Dear Thomas, you really are so kind. I would be honoured for you to share it. I personally feel it’s a matter of style and what you do great is something I can’t. Have a great day!
@@ThomasAndStereo that is something we could arrange. May I possibly invite you to reach out to me directly, via our website? I really look forward to talking with you. Best wishes from Belgium
Thanks to Thomas I've just arrived at your channel. Really impressive and honest review with a real life experience of this little amp. How times have changed in the hifi world. All the better for introducing more young people into our hobby.
Thanks James (and a big thanks to Thomas too)! Indeed if we can introduce more youngsters and encourage them to buy quality (not expensive) products that will last a lifetime - then I think we’re on track.
I bought this amp and paired it with Zu Omen DW's and Schitt Freya. Awesome synergy. Thanks for your review and for bringing this amp to our attention.
Wonderful insight into this small and affordable stereo amplifier. I have been suggesting the use of this particular amp with some of my other friends who own and listen to the LS3/5a monitors. You have more or less confirmed my view on this delightful small integrated amplifier. Thank you.
Thank you very much for the video, for your honesty and for the recommendation of the acoustic treatment. For me it is the main thing + well implemented equalization. Written with translator. Greetings
Your review is the most authoritative, credible and backed by your years of invaluable musical experience. Nobody does it better! Never thought much of smsl until your review.
Viewing your vlog on how little power is needed to drive reasonably efficient speakers quite loudly enough the other day reminded me of my early days of hi-fi in the 1970s. For several years my amplifier was a home-made 9W/channel valve amp driving a pair of Richard Allen 8 inch twin-cone speakers in home-made cabinets. My friends with far more money than I had frequently commented on how good my system sounded.
Never heard of you before. Today I stumbled on this video. Then had to watch all your videos. Considering the recommendations you made in this video, I was surprised by the price of your speakers. I ordered a pair with cables anyway because the total was one third of the price of the pair of speakers I have wanted for several years now. Each piece of my current equipment weighs more than I do. I can hardly move it around. I'm dumping it all and following your line of thinking. Simple is good enough...and much lighter. Thanks for nudging me over the edge.
This little amp is crazy good !. I have Revel M126 Be speakers, and it makes them sound sublime. Amazing stuff SMSL, make a pair of class a mono blocks please ! With balanced inputs.
Thank you Harley for this great review. I was convinced by Thomas & Stereo & Pearl Acoustics assessment for the SMSL VMV A1 amplifier & I managed to find a good deal for a used set. The sound was surprisingly amazing. I had also featured the amp in my RUclips channel too. I wish you a Merry Christmas & a Happy (2023) New Year. : )
I think what this says is that there a many great “budget” amplification options these days. It’s truly overwhelming. Until recently I had a couple Nelson Pass Amp Camp monoblocks, pure class A, powering my Zu Omen DWs and recently switched to a very inexpensive Iotavx PA3 class AB amp. The Amp Camp amps are very good. However the Iotavx has a control over my speakers that I have yet to hear from any other amp. And I just saw it’s now on sale for 299 pounds sterling. A steal.
I've just got my hands on a pair of harbeth p3esrs, what a beautiful match these two are. I was mixing and matching this little vmv. So far triangle br03 and p3esr are my favourites. I have tried kef r3, polk r200 and dali rubicon2s as well.
I'm amazed. Seems like the minimalist can finally rejoice! (btw, although I'm already a subscriber, it was Thomas from T&S who recommended your video).
I made a cheeky low offer on one of these from a gentleman in Thailand and he accepted. I really didn't have the money to spare right now but I'm so glad I did. It arrived today and the Sprout 100 will be going on eBay tomorrow. My speakers are not super efficient (88db) but there is no problem driving them, Tannoy Revolution DC6. I really can't believe he accepted my offer, the VMV A1 has put a smile on my face. This is a great stop gap until I can find the space to set up my complete system. This has quilled my sense of urgency to set that up. FYI I love your voice, I find it very soothing and use your videos (ones I've already watched) to take my afternoon naps to. Regards
Harley, I like your idea of allocating resources to room treatments as room effects can be very significant. I am close to finishing up some single driver TL speakers (Pensil 10P using Mark Audio Alpair 10p drivers) and this amplifier might be worth trying out. I enjoy your content more than ANY other audio related RUclipsr.
Great video, thanks! - I just bought the new Marantz Model 30 integrated amplifier and thought it sounded a bit soft and lacking transparency... Until I bypassed it's preamp section and used the integrated preamp on my also new Topping D90SE DAC... Wow! - I made a discovery that day. It's not the amp that colours the sound, it's the preamp! ... I am reminded of that guy who professes that all amps sound the same and offered anyone $10,000 if they could pass a blind test. Even if they brought their own amp to compare... Maybe he was right. Amps do all sound the same and it was always the preamp, either integrated or separate, that changed the sound... The Topping preamp in my DAC is very transparent, but the preamp in the Marantz incorporates a heavy 'house sound.' - The goal really is transparency. House sound is nice but not as real and exciting. (To me).
Thank you very much for your review. I’ve listened to this amp and totally agree with your opinion. The sound is very good and better than my previous amps.
Smsl is one of few Chinese companies that not only give you value for money good sound, they are very innovative too. I heard about this amp few months back but I'm sold by your review
I'm very intrigued by this. It seems that affordable gear is getting better these days which will be great for more people. I bet this amp starts getting a lot of attention soon... Great video Harley
Spot on Crimson. Quality and affordability is nothing but good for the longetvity of the industry. It protects us all by giving more people on differing budgets availability and affordability.
I just ordered one off Apos, on sale for 15% off, and free delivery. They also warranty it for 2 years. I just picked up the new Klipsch RP600MIIs on sale for $450. I am using and Illuminious Technology Walker Mod passive preamp fully balanced, the Dac is a 3 year old SMSL VMV D1. I just wish this was a Balanced amp. vs. me using an RCA to XLR cable. I didn't want to 2 balanced monoblocks from Schiit to get the XLR connections. Your review makes me feel better about my purchase! I also use to own the giant Roger's Studio Monitor 2 in the day!
So glad my review helped you. Indeed, the xlr / rca challenge can be frustrating. Personally, I would never replace a great performing piece of technology just because it’s either xlr or rca. But I will never use converters either (especially cable converters, I find them too noisy).
Unfortunately, since the preamp only has balanced connections I have to use an XLR to RCA cable, as I agree that an adaptor could be an issue. The one I use is custom made by a company called World's Best Cables, from Amazon of all places. They use Neutrik XLR connectors, Amphenol RCA connectors, and Canare 4e6s Starquad cable. Should there be noise, I have never heard it luckily! Thank you for reading and replying! It's appreciated!!
@@AN-ce1nd REALLY you want to deal with a country that has killed over 5 million people not to mention , they are a little corrupt and slow.. I amazes me how so little informed the general public is . i have studied this thing since March 2020 Apathy abounds
I added a Bellari se560 sonic exciter (a pre with tone controls) and it is hifi now. The soundstage became huge (especially tall), layers has gotten more apparent and all these go for the headphone amp as well. I would definitely give this a go if you own a smsl vmv a1. I also had the dac vmv d1se and tried its pre as well and it didn't benefit as much as it benefitted from bellari. What I like about both of them is that the mains cable they come with is very good. Although I use aftermarket cables with a more expensive system and I ( of course) tried all those aftermarket cables with vmv a1 and ended up sticking to the original ones. Long story short it definitely benefits from a good pre-amp.
I just got it and paired it with my Audio Physic Step 35 and it blew my mind. with the denafrips ares 2 this little thing sounds better than most 3K$ amplifiers I've tried haha
If it impressed you, that tells something very positive about this tiny little amp!! I've seen lots of other reviewers talk good things about this but never took those reviews that seriously until now.
