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SMSL SA-60 amplifier... First impressions

Posted by SF tech (P) on October 18, 2015 at 11:55:32

I received the little SA-60 yesterday and hooked it up to my NHT Super2 loudspeakers for a listen. The source was uncompressed digital files on my MacBook Pro into a Schiit Modi DAC using Wireworld Starlight USB, and Equinox interconnects.

The build quality for the price ($80 on Amazon) is excellent... Certainly better than I was expecting, but the thing is tiny, and it has appropriately tiny speaker binding posts which rule out the use of thick, inflexible cables. The stepped encoder digital volume control works nicely, but if your source voltage is high, the steps are a little coarse... Again, nothing to complain about at the price, and it certainly beats a cheap analog potentiometer.

So, despite the blatant mismatch between the amp and speakers, and the fact that I was using "zip-cord" speaker wire (there was no way I was going to attempt to use my Audioquest Granite cables) the SMSL really surprised me.

It played to moderately loud levels with no strain or stridency, and fresh out of its carton it sounded nicely detailed and punchy. Turn the volume above the SMSL's comfort zone, and things get hard and edgy in a hurry, though.

The top end is reasonably extended and smooth within the power limits of the amp. The midrange is relatively uncolored, without the bloom and resolution you get with more costly amps, but it's not offensive in the least. Bass is relatively deep and articulate, but there's a distinct lack of grip on the low end (no surprise there) due to the limited nature of the power supply.

I think the SMSL really only commits sins of omission. It doesn't do anything blatantly wrong, and it's a remarkably pleasant sounding amp. It doesn't have the seamless front to back soundstage of more refined amplifiers... It sort of defines images on discrete planes in front and behind the loudspeaker... But the effect didn't bother me much while I was listening.

I suspect that some of the shortfalls that I perceived were due, at least in part, to the el-cheapo speaker wire I was using. So, I'll be searching for a pair of better quality cables to use with the SMSL.

Also, I realize that some have encountered quality control issues associated with these amps, but mine seems to be functioning just fine. It doesn't thump the speakers at turn-on or emit noise through the speakers when idle. It's a keeper.

SF

Edits: 10/18/15

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