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PS Audio Sprout
01 / 08
PS Audio Sprout
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1.3K requests
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177 Sold
Product Description
Sometimes, simple things are the best things. With over 45 years of experience building audio products, PS Audio has developed an amp/DAC combo that does more with less Read More
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Kai123
0
Oct 6, 2019
bigmike631The current model, the Sprout 100 sells for $599 . I've owned the original Sprout (the one for sale here) and now own the Sprout 100. The Sprout 100 is better if can afford it.
RayF
22219
Oct 3, 2019
Actually, I like the BLACK dial! If I didn't already have a Seiko Flightmaster, I'd probably go for this drop.
Couple of points for the "OMG 44mm is huge!" crowd: on a watch like this, with a dial that busy/complicated, bigger is better--assuming you actually want to read all the data it's capable of displaying, particularly in low light, and especially with eyes approaching forty-ish ;- )
(Edited)
Evshrug
3772
Community
Oct 3, 2019
Well, you are quite the character!
...
Now you make me wonder how many characters I’ve typed on this site (almost 100% from my phone).
K.T.N
1264
Oct 2, 2019
I have this and also the Sprout II. Honestly, I prefer the sound of the original version over v.II.
The original version sounds more lucid and organic to my ear whereas v.II sounds more powerful, but more plain and by the book.
I find that v.ll lacks a certain fluidity and ease in the sound which makes the original more musical and engaging, IMO.
Of course v.II has more power to drive more difficult speakers, so that may make it the better choice depending on what you pair it with.
For the record, I've used both amps with the KEF150 and Centrance Masterclass 2504 speakers.
BGCT
2
Oct 2, 2019
Bought a sprout over a year ago, love it. Drives my Monitor Audio Bronze 5s. I prefer the sprout over my NAD 3020.
Calaverasgrande
1486
Oct 2, 2019
- Signal-to-noise ratio (A-weighted): >90dB
Calaverasgrande
1486
Oct 2, 2019
I get you on that. I own some SE gear. I've even built some.
However, the SNR is the only spec I could find about the audio path in the details. Nothing about freq bandwidth, crosstalk, intermodulation distortion etc.
One of these days I'm going to pull the trigger on one of these DACs and/or amps. I need one! But there is always something that sours the deal.
Evshrug
3772
Community
Oct 3, 2019
CalaverasgrandeIt would help if you could hear it. But, we as a society voted to mostly kill off brick and mortar stores, preferring to read reviews or stick to known brands. Might’ve been hard to find a Sprout for demoing anyway.
I use my Sprout II every day. It’s almost a shame that I have a dedicated headphone amp, because the Sprout could replace so many parts, but I mostly just use it with optical input from my TV’s pass through, plus my bookshelf speakers or a pair of headphones.
This has had plenty of volume with no background noise with my speakers and all the full-size headphones I’ve used with it. I think a 90dB S:N could be an issue for amping sensitive IEMs, and maybe an easier to drive headphone, but I use it with my Sennheiser HD 650, AKG K612 Pro, and Fostex TH-X0-II. Recently, I got to borrow a pair of Focal Elear, but the stiffness and weight (and thick cord!) are not for me. None of these have any issues with the Sprout, and sound on par with a $300 headphone DAC/Amp, fairly plain sound as some have said but a tad on the dry side. I think it makes my planar leaf Chane bookshelves sound clearer and have better imaging than my $200 Yamaha receiver, and so it has become the audio centerpiece of my living room. Add to that, the Sprout has Bluetooth and vinyl pre-amp input features and I truly think it is a bargain. I’ve read that the original Sprout has a warmer sound to it, possibly due to the Wolfson DAC in it (I don’t know the model number, but I associate Wolfson with the 5th generation iPod and the iPhone 4S), but the Sprout II’s ES9016 DAC chip is still a fairly strong performer.
Only issues I’ve had with it:
1.) the Bluetooth receiver is always on, even if the Sprout has a different input selected, so I’ll often come home and find out my phone or iPad are silent because they are outputting to the Sprout.
2.) the hand remote is small, about the size of the AppleTV remote, and both can disappear from time to time. Also, the remote’s volume “steps” are very small, so it’s slow to change the volume. I find it fascinating that the remote is magnetic. Of course, the first Sprout doesn’t have a remote, so...
(Edited)
zanthine
85
Oct 2, 2019
aaneeI have a MaiA! It has several more inputs than the sprout. It’s not as powerful of an amp though, and FYI the stereo banana jacks are weirdly small. My banana jacks didn’t fit, which hasn’t ever happened to me before this. I got some BFA style jacks that worked fine. I paid quite a bit less than this though; I think it was $309.
Der_Klaviermann
217
Oct 2, 2019
Honestly, if you can spend $500, I don't think that 5% "discount" is that much of a difference for anyone to care.
I would rather save up some more for the latest model.
(Edited)
MAMBACFA
12
Oct 2, 2019
The price of the current model Sprout is $599 not $499. If this is current production then this is a great deal. A complete system in a small box. Any criticisms are unrealistic, as this the ONLY unit with all the functionality anyone needs for a tiny-footprint system.
Hazelmullins
14
Oct 3, 2019
I think they are essentially the same. The Sprout II was what they initially called it. I believed they changed it to the Sprout 100 to highlight the wattage change and further differentiate it from the original model
zanthine
85
Oct 2, 2019
YogurtThe current version— the sprout 100– has a toslink imput. It’s $599 on Amazon.
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