Can u please tell me if there’s anything better than the dx3 pro plus for $200, specifically for(in order of importance) directional audio, depth of field and then resolution retrieval. It’ll be pretty much strictly used for competitive gaming. My current considerations are the aforementioned topping, the smsl c200, the fiio k-11, the smsl m300se and anything you think I should be looking at instead. I hope u see this and feel like answering. Thanks in advance, even if u don’t feel like it. You’ve been a ton of help already.
I bought this amplifier a month ago and connected it to wiim pro plus and kef q350. sounds great together. but... a new amplifier came out with the same chip from smsl, with hdmi arc, sub out. It is worth paying attention to the SMSL AO300.
Have bought the SMSL M300 se after watching your review of it ,completely blown away by the sound of this dac/ hp amp . Cirrus Logic chip makes me want to listen to my whole cd collection all over again .Am seriously considering this one too , ...
Very comprehensive review with all the required content, speaker pairings, power output, sound signature and a newly shorn neat presenter. 😊 . Thanks for this great review, your time and efforts to share this worthwhile amp with us all. Stay well, Sir.
SMSL SA300 has SW out built NO DAC… SMSL Sanskrit pairs well but as you state the new one is better… and a Headphone amp : SP100… LOVE their the fit finish quality and SOUND of SMSL. I agree, if it had SW Output it could be “perfect”. Thx
I have the AL300 - it's great for the money but I upgraded to the SMSL VMVA1 for greater clarity/resolution/detail. However, with its DAC and head amp, the AL200 sounds like fantastic value.
Not to bash but the VMV A1 is way overpriced for what it is, there are much better amps around for that price, not to mention much more powerful as well.
@@hobhood7118 The Hypex NC252MP, its size depends on the case its mounted in, since multiple manufacturers offer the same amplifier module in different cases. I bought mine from IOM and it's very similar in size to the VMV A1. It doesn't have a headphone amp but you can always add that fairly cheaply, the SMSL SH-6 comes to mind.
I've got a SMSL sAp 2 headphone amp that is still going strong after about 9 years. Very reliable and pretty powerful. Drives the Sundara at about 10 to 11 o'clock. They seem to be a reliable firm.
hi there. by and large, i enjoy your commentary, and generally find its down to earth comments pithy and helpful. (one different point i wanted to rtaise subsequent to thgis talk, was that , when i checked some of the (budget) speaker recommends, i found that the price points were WAY more high than the indicated range. one example in 'Around $US200' range is about $US350!!! i didn't write the name down for that precise reason :-), and there were several other such examples. fyi.
I'd happily pay another $50 for the sub out -- seems like a weird choice considering that the product seems pretty obviously (to me, at least) intended for desktop / near field office listening. So you can't grow your system later unless you get clever about it. Edit: There's now an SMSL product that's about $50 more and has a sub out; it's called the AO-300. (Not the A-300 or the AO-200.)
That's a fine THD figure of 0.003%, even if that is the THD at 2 or 5, or 10 Watts out.. (where THD is always lower than at higher volumes out) ..which used to be the case with given spec's many years back, when amp' manufacturers were more 'open' about the relative circumstances their spec's were obtained under. Well reviewed Class D amps I've seen the specs of, i've noticed they do bettet with THD & 'damping factor' (when given) than with older, far beefier & heavier A or A/B amps.
I picked up this amplifier this week and am still trying to optimize its sound. I currently have a pair of Klipsch RP-600M (OG) connected to a Sonos Amp. The sound of the AL200 did not impress when I connected a Wiim Mini to it via toslink. The sound was a bit veiled with a lack of bass extension. Adding a Schiit Modi+ to the signal chain improved the sound. There was better separation of instruments and overall a bit more dynamics. Will listen to the AL200 a bit more but I am curious to hear from others regarding your impressions of the internal DAC and the amplifier itself overall. Perhaps my expectations of this amplifier was a bit unreasonable. Cheers 😊
Indeed, i have the same experience. Have a pair of Triangle Borea 3 and a BueSound Node 2i streamer/dac. Compairing with my Aiyima D03, the sound is more detailed, enough mids- and high-tones but a little lack of bass extension. For my taste anyway. Overall..i like the sound of the Aiyima D03 more, it's warmer but not muddy, although for my ears. Ohh..i forgot to mention; i have a 36 volt power adapter on the Aiyima instead of the standard 32 volt adapter.
I now own this SMSL AL200 amp (added to the collection) ... Randy's assessment is pretty much spot on. I really pushed it to with various speakers and put it up against various amps costing much more. wharfedale elysian 4 sounded crazy good with this little class D amp. Its sound is simllar to the SMSL DA-9 but with more driving power, and dare i say, Resolution. I like it. Down side is the coded OS and no auto between headphone and main amp. EQ is a little confusing too. A DA-9 type interface would be welcome. The sound quality outweighs the negatives though.
Hi Randy, what’s your experience with NAD? I think it would be great if you add the C316BEE V2 to the contenders of this category. It is the amp I use and I’ve been watching reviews of these Class D Chinese amps cause I may buy one to replace mine during the heat of summer season here, but I am really wondering if I could still enjoy listening with a similar “experience” (not tone) as I do with my NAD
Bought this amp and while it sounded just fine, the main control knob was misaligned and unable to smoothly rotate and it also prevented it from being pushed to cycle through menu options. Rest of the build quality was impressive but couldn't operate it reliably.
