is a winner.

 

[abrcdbra]

I must say that at this price and with headphone amp, if it performs half decently, it is a winner.

Don't you love yourself?
Yesterday I looked at how much it costs in my country. Mere pennies. But I immediately refused to buy it, just to try it and throw it away if I don't like it. Because I saw that with the gain for MM 46 dB and the power supply of the OPA at 15 V, such gain reduces the permissible overload below the limit I require. And to lure the buyer with a long choice of OPA for a relatively simple device - well, yes, a not very smart head does not give hands rest))

 

[abrcdbra]

Sorry, I still bought the device. In order to disassemble it and tell you how to make a really good sounding vinyl record corrector out of it).
The device has a good case after all)).

It will be delivered at the end of June.

 

[abrcdbra]

I watched the video of the device case being opened and realized that I had wasted my money on crap again.
The chip names were removed mechanically, probably so that it would be immediately clear that it was crap).
But the chip is in a very interesting case, so there are no problems identifying it.
This chip is forty years old and was used in those days for the cheapest RIAA equalizers, because in those ancient times there was nothing better.
And now this chip is very, very cheap. And it is not suitable for use with MM cartridge even at the Hi-Fi level. I don't understand who this advertisement was created for, that they chose OPAMP for two years?
They don't respect their customers... It's just ....

 

[photosonic]

I watched the video of the device case being opened and realized that I had wasted my money on crap again.
The chip names were removed mechanically, probably so that it would be immediately clear that it was crap).
But the chip is in a very interesting case, so there are no problems identifying it.
This chip is forty years old and was used in those days for the cheapest RIAA equalizers, because in those ancient times there was nothing better.
And now this chip is very, very cheap. And it is not suitable for use with MM cartridge even at the Hi-Fi level. I don't understand who this advertisement was created for, that they chose OPAMP for two years?
They don't respect their customers... It's just ....

Did you hook it up to your system and listen to it? Mine is coming in Saturday and I'm going to db level match it to my Art DJ Pre II and see how it compares/sounds.

 

[gjm]

I watched the video of the device case being opened and realized that I had wasted my money on crap again.
The chip names were removed mechanically, probably so that it would be immediately clear that it was crap).
But the chip is in a very interesting case, so there are no problems identifying it.
This chip is forty years old and was used in those days for the cheapest RIAA equalizers, because in those ancient times there was nothing better.
And now this chip is very, very cheap. And it is not suitable for use with MM cartridge even at the Hi-Fi level. I don't understand who this advertisement was created for, that they chose OPAMP for two years?
They don't respect their customers... It's just ....

I'm unsure what you are expecting from a budget phono stage. You're not going to get the latest, greatest, cutting-edge tech. A well-implemented older solution is a good solution and in combination with contemporary designs, can out-perform many rushed-to-market items. Compare with DACs - there are excellent performing and sounding items that do not use the latest chips or tech. They might not be at the top of the list in terms of accuracy, but they're very good, and typically much cheaper than the latest productions.

It's $70 (US). For a new piece of kit! I sincerely doubt many of those who happily DIY their hi-fi could put it together for that money.

And the proof is in having hands-on with it. Being able to accurately measure it and listen to it will tell more than any online info. Advertising blurb is great (and sadly that's all I have to go on) as it gives an idea of what to expect, but the results will vary depending on use.

I posted this as a cheap option for those considering what is likely to be a decent, if not groundbreaking, economical solution.

 

[gjm]

Did you hook it up to your system and listen to it? Mine is coming in Saturday and I'm going to db level match it to my Art DJ Pre II and see how it compares/sounds.

I look forward to hearing how you get on.

 

[Viper780]

amirm review is out: https://www.audiosciencereview.com/...ds/smsl-ph-1-phono-preamplifier-review.64400/
Not that good compared to the more versatile Fosi X5

 

[gjm]

amirm review is out: https://www.audiosciencereview.com/...ds/smsl-ph-1-phono-preamplifier-review.64400/
Not that good compared to the more versatile Fosi X5

The Fosi is 50% more, but at this price point, that's not a huge number of $.

As @amirm said - it's not bad, but a little more money for better performance would be preferred.

 

[JSmith]

"Two years of tuning
The PH-1 wasn’t rushed. Over 50 op-amps were tested. The board was revised more than five times. Dozens of MM cartridges were auditioned. The end result is a phono amp that sounds refined, getting the best out of a wide range of gear."

Reads this... looks at Amir's testing.


JSmith

 

[Viper780]

The Fosi is 50% more, but at this price point, that's not a huge number of $.

The Fosi X5 is at about 110-125€ (eBay or amazon) or 125 USD (Aliexpress)
The SMSL PH-1 costs 80€ (amazon) or 85 USD (Aliexpress)
All prices including VAT and shipping

As @amirm said - it's not bad, but a little more money for better performance would be preferred.

I guess the SMSL Prices will drop soon further. For 50€ it is a decent product.
But when you spend that much mony on needles and vinyl I guess a few bucks more for a very good (and MC capable) preamp doesn'T make that much difference

 

[renaudrenaud]

Just crap. Playing with vinyls require at least a decent phono preamp and this SMSL is a joke. And when you read the webpage from aoshida https://aoshida-audio.com/products/smsl-ph-1 where you learn this unit has an advanced isolation power supply and then read Amir tests...

The conclusion is easy, this is pure bs and I don't understand what SMSL is doing with this product, because when seen a lot of products from this brand are good (in term of measurements).

 

[Viper780]

I don't see it that dark.
A few years back everyone would have wanted the PH-1, there wasn't anything below 100€ which were half decent. The ART DJ Pre was a "disruptor" back than.
But now the market is growing and there are more alternatives