Nice review. I've spent more on a headphone amp, so with your recommendation I would consider this for a desktop system. Not quite throwing the new XA-25 out the window, though ;-)
Indeed, an other very good Review !!! Would be very interesting to hear you on the cheap Akitika GT-102 amplifier that people compare to pass labs and first watts.... It's on stereophile product of the year !
I enjoy your reviews and value your experience. I suspect that it may be premature to equate Pass, even with the caveats you provided, with this model. If you do more listening, an update would be appreciated.
Hi sir we seem to be getting a lot of these relatively low cost amps etc coming onto the market , which indeed must have some of the big company’s taking notice. I must admit I am always concerned about longevity when any equipment runs at a high temperature , and not necessarily this little chap. No even some of the big boys , can produce ridiculous amounts of heart . Which trust me eventually takes its toll on components . I definitely think if they can release the product on the Uk market for say around the £450 pound mark , they may indeed have a success on their hands Best wishes and kind regards 😀👍👍👍
Thank you Michael. I think heat and longevity can go together, IF the equipment is well designed and it’s components are all working, well within their tolerances. The problem, in the past was that components (especially capacitors) were often of poor quality, and the oil dried out or leaked after a while
Hi, Thanks fir your kind words. I tried both. I used a QUAD Artera as a preamp and set the volume at 67. Then I just used it as a regular integrated. It was fine in both situations.
People always get upset when somebody else doesn't agree with their precious audio gear and review it and they don't really like it ... Its just opinions ... 😉
I apologize if I missed this in the video, but did you use an external preamplifier or did you use the A1's internal volume control? If you tried it both ways, how did it compare? Thanks.
Hi, no apology needed. I tried both. Setting it at vol level 66 and feeding in a preamplifier and then as an integrated in its own right. If there was a difference, it was minimal. And certainly not enough to lose sleep over. The remote control works really well. Hope this helps?
Wonderful review.. Now what''s the magical pre-amp that can make this amp sing for not that much more money in comparison? a preamp-amp combo that makes this sound like the Pure Audio One that you mentioned in a comment below.
Thank you for your kind words. Personally, I wouldn’t use one, except for adding extra inputs, but there’s lots of fun to be had trying different combinations! I think VMV (SMSL) make a whole range of compatible devices and Thomas has even reviewed some, I believe.
I wonder have you listened to the Quad 303? I am guessing I hear a shudder in the room as the very thought of class B is mentioned. Truth is a stock 303 was and still is a wonderful amplifier and if restored and or upgraded the 303's are very special despite the fact that they break the very rules we were told should not be broken. They switch off and on so they run cool and last for a very long time. While the 405 was seen by many consumers of the day as the 303'3 replacement having twice its power I prefer the sound of the 303. Thanks for your interesting videos.
Thanks very much for your kind appreciation and comment. I must admit it’s been a very, very long time since I heard a 303. And never a modernised one. Hopefully, one day?
So, I swapped back to my long standing ProAc Tablette Reference 8 and it was fantastic. A brilliant synergy. But recently I purchased a pair of Dynaudio Heritage Specials and I'm a bit worried to try and drive a 4ohm speaker. Sadly your speakers wouldn't fit where I use them for daily (not session) listening.
Hi Harley! When you mentioned the Luxman amp and you said it was "coloured" could you expand a bit? Did you mean it was TOO warm/cosy "marshmallowy"...?...Im really keen on your speakers, but also that amp. Did you try it on your speakers or something else? Thanks!
Hi, sure! Yes I tried it briefly on our Sibelius loudspeakers. I think ‘warm and cosy’ is a very accurate description. Some people would love it and if your room is bright, it could be great. But try it first. It’s a lovely, lovely, amp and should last ‘forever’ but it’s got a lot of character that not everyone wants.
What I'd like to know Harley, is what's the little model car on your desk and does it have a story? Also perhaps one day you'll give us a little tour of your workspace. I can see something with a tube cage and some other tasty gizmos on the shelves to your left. :)
Well spotted! The car is a Jaguar 420. I used to own one and my wife gave me this model of it for my 40th. Birthday! The cage in the background, is most likely my QUAD PA-One, dac/tube pre amp. A very nice piece that goes with my vintage Quad system. I think it’s featured in one, or more, of my other videos.
@@PearlAcoustics lovely! I love the charisma of those older jags. I keep an eye open always for a nice XJC to cross my path and I can convince the owner to part with it.
and i would like to ask your advice now i have and old BIC venturi V620 bookshelf spkrs and my question is i having with inside box speaker wire to tweeter and midbass , your advice what gauge wire should match them correctly ? thzx your advice .
Just a good thickness (like 1,5mm) mains cable should do it. Or you can always splash out on on something fancy, but I sincerely think it will not make much of an audible difference.
Great little amp, inoffensive, no upper midrange excess. For my taste it lacks treble extension and a bit of the depth that tubes give. The recommendation to use the volume range from 66 to 68 with a preamp is inexplicable to me. The function of the preamplifier is to improve the signal and if it does not amplify it cannot fulfill its function. Using a Topping pre90 preamp the sound is very clean/thin within this range but the midbass suffers and there is no midrange bloom at all. In my experience the amp works best between 35 and 55. Let's not forget the concept of riding the gain
Need to get your hands on 2 schiit Aeger amps.. try stereo & Monoblocks.. very very inexpensive amps. What is your main preamp? I use Benchmark AHB2 , couldn't be happier!
Dear Reinhart. Thank you for your kind words. The answer is yes it can drive them but only in a small toom. When driven too hard, the amplifier loses its charm. So it rather depends how loud you listen to music and the kind of room you have. (Large / small, no damping or highly damped). Depending on your situation, I think you might want an amplifier with 20watts per channel, to be on the safer side.
Buy two they’re cheap enough! One for the office one for your living room. As a cheap office amp it’s a good shot that you need to add a source - what source would you recommend for the office for this?
For some people, even 650USD is a lot, but I take your point. Most office applications involve a computer and I like to run a separate DAC I just use a FIIO - but this is not my expertise, I know that SMSL make some amazing DAC’s like the M400, or the VMV D1se. I am told.
I made the experience that all amplifiers (and DACs) sound practically the same if the connected speakers are easy to drive. I compared my Hegel H120 to the Hegel H590 at the same pair of speakers and there wasn't any difference. My 15 year old amplifier that was a quarter of the price of the Hegel H120 sounds exactly the same. The speakers (and speaker placement), recording and room acoustics make the difference...
Dear Ralph, I tend to agree with you that good quality amplifiers should sound ‘the same’. In my experience. However this is not the case, or at least the difference between good amplifiers can be subtle, like that between two good Red Bordeaux wines. Unfortunately, there are products on the market that do not sound as good as they should for the price. Snd some amplifiers have very special characteristics. Enjoy your music. That’s what matters!
@@PearlAcoustics I agree that well designed budget amps can sound similar to more expensive designs with subtle differences in perhaps inner detail, depth, width of stage, etc. I found that my tiny integrated Keces E40 sounds like a mini Hegel when compared to my H160. Not being a spring chicken anymore and I have always used stand mount speakers, these little amps are more desirable given my listening habits. Larger, well designed and more expensive amps do have their place as well so these will still be sought after, but the small amps coming out can start a whole new revolution in hi fidelity among today's consumers, young and old. Getting good enough results with the Keces e40 with a Topping D70s into Focal 807Ws for both music and soundtracks. Tempted to try other small amps as well.