Looks like a really nice amp, I'll take your word for it. That said, it lacks a number of functionalities; no sub out, no high pass filter (offered on SMSL A300) and no balance control where it's really needed... on the remote (see Parasound Zpre3). Personally, I'd happily give up the MQA and Bluetooth to get those features and pay 50% more for the features I do want.
Randie!! Treated myself to fosi v3 to pre amp 2 speakers in my 7.2.4 set up ….at 150watt per channel is worth powering the fronts (wharfdale evo 4) and let the avr spread the power to the surrounds ?? Or power the rear heights ( wharfdale diamond 9 book shelf speakers) ?????
Only thing missing is a sw out (and maybe a hpf like the a300) So maybe if you need one you can opt for the a300 (that uses the same chip). It also can work in monoblock mode.
SMSL is out with a new product called the AO-300 (not the A-300 or the AO-200) and it appears to be this piece -- the AL200 -- but with a SW out and a different aesthetic. Haven't found any reviews yet, though.
Hey Randy, i got this amp a few days ago, second hand,but it looks like it was never used. The seller had 2 of these amps(crazy) and this one was 3 months old. I also have the Aiyima D03 (with a 36 volt power supply instead of a 32 volt power supply) and i would say, the SMSL is (for my ears) not "way" better than the Aiyima although the SMSL looks nicer. The tone control on the Aiyima on the remote works very good, i miss the tone control(on the remote) on the SMSL. Directly i mean. Yeah, the seller(had also the Aiyima) said that the Aiyima sounds a little "dark" compairing the SMSL. Yes i hear that also, but i don't hate that. The SMSL has "cleaner" bass, i can hear that indeed and more mids- and high-tones. More "details"" that's right. But.still like the Aiyima. Only streaming music(Spotify) ; Bluesound Node 2i and a pair of Triangle Borea 3 speakers(that you don't like🤪).. Works great in my small room
Hey Randy, love your content. You are probably aware but smsl release the ao200 mkii which is very similar to the al200 but can connect a sub. It doesn’t have the headphone amp though.
Dude! Just when I think I have made up my mind on which amp to purchase, another video comes out with another great amp possibility. I can’t make up my mind. This one has everything I was looking for with the exception of an output for a sub woofer.
@@Desanusor What's making the RCA in to the sub to come out to this? This is the DAC too with no way to output that to anything other than speaker level.
You inspired me to buy this Randy. It arrived today from Amazon (yup, they're in) I have a lot of systems, and I own a good few SMSL products. I haven't wired this up yet, but I'm certainly going to feedback when I do. I'm going to use some fairly high end BIG speakers with some direct DSD recordings (some made in my studio) I have Amps and DACs from SMSL without complaints, so I'm intrigued to hear how this well made class D amp compares to my high end pre/power amps. I have a feeling I'm going to be impressed.
@@chinmeysway I now own this SMSL AL200 amp (added to the collection) ... Randy's assessment is pretty much spot on. I really pushed it to with various speakers and put it up against various amps costing much more. wharfedale elysian 4 sounded crazy good with this little class D amp. Its sound is simllar to the SMSL DA-9 but with more driving power, and dare i say, Resolution. I like it. Down side is the coded OS and no auto between headphone and main amp. EQ is a little confusing too. A DA-9 type interface would be welcome. The sound quality outweighs the negatives though.
Nice review as always. Curious why this was released though when there is the A300. I have an AO200 for a secondary system and think it sounds just fine but wish it had a bit more power so this (and the A300) could be just the ticket. I wish they would make a straight up power amp so I could get a tubed preamp in front of it.
@@marcg.7850 that is true. I used mine to bi amp in which I ran an integrated to the top and the A07 to the bottom. You have 2 options. 1 is to set the volume almost all the way up and use it as a stand alone amp or use the volume control to actually give you more flexibility to tweak your gains. Once set I never touched it.
I have the Bluesound Powernode and wonder how the SMSL AL200 amp compares to the amp in the Powernode? I have been thinking of selling the Powernode and replacing it with separate amp, DAC, and using the Wiim Mini instead. Any thoughts?
Oh Chief! My chief You definitely have too get the smsl a300 and do a shoot out for us! You'll be the undisputed King of cheap Audio (put in the V3 just for sound comparison) 👍🏿🙏🏿
Man if this had HDMI ARC it would be amazing for a sound bar replacement and more. Other than that this thing seems like an amazing deal. Good stuff Randy!!
If you're using your TV for audio, most TVs have optical output. Check your TV and see. Earc is generally needed for multichannel output such as Atmos or 5.1, 7.1 etc. This amp wouldn't be even able to convert these multichannel audio into stereo and would likely raise the price substantially where optical should be more than sufficient.
@@danieljung2810I know this but I like the control of hdmi arc. The Arylic B50 has arc and is 150 so adding arc to this wouldn’t drive the cost up that much.
@@lcd2426 I have B50 connected to tv via hdmi and it sounds terrible. I have tried many settings eq. I am very dissapointed because hdmi arc should be advantage.
This is just like my SMSL DA-9 but more powerful 165x2 compare to DA-9’s 90x2 at 4 ohms. However, my DA-9 has a subwoofer output. Let me know if this is an upgrade with almost at the same price ($250). As always, thanks for the review.
