SMSL PA-X Gallium Nitride Power Amplifier - Now on Apos

[Apos Audio]

Hi all,

We are big fans of the new SMSL PA-X—a no-frills, high-performance power amp with Gallium Nitride transistors that deliver cleaner, faster, and more detailed sound than your average silicon-based gear. It’s compact, dead quiet, and ridiculously efficient, with up to 500W of output in mono mode. It’s a great daily driving for a living room setup or as a pair of mono blocks in a serious 2-channel rig. Balanced and unbalanced inputs, a remote, and a front volume knob—$699.

Product highlights 

• Gallium Nitride power transistor (Infineon)
• Up to 1MHz switching frequency
• 115dB SNR
• Ultra-low THD+N of 0.003%
• Stereo and mono modes
• RCA, balanced XLR, and mono XLR inputs
• Custom high-power switching supply for audio
• Gold-plated input and output terminals
• Overcurrent and overheating protection circuits
• 250W x2 @ 4Ω / 200W x2 @ 8Ω (stereo)
• 500W x1 @ 8Ω (mono)
• Remote control included

Specs

• Inputs: Balanced (XLR) / Line in (RCA) / Mono (XLR)
• THD+N: 0.003%
• SNR: 115dB
• Channel separation: 75dB
• Input sensitivity:
  • RCA: 0.96Vrms / 22kΩ
  • XLR: 2.1Vrms / 22kΩ
  • Mono XLR: 2.7Vrms / 22kΩ
• Output power:
  • Stereo 4Ω: 250Wrms x2
  • Stereo 8Ω: 200Wrms x2
  • Mono 8Ω: 500Wrms x1
• Standby power: <0.5W
• Power consumption: 40W (at normal volume)
• Dimensions: 8.8in x 2in x 9.8in (222.5mm x 51mm x 250mm)
• Weight: 5.67lbs (2.57kg)

 

[ma151]

Really looking forward to some impressions/reviews on this !

Thinking of replacing my Denon PMA-800NE with this to use it with a true balanced DAC, since the Denon only has RCA inputs...

 

[zenboy2000]

Same here, looking forward to reviews, I'd also like to know if these will have swappable op-amps?

 

[]eep]

@Apos Audio
Again, why are there no reviews to find anywhere on the SMSL GaNFET amps?

And don't send them to ASR or other measurement freaks. They will only break your samples with torture tests and have no idea about actual sound quality.

 

[Apos Audio]

@Apos Audio
Again, why are there no reviews to find anywhere on the SMSL GaNFET amps?

And don't send them to ASR or other measurement freaks. They will only break your samples with torture tests and have no idea about actual sound quality.

Hi there,

There are reviews coming out. However, most reviewers are currently facing a packed review pipeline due to the numerous launches happening this time of the year, so they may not have gotten to the product yet. - John

 

[ma151]

Hi there,

There are reviews coming out. However, most reviewers are currently facing a packed review pipeline due to the numerous launches happening this time of the year, so they may not have gotten to the product yet. - John

Can you share some of the reviews on this product please ?
I only found this one:

 

[]eep]

Can you share some of the reviews on this product please ?
I only found this one:

This is the only one so far. It just came online today.
(I forgot to post it here).

There is one of the SMSL VMV A1 pro, similar to this one, in German.

So far I've only seen fixed ic opamps, which IMO limits these GaNFET amps. I know how much better a discrete class A opamp is than whichever ic. Even more speed (slewrate), openness and 3D imaging.

I can understand if SMSL wouldn't like customers opening up the case (foregoing guarantee) but then don't be so lazy to use ic opamps.

 

[JjB067]

@Apos Audio
Again, why are there no reviews to find anywhere on the SMSL GaNFET amps?

And don't send them to ASR or other measurement freaks. They will only break your samples with torture tests and have no idea about actual sound quality.

Indeed Amir over on ASR has indeed broken a PA-X !

 

[OhmsClaw]

@Apos Audio
Again, why are there no reviews to find anywhere on the SMSL GaNFET amps?

And don't send them to ASR or other measurement freaks. They will only break your samples with torture tests and have no idea about actual sound quality.

Too late Amir already did

 

[Apos Audio]

Iiwi Reviews and Zreviews are currently working on the PA-X Gallium Nitride Power Amplifier

Here's a published review from Old Guy HiFi:

 

[]eep]

Thanks @Apos Audio
But there's a reason I unsubscribed from old guy hifi. With all lack of respect (I tried to gently give him advice but he rudely doubled down), he is not the sharpest tool in the shed.

In this video he fails to understand that this is meant as a mono poweramp, with the OPTION to use it in stereo. For budgetary reasons. So, it's not a pre-amp and not a full featured integrated amp. It's meant just as a poweramp. So no sub-out, no bass and treble (to diminish sound quality) and all those things he keeps rambling about. VU-meters, yes, that would be nice. But that would take a much larger display (plus extra costs).
Not a word on the difference between 4 and 8 ohm setting. Not on the straight in. Nothing how it sounded on all of those speakers he tried it with. Only commentary on the perceived lack of features. Dude; it's a poweramp!

What I did get though, reading between the lines, is that the power supply is limited to 250W. Really, I don't see how that could cause lack of dynamics if you play in any normal sized room. But there's probably something to it. Or not. With this guy I can't be sure of anything. He certainly doesn't go into sound signature a lot and how that matches with several loudspeakers.

What I did take from it though, is that it sounds on the cold side of neutral. As I saw opamps in there on the promo shots, I think there's a correlation to most ic-opamps. That's not going to be remedied with 2 mono's.