@@PearlAcoustics Maybe I'm so focused on the music that I don't notice these subtle differences. Anyway, I agree that good Bordeaux wines don't necessarily all taste the same. However, when they match Robert Parker's taste, they do.... ;-)
Love your channel and followed this with great interest, but had to write re; your Luxman experience. I’m very confused how the pictured L590AX-II could ever be described as ‘marshmallowy’ and ‘warm’. I’d say it exhibits less of those qualities than the Pass and has only the tiniest hint of warmth relative to (say) a comparable class A/B amp. I do wonder if maybe the unit you heard had a fault, as it’s a quite stunning amp in pretty much ever regard, without any hint of ‘marshmallow’! Anyway, kind regards from Scotland 🏴
Hi John. Thank you for your kind words. How interesting that your experience of the Luxman was so different from mine. Of course it is highly possible that there was a fault in it. It was a second hand unit. I listened to it first in my comparison sessions - and maybe it just needed more time to really warm up. This HiFi world we live in is so interesting, and largely because (for me), it’s so variable and subjective. Maybe we are misinterpreting’Marshmallow’ 😀. If I ever come to Scotland, maybe I can hear yours, for myself? Best wishes from Belgium 🇧🇪
My ears pricked when Luxman was mentioned as I've been eyeing that amp for ages. I'm super keen on the Sibelius speakers so it was a bit disheartening to hear it described as "coloured". Not sure what harley meant by that....too filtered?
So it's safe to say...if I was interested in dipping my toes into class a, this little amp will give me a good idea what class a sounds like? I'm interested in luxman, pass, coda, etc...but its an expensive venture so going in blind into a higher end brand is risky for me.
Indeed, I would say there’s no rush. You could even be disappointed. Maybe there is an audio club nearby to where you live where one of the members might lend you an amplifier to use in your home? There’s only one place to test amplifiers and that’s in your home. The difference is too subtle, anywhere else, unless you can find a dealer where you can take your system to them for comparison?
I noticed that you too set the volume as 67 and connect it as a power amp i presume. What is your volume level you set on your source ? Is there a noticeable improvement compared to playing the source at 0db and control the volume from A1? Thanks.
That must be loud. In my small room i have my A1 volume at 11 with source at 0db. Thomas mentioned that it sounds better when engaged with volume 67 and above to bypass its preamp which i have yet to try...
@@hansiangng2808 these things are not linear. The QUAD preamp has a low output, so -35db is just an indication and is based upon a total output of 0.5v where many pre-amps have an output of 1.0v or more.
Single driver speakers with decent sensitivity are probably a great match for this low powered amp. Also, near-field applications where little power is required. Maybe the Pass Labs and other similar beasts come into their own with more complex and demanding loads.
Hello, I enjoy your relaxed and very knowledgeable approach in your videos. I am currently exploring class A and trying to learn about the way it works. This little amp you present is quite intriguing. Considering that Class A usually employs massive toroidal power supplies and heat venting resulting in bulk and weight, how does this little amp drive your Sibelius and Rogers with such reach? BTW any thoughts on Sugden?, Michael, Dublin
Thank you for your kind words. The VMV drives the Sibelius just fine. Sugden make very fine amplifiers, never heard anything but good about them. Especially the A1 SE
I have never heard the Solus, sorry. But I would imagine the amplifier in the A1 might even be better than the Solus. You would have to try (keep the A1, if you can) and buy the Solus as well, then decide.
Ah, i think i may have mistaken the one sitting beside the A1 in your video as the Solus. Then it should be the Artera Play i believe as they look the same. Thanks for the reply!
No, I didn’t. Sorry. I ket that amplifier go a little while back. I had too much equipment piling up in the studio! I think it has a similar character but the PureAudio is much more powerful. You could by nearly 20 A1’s for the same price. Having said that, at low volume it would be hard to tell them apart.
Hi Harvey, which 50 watt SMSL were you using with the LS3/5a? I have a class D SMSL AO200 into some LS3/5a and am considering changing to the A1. Your thoughts would be very much appreciated.
@@PearlAcoustics Thanks Harvey. If I could trouble you with one more question- how do you think the A1 would drive LS3/5a’s (well Falcon Acoustics Q7’s) in a 24x12 ft room?
@@1jhnpennington hi, it really depends on how hard you drive them. And how damped your room is. Of course I am using mine fairly near field. You might need to play safe and go for something with a bit more power because they are 83db at 1m at 1 watt. Which means the A1 will begin to flatten out at 91db. I think you should look for something 20w+ per channel into 15ohm. Ie 40w per channel into 8 ohm. I hope that helps?
This should be OK - you'll get around 91db max, per channel = 94db into the room. That's pretty loud. I use it with my LS3/5A's in a desktop setting and it never gets anywhere near maximum.
Thanks for another great review, Harley. I wonder about its power supply. It doesn't look big enough to contain a reasonably-sized toroidal transformer or numerous electrolytic capacitors. Maybe it' incorporates a switched-mode supply
Hi John, thanks for your kind words. I can recommend you check out the VMV SMSL website. You will see for yourself that it has a linear power supply and some high quality caps - I was amazed myself! Enjoy
@@PearlAcoustics Hi Harley. I took your advice and visited the website and found one or two specifications of the A1 amplifier a little puzzling. The amplifier must have some sort of sensing arrangement so that when it's in idling mode for a certain period of time the power supply effectively shuts down because the standby power is quoted as being less that 0. 5 watts. The power consumption is quoted at 30 watts, which I would have thought was a little low for 2 x 10 watts into 8 ohms for true class-A. The 32 ohm load specification of 2 watts output I guess is quoted for headphone listening. I like the fact that it' incorporates field effect transistors. I'm always puzzled that more amplifiers don't utilise them. In my earlier message, I had forgotten that modern, high-valued electrolytics can have a very low profile, but I wonder if their life expectancy is as good as the larger types. Finally, I was told that they couldn't export the product to New Zealand - not that I have considered buying one !
@@johnmarchington3146 hi, in my experience, it does not shut down automatically to idle, you have to set it there. As I say, I think it is not a true, true class A, except possibly at only a few watts. And whatever it is - it impressed me. Good luck in New Zealand
Hi Chris, thanks for your question. The price point difference of the two units is large and the difference small. Assuming the unit was in my living room, and I could only have one if the two devices, I would choose the A21 SE because of its lovely soundstage and power. Having said that, I would not sell the VMV A1 but would find a use for it elsewhere (for example, on my desk) - it is a good headphone amplifier - or give it to my children, because it’s too good to sell on. I hope that helps? If in doubt, don’t bother to upgrade unless there is something you are not happy with the VMV A1.
Hi Harley, thanks for the quick reply. Then I will stay with the vmv a1 for now. I look forward to more videos from you. Greetings from the Odenwald in Germany
@@r423sdex nominally 8 ohm drivers often dip to 6 or even 4 ohms. Put 2 in parallel halves this bit increases the sensitivity by 6 db. This effectively turns a 10 watt amp into a 40 watt amp
So, if I could afford to buy the pass labs amplifier, I could get the smsl instead and have enough cash left over to get a pair of pearl acoustics sebelius loudspeakers.... 🎶🤔🎶 Brilliant!! PS I still have my old musical fidelity A100 in a box somewhere. Maybe I should start there....
@@PearlAcoustics I actually thought of this too! Of course, for my workshop or office desk I would be most interested in a Pearl Acoustics stand mount pair …. Hint.
Or you could buy even cheaper class D amplifier and get cheaper transmission line loudspeakers with Markaudio drivers. For all together about 20% of the cost.
@@Thomas..Anderson my Rega Naos are transmission lines but with 8-inch drivers plus tweeters. I'd be interested in finding information on those Mark audio transmission lines.... Is it a kit?
Interior photos are limited, but the marketing literature showed a noratel toroidal transformer. It's so odd though. I can't imagine how they are doing real class A from a tiny box with no heatsinks.
@@peterlarkin762 Thanks Peter for adding the information. 'Real Class A' is a good point. See my comment on Bias settings. The whole case is acting as one big heat sink - very clever. It get's quite hot.
@@Thomas..Anderson it’s not class D, it’s very high biased class A. You can open it up and make it class A, but it then gets very hot. If you turn it up to 68 it turns into a power amp.