I currently have a set of JBL Studio 530s hooked up to an NAD 326Bee amp. It sounds a little dark to my taste, muffled ish. I also don't have a DAC or bluetooth being an older analog amp. Would this be an upgrade or would I need to spend more since my unit is already supposedly quite nice?
I'm sure you'll benefit from a more analytical or 'neutral' amp, as the 326Bee low frequency emphasis affects tonal neutrality (bleeds into mids). Owned one and it provides oomph, although not the most accurate in the bass department and/or refinement (this is what you're hearing). That said, the 530 isn't the easiest to drive (low sensitivity) and will clear up fast with better power. I think this will be a great upgrade.
Sounds amazing for the price, and a very thorough review. I'm looking for an amp to drive a pair of 2 way bookshelf speakers (6" bass mid, 8 ohms, 88db, 10 - 80 watts recommended, 120 watts max) for surround purposes downstream of an AV processor. I'm considering the Fosi V3 with the 48volt 5amp optional power supply from your review, and now this. Would either of those amps be able to play loud enough in a AV setup - I listen close to Dolby reference levels on transient peaks - gunshots, explosions etc. I have read that not being able to play loud is an issue for some of these budget class d amps, so wondering if the Fosi V3 or this SMSL would be appropriate for my purposes? My room is 5 x 4 metres... many thanks for your considered thoughts...
The class D chip amps struggle with volume because they cannot deliver enough current, this is going to be especially apparent in your use case with a lot of transient peaks, also the more you up the volume the more the speaker inductive characteristics ends up controlling the amps output in a negative way. If you're willing to spend a little bit more I would definitely look at assembled Hypex NC252MP modules, you can find them online from the likes of VTV, Buckeye, etc. They're around 500$, 250W per channel, 20A max current delivery will make it the perfect amp for what you're seeking, not to mention it betters every chip amp on the market right now as far as SQ.
@@RagnetulCarpatilor Thank you for your considered and very helpful thoughts. They echo the concerns at the back of my mind as I note even the 48volt optional supply for the fosi v3 is rated at only 5 amps. I’m in Australia so will search online for the Hypex modules you’ve mentioned. Other possibilities available locally here could include the Yamaha WXA 50 which uses an ICE power module, or an entry level class AB amp such as the NAD C316 Bee V2, or the Cambridge AXA 35. The NAD in particular, even though rated at 40 watts continuous, is capable of some 80 watt instant peaks from NADs info, so potentially a better solution to deal with sudden large transients in movies than a class d chip Amp like the smsl or Fosi v3. Even so I would prefer Class D from Hypex or ICE power if possible. Do the Hypex modules you mentioned come in a finished box ready to use or is there some DIY process still involved? The specs sound perfect. Many thanks.
@@Pisceanboi The Hypex modules come either assembled from various sources or you can assemble one yourself if you are more tech savvy. For Australia there was March Audio who sold assembled NC252MP modules, but I don't think he does anymore. If you want the whole market overview just do a Google search with the following "Audio Science Review Hypex Ncore NC252MP market overview", keep in mind that the list hasn't been updated in the last year. The best value offering would be from Audiophonics in France, you can also deduct the VAT from its price so you end up paying only Australian VAT. Ice power is good, so are the class AB amps, but the Hypex is much better. It measures just as well as other manufacturers flagship amps, for example the A-S3200 from Yamaha, in some aspects it even betters that, mainly intermodulation distortion and load invariability. For the 570€ I paid for mine I'm confident there is nothing at this price which would provide better sound.
Would be really nice if you could review the sabaj a30a and compare it with this. yes it's almost twice the price, but very similar in functionality (plus a sw out) and woulde interested to know if it's twice the performance.
Honest question: do you think it rivals something like a cambridge audio axa35? I'm trying to cut some costs to make a nice system. I'm thinking about using a pair of KEF Q350.
Q350 are wonderful speakers, but need a lot of power. I don't think axa 35 will be enough for them. I have a Topping PA3 (unbalanced version) for my Q350, and that's not enough. I put a Schiit Magni EMI headphone amp in the chain and that help a bit. I've now bought the FosiAudio V3 with 48V 5A power supply, and I hope that will finaly be enough. Picking it up in a few days.
@@Farazao Not big, about 29m2 (4mx7,2m). What I like most about these speakers is that when they're toed in properly, they fill my room. Extreme toe in worked best in my room, so don't be afraid to play around with it. I'll update you on how the amp worked, once I have it.
The speaker binding posts look to be much larger/better than on most small amps? That and the internal power supply (probably a switch mode unit?) make it much more attractive.
Hi :) Do you think it can handle a big floor stander with 7 drivers (3 of them are 8inch midbas woofers)? The speakers are easy 4ohms at 96db sensitivity. Room is relatively small and listening position is around 2.5meters from the speakers. P.s Can it also accept an external dac? Cheers and thanks Ilan from Israel;)
This appears to be “sold out”, at like Amazon…and if you choose ship from US at HFE. If you choose to get it from China, are you going to get 100v vs. 110/120?
@cheapaudioman or anyone else - How does it compare to a bit pricier Cambridge Audio CXA61 or CXA81 (an amp only using RCA inputs)? I am listening to vocals and classical music at usually low volume. Speakers - LS500 meta. Thanks.
Hi! Please tell me, is there any background noise in the speakers in standby mode? Before that, I had an SMSL AO200, and after switching to standby mode, there was a background in the speakers.
