Oldchen (Laochen) EL34-BvsSMSL AL200
A detailed side-by-side comparison of the Oldchen (Laochen) EL34-B and SMSL AL200 — two popular amplifiers in the Chinese HiFi space.
Specifications
Spec
Oldchen (Laochen) EL34-B
SMSL AL200
Class
A
D
Topology
Single Ended Triode (SET)
—
Tubes
EL34 x2, 6N9P x2, 5U4G x1
—
Power
10W x 2
2 × 165W @ 4Ω / 2 × 85W @ 8Ω
Wiring
Point-to-Point (Hardwired)
—
Chipset
—
Infineon MA5332MS
Inputs
—
USB-C, Optical, Coax, RCA, Bluetooth
Features
—
Built-in DAC (CS43131), Headphone Amp, MQA Decoding, Remote
Remote Control
✗
✓
Tube Stage
✓
✗
Price (estimated)
Price
~$170
~$260
Difference
~$90.00 cheaper (Oldchen (Laochen) EL34-B)
Things to Know
Oldchen (Laochen) EL34-B
- ⚠The '5U4G' rectifier is often wired in hybrid mode with silicon diodes, which purists dislike.
- ⚠Transformers run very hot, suggesting they are pushed near their saturation limits.
- ⚠Stock Chinese EL34 tubes can sound harsh compared to budget re-issues like Mullard or JJ.
SMSL AL200
- ⚠Lack of a subwoofer output or pre-out is a major omission for a 'hub' device.
- ⚠The display font is small and can be hard to read from a distance.
- ⚠Some users report a slight 'pop' sound when switching inputs.
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