@@r423sdex Class A amplifier has a maximal theoretical efficiency (for non inductive coupling) of 25%. This thing has 30W specified power consumption for the whole stereo amplifier with all the ads on. The numbers simply do not add up. If it was a highly biased class A, the efficiency would be even less.
Hi, in fact you do not really need to. The VMV A1 is designed to run warm/hot. Mine runs between 32 and 42 degrees c depending on ambient temperature. In fact it needs to run warm to function correctly.
"....sounds as good, even similar, I should say, to the Pass Labs XA25....I just could not believe it .... So I was thinking, 650 USD vs roughly 5000 USD..."
It’s strange, isn’t it? A great design, is a great design - regardless of cost. I am running as my desktop amp right now. So handy, because if it’s size.
Thanks for your comment. I understand where you are coming from. Especially, if the presenter is positioning themselves as a professional reviewer. In my case, I just make the occasional video on equipment or topics that I am interested in. If a product failed to impress me, then I just wouldn’t bother. But I get your point. And I will certainly give it some serious thought. Maybe ‘my five worst stereo systems’ might be a topic? But please remember, I am not doing this for money (my channel is not monetised) but to genuinely share my thoughts on things I find interesting.
Hi, thanks for your question. I still have the VMV A1 in our professional listening room as an option for people to audition. It really is a marvel. At home I have stayed with my big class A SET monoblocks for the winter and the Lyngdorf 1120 for the summer. On my home office desk I have switched to a Neuman system, and in my office, I still use my vintage QUAD 405 / 66 / 67 setup. Enjoy the music
Dear Paul, thank you for your comment. It's a good point. I make video in my free time 'for fun'. I do not monetize them. I do it simply to share my views and becasue people seems to enjoy watching them. Covering products I don't like while there are still so many I do like, would be a bit depressing and hard to put energy into. Having said that, I think HiFi is becoming a bit like cars - it's genuinely hard to find really bad products these days, via conventional channels). Not like in the old days. But you have given me a thought. Maybe I could do one on the things 'in general' I don't like?
@@PearlAcoustics Thank you very much for your response, Harley! I totally understand your point. It's not that I don't enjoy your (or Thomas') videos - please do not misunderstand. Often people look for opinions and reviews on/about products and in ~95% of the results someone finds positive information about it. RUclipsrs seem to be afraid to tell us what they don't like and I guess they don't want to share an unpopular opinion. Therefore they don't tell us about those products. I don't know - maybe I am different than the common audience. I want to know what you think: if you find this product to be sh§& I want to know why, if you find this product to be average I want to know why and of course if you like it I want to know it too. I am interested in your opinion - no matter in which direction it leans. Please keep up the good work - of course I still enjoy watching your (and Thomas') videos :)
Хобби
Man love this review, let me share it on my community page later today. You captured my excitement for this amp way better than me!
Dear Thomas, you really are so kind. I would be honoured for you to share it. I personally feel it’s a matter of style and what you do great is something I can’t. Have a great day!
@@PearlAcoustics Thanks! Here is the link. ruclips.net/channel/UCMVtSHXafOEcFN10FYygDTAcommunity?lb=UgkxqHek3cndrp8EofdnBjN5CDdcTbcJjmA8
@@PearlAcoustics The Holy Trinity of RUclips audio reviews are Thomas, Harley and Steve Guttenberg
@@PearlAcoustics By the way, do you loan out review samples? Asking just in case since your speakers look very interesting.
@@ThomasAndStereo that is something we could arrange. May I possibly invite you to reach out to me directly, via our website? I really look forward to talking with you. Best wishes from Belgium
Thanks to Thomas I've just arrived at your channel. Really impressive and honest review with a real life experience of this little amp. How times have changed in the hifi world. All the better for introducing more young people into our hobby.
Thanks James (and a big thanks to Thomas too)! Indeed if we can introduce more youngsters and encourage them to buy quality (not expensive) products that will last a lifetime - then I think we’re on track.
I bought this amp and paired it with Zu Omen DW's and Schitt Freya. Awesome synergy. Thanks for your review and for bringing this amp to our attention.
You’re very welcome
Wonderful insight into this small and affordable stereo amplifier. I have been suggesting the use of this particular amp with some of my other friends who own and listen to the LS3/5a monitors. You have more or less confirmed my view on this delightful small integrated amplifier. Thank you.
Thank you, you’re very welcome
I play mine straight out of an SMSL SU-10 with no preamp and that works just great.
Thank you very much for the video, for your honesty and for the recommendation of the acoustic treatment.
For me it is the main thing + well implemented equalization.
Written with translator.
Greetings
You’re very welcome Juan, glad you enjoyed it
Your review is the most authoritative, credible and backed by your years of invaluable musical experience. Nobody does it better! Never thought much of smsl until your review.
Thank you John. So very kind!
My first time listening to your reviews. Wow.... Your reviewing style is phenomenal 👌.
Thank you Tony. Very kind indeed.
First time I've watched one of your videos--thanks to Thomas for sharing. Excellent video. I'll certainly be watching more them.
Thanks
Вовлечённо.Спасибо.
Wonderful review of this amp Harley! As a soundsmith we can trust your comments on the performance qualities.
Thank you!
Great video I love listening to you talk very relaxing 🙂
Thanks 🙏 glad you enjoyed it.
Viewing your vlog on how little power is needed to drive reasonably efficient speakers quite loudly enough the other day reminded me of my early days of hi-fi in the 1970s. For several years my amplifier was a home-made 9W/channel valve amp driving a pair of Richard Allen 8 inch twin-cone speakers in home-made cabinets. My friends with far more money than I had frequently commented on how good my system sounded.
Indeed! I wonder whatever happened to Richard Allen? Thanks for sharing
Never heard of you before. Today I stumbled on this video. Then had to watch all your videos. Considering the recommendations you made in this video, I was surprised by the price of your speakers. I ordered a pair with cables anyway because the total was one third of the price of the pair of speakers I have wanted for several years now. Each piece of my current equipment weighs more than I do. I can hardly move it around. I'm dumping it all and following your line of thinking. Simple is good enough...and much lighter. Thanks for nudging me over the edge.
Dear William, so happy to hear you made the leap!
Glad I stumbled upon this. Very interesting idea of investing in something like the smsl and I guess, slowly adding treatment to tame the room.
Really enjoyed the review, well done man. Good shout out to Thomas. Thanks
Thank you, very kind
This little amp is crazy good !. I have Revel M126 Be speakers, and it makes them sound sublime. Amazing stuff SMSL, make a pair of class a mono blocks please ! With balanced inputs.
I'm glad you compared the A1 to the Luxman 590 AXii. 👍
Thank you Harley for this great review. I was convinced by Thomas & Stereo & Pearl Acoustics assessment for the SMSL VMV A1 amplifier & I managed to find a good deal for a used set. The sound was surprisingly amazing. I had also featured the amp in my RUclips channel too. I wish you a Merry Christmas & a Happy (2023) New Year. : )
You’re very welcome!
There are still classy people out there with excellent taste. Thank you for the excellent review.
Thank you. You’re very kind. Glad you enjoyed it.
I think what this says is that there a many great “budget” amplification options these days. It’s truly overwhelming. Until recently I had a couple Nelson Pass Amp Camp monoblocks, pure class A, powering my Zu Omen DWs and recently switched to a very inexpensive Iotavx PA3 class AB amp. The Amp Camp amps are very good. However the Iotavx has a control over my speakers that I have yet to hear from any other amp. And I just saw it’s now on sale for 299 pounds sterling. A steal.
Indeed, our world is changing and fast!
this is a very interesting video! Do not miss this one, especially if you are getting ready to by a new amplifier. There's much to think about here!
Glad you found it useful. Thanks!
Good lord, I was not expecting this thing to perform as well as it is. Great recommendation, thank you sir.
