SMSL SA50 Amp

Chaos · 7 Jan 2015 at 14:43

Anyone use one of these amps ?

I picked up one recently, if there is no audio input and I power on the amp I can hear a faint hiss / static sound from my speakers if you are close to them.
This does not change with volume.

I was just wondering if this is normal for the amp, am I hearing the hiss due to the sensitivity of my speakers? or do you always get this with these amps ?

The speakers I have hooked up to it are Micca MB42

Marsman · 7 Jan 2015 at 19:26

How loud is it?

You do get some noise with amplifiers, but generally, I would expect that it would only be heard when you have your ear close to the speakers.

Having said that though, I have a Topping TP21 which is also a Tripath amp, and I can't hear any hiss at all, even with the volume pot opened right up. There is a hiss though with my integrated amp, which does increase as the volume pot is opened up.

I'm not sure what part speaker sensitivity plays when it comes to noise. I would expect hiss to be louder with more sensitive speakers, as they can generate more volume at the same input level than less sensitive speakers. The speakers I use with the TP21 are 88dB, which is slightly more than your Micca's at 85dB.

Cookeh · 7 Jan 2015 at 20:14

My Lepai Tripath gives off a bit of a hiss at very high volume - most evident on pauses between tracks with the volume turned up.

Chaos · 7 Jan 2015 at 21:30

Marsman said:
How loud is it?

You do get some noise with amplifiers, but generally, I would expect that it would only be heard when you have your ear close to the speakers.

Its very faint and not really that much of an issue, I have another small smsl amp on the way so I will compare it to that and see if theres any difference.