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If audio minimalism were a religion, than devices like the Sprout would be its alter. Similar to the excellent Oppo HA-1, a simple flip of the dial transforms the Sprout into a Bluetooth streaming device, a digital to analog converter for high resolution audio (at a max 24bit/192kHz resolution), a premium headphone amplifier, and an input source for both standard analog devices, and turntables.
But unlike the HA-1, the Sprout goes even further than that, offering 50 watts per side of high-quality stereo amplification to push anything from a pair of shelf speakers, to floorstanders. And if you’ve already got your power plant of choice, it can also be used as a preamplifier to sweeten up the sound before it takes the next step up in the transformer food chain.
Along the brushed-metal back panel are an ample collection of connection ports, including a USB B input for connection to a PC, a Coaxial digital input for a CD player or Blu-ray player, a 3.5mm analog input, an RCA phono input, and banana plug connections for your speakers of choice. The Bluetooth chip is also equipped with aptX for near CD-quality resolution from compatible devices.
The Sprout is fresh off a successful Kickstarter campaign over the Summer, in which it raised over $414,000, far surpassing its meager $36,000 goal. It’s too late to get this premium device for its Kickstarter steal-of-a-deal at $450, but even at its current $800 asking price, the Sprout could prove to be a very worthy investment, especially for those looking to step up while paring down.
If you’d like to trade out your cumbersome gear for something more simple, you can pre-order the Sprout from PS Audio’s website now for delivery in January.