I bought this amplifier after watching this video. It sounds great but... it's only lasted two weeks, one of which was off. Yesterday, out of nowhere, it turned off and has not worked again. Luckily it failed soon, so I was able to return it to Amazon without problems.
Randy, are there special instructions for attaching a subwoofer to the speaker outputs? I've heard that Class D amplifiers will destroy the input on the subwoofer unless you wire it correctly.
You'd need something like a high-level converter. I've used them in car audio before to tap into the speaker level outputs to an rca output. You cannot wire speaker outputs straight to rca without a converter.
There’s no load from a powered sub using speaker level inputs. You don’t need any converter. You just run a line from you speaker outs to the speaker level inputs on your sub. The sub is just grabbing a signal. Just positive to positive. Negative to negative. Lots of subs have speaker level inputs.
@cheapaudioman not all subwoofers have speaker level inputs. @59seank didn't specify he had a subwoofer that could do so. My post is also talking about speaker level to RCA, where you WOULD need a converter.
SMSL AL200 or Aiyima T9 PRO for a secondary system? Is the AL200 worth an extra $100 in terms of sound quality? I was about to pull the trigger on a T9 Pro but then this video popped up and now I'm torn.
It is listed on Amazon (US) but showing out of stock. No reviews either so perhaps the listing has been put up in anticipation of getting first stocks?
@cheapaudioman or anyone else - Would you use it to amplify signal from Guarstard A26? I am listening to vocals and classical music at usually low volume. Speakers - LS500 meta. Thanks.
Just got one. Sounds terrific (bluetooth sounds great, too). Drives my 6ohm bookshelves flawlessly. I've been waiting for a good, small class D with a true sub-out, and this is it!
SMSL AL200 bit.ly/3XPY4N6
WIIM Pro amzn.to/3NPAdIW
Elac BS41 amzn.to/3NMNUs5
I'm new to this, and am looking to build up a system of my own. Would an external dac have any benefit with this product?
Can u please tell me if there’s anything better than the dx3 pro plus for $200, specifically for(in order of importance) directional audio, depth of field and then resolution retrieval.
It’ll be pretty much strictly used for competitive gaming.
My current considerations are the aforementioned topping, the smsl c200, the fiio k-11, the smsl m300se and anything you think I should be looking at instead. I hope u see this and feel like answering.
Thanks in advance, even if u don’t feel like it.
You’ve been a ton of help already.
I bought this amplifier a month ago and connected it to wiim pro plus and kef q350. sounds great together. but... a new amplifier came out with the same chip from smsl, with hdmi arc, sub out. It is worth paying attention to the SMSL AO300.
Thanks!
thank you so much for your support!
Have bought the SMSL M300 se after watching your review of it ,completely blown away by the sound of this dac/ hp amp . Cirrus Logic chip makes me want to listen to my whole cd collection all over again .Am seriously considering this one too , ...
I really want to see more amps like this with sub-out.
And pre out.. Mayby with 4ch dsp with pre out on that too.
I was thinking this would be perfect for my office setup, but I would really prefer an LFE out for my sub, rather than going speaker level.
I'v come to believe speaker level is better for SQ
@@No_Limits_411 Wouldn't one need two subs, then? I wish I had the room.
@@No_Limits_411 I'm curious... why?
Subwoofer Out with bass management (high and low pass filters) for next iteration . Thanks
Very comprehensive review with all the required content, speaker pairings, power output, sound signature and a newly shorn neat presenter. 😊 . Thanks for this great review, your time and efforts to share this worthwhile amp with us all. Stay well, Sir.
Sounds like the smsl a300 but with all the trimmings . I think that amp is great .
SMSL SA300 has SW out built NO DAC… SMSL Sanskrit pairs well but as you state the new one is better… and a Headphone amp : SP100… LOVE their the fit finish quality and SOUND of SMSL. I agree, if it had SW Output it could be “perfect”. Thx
Would love to see you do a shootout between this and, say, the entry level Cambridge AXA25-two different approaches, but similar in cost. D vs. AB.
dx9 wont beat cayin in any circumstance
I have the AL300 - it's great for the money but I upgraded to the SMSL VMVA1 for greater clarity/resolution/detail. However, with its DAC and head amp, the AL200 sounds like fantastic value.
it was a wonderful surprise and greatly exceeded my expectations
VMV A1 is a great discovery, although a bit dry for my taste. I'd like to try it with a tube preamp one day.
Not to bash but the VMV A1 is way overpriced for what it is, there are much better amps around for that price, not to mention much more powerful as well.
Could you recommend a better amp, which is small enough to fit on a desk, and has a headphone out?
@@hobhood7118 The Hypex NC252MP, its size depends on the case its mounted in, since multiple manufacturers offer the same amplifier module in different cases. I bought mine from IOM and it's very similar in size to the VMV A1. It doesn't have a headphone amp but you can always add that fairly cheaply, the SMSL SH-6 comes to mind.
I've got a SMSL sAp 2 headphone amp that is still going strong after about 9 years. Very reliable and pretty powerful. Drives the Sundara at about 10 to 11 o'clock. They seem to be a reliable firm.
Really wish the AL200 had a sub out connection. Other than that, it seems like an awesome little piece of kit.
Yeah is there a similar model with sub out?
AO300
An excellent Review well done Sir, Kind Regards a brilliant amp/dac.
