SMSL SP400 Review

SMSL SP400

AMP Performance

The sound signature of the SP400 is flat to my ears and as soon as you hear it, you will notice how clear and transparent it is. It reflects the source, without any coloration. That means you’re bound to your DAC’s performance because the AMP will not be the bottleneck here. The SP400 sounds clean, powerful, and detailed. It has a pitch-black background and it is silent. It is technically very capable and you will much likely be limited by your DAC rather than the SP400. It will easily push the limits of your source and your headphones as SMSL put a lot of R&D work behind the product and it seems like they successfully leveled the beautiful SH-9 up.

I was quite impressed by the SH-9 and now the SP400 offers even better PRaT, better detail-retrieval. It also sounds cleaner and more spacious. I honestly think that it deserves a Headfonia Recommendation. Just like the SH-9, SP400 shows every detail, every nuance to you but manages to do it in a clearer and in more pronounced way. It is very easy to follow micro-details of the tracks with a good source and good pair of headphones or IEMs. Additionally, while offering plenty of details, the SP400 does not sound clinical to the point that it feels dry. I think that it is very important for an amp because amps like that can really mess up your natural-sounding DACs and end up in that area where everything feels digital and soulless. In the next chapter, I will be pairing the SP400 with a couple of DACs and we’ll look at their stack performances together.

Gustard X16 & SMSL SP400

Gustard X16 is a detailed, clean, and flat DAC. They have a similar sound signature as they are both tuned with transparency and accuracy in mind. Together, they sound very detailed and revealing. PRaT is really good, the transients are fast and clear. The soundstage is wide and deep with plenty of air between the instruments. Imaging is excellent as well. The lows are tight, fast, and punchy. Harmonics are easily distinguishable and the overall tonal balance is brilliant. The midrange is smooth and detailed at the same time. The note-weight is not too thick or too thin. Instruments feel natural and breathy. The upper midrange has plenty of air and energy while standing clear of the sibilance.

This DAC & AMP combo provides a very enjoyable presentation and you will not be easily fatigued by this pairing. The treble extension is very good thanks to the wide and deep soundstage. The treble is transparent and clean. The control is very good here, just like the rest of the spectrum. The fundamentals are strong, the overtones are controlled and definite. The treble region never feels harsh or crisp, it has the perfect amount of energy and it feels vivid. To be honest, the SP400 unlocks the true capabilities of the Gustard X16. Compared to the SH-9, this pairing offers better transparency, clarity, and imaging. The headroom feels airier and the instrument positioning feels more accurate.

SMSL SP400

SMSL SU-9 & SMSL SP400

The SU-9 is also a quite competitive DAC from the same brand and if you’re upgrading from the SH-9, here are the key sound differences you should know about: The SU-9 and the SP400 combo offer better transparency and detail-retrieval while staying true to the SU-9’s core. The SU-9 sounds linear and slightly more aggressive than the Gustard X16 but the SP400 improves it and together they sound more relaxed and airier. Compared to the SH-9, the SP400 offers more power though both of the amplifiers are quite good in terms of output power so you should be fine. For extra an 340 USD, you’ll be getting two extra THX modules, which translates into a cleaner and more silent background and double the amount of pretty much everything in the SH-9. As I mentioned before, the most obvious difference is the resolution and the perceived transparency. You will also notice that the imaging is better and the instrument positioning is clearer compared to the SU9-SH9 combo. 

SMSL SP400

Budget Clash: Geshelli Archel 2.5 Pro vs. SMSL SP400

The Archel 2.5 Pro is an HFN award-winner amp that offers quite good performance at a reasonably low price point. I will be comparing both of them with the same DAC and headphones to describe the key differences between them, sound-wise. Firstly, the SP400 offers fully-balanced circuitry and it offers much more power. Secondly, it offers an almost hiss-free experience and darker background compared to the Archel 2.5. It also offers a wider and airier soundstage. It has better transparency and has higher resolution. Additionally, the Archel 2.5 Pro sounds warmish when directly compared to the SP400. The Archel’s midrange sounds more romantic and bolder, as well.

There is a huge difference when it comes to the pricing but they are not like chalk and cheese when you are looking from a pure-performance angle. I/O and design-wise there are a lot of differences between them but this is a hobby of diminishing returns after all. I would say that the performance difference is not negligible but nevertheless, the Archel 2.5 Pro offers excellent performance for its price and I wanted to include it here for the users who may not have the budget for the SP400.

Last Words

The SP400 is an excellent amp and therefore we are rewarding it with the HFN recommendation award. It may be the best THX amp out there with this much amount of power to play with. It can drive nearly anything on the market at the time of this writing and it offers an excellent, hiss-free experience even with sensitive IEMs. It can easily be controlled by the included remote and it offers a pretty straightforward operation. Sound-wise it is very, very good and it reflects the source as it is. It is a technically advanced unit with a very clean and clear background. On another note, it has an excellent build quality and the new glossy top cover looks amazing. Like all SMSL devices, it is built to last. I highly recommend this amplifier, try it and hear it yourself.

To the recommended buy list it goes!

Specs & Technical Info

*Inputs: Balanced x1, Unbalanced x1

*Outputs: Balanced HP x1, Unbalanced HP x1, Pre-Balanced Output x1

*Balanced Output Power: 

12Wx2(16Ω) 

6Wx2 (32Ω) 

880mW x2 (300Ω) 

440mW x2 (600Ω)

*Unbalanced Output Power: 

6Wx2(16Ω) 

3Wx2 (32Ω) 

440mW x2 (300Ω) 

220mW x2 (600Ω)

*SNR: 133dB, A-Weighted

*Residual Noise: 1.9uV, A-Weighted

*THD+N: -123dB, 0.00007% (1kHz, 32Ω)

*THD+N: -117dB, 0.00013% (20-20kHz, 32Ω, -3dB)

*THD: < -125dB, 0.00006%

*Input Impedance: 47kΩ

*Output Impedance: close to 0Ω

*Frequency Response: 0.1Hz-500kHz (-3dB)

*Unit Dimensions: 225 x 210 x 43mm (WxHxD)

*Weight: 1330g

 

Page 1: Intro, Company Info, Specs, Packaging, Design & Build Quality, Technology & THX, Power, Menu & Controls.

Page 2: Amp Performance, Gustard X16 & SMSL SP400, SMSL SU-9 & SMSL SP400, Budget Clash, Last Words

4.4/5 - (206 votes)
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Long time Tech Enthusiast, an ambitious petrol-head, Yagiz likes his gadgets and always finds new ways into the tinkerer's world. He tries to improve anything and everything he gets his hands onto. Loves an occasional shine on the rocks.

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