SMSL

[jumare]

I'm looking for an amplifier for my home office, preferably with a USB input to run music from a laptop (Mac if that makes a difference) but also a line input for an iPod.

Looking on eBay I keep seeing SMSL amps etc from China, has anybody got any experience of them?

A slightly different alternative would be a s/h TEAC CD Receiver with DAB, CR-H250 or similar. A sub-woofer output would be a nice to have.

Don't really want to spend more than £75.

[heisthegaffer]

Not an SMSL but I have a Topping VX2 which has a USB input from my PC plus optical and coaxial inputs - sounds fantastic and for about £60, you can't go wrong.

Only issue with it is the Coax input may have a solder issue as it's temperamental.

I use it with JBL Control 1s (lack of bass but very clear), Dali Zensor 1s (fantastic) or some Wharfedale 9.1s (really good - surprising amount of bass and were only £20 secondhand).

[jumare]

The Topping amplifier/DAC looks interesting but no line input.

[heisthegaffer]

jumare said:

The Topping amplifier/DAC looks interesting but no line input.

Oh sorry - I missed that bit. Actually, I miss having a line input myself as i'd like to plug my phone in sometimes.

Hope you get a solution sorted.

[jumare]

I'm considering this one;

http://www.smsl-audio.com/productshow.asp?id=100

usb/coax/optical/line inputs 25+25w output for ~£75

[B17NNS]

SMSL AD18 Amp/DAC seems well thought of from what I've read.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UEooiaet9eQ

https://www.amazon.co.uk/80W×2-Bluetooth-Digi...

[Crackie]

jumare said:

I'm looking for an amplifier for my home office, preferably with a USB input to run music from a laptop (Mac if that makes a difference) but also a line input for an iPod.

Looking on eBay I keep seeing SMSL amps etc from China, has anybody got any experience of them?

A slightly different alternative would be a s/h TEAC CD Receiver with DAB, CR-H250 or similar. A sub-woofer output would be a nice to have.

Don't really want to spend more than £75.

I've been using one of these https://www.amazon.co.uk/Sabaj-A3-Bluetooth-Digita... for a year or so. Very happy with it.

Its been driving a pair of Impulse H2 speakers. The analogue has been fed by an Exposure CD. Together the speakers and CD were approx. £3300 when new back in the mid 1990s. USB input is good and Bluetooth is decent too; I've only ever fed it with basic MP3s from my phone though.

There are plenty of Amazon reviews; these give a reasonable idea of what others think about it too.

Edited by Crackie on Sunday 24th January 14:31

[Hilts]

jumare said:

I'm considering this one;

http://www.smsl-audio.com/productshow.asp?id=100

usb/coax/optical/line inputs 25+25w output for ~£75

I have a Q5 Pro hooked up to a set of Q Acoustics 3020 speakers and I think it's pretty good.

I paid over £90 for it a few years back, they're now about 119 on Amazon so if you can get one for 75 that's good value.

[TameRacingDriver]

I had an SMSL SA-50 desktop amp, was running a pair of Dali Zensor 1's with it and to be honest it wasn't bad for £50. It didn't have a USB input mind, but it never gave me any problems and seemed reasonably well built. I've replaced it with a NAD D 3020 which is obviously better but then so it should be for circa 9x the price.