Glad to hear you appreciate it too. You’re very welcome
I've just got my hands on a pair of harbeth p3esrs, what a beautiful match these two are. I was mixing and matching this little vmv. So far triangle br03 and p3esr are my favourites. I have tried kef r3, polk r200 and dali rubicon2s as well.
I'm amazed. Seems like the minimalist can finally rejoice! (btw, although I'm already a subscriber, it was Thomas from T&S who recommended your video).
Happy to hear from you. I am a big fan of Thomas, he’s an inspiration
I made a cheeky low offer on one of these from a gentleman in Thailand and he accepted. I really didn't have the money to spare right now but I'm so glad I did. It arrived today and the Sprout 100 will be going on eBay tomorrow. My speakers are not super efficient (88db) but there is no problem driving them, Tannoy Revolution DC6. I really can't believe he accepted my offer, the VMV A1 has put a smile on my face. This is a great stop gap until I can find the space to set up my complete system. This has quilled my sense of urgency to set that up.
FYI I love your voice, I find it very soothing and use your videos (ones I've already watched) to take my afternoon naps to. Regards
Hi JDM. Thanks for your comment. Glad you liked the VMV A1. Not sure if “taking afternoon naps” is a compliment, but I’ll accept it as one! 😀
@@PearlAcoustics Definitely a complement your voice is very reassuring.
@@jdm-uk-yank 😀
I just got one of these and the biggest surprise was how good the bass is.
Indeed, sound wise it’s ad good as many amplifiers way a I’ve it’s price point. Good hifi needn’t cost a fortune anymore.
Harley, I like your idea of allocating resources to room treatments as room effects can be very significant. I am close to finishing up some single driver TL speakers (Pensil 10P using Mark Audio Alpair 10p drivers) and this amplifier might be worth trying out. I enjoy your content more than ANY other audio related RUclipsr.
Hi, thank you for your very kind words. They are much appreciated. Your Pencils should sound great. The little VMV A1 will be perfect. Enjoy
Great video, thanks! - I just bought the new Marantz Model 30 integrated amplifier and thought it sounded a bit soft and lacking transparency... Until I bypassed it's preamp section and used the integrated preamp on my also new Topping D90SE DAC... Wow! - I made a discovery that day. It's not the amp that colours the sound, it's the preamp! ... I am reminded of that guy who professes that all amps sound the same and offered anyone $10,000 if they could pass a blind test. Even if they brought their own amp to compare... Maybe he was right. Amps do all sound the same and it was always the preamp, either integrated or separate, that changed the sound... The Topping preamp in my DAC is very transparent, but the preamp in the Marantz incorporates a heavy 'house sound.' - The goal really is transparency. House sound is nice but not as real and exciting. (To me).
Thanks for your comment
Thank you very much for your review. I’ve listened to this amp and totally agree with your opinion. The sound is very good and better than my previous amps.
That’s great to hear. Thank you
I've been watching this and competing brands' products--these hot little boxes have magic in them
probably are spying on you..................hidden camera From China With Love
Thomas&Stereo sent me here. I am glad he did excellent video.
Thank you for your kind words and thank you Thomas! ;-)
Brilliant review!!!!
Thank you 🙏
It is a good review. I have one, and it’s fantastic.
Thank you sir wonderful video .a fan from calif.
Thank you. Very kind
Smsl is one of few Chinese companies that not only give you value for money good sound, they are very innovative too.
I heard about this amp few months back but I'm sold by your review
Thank you!
As usual... Great video..!!! (Thank you). I'm definitely curious...
I'm very intrigued by this. It seems that affordable gear is getting better these days which will be great for more people. I bet this amp starts getting a lot of attention soon... Great video Harley
Thanks!
Spot on Crimson. Quality and affordability is nothing but good for the longetvity of the industry. It protects us all by giving more people on differing budgets availability and affordability.
Crimson YESSS, Try the Denafrips dacs and you will be amazed at what quality can be had for such small sums of money!
I just ordered one off Apos, on sale for 15% off, and free delivery. They also warranty it for 2 years. I just picked up the new Klipsch RP600MIIs on sale for $450. I am using and Illuminious Technology Walker Mod passive preamp fully balanced, the Dac is a 3 year old SMSL VMV D1. I just wish this was a Balanced amp. vs. me using an RCA to XLR cable. I didn't want to 2 balanced monoblocks from Schiit to get the XLR connections. Your review makes me feel better about my purchase! I also use to own the giant Roger's Studio Monitor 2 in the day!
So glad my review helped you. Indeed, the xlr / rca challenge can be frustrating. Personally, I would never replace a great performing piece of technology just because it’s either xlr or rca. But I will never use converters either (especially cable converters, I find them too noisy).
Unfortunately, since the preamp only has balanced connections I have to use an XLR to RCA cable, as I agree that an adaptor could be an issue. The one I use is custom made by a company called World's Best Cables, from Amazon of all places. They use Neutrik XLR connectors, Amphenol RCA connectors, and Canare 4e6s Starquad cable. Should there be noise, I have never heard it luckily! Thank you for reading and replying! It's appreciated!!
Amazing, I’m getting one
I think you will not regret it.
Great review!
I just got my SMSL DA9 a little Class D amp
I'm blowing away!
It's so powerful!
And so clear sound, only for 250$!
support the China Military way to go
@@AN-ce1nd REALLY you want to deal with a country that has killed over 5 million people
not to mention , they are a little corrupt and slow..
I amazes me how so little informed the general public is . i have studied this thing since March 2020
Apathy abounds
@@michaelmcintyre9179 How about Germany ? Would you buy German products ?
@@r423sdex Duh , a no brainer. they did not release a virus on the world .
if you don't mind me asking ; that is a rather odd question
@@michaelmcintyre9179 how far are we going back ? I remember they killed a few people ( in some camps ) !. Just maybe they did not release a virus .
I added a Bellari se560 sonic exciter (a pre with tone controls) and it is hifi now. The soundstage became huge (especially tall), layers has gotten more apparent and all these go for the headphone amp as well. I would definitely give this a go if you own a smsl vmv a1. I also had the dac vmv d1se and tried its pre as well and it didn't benefit as much as it benefitted from bellari. What I like about both of them is that the mains cable they come with is very good. Although I use aftermarket cables with a more expensive system and I ( of course) tried all those aftermarket cables with vmv a1 and ended up sticking to the original ones.
Long story short it definitely benefits from a good pre-amp.
Thanks for the tip and for sharing your findings
I just got it and paired it with my Audio Physic Step 35 and it blew my mind. with the denafrips ares 2 this little thing sounds better than most 3K$ amplifiers I've tried haha
It’s amazing. Glad you agreed!
Today there are lots of Great amps. There is bound to be one that suits your needs and wants.
That’s so true. And there comes a point where sonically, do many are sounding really good.
Hey Pearl, because of this A1 review I found their lovely VMV D1se as my next target DAC. And I love watching your A1 review. 👍
Thanks 🙏
@@PearlAcoustics
You are welcome,
Btw may i know how's the performance of the headphone jack behind the A1? Have you try it?
@@klc2578 hi - yes I have used it a few times, it’s absolutely fine. Very good!
@@PearlAcoustics Wow 😍
Can handle those power hungry headphones?
@@klc2578 yes even with high impedance Sennheisers
Nice review!
Thank you
Well done Sir, 45c 113f that is very good for Class A, Your Pass will probable heat your entire room.
Thank you! 😀
Really considering the VMV A1 and D1se combo, seems like really good value for money.
It definitely is. I highly recommend it. I own the a1 but not the d1se but if it is as magical as the a1 I'd say go for it. You're going to love it.
I picked up the combo and yes it is very much worth purchasing and pairing together
If it impressed you, that tells something very positive about this tiny little amp!! I've seen lots of other reviewers talk good things about this but never took those reviews that seriously until now.
Thank you, very kind.