SMSL and Topping are my favorite audio companies. I don't care where they are located. My SMSL M500 is so damn good.
it should have 2 things for it to be perfect at this price : subwoofer out and HDMI ARC input for using it with a TV.
hi there. by and large, i enjoy your commentary, and generally find its down to earth comments pithy and helpful.
(one different point i wanted to rtaise subsequent to thgis talk, was that , when i checked some of the (budget) speaker recommends, i found that the price points were WAY more high than the indicated range. one example in 'Around $US200' range is about $US350!!! i didn't write the name down for that precise reason :-), and there were several other such examples. fyi.
I wish you had shown the display powered up!
I'd happily pay another $50 for the sub out -- seems like a weird choice considering that the product seems pretty obviously (to me, at least) intended for desktop / near field office listening. So you can't grow your system later unless you get clever about it.
Edit: There's now an SMSL product that's about $50 more and has a sub out; it's called the AO-300. (Not the A-300 or the AO-200.)
Very high praise. Appears pretty solid. Great review Randy. Appreciate that. Have a great day.
That's a fine THD figure of 0.003%, even if that is the THD at 2 or 5, or 10 Watts out.. (where THD is always lower than at higher volumes out) ..which used to be the case with given spec's many years back, when amp' manufacturers were more 'open' about the relative circumstances their spec's were obtained under. Well reviewed Class D amps I've seen the specs of, i've noticed they do bettet with THD & 'damping factor' (when given) than with older, far beefier & heavier A or A/B amps.
I picked up this amplifier this week and am still trying to optimize its sound. I currently have a pair of Klipsch RP-600M (OG) connected to a Sonos Amp. The sound of the AL200 did not impress when I connected a Wiim Mini to it via toslink. The sound was a bit veiled with a lack of bass extension. Adding a Schiit Modi+ to the signal chain improved the sound. There was better separation of instruments and overall a bit more dynamics. Will listen to the AL200 a bit more but I am curious to hear from others regarding your impressions of the internal DAC and the amplifier itself overall. Perhaps my expectations of this amplifier was a bit unreasonable. Cheers 😊
Indeed, i have the same experience. Have a pair of Triangle Borea 3 and a BueSound Node 2i streamer/dac. Compairing with my Aiyima D03, the sound is more detailed, enough mids- and high-tones but a little lack of bass extension. For my taste anyway.
Overall..i like the sound of the Aiyima D03 more, it's warmer but not muddy, although for my ears.
Ohh..i forgot to mention; i have a 36 volt power adapter on the Aiyima instead of the standard 32 volt adapter.
I now own this SMSL AL200 amp (added to the collection) ... Randy's assessment is pretty much spot on. I really pushed it to with various speakers and put it up against various amps costing much more.
wharfedale elysian 4 sounded crazy good with this little class D amp.
Its sound is simllar to the SMSL DA-9 but with more driving power, and dare i say, Resolution. I like it.
Down side is the coded OS and no auto between headphone and main amp. EQ is a little confusing too.
A DA-9 type interface would be welcome. The sound quality outweighs the negatives though.
Hi Randy, what’s your experience with NAD? I think it would be great if you add the C316BEE V2 to the contenders of this category. It is the amp I use and I’ve been watching reviews of these Class D Chinese amps cause I may buy one to replace mine during the heat of summer season here, but I am really wondering if I could still enjoy listening with a similar “experience” (not tone) as I do with my NAD
Bought this amp and while it sounded just fine, the main control knob was misaligned and unable to smoothly rotate and it also prevented it from being pushed to cycle through menu options. Rest of the build quality was impressive but couldn't operate it reliably.
Looks like a really nice amp, I'll take your word for it. That said, it lacks a number of functionalities; no sub out, no high pass filter (offered on SMSL A300) and no balance control where it's really needed... on the remote (see Parasound Zpre3).
Personally, I'd happily give up the MQA and Bluetooth to get those features and pay 50% more for the features I do want.
Randie!!
Treated myself to fosi v3 to pre amp 2 speakers in my 7.2.4 set up ….at 150watt per channel is worth powering the fronts (wharfdale evo 4) and let the avr spread the power to the surrounds ?? Or power the rear heights ( wharfdale diamond 9 book shelf speakers) ?????
Great review. Super interesting product. Please do an update after you have done some more A-B comparisons.
Only thing missing is a sw out (and maybe a hpf like the a300) So maybe if you need one you can opt for the a300 (that uses the same chip). It also can work in monoblock mode.
SMSL is out with a new product called the AO-300 (not the A-300 or the AO-200) and it appears to be this piece -- the AL200 -- but with a SW out and a different aesthetic. Haven't found any reviews yet, though.
A300 is fantastic especially with laid back speakers
Hey Randy, i got this amp a few days ago, second hand,but it looks like it was never used. The seller had 2 of these amps(crazy) and this one was 3 months old.
I also have the Aiyima D03 (with a 36 volt power supply instead of a 32 volt power supply) and i would say, the SMSL is (for my ears) not "way" better than the Aiyima although the SMSL looks nicer.
The tone control on the Aiyima on the remote works very good, i miss the tone control(on the remote) on the SMSL. Directly i mean.
Yeah, the seller(had also the Aiyima) said that the Aiyima sounds a little "dark" compairing the SMSL. Yes i hear that also, but i don't hate that.