I feel more and more convinced I should get the Laiv GanM and not go for any cheaper SMSL option.

 

[OhmsClaw]

Iiwi Reviews and Zreviews are currently working on the PA-X Gallium Nitride Power Amplifier

Here's a published review from Old Guy HiFi:

Are there specs for 4Ohms Mono performance? Zeos had mentioned he had perceived issues with the Topping LA90 in Mono into 4Ohms nominal but it was much better in stereo at normal listening levels vs 8 Ohms mono blocked.

It would be one thing to invest in a single stereo unit at 250W into 4Ohms with the ability to expand into Mono unita a few months down the road... and another to find out the Mono performance goes into protection early and it would have been a better option to just get two B200's.

PS: why does the marketing show black if it only comes in silver that alone might be a no go.

PSS: @]eep someone on another forum already identified the VMV A1 and P200 as identical but the former is not offered outside of China while the latter is exported.

 

[]eep]

Are there specs for 4Ohms Mono performance? Zeos had mentioned he had perceived issues with the Topping LA90 in Mono into 4Ohms nominal but it was much better in stereo at normal listening levels vs 8 Ohms mono blocked.

It would be one thing to invest in a single stereo unit at 250W into 4Ohms with the ability to expand into Mono unita a few months down the road... and another to find out the Mono performance goes into protection early and it would have been a better option to just get two B200's.

PS: why does the marketing show black if it only comes in silver that alone might be a no go.

PSS: @]eep someone on another forum already identified the VMV A1 and P200 as identical but the former is not offered outside of China while the latter is exported.

I am starting to think, where there is smoke... Most reviewers tend not to publish a review when the product doesn't perform well or as expected. Why Topping tends to get these accolades I have several SMSL amps, and if I can open them I can get them to perform as I want. The SA400 sounds great, if you can get past the noisy fan. I can't actually.

Is it the adherence to a certain look, or design? IDK. The PA-X looks nice enough, the front being mostly black. But (I'm going to hate myself for using this nauseating expression!) at the end of the day it's the sound quality that counts. Rephrase; it's the sound that counts. Fixed ic opamps? That's like using elco couplingcaps.

If SMSL (and Topping) doesn't learn quickly they will lose to Fosi Audio, Aiyima, FX etc before you know it. I have a stack of Fosi Audio ZA3's with SX35B and a ZD3 DAC with SX22B opamp that cost me €700 total that sounds absolutely fabulous. You can even tweak the sound to your taste with different opamps. And looks are pretty good too btw. That's the price of 1 PA-X, with 2x 240W PS. With the added dac function that is really, really good (with an added DDC). If you want to improve on that you'll need to spend serious money (almost 5 figures).

I know, design can be a 'wannahave' feature. But the VMV series really doesn't ring my bell. Too Chinese (architecture). Nor is the 200 series with the CNC ( ( ( front. The ...-X series is nice. But there is little consistency. Styles and sizes change like the weather. If the sound had a little more 'Soul' that would all be acceptable.

 

[OhmsClaw]

I am starting to think, where there is smoke... Most reviewers tend not to publish a review when the product doesn't perform well or as expected. Why Topping tends to get these accolades I have several SMSL amps, and if I can open them I can get them to perform as I want. The SA400 sounds great, if you can get past the noisy fan. I can't actually.

Is it the adherence to a certain look, or design? IDK. The PA-X looks nice enough, the front being mostly black. But (I'm going to hate myself for using this nauseating expression!) at the end of the day it's the sound quality that counts. Rephrase; it's the sound that counts. Fixed ic opamps? That's like using elco couplingcaps.

If SMSL (and Topping) doesn't learn quickly they will lose to Fosi Audio, Aiyima, FX etc before you know it. I have a stack of Fosi Audio ZA3's with SX35B and a ZD3 DAC with SX22B opamp that cost me €700 total that sounds absolutely fabulous. You can even tweak the sound to your taste with different opamps. And looks are pretty good too btw. That's the price of 1 PA-X, with 2x 240W PS. With the added dac function that is really, really good (with an added DDC). If you want to improve on that you'll need to spend serious money (almost 5 figures).

I know, design can be a 'wannahave' feature. But the VMV series really doesn't ring my bell. Too Chinese (architecture). Nor is the 200 series with the CNC ( ( ( front. The ...-X series is nice. But there is little consistency. Styles and sizes change like the weather. If the sound had a little more 'Soul' that would all be acceptable.

I found the VMV A1 Pro on APOS! It comes in black/rose gold can mono up to 500W (allegedly). The search is not optimized at all; It will always pull up the discontinued Class A 15W unit and the DAC in searches, but it's listed for sale in our region for about $460

 

[]eep]

I thought so. The black matches the Laiv colors somewhat. But the styling is very like traditional Chinese building construction. Since that's my original profession, I found it always very rudimentary; stacking beams crosswise going in. Since they are almost identical I like the pa200 in silver a lot better. Also because the CD transport is quite good. And there's also a streamer based on Volumio software. That could make a nice stack.

I now already have a 400 series SP400, DP5 plus the amp, pretty good, but I need to sell them. The amp was an impulsive buy, to drive Maggies. Which was totally unnecessary it turned out. The dp5 was nice for a while, but it doesn't have support for streaming services. The Hiby app worked fine though. I can't really fault it since streamers were really expensive when I bought it. And nothing like the Rose I have now. Yet it's all a bit "close but no cigar".