This little Sprout 100 is fantastic. My previous HiFi system came in at around $40,000. Acquired and upgraded over 20 years. I am an audiophile. This means I am very picky. I bought this sprout 100, thinking it would be returned within 2 days. I could not believe the reviews, so positive, on such a low cost item. Bluetooth, Phono Stage (and a good one for MM), 50 WPC into 8 ohms, 100 into 4, an analog input, digital input, good dac... all for under $600.
I was setting up a small system in my living room area. It consists of Klipsch RP-600M speakers (HUGE bang for the buck here), a Technics 1200GR, Upgraded Sonos Connect going into the digital in of the sprout. Audioquest GO-4 speaker cables and Mackenzie IC's.
I hate to say this but this little system (no sub, had one, didn't like it with this setup) sounds gorgeous. It does have some 3 dimensionality as well. It images if you sit in the right sweet spot but also sounds amazing anywhere I sit as it fills the room with rich, lush, detailed, big sound. Never harsh at all, in fact, it leans warm.
I compared the Sprout 100 to a more expensive integrated, the Musical Fidelity M3si. The M3si seemingly had much more power or gain, something... but it was harsh sounding next to the Sprout 100. No way and this MF piece comes in at $1k more than the little sprout.
I compared it to a couple of $300-$400 tube amps from Amazon here, no contest, the Sprout 100 had a much more audiophile kind of sound. Focused on stage, imaging and separation of instruments like I never heard in any amp under $1000. I normally had to jump to the $2k level to get this kind of separation and detail.
This is the perfect integrated amp for ANYONE wanting to upgrade from those crappy receivers sold at big box stores. For anyone wanting a taste of high end. Anyone who wants a one box solution that will SOUND GREAT.
No this does not compete with a $2500 or $10,000 integrated (I've had them) but for what it is, it is the best I have used.
THE SOUND
With my equipment (listed above) the sound is big, room filling, never harsh, never muffled. It fills my living room with ease and the sound from these $550 speakers is making me feel like I have a $5k system here. I even tested the bluetooth function and wow, amazing implementation. Once hooked up, it remembers your commotion and all you need to do is turn the big metal dial to "bluetooth" and you are ready to stream. It sounds great too though not as good as my modded Sonos into the optical input on the Sprout 100.
THE BASS BOOST
This Sprout 100 keeps the originals bass boost but now you can defeat it with the push of the volume dial. For low volume listening the boost really fleshes it all out, so late night listening really draws you in. I turn it on for low volume, and off for normal listening. I do not need or want a sub. Many see the boost as a negative, I see it as a positive. Some recordings are thin, and this boost mode really makes everything sound so good. When active though the imaging suffers. So for critical listening (and yes, this is possible with a Sprout 100) turn it off, and for background listening or low volume, turn it on. That's what I found to work best and I am glad to have the option.
PHONO STAGE
I had a Puffin phono stage that cost me $450. The phono stage built in the Sprout 100 is fantastic, but only if you have a MM cart putting out 5mv. It's not versatile, at all but for me it beat the Puffin out for sound quality when using my Ortofon Bronze on the 1200GR.
So this replaced my $450 phono stage, no contest. Much more organic and analog sounding than the puffin, and I really tried hard to like the puffin. It just had a sheen and harshness over the sound when compared side by side. I also tried a Mani phono pre and this one was closer to the built in but offered a bit more versatility with cartridge selection. Overall the built in phono pre is amazing sounding, with the right higher output MM cart.
VOLUME DIAL
You have to turn the dial ALOT to get the volume to where you want it. I am not a fan of the way the dial works but it works. I would prefer a beefier dial that works like a normal volume dial.
POWER
I have tested this with the following speakers:
Klipsch RP-600M. These fit the Sprout the best for what I tested it with. The sound is organic, full, clear, and has great imaging for what these speakers cost. Setup is essential! On stands, set up correctly. Otherwise they may sound strident up top or thin. WIth the Sprout 100 and these speakers set up just right the sound gets close to systems costing much much more.
Dynaudio EMIT 10 - These were a tad dull with the sprout as if the sprout did not have the gusto to power them. These did much better with the music fidelity M3si as that amp seems to have more grunt and current but again, it is a brighter sounding amp. These speakers do not do well with the Sprout (well, the Klipsch does better).
Klipsch Heresy III - Perfect match. Sound is clean, clear and protects into the room with amazing fidelity.
