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how many of you have actually LISTENED to a cheap amp?




regarding the SMSL SA-90, one reviewer claims:

[quote]"This one is clearly better in every way than the older tripath ones. I also compared it to my beloved Pass Labs XA 30.5 amp, which costs about 100x. It get's surprising close in most ways. "

"...this is better than anything I've heard for less than $2,500. Really - can't believe it."

"Compared to a couple tube amps - 845 and a Jadis KT90, it is still very close. Not quite as warm in the midrange and the imaging isn't quite as perfect - but really good and better than some cheap tube amps like Yaqin I've owned in the past."[/quote]

THAT sure looks like a "giant killing rave" to me. comparing a $60 box to a pa$$ labs, using a P$ audio DAC?! that's some heavy hitting stuff, and, as another review i read somewhere stated that the OP liked the sound of his yaquin quinpo ($200) better than a very well respected rogue sphinx integrated, (maybe for warmth over detail, while this reviewer, like me, prefers the opposite), and this reviewer likes his mini better than yaquin, MAYBE the SMSL SA-60 isn't an amp to sneeze at. i'm not stating that as a fact, but as a distinct possibility.

from:
https://www.reddit.com/r/audiophile/comments/2t2uwm/tripath_2020_vs_ti_tpa3116_vs_a_bunch_of_highend/

as i said in another reply, my $20 (price paid after the underground buzz over a $12 "toy") sonic impact ran circles around my "reputed giant killing NAD" in the ease, detail, transients, and ESPECIALLY imaging & air departments. after that experience, i'm inclined to give cheap class D a chance, especially as the tech's more than a decade old, and improvements have been made.

i was also wondering, as i wasted apparently ALL of my phone data trying to research "mini-amps", piecing dispararte sourced reviews together, just how many of YOU naysayers have actually LISTENED to a good true entry level class D amp. it's easy to look down your nose at cheap made in china amps when you have the proverbial "5 grand stereo" mentioned in "holiday in cambodia", but way back in the day, SOME people that had such big ticket gear fell in love with their T-amps and preferred them over their tube amps.

i can't vouch for T-amps destroying audio research etc. gear, but NAD? yep! buh bye you sloppy wet blanket over my speakers sounding piece of soft dome smothering junk! then again, back in the 80s, harmon kardon, yamaha & even pioneer owned muffled sounding NAD too as far as i'm concerned. "better than sony" isn't high praise in my book. LOL

i didn't have time to go through all the replies last time, and won't again next (this) time, but i'm anticipating a lot of "not much help" the same way everyone tried to change the subject to horns in a thread i created trying to suss what a 20w rated ribbon can handle in a real world system. it seems the elders here don't want to be bothered acknowledging nice sounding dirt cheap class D amps even exist.

i keep seeing topping getting dusted by the new jack amps, and THOSE were getting a LOT of respect in various reviews at places like 6 moons and stereo mojo where us cheapskates hang out.

i like class D from my former (blown in a bike system) sonic impact to my 70wpc real world panasonic 5.1 receiver to my $120 planet audio 4 channel car plate in between. i like the ease and ESPECIALLY the speed & detail in the bass & treble, so i WILL be dumping my thick "frowny face EQ sounding" technics for a crisp mini, which will likely be the nobsound TPA3116 for the $20 savings and titanium grey case, though i saw ANOTHER variant selling for just $35 in blue under the yeeco name, but blue doesn't look too high end, even for a temporary stepping stone amp that will start and end as a PC amp.

SOME DAY, i want to do the Ncore thing, but that'll be after i save enough money to move out of here, and traveling light with a nobsound is another bonus. the tired old technics will be gifted. (i still think it's leeching energy turned off)

a couple other reviews by "high enders" praised the SMSL SA50 and there were some happy campers that considered the nobsound (and fosi) to be serious upgrades too at amazon. i'm biased to believe them over naysayers who only have unsubstatiated doubts. i KNOW sub $30 class D can kick butt from EXPERIENCE... and that's in plastic cases with 1/8" ins and LOUSY spring loaded terminals. even if these new higher powered minis can't come close to matching T-amp sound, and i don't see why they shouldn't after a few generations, the new crop are built much more sturdy & sexy. the money i save will be to get miniphilharmonitors ASAP, and THEN i can decide if i want to stick with class D, or "go warm" with A/B.

i'll report on my experience so the haters can dismiss it down the road, as they did with my panasonic SA-XR reviews and raves... a godsend for superzeros, though a bit lean on energy RC10s.

glad to see THIS thread has sparked some interest & debate. i'll be reading EVERYTHING back home later tonight as an hour's nowhere near enough time to reply to this big a thread


Edits: 01/02/18 01/02/18
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