When I run the Sprout, I use it on its own, so it covers dac and amp. I’m sure there are better options available, but if I had to start this hobby over, this would be the only source I would have bought. It doesn’t lack in any category, but knowing that I am more headphone focused I can’t speak with authority that it will do everything you want for speakers. This review may help. It’s from a channel that usually caters to very high end users, and he says he can’t think of a much better entry to hifi:
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I’ll watch the review but I decided to wait it out for some SMSL products. Z recently praised the $400 SMSL M500 DAC (other than the leakage when switching output to speakers or headphones, which doesn’t affect me because I’m only using speakers and people say that it’s expected to leak when you have two outputs running simultaneously plugged in). There is a new ~$200 SMSL SA300 amp supposed to be released around this time, and it has everything I want in cheap products lol.
Both new SMSL DAC and AMP add up to ~$600, similar to $599 PS Audio Sprout DAC-AMP all in one. I will not make a decision until I see Z review this amp. For me it is legit between these two choices for the seemingly best budget dac/amp combo.
xovers let frequencies through and filter out others. The sprout100 has a highpass(meaning only high frequencies go past it) set @120hz if there is a subwoofer connected. Meaning the subwoofer will see frequencies below 120hz and your speakers will get frequencies above 120hz.
Lfe, for simplicity, is an rca jack that most modern subwoofers have. It just saves a cable.
The Motion 4i are amazing, the folded ribbon tweeters rock. Bass extension is meh, best with a subwoofer for sure. But right now the x16 are clearanced out for 229$ each. cheaper with a bigger box and woofer.
the sprout also has phono out if u plan on a turntable. Active speakers use rca, passive speakers use speaker wire, typically 16awg. the sprout100 has 5 way binding posts. The cheapest way to hook up is with raw bare wire wrapped around the post. The easiest tends to be with banana plugs at the end of the wire effectively creating a similar hookup as rca.
Honestly, if you plan on going long haul, I would get the sprout100 over the smsl as longevity and support are much better with PS Audio products then smsl.
I get it. Any reason you feel the need to turn it off in the first place? I never switch mine off and just let it sit there in sleep mode and never had a problem.
Mainly to save power, I didn’t know Emotivas had a auto-sleep/low power standby mode. I may consider the Emotiva if has that feature. I’m also worried about audible popping, think I heard Z mention it in his video review.
If you’ve tried any of the SMSLs mentioned or the Sprout even, that would be super useful comparative info!
Unfortunately, I have not tried any of those other amps mentioned. I went straight from an older Sony receiver to the Emotiva.
I have not noticed any popping noises on my amp, but then again, I don’t turn my amp on and off which is where I am guessing that popping would happen.
The standby feature on this amp is pretty nice, except there is one caveat and it is the same one that Zeos mentioned in his video as well and that is that it will drop into standy mode if you haven’t used it within about 5ish minutes. That can be super annoying at times, but to me, not annoying enough to deter me from the amp. The amp had a lot of clean power and I love it. I also really love the form factor and build quality.
Yeah forgot to account for form factor. I like the SMSL combo look with its two long cubes, Sprout is kind of nice because of just one piece (silver though ugh doesn’t match anything new since most computer parts are in in black compared to the vintage silver look), and Emotiva is a pass for me mainly for its size. It’s relatively huge compared to my m-itx PC and the bold blue light will distract me guaranteed esp when my build doesn’t have any LEDS which I prefer. I like my build to feel hidden so I can focus on my screen
Understandable, the A-100 is pretty huge and would require a large desk, but I have two 6’ x 3’ desks in an L shape so I have space to spare. I love the blue L.E.D. though.
The Sprout would and a great amp as well though if you can afford it. Just make sure whatever you get can pump out a lot of power.
Just got these in the mail. Also got the Origain A250 to power them with some Micca Speaker Cable with banana plugs already on. Basically I’m trying to convince my family that this is better than a soundbar. We’ll see what they think.
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I want to try these one day - perhaps on my desk. Don’t think I’ll let me sound bar go though. I like the minimalist feel.
Still waiting on someone with experience using the Sprout100 or SMSL DAC + amp to give feedback =(
I’ve used the sprout100 and it’s pretty great. A bit warmer tilted, but plenty of power and sound quality on a desk
With the Micca RB42s?
Not on the RB42’s no. I don’t think there would be an issue doing that though
I use my Sprout100 with Kef LS50s and it is more than enough to power them on a desktop. Plus the phono in works well as does the headphone jack for most headphones. Great device for the price
I wonder if u could power the rb42s with the 789🤔
Unfortunately no, you would have to convert the xlr out to speaker terminals, and it wouldn’t put out enough power to drive them correctly
Yeah ik it was a joke I was just extending the band wagon
Is DMS ever going to finish the video series on the RB42 towers???
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Sprout100 has a remote with power button.