Class D desktop amp for PC use - SMSL, Sabaj or Nobsound?

TangoEchoAlpha

TangoEchoAlpha

TangoEchoAlpha

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Not sure if this belongs here or in the home hi-fi section, sure a helpful mod will move it if necessary!

My Creative desktop speakers (T40 series II) have started developing an awful lot of background noise so I am looking to replace them. The setup is going to be used with my PC, have separate hifi downstairs so really don't want to buy another full amp and speakers, nor do I want to buy some actively powered speakers.

I've narrowed the choice of class D amps down to three, would appreciate opinions as to which would be better. I'll then buy some passive speakers on the high street, whenever the high street eventually reopens!
  • SMSL SA-50
  • Sabaj A3
  • Nobsound NS-21G
I don't want to direct link to them as it would be a competitor link, even though OCUK don't sell these amps.

In terms of a reference point, my headphones are Audio Technica ATH-M40X headphones and I have them connected to a FiiO E10K headphone amp and DAC. I like the sort of sound coming from that setup.

In terms of downstairs hifi, I've got an old Marantz PM440 amp and Mission M70 speakers. I like the sound from this setup as well.

Ultimately I'd be looking for a similar setup on the computer to these two, or somewhere around them, in between. At the moment I am erring more towards the SMSL amp.

Cheers :)
 
I've always been a bit of a SMSL fanboi. Not got any experience with the SA-50 but the DACs/Headphone Amps I've had - SD-793II, SAP-9, SU-8, SH-8 - have all been pretty bang on for the cash.
 
What about a DA-8S, also supposedly pretty good. Quite tempted myself, not that I have any unpowered speakers right now..

Are you literally just requiring a line out into whatever you get?
 
SMSL SA-36a is surprisingly good for the cash. got one driving a pair of little q-acoustics 3010 for my pc sounds fine to me and i think might fit the bill
 
SMSL SA36 or 50 is a good choice. Never heard of the other two mentioned in the OP.

I'm using a Topping TP21 amp on my desk with some Roth Oli speakers. Topping offered a good choice of similar size and cost amps to the SMSL SA36/50, but that has gradually disappeared.

I do have an SMSL, a Q5 Pro, which I use downstairs to power some floor standing speakers. That does a great job,
 
#Chri5# said:
Did you order a SA50 in the end OP?
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Hi, no I didn't. I went for an amp made by Douk in the end, having just read some reviews of the SA50 that suggested quite a few failed after a few months. I have yet to get some suitable speakers, still looking at what to get. Ideally I'd take the amp into Richer Sounds and have a demo with a few speakers, but clearly can't do that at the moment!
 
TangoEchoAlpha said:
Hi, no I didn't. I went for an amp made by Douk in the end, having just read some reviews of the SA50 that suggested quite a few failed after a few months. I have yet to get some suitable speakers, still looking at what to get. Ideally I'd take the amp into Richer Sounds and have a demo with a few speakers, but clearly can't do that at the moment!
Click to expand...

Thanks! I'm debating new desk speakers at the moment and have disappeared into the rabbit hole of an amp + passive speakers (having started on active speakers). The main source for the Chinese made amps appears to be Amazon, so stock and delivery is an immediate issue for some of the models.
 
#Chri5# said:
Thanks! I'm debating new desk speakers at the moment and have disappeared into the rabbit hole of an amp + passive speakers (having started on active speakers). The main source for the Chinese made amps appears to be Amazon, so stock and delivery is an immediate issue for some of the models.
Click to expand...
Ah. After a bit of thought I ordered some Roth Audio OLI RA1s, don't have a massive amount of desk space for speakers. Hopefully the combo of those and the Douk Audio G3 Pro sound OK ;)
 
Here we are. Definitely less bass-y than the previous Creative T40 series II speakers that I had, but also sounds a lot cleaner. Very comparable sound to my Audio Technica ATH-M40X headphones with the FiiO E10K DAC, so pleased with that!

IMG-20200429-150007.jpg
 
TangoEchoAlpha said:
Here we are. Definitely less bass-y than the previous Creative T40 series II speakers that I had, but also sounds a lot cleaner. Very comparable sound to my Audio Technica ATH-M40X headphones with the FiiO E10K DAC, so pleased with that!
Click to expand...

I wondered what the speakers were looking at the picture, other than that they are Roth's, that is. :p Didn't realise they were RA1 until I looked at the previous post.

I've got the predecessor to those, the Oli1.

Surprised you find the T40 have more bass, but then that shows how much difference the EQ knob must make. A smaller speaker cannot go as low as a larger one, especially given the smaller cabinet size.

That amp appears to have tone controls though. So if you find the T40 has more bass than the RA1, even with the bass tone control dialed up, then Creative must have done what Bose are known for; unnaturally squeezing more bass from a smaller driver using jiggery-pokery. :p
 
My old powered desktop speakers have given up, well the left one is crackling and Monitor Audio want £50 to replace the driver which is fair, but then the right one could go. Space is an issue, so am also looking at the Ra1's probably paired with a Tangent Ampster hooked into my Marantz HD-DAC1.
 
Are you sure it's the driver that has gone?

Assuming that is the problem, then it would be poor manufacturing on MA's part to have both woofers go in one set of speakers.
 
Marsman said:
Are you sure it's the driver that has gone?

Assuming that is the problem, then it would be poor manufacturing on MA's part to have both woofers go in one set of speakers.
Click to expand...

They are WS100 Airstream so quite old. I would have a look myself, but I cannot see how to get into them and Monitor Audio have only quoted me for the bass driver.
 
Seems odd that they have quoted you for the cost of a new driver, as I don't see how they can be certain that is what the problem is; unless they just fix them for that cost regardless whatever is wrong.
 
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