The SMSL has "cleaner" bass, i can hear that indeed and more mids- and high-tones. More "details"" that's right.
But.still like the Aiyima.
Only streaming music(Spotify) ; Bluesound Node 2i and a pair of Triangle Borea 3 speakers(that you don't like🤪)..
Works great in my small room
Tempting. I was going to get a full service on my Marantz pm66 se....but this amp would be a good stopgap while mines at the shop!
Please do a review of SMSL A300, same chip, has SW out, cheaper but without spdif, coax inputs and headphone out
I will for sure do one now
Hey Randy, love your content. You are probably aware but smsl release the ao200 mkii which is very similar to the al200 but can connect a sub. It doesn’t have the headphone amp though.
Dude! Just when I think I have made up my mind on which amp to purchase, another video comes out with another great amp possibility. I can’t make up my mind. This one has everything I was looking for with the exception of an output for a sub woofer.
most subs take rca ins and outs so no problem
@@Desanusor What's making the RCA in to the sub to come out to this? This is the DAC too with no way to output that to anything other than speaker level.
No output breaks it for me on this one. Maybe the next version.
Guys just connect speaker level what's the problem 😀
@@No_Limits_411 Yup, that's what I do with my REL subs. :)
You inspired me to buy this Randy. It arrived today from Amazon (yup, they're in)
I have a lot of systems, and I own a good few SMSL products.
I haven't wired this up yet, but I'm certainly going to feedback when I do. I'm going to use some fairly high end BIG speakers with some direct DSD recordings (some made in my studio)
I have Amps and DACs from SMSL without complaints, so I'm intrigued to hear how this well made class D amp compares to my high end pre/power amps. I have a feeling I'm going to be impressed.
Did you do it yet how’s it sounding? I figure hard to sound bad if the sounds sound good.
@@chinmeysway
I now own this SMSL AL200 amp (added to the collection) ... Randy's assessment is pretty much spot on. I really pushed it to with various speakers and put it up against various amps costing much more.
wharfedale elysian 4 sounded crazy good with this little class D amp.
Its sound is simllar to the SMSL DA-9 but with more driving power, and dare i say, Resolution. I like it.
Down side is the coded OS and no auto between headphone and main amp. EQ is a little confusing too.
A DA-9 type interface would be welcome. The sound quality outweighs the negatives though.
Nice review as always. Curious why this was released though when there is the A300. I have an AO200 for a secondary system and think it sounds just fine but wish it had a bit more power so this (and the A300) could be just the ticket. I wish they would make a straight up power amp so I could get a tubed preamp in front of it.
Ayima A07 is your answer
@@ufarkingicehole looks to have the power, but doesn’t look like the volume control can be bypassed, so it’s not a straight power amp as I would want.
@@marcg.7850 that is true. I used mine to bi amp in which I ran an integrated to the top and the A07 to the bottom. You have 2 options. 1 is to set the volume almost all the way up and use it as a stand alone amp or use the volume control to actually give you more flexibility to tweak your gains. Once set I never touched it.
I have the Bluesound Powernode and wonder how the SMSL AL200 amp compares to the amp in the Powernode? I have been thinking of selling the Powernode and replacing it with separate amp, DAC, and using the Wiim Mini instead. Any thoughts?
I don't know how good the amp in the Powernode is, but the Infineon chip in this SMSL is pretty weak, reaching 0.1% THD for high frequencies.
I m in the same situation like you, did you buyed? I ordered just now, i will see how it s sounds compare to the powernode
Oh Chief! My chief
You definitely have too get the smsl a300 and do a shoot out for us! You'll be the undisputed King of cheap Audio (put in the V3 just for sound comparison)
👍🏿🙏🏿
Man if this had HDMI ARC it would be amazing for a sound bar replacement and more. Other than that this thing seems like an amazing deal. Good stuff Randy!!
If you're using your TV for audio, most TVs have optical output. Check your TV and see. Earc is generally needed for multichannel output such as Atmos or 5.1, 7.1 etc. This amp wouldn't be even able to convert these multichannel audio into stereo and would likely raise the price substantially where optical should be more than sufficient.
@@danieljung2810I know this but I like the control of hdmi arc. The Arylic B50 has arc and is 150 so adding arc to this wouldn’t drive the cost up that much.
@@lcd2426 I have B50 connected to tv via hdmi and it sounds terrible. I have tried many settings eq. I am very dissapointed because hdmi arc should be advantage.
I would have one on order right now if it had a sub out. Fantasy wish: an eARC input for a few dollars more.
Randy it's available through AMAZON !!
Great video! On the back of the amp the power input says 100 to 240. Does that mean I can plug it in here in North America and also in Europe?
This is just like my SMSL DA-9 but more powerful 165x2 compare to DA-9’s 90x2 at 4 ohms. However, my DA-9 has a subwoofer output. Let me know if this is an upgrade with almost at the same price ($250). As always, thanks for the review.
I currently have a set of JBL Studio 530s hooked up to an NAD 326Bee amp. It sounds a little dark to my taste, muffled ish. I also don't have a DAC or bluetooth being an older analog amp. Would this be an upgrade or would I need to spend more since my unit is already supposedly quite nice?
I'm sure you'll benefit from a more analytical or 'neutral' amp, as the 326Bee low frequency emphasis affects tonal neutrality (bleeds into mids). Owned one and it provides oomph, although not the most accurate in the bass department and/or refinement (this is what you're hearing). That said, the 530 isn't the easiest to drive (low sensitivity) and will clear up fast with better power. I think this will be a great upgrade.