Nice review. I've spent more on a headphone amp, so with your recommendation I would consider this for a desktop system. Not quite throwing the new XA-25 out the window, though ;-)
No don’t throw your PassLabs out the window! 😀 it’s a great amp that should be respected and should last for ever.
Indeed, an other very good Review !!!
Would be very interesting to hear you on the cheap Akitika GT-102 amplifier that people compare to pass labs and first watts.... It's on stereophile product of the year !
Thank you, very kind. To be honest, I have never heard of the Akitika GT-102. But I will certainly look it up. Thanks for the tip!
I enjoy your reviews and value your experience. I suspect that it may be premature to equate Pass, even with the caveats you provided, with this model. If you do more listening, an update would be appreciated.
Thank you, very kind.
Hi sir we seem to be getting a lot of these relatively low cost amps etc coming onto the market , which indeed must have some of the big company’s taking notice. I must admit I am always concerned about longevity when any equipment runs at a high temperature , and not necessarily this little chap. No even some of the big boys , can produce ridiculous amounts of heart . Which trust me eventually takes its toll on components . I definitely think if they can release the product on the Uk market for say around the £450 pound mark , they may indeed have a success on their hands Best wishes and kind regards 😀👍👍👍
Thank you Michael. I think heat and longevity can go together, IF the equipment is well designed and it’s components are all working, well within their tolerances. The problem, in the past was that components (especially capacitors) were often of poor quality, and the oil dried out or leaked after a while
Much appreciated review! Did you use the built-in volume control section, or a standalone preamp to feed the A1 a signal in fixed volume mode?
Hi, Thanks fir your kind words. I tried both. I used a QUAD Artera as a preamp and set the volume at 67. Then I just used it as a regular integrated. It was fine in both situations.
People always get upset when somebody else doesn't agree with their precious audio gear and review it and they don't really like it ... Its just opinions ... 😉
I apologize if I missed this in the video, but did you use an external preamplifier or did you use the A1's internal volume control? If you tried it both ways, how did it compare? Thanks.
Hi, no apology needed. I tried both. Setting it at vol level 66 and feeding in a preamplifier and then as an integrated in its own right. If there was a difference, it was minimal. And certainly not enough to lose sleep over. The remote control works really well. Hope this helps?
Great video.👍By the way, in your LS3/5a set up with the VMV A-1, what dac were you using? Thanks.
Thanks. I was using the Lyngdorf 1120 as a pre/Dac
I am using Mark audio driver too (DIY), can you tell me if VMV A1 is a good match with them? Thanks
Wonderful review.. Now what''s the magical pre-amp that can make this amp sing for not that much more money in comparison? a preamp-amp combo that makes this sound like the Pure Audio One that you mentioned in a comment below.
Thank you for your kind words. Personally, I wouldn’t use one, except for adding extra inputs, but there’s lots of fun to be had trying different combinations! I think VMV (SMSL) make a whole range of compatible devices and Thomas has even reviewed some, I believe.
I wonder have you listened to the Quad 303? I am guessing I hear a shudder in the room as the very thought of class B is mentioned. Truth is a stock 303 was and still is a wonderful amplifier and if restored and or upgraded the 303's are very special despite the fact that they break the very rules we were told should not be broken. They switch off and on so they run cool and last for a very long time. While the 405 was seen by many consumers of the day as the 303'3 replacement having twice its power I prefer the sound of the 303. Thanks for your interesting videos.
Thanks very much for your kind appreciation and comment. I must admit it’s been a very, very long time since I heard a 303. And never a modernised one. Hopefully, one day?
So, I swapped back to my long standing ProAc Tablette Reference 8 and it was fantastic. A brilliant synergy. But recently I purchased a pair of Dynaudio Heritage Specials and I'm a bit worried to try and drive a 4ohm speaker.
Sadly your speakers wouldn't fit where I use them for daily (not session) listening.
Indeed, one must be careful, especially as some ‘4 ohm’ speskers dip way below 4 ohm.
Hi Harley! When you mentioned the Luxman amp and you said it was "coloured" could you expand a bit? Did you mean it was TOO warm/cosy "marshmallowy"...?...Im really keen on your speakers, but also that amp. Did you try it on your speakers or something else? Thanks!
Hi, sure! Yes I tried it briefly on our Sibelius loudspeakers. I think ‘warm and cosy’ is a very accurate description. Some people would love it and if your room is bright, it could be great. But try it first. It’s a lovely, lovely, amp and should last ‘forever’ but it’s got a lot of character that not everyone wants.
What I'd like to know Harley, is what's the little model car on your desk and does it have a story? Also perhaps one day you'll give us a little tour of your workspace. I can see something with a tube cage and some other tasty gizmos on the shelves to your left. :)
Well spotted! The car is a Jaguar 420. I used to own one and my wife gave me this model of it for my 40th. Birthday!
The cage in the background, is most likely my QUAD PA-One, dac/tube pre amp. A very nice piece that goes with my vintage Quad system. I think it’s featured in one, or more, of my other videos.
@@PearlAcoustics lovely! I love the charisma of those older jags. I keep an eye open always for a nice XJC to cross my path and I can convince the owner to part with it.
and i would like to ask your advice now i have and old BIC venturi V620 bookshelf spkrs and my question is i having with inside box speaker wire to tweeter and midbass , your advice what gauge wire should match them correctly ? thzx your advice .
Just a good thickness (like 1,5mm) mains cable should do it. Or you can always splash out on on something fancy, but I sincerely think it will not make much of an audible difference.
Great little amp, inoffensive, no upper midrange excess. For my taste it lacks treble extension and a bit of the depth that tubes give. The recommendation to use the volume range from 66 to 68 with a preamp is inexplicable to me. The function of the preamplifier is to improve the signal and if it does not amplify it cannot fulfill its function. Using a Topping pre90 preamp the sound is very clean/thin within this range but the midbass suffers and there is no midrange bloom at all. In my experience the amp works best between 35 and 55. Let's not forget the concept of riding the gain
Thanks for your contribution to the topic
Need to get your hands on 2 schiit Aeger amps.. try stereo & Monoblocks.. very very inexpensive amps.
What is your main preamp?
I use Benchmark AHB2 , couldn't be happier!
Thanks for the tip. I will certainly take it up one day. I used a QUAD Artera + for the pre-amp.
Thank you for your great reviews. Du you think this amp can drive Rogers sl 5/3 a 15 ohm .
Thank you reinhart
Dear Reinhart. Thank you for your kind words. The answer is yes it can drive them but only in a small toom. When driven too hard, the amplifier loses its charm. So it rather depends how loud you listen to music and the kind of room you have. (Large / small, no damping or highly damped). Depending on your situation, I think you might want an amplifier with 20watts per channel, to be on the safer side.
Buy two they’re cheap enough! One for the office one for your living room. As a cheap office amp it’s a good shot that you need to add a source - what source would you recommend for the office for this?
For some people, even 650USD is a lot, but I take your point. Most office applications involve a computer and I like to run a separate DAC I just use a FIIO - but this is not my expertise, I know that SMSL make some amazing DAC’s like the M400, or the VMV D1se. I am told.
Thanks! How would you compare this to the musical fidelity a1?
Good question! I think the VMVA1 is very special. Subtle, relaxing and fairly detailed. The A1, is more powerful and offers more features.
I made the experience that all amplifiers (and DACs) sound practically the same if the connected speakers are easy to drive. I compared my Hegel H120 to the Hegel H590 at the same pair of speakers and there wasn't any difference. My 15 year old amplifier that was a quarter of the price of the Hegel H120 sounds exactly the same. The speakers (and speaker placement), recording and room acoustics make the difference...
Dear Ralph, I tend to agree with you that good quality amplifiers should sound ‘the same’. In my experience. However this is not the case, or at least the difference between good amplifiers can be subtle, like that between two good Red Bordeaux wines. Unfortunately, there are products on the market that do not sound as good as they should for the price. Snd some amplifiers have very special characteristics. Enjoy your music. That’s what matters!
