Solid Amp

Great amp per price point. Solid construction. I bought this amp to power a pair of NS-10's and they do a great job. With the amp turned all the way up there is minimal amp noise in the speakers. When the cooling fan kicks on it can be too noisy for a control room if it is close to the listening position.

Happy so far

I've only been using the SLA-1 for a few weeks, but so far I'm very impressed. Good sound, plenty of power, simple design--works as advertised. I only give it 4 stars because I've had it for so short a time. If it's still kicking in two years, I'll give it five.

And on that topic, I have every reason to believe that this amp was built to last, if nothing else because of it's sheer weight. I couldn't believe how heavy it was (in a good way) when I lifted it out of the box. Compared to the endless march of plastic-enclosed and planned-obsolescent products, the SLA-1 is a tank.

Great Value

Intro:

This amp really delivers! For around two hundred bucks its a steal for its quality. The construction is great, with heavy aluminum and steel.


Looks:

The black brushed front with the bright blue LED looks sharp as well...very impressive. Two stepped pots on the front for volume. They feel solid and have a definate detent to the steps, however they spin a bit too easy and you can accidentaly spin it too far. Logos are sharp and classy, however the front scratched easily...not a big deal but kind of annoying.


Hardware:

The fan seems quiet enough, although the picky ones can just disable it from inside. Heat sinks are solid and perform well, nothing too special. The connectors on the back are decent quality, with XLR and bal/unbal 1/4". The outs connect bare wire, spades, and bananas equally well. Ground lift is a nice touch.


Performance:

The sound is slightly upwardly balanced, and a tad harsh on the high end, however it isn't terribly noticable and a good working in might smooth it out a little bit. Seems to perform well with my mixes, and i can tell a definate improvment in the detail of the sound compared to my old pioneer amp. Well worth the money, although if its just for mains and if you have the money, you might try something a little smoother sounding. However, if you need a good amp that puts out good sound for very little cash, this is a sure bet. The only other competing amp is the Alesis SA300, but its more expensive and only puts out 90W. Can't say on its sound quality, but it'd have quite a fight with this guy.