Click to view our Accessibility Statement or contact us with accessibility-related questions
SMSL SAP-10 Balanced Amp
01 / 05
SMSL SAP-10 Balanced Amp
bookmark_border
Where's the price?
To negotiate the best possible price for our customers, we agree to hide prices prior to logging in.
119 requests
Product Description
Powerful, affordable, and easy to use, the SMSL SAP-10 balanced amp shines when it comes to balanced headphones like the Massdrop x Sennheiser HD 6XX—and it’s well suited for headphones with single-ended connections, too. It uses two advanced TPA6120A2 headphone amp chips to deliver ample power and low distortion, and also features a low-vibration Triad transformer, four 300uF Nichicon FW series capacitors, 10 Epcos standard film capacitors, and a four-channel NJW1195 volume control chip for a balanced output from the right and left channels Read More
search
close
Sort by: Newest
keyboard_arrow_down
bigcjm
35
Sep 17, 2017
The power is just a dash too shy for a balanced amp. Even though 600mw is plenty for most headphones. I'd rather have too much than not enough. Combine that with not every Good headphone can be used balanced kill the appeal a bit. Still 180 bucks is solid. Kind of a case of you get what you pay for.
Cokeman
1971
Sep 17, 2017
bigcjmYep I agree 100%. A Magni 2 (non Uber) has a lot more power than this does.
L047
31
Sep 17, 2017
Yeah, exactly. Looks like it has 2 TPA6120A2 chips for L/R channels in a fully symmetrical PCB layout. (pics from one Chinese headphones forum)
Tatteredmidnight
170
Sep 19, 2017
L047Typically speaking, a symmetrical board design is a bad sign, as it is rarely the optimal component layout in terms of signal paths and generation of unintended RF/EMI loops within the amp design itself. I am not an EE, but this is what I have gathered from reading and watching many different in depth board teardowns.
http://nwavguy.blogspot.com/2011/07/o2-design-process.html under 2-29 PC BOARD ROUTING.
"Forget Aesthetics – It’s apparently hard for some to resist but the optimal layout rarely has everything arranged in neat tidy rows and columns like a spreadsheet. Electrons have no concept of aesthetics but they don’t generally like going further than they need to because someone thought an IC or resistor looked better over there. See the next item."
The entire section is relevant here, but that in particular addresses the layout issue I'm referring to.
http://nwavguy.blogspot.com/2011/07/o2-design-process.html under 2-29 PC BOARD ROUTING.
"Forget Aesthetics – It’s apparently hard for some to resist but the optimal layout rarely has everything arranged in neat tidy rows and columns like a spreadsheet. Electrons have no concept of aesthetics but they don’t generally like going further than they need to because someone thought an IC or resistor looked better over there. See the next item."
The entire section is relevant here, but that in particular addresses the layout issue I'm referring to.
Cokeman
1971
Sep 17, 2017
This has got to be about the cheapest Balanced AMP I’ve seen. Just wish it had a bit more power. The price of this is for that balanced input.
OZ.Bloody.Rabbit
197
Sep 18, 2017
Sorry, typo, I mean sap-9 which has balanced in 2x 3pin xlr to balanced out, 2.5 trrs + 4pin xlr, sap-8 is balanced in and only TRS out.
Recent Activity
Related Products
Drop Refurbished
Like-new products you can trustDrop Rewards
Get $5 for every 500 points you earn! Learn more
Drop Keyboard Club
Become a member and expand your keycap collectionFollow Drop