@@PearlAcoustics I agree that well designed budget amps can sound similar to more expensive designs with subtle differences in perhaps inner detail, depth, width of stage, etc. I found that my tiny integrated Keces E40 sounds like a mini Hegel when compared to my H160. Not being a spring chicken anymore and I have always used stand mount speakers, these little amps are more desirable given my listening habits. Larger, well designed and more expensive amps do have their place as well so these will still be sought after, but the small amps coming out can start a whole new revolution in hi fidelity among today's consumers, young and old.
Getting good enough results with the Keces e40 with a Topping D70s into Focal 807Ws for both music and soundtracks. Tempted to try other small amps as well.
This is not true. It is a widely known fact that hi-fi gear washed in snake oil sounds much much better.
@@PearlAcoustics Maybe I'm so focused on the music that I don't notice these subtle differences. Anyway, I agree that good Bordeaux wines don't necessarily all taste the same. However, when they match Robert Parker's taste, they do.... ;-)
Hello,
Do you think this would be a good match with the Klipsch Cornwall Four speakers?
Thanks
Hi - I am not that familiar with the Klipsch but according to what Steve and others say about them, I would guess that it would be a ‘perfect’ match!
Wow, you wait till you hear the Topping PA5 ( you won't believe it's possible), but it is.
curious to hear one...
Love your channel and followed this with great interest, but had to write re; your Luxman experience. I’m very confused how the pictured L590AX-II could ever be described as ‘marshmallowy’ and ‘warm’. I’d say it exhibits less of those qualities than the Pass and has only the tiniest hint of warmth relative to (say) a comparable class A/B amp. I do wonder if maybe the unit you heard had a fault, as it’s a quite stunning amp in pretty much ever regard, without any hint of ‘marshmallow’! Anyway, kind regards from Scotland 🏴
Hi John. Thank you for your kind words. How interesting that your experience of the Luxman was so different from mine. Of course it is highly possible that there was a fault in it. It was a second hand unit. I listened to it first in my comparison sessions - and maybe it just needed more time to really warm up. This HiFi world we live in is so interesting, and largely because (for me), it’s so variable and subjective. Maybe we are misinterpreting’Marshmallow’ 😀. If I ever come to Scotland, maybe I can hear yours, for myself? Best wishes from Belgium 🇧🇪
@@PearlAcoustics You would be more than welcome!!!
My ears pricked when Luxman was mentioned as I've been eyeing that amp for ages. I'm super keen on the Sibelius speakers so it was a bit disheartening to hear it described as "coloured". Not sure what harley meant by that....too filtered?
So it's safe to say...if I was interested in dipping my toes into class a, this little amp will give me a good idea what class a sounds like? I'm interested in luxman, pass, coda, etc...but its an expensive venture so going in blind into a higher end brand is risky for me.
Indeed, I would say there’s no rush. You could even be disappointed. Maybe there is an audio club nearby to where you live where one of the members might lend you an amplifier to use in your home? There’s only one place to test amplifiers and that’s in your home. The difference is too subtle, anywhere else, unless you can find a dealer where you can take your system to them for comparison?
halo ,sir do u know what is gauge size for inside bookshelf speaker tweeter and midbass ? tq
That’s not so critical. 2a multi strand cable will be fine (more commonly known as bell wire. Hope this helps)?
I noticed that you too set the volume as 67 and connect it as a power amp i presume. What is your volume level you set on your source ? Is there a noticeable improvement compared to playing the source at 0db and control the volume from A1? Thanks.
I just run the source exactly as I would normally. I have it switch on at -35db. Hope this helps?
That must be loud. In my small room i have my A1 volume at 11 with source at 0db. Thomas mentioned that it sounds better when engaged with volume 67 and above to bypass its preamp which i have yet to try...
@@hansiangng2808 these things are not linear. The QUAD preamp has a low output, so -35db is just an indication and is based upon a total output of 0.5v where many pre-amps have an output of 1.0v or more.
Watch the sales of the little amp go through the roof 👌
Single driver speakers with decent sensitivity are probably a great match for this low powered amp. Also, near-field applications where little power is required. Maybe the Pass Labs and other similar beasts come into their own with more complex and demanding loads.
Absolutely
Hello, I enjoy your relaxed and very knowledgeable approach in your videos. I am currently exploring class A and trying to learn about the way it works. This little amp you present is quite intriguing. Considering that Class A usually employs massive toroidal power supplies and heat venting resulting in bulk and weight, how does this little amp drive your Sibelius and Rogers with such reach? BTW any thoughts on Sugden?, Michael, Dublin
Thank you for your kind words. The VMV drives the Sibelius just fine. Sugden make very fine amplifiers, never heard anything but good about them. Especially the A1 SE
How does it compare to the Quad Solus ? I have the A1 but am thinking about getting the Solus play for an integrated cd playback.
I have never heard the Solus, sorry. But I would imagine the amplifier in the A1 might even be better than the Solus. You would have to try (keep the A1, if you can) and buy the Solus as well, then decide.
Ah, i think i may have mistaken the one sitting beside the A1 in your video as the Solus. Then it should be the Artera Play i believe as they look the same. Thanks for the reply!
@@hansiangng2808 indeed. No worries
Did you compared it with the PureAudio One?
No, I didn’t. Sorry. I ket that amplifier go a little while back. I had too much equipment piling up in the studio! I think it has a similar character but the PureAudio is much more powerful. You could by nearly 20 A1’s for the same price. Having said that, at low volume it would be hard to tell them apart.
How is this little one compared to the Quad 405-2?
Oh, that’s a tough one! I love my QUAD 405-2 (irrational preference) but I think up to 10watts per channel, the VMV-A1 sounds better.
halo, sir this vwv amp class A would it too hot as play for fours or just warm , not like musical fidelity A1 is kinda abit hot
I have played it continuously for 24 hours and it stays pretty constant around 45c. Hope that helps?
Hi Harvey, which 50 watt SMSL were you using with the LS3/5a? I have a class D SMSL AO200 into some LS3/5a and am considering changing to the A1. Your thoughts would be very much appreciated.
I cannot remember the exact model but it was one of the little cheap ones, not ‘high-end’. It might be a TDA7492
I cannot remember the exact model but it was one of the little cheap ones, not ‘high-end’. It might be a TDA7492
@@PearlAcoustics Thanks Harvey. If I could trouble you with one more question- how do you think the A1 would drive LS3/5a’s (well Falcon Acoustics Q7’s) in a 24x12 ft room?
@@1jhnpennington hi, it really depends on how hard you drive them. And how damped your room is. Of course I am using mine fairly near field. You might need to play safe and go for something with a bit more power because they are 83db at 1m at 1 watt. Which means the A1 will begin to flatten out at 91db. I think you should look for something 20w+ per channel into 15ohm. Ie 40w per channel into 8 ohm. I hope that helps?
@@PearlAcoustics that’s what I’ve currently got with my AO200 and it sounds great. I think I was just being seduced by thoughts of class A.
Will it work good on 86db sensitivity speaker?
If the room is not too big and you want to listen at moderate levels.
Driving a pair of 15-ohm Rogers LS3/5a's with mere 10 watts per channel ?
This should be OK - you'll get around 91db max, per channel = 94db into the room. That's pretty loud. I use it with my LS3/5A's in a desktop setting and it never gets anywhere near maximum.
@@PearlAcoustics Sounds mighty impressive for such a tiny package ! Technology has really gone ahead !
