This is a review and detailed measurements of the SMSL Q5 Pro DAC and stereo integrated amplifier. It is on kind loan from a member. The Q5 Pro costs US $140 from Amazon with Prime shipping.
The sample sent to me is "well used:"
If you were a real audiophile, you would think those scratches change the cabinet resonances leading to less black backgrounds, micro detail and PRAT. But since you are not, let's read on. Here is the back panel:
The owner sent me two power supplies. The other one outputs 24 volts but since it says on the back the limit is 19, I went with this one. Heaven knows if I blew it up, I could not buy another one and scratch it up the same way this one is! Strangely if I squint, the fuzzy picture on SMSL website shows the other power supply.
As you see, you have both digital and analog inputs. I tested both as you see below.
Amplifier Audio Measurements
Let's start with analog input performance:
Well, that is not good. One channel is producing far more distortion. And noise level is quite high. Switching to USB input improves the good channel significantly:
The bad channel is insisting on producing far more distortion. Averaging the two, we get a SINAD score that is pretty much at the bottom of our rankings:
From here on, I stuck with USB input since it performs better. Frequency response was refreshingly good:
Power into 4 ohm load shows poor response:
Doesn't get much better into 8 ohm:
And we are way off the spec. But that is typical. Or maybe it needs the higher voltage power supply.
Thermal stability
Not much was changing after power up:
Conclusions
It is one thing to have random performance when an amp is $50 or so. But once you get to $140, I expect better than what SMSL Q5 Pro delivers. If you want a little baby amp, get the SMSL SA100. It behaves better and is much cheaper. So no recommendation from me.
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As always, questions, comments, recommendations, etc. are welcome.
Ever disappointing review sinks me more into depression. The panthers try to make me feel better but there is only so much you can get from petting a ceramic animal. The only cure I know is more money and lots of it! So please donate using : https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/how-to-support-audio-science-review.8150/
The sample sent to me is "well used:"
If you were a real audiophile, you would think those scratches change the cabinet resonances leading to less black backgrounds, micro detail and PRAT. But since you are not, let's read on. Here is the back panel:
The owner sent me two power supplies. The other one outputs 24 volts but since it says on the back the limit is 19, I went with this one. Heaven knows if I blew it up, I could not buy another one and scratch it up the same way this one is! Strangely if I squint, the fuzzy picture on SMSL website shows the other power supply.
As you see, you have both digital and analog inputs. I tested both as you see below.
Amplifier Audio Measurements
Let's start with analog input performance:
Well, that is not good. One channel is producing far more distortion. And noise level is quite high. Switching to USB input improves the good channel significantly:
The bad channel is insisting on producing far more distortion. Averaging the two, we get a SINAD score that is pretty much at the bottom of our rankings:
From here on, I stuck with USB input since it performs better. Frequency response was refreshingly good:
Power into 4 ohm load shows poor response:
Doesn't get much better into 8 ohm:
And we are way off the spec. But that is typical. Or maybe it needs the higher voltage power supply.
Thermal stability
Not much was changing after power up:
Conclusions
It is one thing to have random performance when an amp is $50 or so. But once you get to $140, I expect better than what SMSL Q5 Pro delivers. If you want a little baby amp, get the SMSL SA100. It behaves better and is much cheaper. So no recommendation from me.
------------
As always, questions, comments, recommendations, etc. are welcome.
Ever disappointing review sinks me more into depression. The panthers try to make me feel better but there is only so much you can get from petting a ceramic animal. The only cure I know is more money and lots of it! So please donate using : https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/how-to-support-audio-science-review.8150/
