Headphone Amp/DAC Reviews

PS Audio Sprout100 Integrated Amplifier/DAC Review Specs

Specs
POWER OUTPUT: 50 watts per channel at 8 ohms (100W at 4 ohms), both channels driven
DIMENSIONS: (WxHxD, Inches): 4.06 x 1.46 x 4.80
WEIGHT: (Pounds): 2.9
INPUTS: USB Type-B (asynchronous), optical digital, phono RCA (moving magnet), stereo RCA, Bluetooth wireless
OUTPUTS: stereo RCA, subwoofer (full-range), ¼-in headphone
BIT DEPTH/SAMPLING RATES, USB: PCM up to 24-bit/384kHz and DSD up to DSD128
BIT DEPTH/SAMPLING RATE, OPTICAL: up to 24-bit/192kHz
UPSAMPLING: Yes
DAC: ESS Sabre 9016
Price: $599

Company Info
PS Audio
psaudio.com
800-PSAUDIO

COMPANY INFO
PS Audio
800-PSAUDIO
psaudio.com
ARTICLE CONTENTS

COMMENTS
docbronze's picture
Submitted by docbronze on October 12, 2018 - 9:10pm

I'm looking for a pair of sub $1,000, preferably sub $800, bookshelf speakers to pair with the Sprout 100. Bonus points for not having a rear firing port as space is at a premium. For that reason, I won't be adding a sub. Any ideas?

One would think sensitivity would be an issue, but the few in depth reviews I've read or watched have claimed that the Sprout 100 drives relatively inefficient speakers, like Mr Griffin's 87db Totems, pretty darn well. So if not efficiency, then impedance? Perhaps finding a good pair of 4ohm bookshelf units to maximize the 100w the Sprout is capable of? I'm clearly wide open to suggestion.

drumphile's picture
Submitted by drumphile on October 30, 2018 - 9:45am

How big are you willing to go with? What kind of music, how big of a room? I'm a big believer in shopping used market, especially for speakers since they generally either work or they don't. For best bass in small package, some older Dynaudio Audience 40 or 50 are amazing for their size, but they have rear-firing ports which can be plugged and they are 4 ohm. I'm a big fan of NHT and which are almost always cabinets with good bass extension, but depends on how big your room is. An amazing-sounding rock'n roll speaker with good full-range sound front-firing ports is the older JBL Studio Series S38 and S38II which are a true bookshelf 3-way (if you can find them). Older Paradigm Mini MkIII, Atom, Titan, or PSB Alphas are decent too. If buying new, I think the new ELAC Debut 2.0 have front-firing ports and sound very good too.

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