Oldchen (Laochen) EL34-BvsSMSL AO300
A detailed side-by-side comparison of the Oldchen (Laochen) EL34-B and SMSL AO300 — two popular amplifiers in the Chinese HiFi space.
Specifications
Spec
Oldchen (Laochen) EL34-B
SMSL AO300
Class
A
D
Topology
Single Ended Triode (SET)
—
Tubes
EL34 x2, 6N9P x2, 5U4G x1
—
Power
10W x 2
2 × 165W @ 4Ω
Wiring
Point-to-Point (Hardwired)
—
Chipset
—
Infineon MA5332MS
Inputs
—
HDMI (ARC), USB, Optical, Coax, Bluetooth, Balanced XLR
Features
—
Subwoofer Out, Filters, EQ, Remote
Remote Control
✗
✓
Tube Stage
✓
✗
Price (estimated)
Price
~$170
~$195
Difference
~$25.00 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 AO300
- ⚠Menu system is small and can be finicky to navigate.
- ⚠HDMI ARC implementation is hit-or-miss with some TV brands (LG specifically).
- ⚠Bluetooth antenna range is shorter than average.
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