SMSL SH-9 THX AAA-888 Balanced Headphone Amplifier Review (2) – News for You Crews, Sleeker Than Grease
INTRO
Matchy matchy folks that like to make their stack look neat and tidy the SMSL SH-9 / SU-9 combo is pretty nifty. Previously my run-in with the SMSL SU-9 was a great experience, and now the SMSL SH-9 made it’s way to Chicago and has impressed this simpleton with clarity and sharpness.
RANDOM OBSERVATIONS
So apparently I am behind the times a bit rocking my O2 Headphone amp. The no frills, down to business, and simple design with straight-forward design goals was an easy sell to me. I think this was 2012 technology, but nothing wrong sometimes with simplistic. However, when something so recognizable such as THX comes equipped in an amplifier you can’t help but wonder is it good? We all know the THX tone “deep note”, but what about “The World’s Most Linear Amplifier Technology for Headphones and In Vehicle Audio Systems”? I can’t help but grimace when anyone claims world domination, but it works to sell so everyone keeps claiming the title. So I don’t think anyone sets out to make a non-linear amp, the trouble is always the filters at the ends (bass and treble) that make something non-linear.
If I am to believe the marketing verbage for THX AAA, they want hifi (don’t we all), low noise, low distortion, and low power consumption. The low power consumption is a weird thing for a desktop amp, but okay I’ll bite. Heat is the enemy of transistors, so keeping things cool is a plus. The rest is just plain bragging rights, most decent amps will keep noise and distortion below our detectable thresholds until driven into clipping and hopefully better than the source of the music. The SMSL SH-9 definitely fits this mold and excels.
Just in case you didn’t already know, the SMSL SH-9 comes equipped with balanced and unbalanced inputs and outputs, two gain modes, and a pretty slick looking display about the size of a computer router.
NIT-PICKINGS
Three feet again? Seems silly, with four it really does make things stable. That is an easy remedy, sticky feet can be found at the local hardware store. The following is a personal grievance and a design choice, the volume control for several reasons. First is the notched control, I prefer more fluid control. Second is the 256 stepped ladder, it clicks ever so slightly inside too as it switches to the next volume level. This is great for ensuring a particular level, but seems overly complicated. Third is the 100 steps (not all 256 steps are utilized to make it more linear according to the SMSL SH-9 manual). It takes too long to reach the top or bottom, feels like about 5 full turns on the knob. The analog control of the O2 is more to my liking. Lastly, the bottom range does not allow for precision low level, I would say the first 5 notches sound the same level and then an abrupt off. I think the taper needs improvement, but then again who listens to an amplifier at low levels? There is a volume mode setting that affects the switching of the relay to preserve the life of relay according to the manual. Probably nice to have, but does make one wonder about how many cycles is it good for?
OUTRO
My previous review of the SMSL SU-9 had me excited, the SMSL SH-9 is also a great product however I don’t get the same sense of tingly excitement while using it. I don’t normally sit still and listen, so the SMSL SU-9 is a product I would use more. Either way, the SMSL SH-9 is well designed headphone amp using some of the latest technology available for headphone amplification. I think it would pair nicely with the SMSL SU-9 or as a mix and match setup where you want precision, clarity and sharpness.
DISCLAIMER
This was a loaner boner from APOS Audio, get it here. We have joined the affiliate program so that the proceeds can be used for good things, not to line our pockets. All proceeds donated to CIVL.
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