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Hum Nice.
Also liking the sprout, and the first version of the NAD is coming down in price.
Has anybody tried any of the Far east offerings, do SMSL or anybody do anything similar?
sswiss-
I’ve owned both a NAD 3020v and an SMSL AD18 and I felt that the SMSL was subjectively better from a usability point of view but also sound quality. Obviously it’s set up dependent but they had more headroom with my speakers and it showed. I had to run the NAD at 90% volume and the SMSL at like 50%. Value for money was a no brainer too. $130 vs $400...
The SMSL has a huge power supply hence its small size versus the NAD, but the amplifier housing itself is metal, whereas the NAD is plastic which disappointed me. I’d say either go for something as small and as cheap as the SMSL, or go full size (which I ended up doing in the end). I got an Onkyo A-9150 and it’s great. Multiple digital and analog inputs. Only thing it’s missing is a USB input, but that isn’t the end of the world.
This is of course my opinion, completely subjective and your mileage may vary.
JB
Don’t overlook the Audiolab 6000a. I bought one recently and love it all round. Replaced something much more fancy but wouldn’t go back.