Products Links
SMSL AD18 Speaker/Headphone AmpMicca MB42X Bookshelf SpeakersMonoprice M1060 Headphones (*ON SALE*)Sewell Silverback 12 Banana Plug Speaker CablesCable Matters Gold Plated Toslink Digital Optical Audio Cable 6 FeetRecoton Fiber Optic Toslink to 3.5mm Mini AdapterHEMNES Desk with 2 drawers (black-brown)
Specifications
SMSL AD18 Hi-Fi 2.1 Stereo Class D Amplifier with Subwoofer OutputSupports Bluetooth 4.2 and AptX Type: Full digital decoding amplifier Input port: USB/AUX/3.5mm Coaxial and Optical 1/Bluetooth/Optical 2 Output Port: Amplifier output port/3.5mm Headphone port/Subwoofer Voltage: 24V Output power:80W x 2 SNR(Signal to Noise): 90dB Power consumption: 50W EQ adjustment: 7 Headphone output(32ohm): 53mW@THD=0.04% USB sampling rate: 24bit 96kHz Optical sampling rate:44.1kHz-192kHz Coaxial sampling rate:44.1kHz-192kHz Treble adjustment range: ±8db,Bass adjustment range:±8db Net Weight: 572g
Build Quality
Very good Almost all metal construction Very compact Solid built connectors Small LCD Screen (some light edge bleeding on my particular unit) Font size on screen is relatively small (could be bigger) Remote is adequate (sometimes signals don’t register when you are too far away)
Pros
Low cost Can be used both as a speaker amp and a headphone amp Very small and compact (can fit anywhere) Supports Bluetooth 4.2 and AptX Has a subwoofer output Has lots of input connection options such as AUX, USB, COAX, and Optical Can use either speaker wire or banana plugs to connect speakers Provides a lot of power to the speakers
Cons
Does not work very well as a headphone amp Not much power delivered to the headphone out jack Power brick is quite big Only one button/dial for you to control all the functions of the amplifier Sometimes the signals from the remote don’t register when you are too far away or at an angle
Sound Quality
Vocals are very clear Great mid-bass however, if you want sub-bass you will need to add a subwoofer Mids and highs are very enjoyable
Conclusion
The SMSL AD18 is a great low-cost budget option for a DAC/Ampflier providing you with lots of input options and also supports Bluetooth 4.2 and AptX. The SMSL AD18 paired with the Micca MB42X Bookshelf is a great budget combination that can give you the perfect sound that can fill up any room. For those that want sub-bass, a subwoofer is recommended. The SMSL AD18 as a speaker amplifier is great and well above expectations, however the headphone amplifier on this unit is a bit underwhelming and only good for the occasional headphone listening stations, as there are much better options for headphone amps. The small size of the SMSL AD18 allows you to put it pretty much anywhere whether it be on your TV console or on your computer desk. Definitely would recommend the SMSL AD18 along with the Micca MB42X speakers for those that are looking to replace their existing soundbars with something better.