Dynaudio Special 40 - These are my speaker of the year for 2019 and the Sprout can do justice to them but to get the most from these $3000 speakers you should have more current and power. The Sprout 100 can power them, and they sound lovely but this speaker requires something more to really appreciate them.
So for me, the combo of the Sprout 100 and the Klipsch Speakers is a nock out win. Again, set up is important. The room is the most important aspect to any HiFi. Then the setup and placement. Then the gear. We can get Hugh dollar sound and pay much less than we think we have to. The PS Audio Sprout is one example of this and a fine one indeed.
PS Audio should be applauded. Never have I seen this kind of value in a HiFi Integrated Amp and yes this amp does give you a small taste of what the high end is. As PS Audio says, it may be a gateway to higher end for some ; )
FIVE STARS.
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This Item  PS Audio Sprout100 Complete HiFi DAC Amp, High Resolution High Fidelity Audio for Digital, Analog, Vinyl, and Bluetooth (Real Walnut) |  |  |  |  |  | |
| Price | Currently unavailable. | -9% $499.00 List: $549.00 | $199.00 | $249.99 | $259.00 | -29% $99.00 List: $139.00 |
| Delivery | — | Get it as soon as Tuesday, Apr 30 | Get it as soon as Tuesday, Apr 30 | Get it as soon as Wednesday, May 1 | Get it as soon as Tuesday, Apr 30 | Get it as soon as Tuesday, Apr 30 |
| Customer Ratings | ||||||
| Sound quality | ||||||
| Value for money | ||||||
| Volume control | ||||||
| Quality of material | ||||||
| Sold By | — | WORLD WIDE STEREO | GRAMOPHONE | Hour Loop | Schiit Audio | Schiit Audio |
| interface type | USB | Coaxial, USB | USB | Coaxial, USB | Coaxial, USB | Coaxial, USB |
| number of channels | 2 | 2 | — | 2 | — | — |
| mounting type | Plug Mount | Coaxial,Plug Mount | Plug Mount,Tabletop | — | — | Plug Mount |
Reviews with images
Nonplussed
On the plus side: The sound was very good. I wasn't blown away or anything, but for the size and price it was very good. The looks and build quality were also first rate. It even has a real Walnut top! On the bad side: There was a small issue that occurred with the packaging materials which left glue all over the unit, but I was able to clean it off. My biggest concern with this unit, and the reason I sent it back, is with the volume control. The problem is that the volume control is VERY slow to respond when using the remote. (which just like the unit itself, is top-notch quality) I kept wondering if I was actually pressing the button, or didn't have it aimed at the unit properly. It literally takes about 5 seconds before you can hear any appreciable change in volume. The knob on the front panel is better, but you still have to twist it 14 TIMES to go from zero to full volume! The icing on the cake for my decision to return it though, is that there is NO WAY of telling where you have the volume set! I can't believe no one mentioned this in all the reviews I've read/watched. I was afraid that I was going to change the input and blow out my speakers not knowing where the volume was set! Really sad because the build quality is better than some units costing 3 times as much! If you don't need a remote, I'd look at the original Sprout which has a more traditional volume control.
Top reviews from the United States
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Reviewed in the United States on September 14, 2019
Reviewed in the United States on June 19, 2019
Reviewed in the United States on January 30, 2024
On the plus side: The sound was very good. I wasn't blown away or anything, but for the size and price it was very good. The looks and build quality were also first rate. It even has a real Walnut top! On the bad side: There was a small issue that occurred with the packaging materials which left glue all over the unit, but I was able to clean it off. My biggest concern with this unit, and the reason I sent it back, is with the volume control. The problem is that the volume control is VERY slow to respond when using the remote. (which just like the unit itself, is top-notch quality) I kept wondering if I was actually pressing the button, or didn't have it aimed at the unit properly. It literally takes about 5 seconds before you can hear any appreciable change in volume. The knob on the front panel is better, but you still have to twist it 14 TIMES to go from zero to full volume! The icing on the cake for my decision to return it though, is that there is NO WAY of telling where you have the volume set! I can't believe no one mentioned this in all the reviews I've read/watched. I was afraid that I was going to change the input and blow out my speakers not knowing where the volume was set! Really sad because the build quality is better than some units costing 3 times as much! If you don't need a remote, I'd look at the original Sprout which has a more traditional volume control.
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Top reviews from other countries
Stephen Thompson
Buy it, you won’t be disappointed
Reviewed in Canada on July 22, 2019