Topping PA5 Review (Amplifier)

[PeteL]

I'd love to see this reviewed also. Double the price, but also double the power..

VMV A2

Foshan ShuangMuSanLin electronics Co., LTD. founded in 2009 which located in Shenzhen, China. And our branch company VMV Technology(HK) Company Limited registered in HK in 2013. Our company is specialized in the audio DAC, stereo headphone amplifier, power amplifier, and with own R&D...

www.smsl-audio.com

SMSL VMV A2 Review (Stereo Amplifier & DAC)

This is a review and detailed measurements of the SMSL VMV A2 stereo "desktop" DAC and amplifier. It was sent to me by the company and costs US $999. VMV is the higher-end brand in SMSL lineup. The look and feel of the A2 is similar to the latest line from SMSL: It looks nicer though in...

www.audiosciencereview.com

Here you go

 

[Tusoli5]

This will make the cheapest nice little amp when it'll be available on second hand market.
It tests better than many 60-80w products anyway.
This is a good sign for years and fun to come.
It could drive a full range / high sensitivity speaker quite easily

We'll certainly see new references of high quality sooner than we thought in this industry!

 

[F1308]

Ok,
I listen to 4meter , my main speakers are 93db , I want to listen to 100db (90db average + 10db of dynamic).
I want 6db of headroom for the amplifier.

So I need 319W amplifier according the calculator.

That what you means ?
Or just a calculator without knowledge about parameters is useless ?

Make it 55-65 dB for normal listening (a bit louder than a relaxed conversation level), leave 30-20dB headroom for full orchestra passages and remain below 85dB at anytime for years to come while still able to enjoy it.

 

[sarumbear]

I would begg to differ with this statement as well. Best performing integrated amp at 350€? Yep. All day.

Absolute best value for money is still no doubt AIYIMA A07. I bought one 36,96€ shipped during AliExpress deals (54,70€ total with PSU).

You simply added one more qualifier then agreed

 

[sarumbear]

Make it 55-65 dB for normal listening (a bit louder than a relaxed conversation level), leave 30-20dB for full orchestra passages and remain below 85dB at anytime for years to come while still able to enjoy it.

You do know that 30dB means 32 times, right?

 

[antcollinet]

IEC 60320 applies to every appliance below 250V.

Abstract​

lEC 60320-1:2021 sets the general requirements for appliance couplers for two poles and two poles with earth contact and for the connection of electrical devices for household and similar onto the mains supply.

From:

IEC 60320-1:2021 | IEC Webstore

IEC 60320-1:2021 Standard | Appliance couplers for household and similar general purposes - Part 1: General requirements

webstore.iec.ch

Note "onto the mains supply"

That does not cover connection to the output of a DC supply that *itself* is connected to the mains supply with a compliant connector.

And what about the million or so products that connect via an external power supply via a circular barrel connector (such as most laptops for example). None of those are compliant with 60320 either - because they don't need to be.

 

[F1308]

You do know that 30dB means 32 times, right?

Just trying to make happiness happen.
It is simply another input in the equation...
It surely won't be achieved, I mean used, anytime since there is not such a sonic range available as far as I know in any recording.

 

[Trokox]

I do recall reading someone saying this was kind of an historical event. Not that far from this actual page.

Maybe you mean my post. I literally said that it was a day of celebration for the audiophile community and I keep it, Getting this performance for $ 350 is something that I personally had not seen until now. Many of us are happy that we can buy an outstanding amp for this amount of money. To give an example the Aiyima A07 is a good amplifier for the price but it is not in the same league of the greats, the PA5 is certainly not the best amplifier of all time and nobody has said that here but you can sit at the same table of heavy weights without feeling less and for a much lower price

 

[BoredErica]

You simply added one more qualifier then agreed

(also by now let's all agree that 'best of all time' is not really the same thing as saying something is 'historic'.)

 

[sarumbear]

Just trying to make happiness happen.
It is simply another input in the equation...
It surely won't be achieved anytime since there is not such a sonic range available as far as I know in any recording.

Nor in live music.

 

[ClassicGuy]

Ok,
I listen to 4meter , my main speakers are 93db , I want to listen to 100db (90db average + 10db of dynamic).
I want 6db of headroom for the amplifier.

So I need 319W amplifier according the calculator.

That what you means ?
Or just a calculator without knowledge about parameters is useless ?

I agree some people don't understand how much headroom to input there. However, I am assuming some knowledge of audio. You would go deaf listening to music at 90db.

 

[PeteL]

I'd love to see this reviewed also. Double the price, but also double the power..

VMV A2

Foshan ShuangMuSanLin electronics Co., LTD. founded in 2009 which located in Shenzhen, China. And our branch company VMV Technology(HK) Company Limited registered in HK in 2013. Our company is specialized in the audio DAC, stereo headphone amplifier, power amplifier, and with own R&D...

www.smsl-audio.com

It's more than double the price, but it don't only have (much) more power, Its also a DAC, it have Subwoofer outs, a remote and is better behaved at high frequency. It's the better choice if you ask me.

 

[F1308]

But mind the hiss, one never knows...

 

[BoredErica]

But mind the hiss, one never knows...

Budget amps that fail to deliver inaudible noise when listening at 1.5ft are unacceptable to me. The value the amp delivers me is zero because I'd rather use my headphones instead. To me such amps are not cheap at all, but rather the most expensive ones of all in the sense they deliver zero benefit for a cost, so the ratio is all wonked out.

 

[F1308]

Budget amps that fail to deliver inaudible noise when listening at 1.5ft are unacceptable to me. The value the amp delivers me is zero because I'd rather use my headphones instead. To me such amps are not cheap at all, but rather the most expensive ones of all in the sense they deliver zero benefit for a cost, so the ratio is all wonked out.

I understand.
Same goes with active loudspeakers.
I long ago went trying to upgrade (hard to achieve) my floorstanders going studio monitors for keyboard playing when I learned most did hiss.
Unbearable for me.
Only when you place your ear on the woofer ?
Unbearable also.
So PA5 is such a great starting point !!!!

 

[sarumbear]

I understand.
Same goes with active loudspeakers.
I long ago went trying to upgrade (hard to achieve) my floorstanders going studio monitors for keyboard playing when I learned most did hiss.
Unbearable for me.
Only when you place your ear on the woofer ?
Unbearable also.

Yet another reason that this is a great amplifier. The noise level should be inaudible even with horn tweeters.

 

[F1308]

Yet another reason that this is a great amplifier. The noise level should be inaudible even with horn tweeters.

You missed my last line !!!

 

[Urib]

... where do we go from here?

To the hopefully PA 90 power amp. I am waiting for it a year and a half.

 

[F1308]

To the hopefully PA 90 power amp. I am waiting for it a year and a half.

I guess next May, June at the latest...?

 

[Nango]

From:

IEC 60320-1:2021 | IEC Webstore

IEC 60320-1:2021 Standard | Appliance couplers for household and similar general purposes - Part 1: General requirements

webstore.iec.ch

Note "onto the mains supply"

That does not cover connection to the output of a DC supply that *itself* is connected to the mains supply with a compliant connector.

And what about the million or so products that connect via an external power supply via a circular barrel connector (such as most laptops for example). None of those are compliant with 60320 either - because they don't need to be.

This is your statement. We need more details.