Acoustic Solutions SP100 Review

Good Points
Ease of use.

Bad Points
Poor sound quality.
Bad value for money, even at £60!

General Comments
I bought the Acoustic Solutions SP101 amp along with a pair of Eltax speakers to put together a budget system for my dad. With this requirement in mind, I was not expecting it to perform like a more expensive system. However, I did expect it to be a competent entry level amplifier; delivering a basic, clear signal.



After setting up, I was disappointed with this amp and frustrated with my purchase. As sba99jpd mentioned in his review, the SP101 cannot deal with the line level input from a CD player. It distorts the input signal (most notably, and most annoyingly, on vocal tracks). It also produces a good deal of noise (hiss) when switched on. As a result of this, the overall sound is muddy, undynamic, with a poor stereo image.



I took the amp back to Richer Sounds and exchanged it for a Cambridge Audio A1 (only £20 more than the SP101). What a difference! No noticeable hiss, no distortion, and a good, solid sound. The A1 sounds and feels like an amp worth at least £100 more than the SP101 (which gives you an indication of how badly the SP101 actually performs in terms of value for money ).



To conclude: If you want a good value budget amp, do not buy the SP101. Spend just £20 more on the Cambridge A1 and get a real piece of hi-equipment.