Hi everyone, I'm new here; enjoying reading some of the analysis of amplifiers and the approach taken.
My interest was piqued a while ago by the idea of Class D "Pure digital" amplification; specifically going straight from a digital signal to speaker voltage without analogue intermediate. I'm a digital audio (software) guy, so this feels natural to me.
On that basis I thought I would try an SMSL Q5 Pro. For a while I used it with some small Dynaudio 2/6 speakers on stands. Now I've swapped them for floorstanders for better low end; Dynaudio Audience 62.
There are many plusses about this amp for me; USB input; coax input; an analogue input for phono preamp; EQs; small size; everything in one box; low power. In practice I ignore its quirks; there's s spark when you plug in the DC; I already had to replace a tiny resistor on the power input side which burnt out; very coarse volume control; very coarse EQ. It's always sounded a little 'soft' for my preference, so I have the treble EQ set to +1 or +2. If I could have everything, a good internal phono and PSU would be nice.
Now I'm wondering if it's really just too low powered for these low sensitivity speakers.
I'm considering I.AM.D V200, for having no analogue intermediate (if I understand correctly), comparable features but more power (150W vs. 45W). Is it worth it if I'm not hearing any clipping or distortion? Or am I just wasting my time and money here trying to partner budget 'innovative' amps with these speakers.
Also interested in dodging the amp's matching external PSU. Is there any evidence of the improvement of an old-style "LPS200 Linear Power Supply" or would a modern switchmode PSU deliver just as well? There seems to be an interesting contradiction in driving something as precise as an amp with pulses, and then going back to a traditional PSU.
Thanks! And looking forward to reading more around here.
Dynaudio Audience 62 specs:
Sensitivity (2.83 V/1 m): 86 dB
IEC Long Term Power Handling: 150 W
Impedance: 4 Ohms
Listening distance is 3m, at low/medium volume.
My interest was piqued a while ago by the idea of Class D "Pure digital" amplification; specifically going straight from a digital signal to speaker voltage without analogue intermediate. I'm a digital audio (software) guy, so this feels natural to me.
On that basis I thought I would try an SMSL Q5 Pro. For a while I used it with some small Dynaudio 2/6 speakers on stands. Now I've swapped them for floorstanders for better low end; Dynaudio Audience 62.
There are many plusses about this amp for me; USB input; coax input; an analogue input for phono preamp; EQs; small size; everything in one box; low power. In practice I ignore its quirks; there's s spark when you plug in the DC; I already had to replace a tiny resistor on the power input side which burnt out; very coarse volume control; very coarse EQ. It's always sounded a little 'soft' for my preference, so I have the treble EQ set to +1 or +2. If I could have everything, a good internal phono and PSU would be nice.
Now I'm wondering if it's really just too low powered for these low sensitivity speakers.
I'm considering I.AM.D V200, for having no analogue intermediate (if I understand correctly), comparable features but more power (150W vs. 45W). Is it worth it if I'm not hearing any clipping or distortion? Or am I just wasting my time and money here trying to partner budget 'innovative' amps with these speakers.
Also interested in dodging the amp's matching external PSU. Is there any evidence of the improvement of an old-style "LPS200 Linear Power Supply" or would a modern switchmode PSU deliver just as well? There seems to be an interesting contradiction in driving something as precise as an amp with pulses, and then going back to a traditional PSU.
Thanks! And looking forward to reading more around here.
Dynaudio Audience 62 specs:
Sensitivity (2.83 V/1 m): 86 dB
IEC Long Term Power Handling: 150 W
Impedance: 4 Ohms
Listening distance is 3m, at low/medium volume.