Sounds amazing for the price, and a very thorough review. I'm looking for an amp to drive a pair of 2 way bookshelf speakers (6" bass mid, 8 ohms, 88db, 10 - 80 watts recommended, 120 watts max) for surround purposes downstream of an AV processor. I'm considering the Fosi V3 with the 48volt 5amp optional power supply from your review, and now this. Would either of those amps be able to play loud enough in a AV setup - I listen close to Dolby reference levels on transient peaks - gunshots, explosions etc. I have read that not being able to play loud is an issue for some of these budget class d amps, so wondering if the Fosi V3 or this SMSL would be appropriate for my purposes? My room is 5 x 4 metres... many thanks for your considered thoughts...
The class D chip amps struggle with volume because they cannot deliver enough current, this is going to be especially apparent in your use case with a lot of transient peaks, also the more you up the volume the more the speaker inductive characteristics ends up controlling the amps output in a negative way. If you're willing to spend a little bit more I would definitely look at assembled Hypex NC252MP modules, you can find them online from the likes of VTV, Buckeye, etc. They're around 500$, 250W per channel, 20A max current delivery will make it the perfect amp for what you're seeking, not to mention it betters every chip amp on the market right now as far as SQ.
@@RagnetulCarpatilor Thank you for your considered and very helpful thoughts.
They echo the concerns at the back of my mind as I note even the 48volt optional supply for the fosi v3 is rated at only 5 amps.
I’m in Australia so will search online for the Hypex modules you’ve mentioned.
Other possibilities available locally here could include the Yamaha WXA 50 which uses an ICE power module, or an entry level class AB amp such as the NAD C316 Bee V2, or the Cambridge AXA 35.
The NAD in particular, even though rated at 40 watts continuous, is capable of some 80 watt instant peaks from NADs info, so potentially a better solution to deal with sudden large transients in movies than a class d chip
Amp like the smsl or Fosi v3.
Even so I would prefer Class D from Hypex or ICE power if possible.
Do the Hypex modules you mentioned come in a finished box ready to use or is there some DIY process still involved? The specs sound perfect. Many thanks.
@@Pisceanboi The Hypex modules come either assembled from various sources or you can assemble one yourself if you are more tech savvy. For Australia there was March Audio who sold assembled NC252MP modules, but I don't think he does anymore.
If you want the whole market overview just do a Google search with the following "Audio Science Review Hypex Ncore NC252MP market overview", keep in mind that the list hasn't been updated in the last year. The best value offering would be from Audiophonics in France, you can also deduct the VAT from its price so you end up paying only Australian VAT.
Ice power is good, so are the class AB amps, but the Hypex is much better. It measures just as well as other manufacturers flagship amps, for example the A-S3200 from Yamaha, in some aspects it even betters that, mainly intermodulation distortion and load invariability.
For the 570€ I paid for mine I'm confident there is nothing at this price which would provide better sound.
Sold out everywhere.
Would be really nice if you could review the sabaj a30a and compare it with this. yes it's almost twice the price, but very similar in functionality (plus a sw out) and woulde interested to know if it's twice the performance.
I see lots of finger prints 😮
yeah.... gross
Honest question: do you think it rivals something like a cambridge audio axa35? I'm trying to cut some costs to make a nice system. I'm thinking about using a pair of KEF Q350.
Q350 are wonderful speakers, but need a lot of power. I don't think axa 35 will be enough for them. I have a Topping PA3 (unbalanced version) for my Q350, and that's not enough. I put a Schiit Magni EMI headphone amp in the chain and that help a bit. I've now bought the FosiAudio V3 with 48V 5A power supply, and I hope that will finaly be enough. Picking it up in a few days.
@@progqueen6219 that's helpful information, thanks! How big is your room?
@@Farazao Not big, about 29m2 (4mx7,2m). What I like most about these speakers is that when they're toed in properly, they fill my room. Extreme toe in worked best in my room, so don't be afraid to play around with it. I'll update you on how the amp worked, once I have it.
Very smart looking budget amplifier 😀
Randy, THD+N = 0.003%, right on the spec sheet in this video...
I'd really like to know how it goes on Bluetooth. That is the mode of operation for some of us.
Love your show awesome 😊
Thanks so much!
Guys subs work fine from speaker outlets.
Thanks for the in depth review @cheapaudioman. What are your thoughts on this versus the SMSL A300?
Big Question is it better than Emotiva BasX A2m as that is A/B. Would love to see contrast and compare between these as they are both now $275
Randy?
Was wondrering the same
Love SMSL displays however have not found one I need yet.
Randy, I listen to a lot of acoustic and Classical Music. Is there any depth to the soundstage on this amp? Any sense of tonal beauty?
coffee? 🍺🤪...
The speaker binding posts look to be much larger/better than on most small amps? That and the internal power supply (probably a switch mode unit?) make it much more attractive.
Thanks for video! Can you tell is anything there with the same functionality but with bigger LCD and maybe with SUB out? thanks
Sounds great - question: can I use Bluetooth 5.0 headphones with this? thx..love the channel btw!!!!
Minus price...thoughts on it vs Yamaha as701/as801? Say if blind testing. You prefer this sound?
