SMSL SA-60 ($104.95) and SMSL Q5 ($124.95) Class D Amplifiers (Save $25) @ Voll Audio

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Voll Audio

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  cornbeef on 22/04/2015 - 17:31

  Hi CB. How do these SMSL amps compare sound wise to the likes of the Topping VX1/DAC unit you have?

  • 

    Associatedchiefbodge @ Voll Audio on 22/04/2015 - 17:39

    +2

    They are pretty similar soundwise. A bit less noisey than the toppings due to being fully digital (including a rotary encoder instead of a pot for the volume). They use TI amplifier chips which do sound slightly different - some people prefer the Tripath chips.

    They are more powerful which is often useful as well. The VX1 does have a headphone output which the the SA-60 or Q5 don't and I would still recommend it.

    I find the Topping build quality slightly better and they are extremely reliable - we've had very few returns in the 9 months we've been around (in fact I can only think of 1 return).

    Both use high quality capacitors which is important and why they are worth it compared to the Lepai or other cheaper class D/T amps.

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  Stevesie76 on 22/04/2015 - 17:39

  +2

  Not suggesting your products aren't good value, but I wonder if a rating of 30wpc/8ohm for the SA-60 would better represent reality rather than the 50wpc quoted, given amplifier power output figures aren't generally quoted at 10% distortion.

  • 

    Associatedchiefbodge @ Voll Audio on 22/04/2015 - 17:44

    +3

    I agree with you - unfortunately we have to go on what the manufacturer provides us as we don't have the time or resources to do a test at 1% or lower ourselves.

    Both SMSL and Topping are very popular and you can find many good reviews around the net to get an idea of how they will perform in real life.

    Figures at 10% distortion are at least real figures unlike some popular audio brands that pull figures out of their ass.

    • 

      Stevesie76 on 22/04/2015 - 17:53

      +1

      Yep I see your point. Personally, I don't think you would put anyone off if you pulled some figures/graphs from the chip(TPA3116 in this case I think) datasheet and explained them on your website. And as I said, I'm not questioning the deal here, I think the amps are fine.

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  zfa on 22/04/2015 - 17:56

  +1

  Just wanted to thank you for the service I got when I bought the TP-22/B44 combo when that last $25 coupon leaked on here. I had a couple of queries and got the answers I needed very quickly from your support email.

  If I wasn't so pleased with the current setup I'd get an SA-60/B44 combo right now as I'm dying to hear the SA-60 based on the reviews.

  Not that my word is worth much but I do recommend these guys.

  (Note for any buyers: Last time I checked the voll website hadn't been updated to reflect the updated noaudiohpile DSP corrections - make sure you use the v2 file not the v1 that was linked when I bought my setup. To check, the speakers should have a nice rounded plastic bass port if they are the v2, and a plain old hole for the v1. Running the v1 correction on the v2 speakers actually made them sound worse to me so do double-check).

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  ivanzhu910424 on 22/04/2015 - 17:57

  I want the SMSL M8 and VMV VA2 and P1 package…

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  ocoolio on 22/04/2015 - 21:48

  "Both are really powerful for their size and should drive most speakers to pretty decent volumes."
  I guess this is as scientific as you should get about an amp, right? Convinced, I am.

  • 

    zfa on 22/04/2015 - 21:58

    The Voll B44 are essentially the speakers sold as Micca MB42x in the US. The SA-60 is the 'newer' SA-50 with additional front-mounted input and digital pot for volume.

    There are loads of reviews online about both of these components, plenty of which are for the pair used together as they're a very common budget audiophile setup in the US.

    Check out things like Zeos Pantera's YouTube reviews, the noaudiophile site and maybe Reddit's /r/audio and /r/budgetaudiophile and you'll be able to find more info and some links to technical specs.

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  Associatedchiefbodge @ Voll Audio on 22/04/2015 - 22:35

  To the person who emailed us via the website about the Q5 - I think you may have typed your return email incorrectly see below for my response.

  The Q5 does not have an integrated pre-amp. It really depends on your specific model of turntable whether it will work or not. The vast majority of turntables made in the last 10 years are line level out (or have line level out selectable via a switch) and do not require an external pre-amp. If you are unsure whether your turntable requires a preamp you can let me know the model number and I might be able to confirm for sure.

  Often it’s quite easy to tell because some have a switch on the back that says “phono / line” and you select line if you want to use the inbuilt preamp.

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  Deuce on 23/04/2015 - 09:17

  +1

  Just placed my order for the Q5 Bundle. Been contemplating on getting one last week. Lucky I waited. Thanks for the code.

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  Umpani on 28/04/2015 - 17:02

  +1

  Thanks Voll. Fast delivery. Been playing around with the SA60 with a pair of Pioneer BS22s. I like the combo.

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  Umpani on 24/05/2015 - 21:26

  Well after about a month of very light use (4 times playing from an ipod) the primary input on this has died. Front still works. Sent email to Voll for RMA. Will advise how this goes.

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  Umpani on 29/05/2015 - 17:23

  Voll are easy to deal with. Product replaced. Offered refund, but I still like the SA60 (touch wood). Anyway VOLL Audio are recommended because there is no mucking around, fast delivery, good comms.