SMSL SH-8S Review (headphone amplifier)

[liu]

Relay based volume would probably double its price.

it wont. look at their L30 copy clone: https://www.audiosciencereview.com/...j-a10h-a-worthy-topping-l30-competitor.22171/
sold for less price (120USD) compared to the L30 (150 USD).

 

[LearningToSmile]

Good performance, but the lack of pre-amp functionality with no outputs for stuff like powered monitors would make me pass on it.

 

[Matias]

it wont. look at their L30 copy clone: https://www.audiosciencereview.com/...j-a10h-a-worthy-topping-l30-competitor.22171/
sold for less price (120USD) compared to the L30 (150 USD).

Not a relay based volume control, but cheaper digital volume control. Edit: I was wrong, there are relays.

 

[phoenixsong]

Good performance, but the lack of pre-amp functionality with no outputs for stuff like powered monitors would make me pass on it.

Yeah, although the A30pro does not function as a preamp either it still has both RCA and balanced TRS outputs as a passthrough

 

[liu]

Not a relay based volume control, but cheaper digital volume control.

you are wrong. scroll that page down and take a look at the pcb.





omron G6K-2F-Y made in China would only costs $1 (in China sites you could even find way cheaper offerings).
So the total cost of this relay module should be around $10.
And the good thing here is balanced audio requires same amount of relays as single ended for volume control.
Once SMSL designed and tested this circuit, they can just copy/paste it to all their products with no additional design cost.
Manufacturing it adds just $10 to the BOM cost.

 

[solderdude]

Not a relay based volume control, but cheaper digital volume control.

It probably would not reach distortion levels it reaches now with volume control IC's in the audio path.

 

[restorer-john]

The connector on the front isn't straight, it triggers me. Hopefully they will have better QC.

It's not their QC. It's the stupid connector and its geometry- that's just the way is is.

 

[Koeitje]

It's not their QC. It's the stupid connector and its geometry- that's just the way is is.

The person who designed it...I guess some people just want to see the world burn.

 

[vkvedam]

had teasing issues

Excellent one @amirm, nitpicking, did you mean to say teething issues

 

[General Direction]

Is this still the same housing style as their SU-8 DAC?
If so, it will make for a nice esthetic pairing with my Focal Clear

 

[_thelaughingman]

At $190 USD this is definitely a steal for balanced outputs and the measured range.

 

[Tks]

Never cared about high gain, most desktop amplifiers that provide 4 pin XLR connectivity usually have more than enough power for anything I could throw at it. So seeing this low gain performance, goodness this is amazing. They're also firing back at Topping in this respect (and it shows as well with the insanely good 50mV spec that I find more interesting these days).

Great stuff, but man does that volume knob feel out of place. Looks like they took it from another product entirely.

 

[phoenixsong]

Never cared about high gain, most desktop amplifiers that provide 4 pin XLR connectivity usually have more than enough power for anything I could throw at it. So seeing this low gain performance, goodness this is amazing. They're also firing back at Topping in this respect (and it shows as well with the insanely good 50mV spec that I find more interesting these days).

Great stuff, but man does that volume knob feel out of place. Looks like they took it from another product entirely.

*Medium gain (relative)

 

[Vini darko]

Outstanding noise floor preformance in a small package with on board power. I'm genuinely impressed. My l30 has lost it's crown jewel

 

[Vini darko]

Never cared about high gain, most desktop amplifiers that provide 4 pin XLR connectivity usually have more than enough power for anything I could throw at it. So seeing this low gain performance, goodness this is amazing. They're also firing back at Topping in this respect (and it shows as well with the insanely good 50mV spec that I find more interesting these days).

Great stuff, but man does that volume knob feel out of place. Looks like they took it from another product entirely.

Smsl has always had a quirky knob

 

[phoenixsong]

Outstanding noise floor preformance in a small package with on board power. I'm genuinely impressed. My l30 has lost it's crown jewel

Interesting that you see it that way. I've always treated the L30 as part of a different category; one solely intended for unbalanced use. To me the A30pro would be a closer competition for the category crown contended here

 

[Vini darko]

Interesting that you see it that way. I've always treated the L30 as part of a different category; one solely intended for unbalanced use. To me the A30pro would be a closer competition for the category crown contended here

Yeah the l30 is still king of SE power amp buffer hill. The hand picked volume pots really help too. Still the smsl is dammed impressive in its own right.

 

[PeteL]

Glad to see SMSL learned Topping's design (a tear down could easily reveal that) and make even better products.
though it's a pity that this one does not include relay based volume control.

source?

 

[solderdude]

At $190 USD this is definitely a steal for balanced outputs and the measured range.

Except it doesn't have a balanced output.
It does have balanced and SE inputs.

 

[Quomz]

Except it doesn't have a balanced output.
It does have balanced and SE inputs.

This might be an answer to the post above, referencing SU-8. I was confused too, especially because the price of SH-8s seems to be nowhere to find.