@cheapaudioman Just a question... You can do 2x speed youtube audio with 768khz over usb?
Hi :)
Do you think it can handle a big floor stander with 7 drivers (3 of them are 8inch midbas woofers)?
The speakers are easy 4ohms at 96db sensitivity.
Room is relatively small and listening position is around 2.5meters from the speakers.
P.s
Can it also accept an external dac?
Cheers and thanks
Ilan from Israel;)
This appears to be “sold out”, at like Amazon…and if you choose ship from US at HFE. If you choose to get it from China, are you going to get 100v vs. 110/120?
No subwoofer input is a no buy. Was looking for an upgrade for my S.M.S.L SA300 with more power. My search continues
Where can you buy this in the US?
Would you recommend smsl al200 over ifi zen dac or fiio k7 at same price?
@cheapaudioman or anyone else - How does it compare to a bit pricier Cambridge Audio CXA61 or CXA81 (an amp only using RCA inputs)? I am listening to vocals and classical music at usually low volume. Speakers - LS500 meta. Thanks.
Great product.. but returned mine for the AO300.
Am I right in thinking that the AO300 is the same amp with sub out and HDMI added?
Hi! Please tell me, is there any background noise in the speakers in standby mode? Before that, I had an SMSL AO200, and after switching to standby mode, there was a background in the speakers.
I bought this amplifier after watching this video. It sounds great but... it's only lasted two weeks, one of which was off. Yesterday, out of nowhere, it turned off and has not worked again. Luckily it failed soon, so I was able to return it to Amazon without problems.
Would you buy this or upgrade aO7 op amps? Also would you use an external dac with this?
Hey Randy, would this amp be a good match with the Polk R200? And is the dac as good as a seperate dac for 100 usd? Keep up the good work!
Purely on basis of SQ, this or the Fosi v3?
Does this have interchangeable op amps?
Is the new SMSL DL200 a better dac. Different chipsets. Torn on whether i can go with the AL200 or DL200? Any help would be appreciated.
Does it outperform the Yamaha 301 ?
Righto Randy, based on your review I have just bought this Amp and a set of BS41's... Cool.
Make sure you watch tomorrow’s video. I talk about the pairing.
Sometimes people confuse FAMOUS musicians with GREAT musicians.
And favorite with best.
Randy, are there special instructions for attaching a subwoofer to the speaker outputs? I've heard that Class D amplifiers will destroy the input on the subwoofer unless you wire it correctly.
You'd need something like a high-level converter. I've used them in car audio before to tap into the speaker level outputs to an rca output. You cannot wire speaker outputs straight to rca without a converter.
There’s no load from a powered sub using speaker level inputs. You don’t need any converter. You just run a line from you speaker outs to the speaker level inputs on your sub. The sub is just grabbing a signal. Just positive to positive. Negative to negative. Lots of subs have speaker level inputs.
@cheapaudioman not all subwoofers have speaker level inputs. @59seank didn't specify he had a subwoofer that could do so. My post is also talking about speaker level to RCA, where you WOULD need a converter.
Thank-you for putting the Prime audio deals on our radar this week Randy! Saved nicely on a Wiim Pro. YAMOA !
I wonder how this amp compares to the Dayton APA150?
Just received one. It really can move some air.
But since I also have smsl da-9, the remotes shoot cross-fire. What to do?
I would love to see a Shootout with the Emotiva A-2 Mini. Great Review Randy! 👍👍👍
working on some comparisons right now. unfortunately, I don't have the A2 mini here at the house.
“A2M” is such a clutch model name lmao… I almost want to buy one just for that.
Hi, Newbie Hear! Will the SMSL AL200 drive the AKG K712 Pros and the beyerdynamic DT990 Pros please? If not what would be your suggestion Amps?
SMSL AL200 or Aiyima T9 PRO for a secondary system? Is the AL200 worth an extra $100 in terms of sound quality? I was about to pull the trigger on a T9 Pro but then this video popped up and now I'm torn.
smsl al200 or emotiva a2m?
I have a Fluance rt85 and Schiit Mani 2 pre amp. I am planning to buy Emotiva b2 speakers. Will this amp be enough for my setup
It is listed on Amazon (US) but showing out of stock. No reviews either so perhaps the listing has been put up in anticipation of getting first stocks?
for the USB input, can you play music off a thumb drive or do you have to connect it to a ocmpluter/phone/etc... thanks in advance
@cheapaudioman or anyone else - Would you use it to amplify signal from Guarstard A26? I am listening to vocals and classical music at usually low volume. Speakers - LS500 meta. Thanks.
I found it on Amazon today.
Lots of great class D options lately. I like it. I’m gonna try that Roger’s one.
Just got one. Sounds terrific (bluetooth sounds great, too). Drives my 6ohm bookshelves flawlessly. I've been waiting for a good, small class D with a true sub-out, and this is it!
To bad it does not have a sub out, then it would really be flawless
It's easy to connect a sub to it
if you have a good DAC already...go for the SMSL A300...same wattage and sounds great as well
The a300 is amazing. I just ordered a second one for monoblock time.
@@leodesforges161Full love or money I could not get them into btl mode, so I ran them independently . Let me know if you manage it .
Oh man what a miss to not have a sub out!!!!!!!!!!!
Hi, could you please review the Dayton hybrid tube amps?
HTA20 $150.
HTA100 $230.
HTA200 $350.
Thank you.