Thanks for another great review, Harley. I wonder about its power supply. It doesn't look big enough to contain a reasonably-sized toroidal transformer or numerous electrolytic capacitors. Maybe it' incorporates a switched-mode supply
Hi John, thanks for your kind words. I can recommend you check out the VMV SMSL website. You will see for yourself that it has a linear power supply and some high quality caps - I was amazed myself! Enjoy
@@PearlAcoustics Hi Harley. I took your advice and visited the website and found one or two specifications of the A1 amplifier a little puzzling. The amplifier must have some sort of sensing arrangement so that when it's in idling mode for a certain period of time the power supply effectively shuts down because the standby power is quoted as being less that 0. 5 watts. The power consumption is quoted at 30 watts, which I would have thought was a little low for 2 x 10 watts into 8 ohms for true class-A. The 32 ohm load specification of 2 watts output I guess is quoted for headphone listening. I like the fact that it' incorporates field effect transistors. I'm always puzzled that more amplifiers don't utilise them. In my earlier message, I had forgotten that modern, high-valued electrolytics can have a very low profile, but I wonder if their life expectancy is as good as the larger types. Finally, I was told that they couldn't export the product to New Zealand - not that I have considered buying one !
@@johnmarchington3146 hi, in my experience, it does not shut down automatically to idle, you have to set it there. As I say, I think it is not a true, true class A, except possibly at only a few watts. And whatever it is - it impressed me. Good luck in New Zealand
@@PearlAcoustics Thanks for explaining the situation, Harley. I'm sure it's a terrific little amp.
Harley, great review as always, but I am just fixated on that glass of water and your arms…will it? Won’t it?
😂 actually it is further away than it looks. Sorry for the stress! 😉
hifi is getting cheaper coz of evolving technology. this is the way of the future. watch out for the coming iPods :)
LISTENING CHAIR
how does the vmv a1 compare to the a21se? I have the vmv a1. Is it worth upgrading to the a21se? Thanks and greetings Chris
My Speakers are B&W 803 D2
Hi Chris, thanks for your question. The price point difference of the two units is large and the difference small. Assuming the unit was in my living room, and I could only have one if the two devices, I would choose the A21 SE because of its lovely soundstage and power. Having said that, I would not sell the VMV A1 but would find a use for it elsewhere (for example, on my desk) - it is a good headphone amplifier - or give it to my children, because it’s too good to sell on. I hope that helps? If in doubt, don’t bother to upgrade unless there is something you are not happy with the VMV A1.
Hi Harley, thanks for the quick reply. Then I will stay with the vmv a1 for now. I look forward to more videos from you. Greetings from the Odenwald in Germany
Can it drive low impedance dropping down to 2 ohms minimum
Probably not, but what’s the point of 2ohms speakers.
@@r423sdex nominally 8 ohm drivers often dip to 6 or even 4 ohms. Put 2 in parallel halves this bit increases the sensitivity by 6 db. This effectively turns a 10 watt amp into a 40 watt amp
So, if I could afford to buy the pass labs amplifier, I could get the smsl instead and have enough cash left over to get a pair of pearl acoustics sebelius loudspeakers....
🎶🤔🎶
Brilliant!!
PS
I still have my old musical fidelity A100 in a box somewhere. Maybe I should start there....
Now that’s an angle I hadn’t seen coming! 😀
@@PearlAcoustics I actually thought of this too! Of course, for my workshop or office desk I would be most interested in a Pearl Acoustics stand mount pair …. Hint.
@@PanAmStyle 😉
Or you could buy even cheaper class D amplifier and get cheaper transmission line loudspeakers with Markaudio drivers. For all together about 20% of the cost.
@@Thomas..Anderson my Rega Naos are transmission lines but with 8-inch drivers plus tweeters.
I'd be interested in finding information on those Mark audio transmission lines.... Is it a kit?
Did you not use it as a preamp then just power amp because you said something about the other preamplifier on the desk
I used it in both situations. It worked fine in both. Hope that helps?
Does it have a switching power supply?
Interior photos are limited, but the marketing literature showed a noratel toroidal transformer. It's so odd though. I can't imagine how they are doing real class A from a tiny box with no heatsinks.
@@peterlarkin762 Thanks Peter for adding the information. 'Real Class A' is a good point. See my comment on Bias settings. The whole case is acting as one big heat sink - very clever. It get's quite hot.
@@peterlarkin762 because it is not class A. it is a cheap chinese class D amplifier.
@@Thomas..Anderson it’s not class D, it’s very high biased class A. You can open it up and make it class A, but it then gets very hot. If you turn it up to 68 it turns into a power amp.
@@r423sdex Class A amplifier has a maximal theoretical efficiency (for non inductive coupling) of 25%. This thing has 30W specified power consumption for the whole stereo amplifier with all the ads on. The numbers simply do not add up. If it was a highly biased class A, the efficiency would be even less.
Did he just mention this amp and Pass Labs XA25 in the same sentence?
I know, it’s sacrilege! I love PassLabs gear and have the deepest respect for Nelson Pass. But that little amp surprised the hell out of me!
@@PearlAcoustics what a great era in audio we’re in ☺️
@@seekeroftheways I couldn’t agree more!
How is it possible to control heat in such small devices?
Hi, in fact you do not really need to. The VMV A1 is designed to run warm/hot. Mine runs between 32 and 42 degrees c depending on ambient temperature. In fact it needs to run warm to function correctly.
"....sounds as good, even similar, I should say, to the Pass Labs XA25....I just could not believe it .... So I was thinking, 650 USD vs roughly 5000 USD..."
It’s strange, isn’t it? A great design, is a great design - regardless of cost. I am running as my desktop amp right now. So handy, because if it’s size.
So after just two mins into the video, I now understand why everything anyone ever reviews on RUclips is always brilliant, talk about cherry pickers.
Thanks for your comment. I understand where you are coming from. Especially, if the presenter is positioning themselves as a professional reviewer. In my case, I just make the occasional video on equipment or topics that I am interested in. If a product failed to impress me, then I just wouldn’t bother. But I get your point. And I will certainly give it some serious thought. Maybe ‘my five worst stereo systems’ might be a topic? But please remember, I am not doing this for money (my channel is not monetised) but to genuinely share my thoughts on things I find interesting.
you mentioned that in a couple of years you might get bored with this amp and replace it. So have you?
Hi, thanks for your question. I still have the VMV A1 in our professional listening room as an option for people to audition. It really is a marvel. At home I have stayed with my big class A SET monoblocks for the winter and the Lyngdorf 1120 for the summer. On my home office desk I have switched to a Neuman system, and in my office, I still use my vintage QUAD 405 / 66 / 67 setup. Enjoy the music
@@PearlAcoustics lots of very nice listening options. Thanks for the update.
Harley, I‘m wondering why you wouldn‘t tell us about a product you dislike for whatever reason? This issue is growing all over RUclips.
I do that on my Patreon account because I feel I 'own' them something more.
@@ThomasAndStereo As I said…. the issue is growing all over RUclips.
Dear Paul, thank you for your comment. It's a good point. I make video in my free time 'for fun'. I do not monetize them. I do it simply to share my views and becasue people seems to enjoy watching them. Covering products I don't like while there are still so many I do like, would be a bit depressing and hard to put energy into. Having said that, I think HiFi is becoming a bit like cars - it's genuinely hard to find really bad products these days, via conventional channels). Not like in the old days. But you have given me a thought. Maybe I could do one on the things 'in general' I don't like?
@@PearlAcoustics Thank you very much for your response, Harley! I totally understand your point. It's not that I don't enjoy your (or Thomas') videos - please do not misunderstand. Often people look for opinions and reviews on/about products and in ~95% of the results someone finds positive information about it. RUclipsrs seem to be afraid to tell us what they don't like and I guess they don't want to share an unpopular opinion. Therefore they don't tell us about those products. I don't know - maybe I am different than the common audience. I want to know what you think: if you find this product to be sh§& I want to know why, if you find this product to be average I want to know why and of course if you like it I want to know it too. I am interested in your opinion - no matter in which direction it leans. Please keep up the good work - of course I still enjoy watching your (and Thomas') videos :)
@@PAULGRILL - thanks Paul. Your understanding is much appreciated