The PS Audio Sprout is one of the rare amplifiers that are successfully kickstarted and have delivered its promises of providing its users with a simple yet high-quality hub for your music system. With this overwhelming Kickstarter success and support from their fans, the PS Audio Sprout is still going strong even to this day and even has an upgraded version which will be the Sprout100. If you are one of the proud owners of the beloved PS Audio Sprout and are currently looking for a pair of speakers then please sit tight and continue to read on.
Getting the right speakers to match with your PS Audio Sprout will need a further understanding of the integrated amplifier’s sonic prowess and characteristics. As remarkable as the Sprout amp is, at this price point, it will surely have its own strengths and limitations which we also need to find out. Once we have gathered enough data, we will prepare a list of the best speakers that you can go for and share it with you.
Table of Contents
Sonic Characteristics and Important Specifications of PS Audio Sprout
It is quite incredible that you can get so much value from such a compact-sized integrated amplifier. It is packed with a plethora of features such as a built-in D/A converter, the Wolfson WM8524. There is also a Bluetooth connection that supports aptX, providing you with high-quality music streaming from your mobile devices. Turntable users will be delighted to know there is a built-in MM phono stage too. Another notable feature will be the headphone output. As you can see, the PS Audio Sprout is like a swiss army knife, it has almost everything you’ll need to cater to your modern-day music needs.
As mentioned earlier, it is an integrated amplifier with a small footprint, and with its clean look, the PS Audio Sprout will be a fantastic choice for your desktop setup. It will blend in seamlessly in almost all listening rooms even including the ones with very limited space. The PS Audio Sprout has quite low power output though, it is rated at 32 Watts per channel into 8 Ohms and goes up to 50 Watts per channel into 4 Ohms (Max). When it comes to power output, the 2nd generation Sprout100 will be more powerful. The PS Audio Sprout will be strong enough to drive bookshelf speakers that are not difficult to drive and most probably you will need an active subwoofer to boost your overall bass performance.
More Info at Amazon – PS Audio Sprout100
The sound quality of the PS Audio Sprout is pleasing and easy on the ears which do make bad recordings forgiving to listen to. The stereo imaging is good and the separation is nicely defined, the soundstage that the PS Audio integrated amp projects is amazing in this price range. There is clarity in the music presentation as well with plenty of details to boot. The polished background and low noise sound reproduction help a lot in letting us listen to our favorite tunes more enjoyable.
The overall sound reproduction is neutral with a touch of warmth which is why it can handle most music genres and produce lovely sound quality. We do find it lacks a bit of enthusiasm and if it has a bit more energy, the PS Audio Sprout would have sounded more entertaining. The bass performance of the Sprout amplifier is taut and agile, with the addition of a powered subwoofer, it should help increase the musical presence and provide a more prominent deep bass reproduction. The midrange reproduction is detailed and full sounding which does makes the PS Audio Sprout exceptional for vinyl record playbacks.
All in all, the PS Audio Sprout is a nice-sounding integrated amplifier and will provide a detailed music presentation that most listeners can enjoy listening to. Still, it does lack some punchiness and the speed of more energetic amplifiers. We also need to be a bit cautious when pairing with dark-sounding speakers so as not to dull down the music delivery by too much. To help open up the PS Audio Sprout, we strongly suggest integrating an active subwoofer into the mix. We have gathered enough details and data, it is time for us to share with you the list of the best speakers which you can get and partner with your PS Audio Sprout amplifier. The MSRP of the selected speakers will be closely matched with the price point of the Sprout amp as well.
PS Audio Sprout Specifications
- Power Outputs: 32 Watts per channel into 8 Ohms, 50 Watts per channel into 4 Ohms
- Total Harmonic Distortion: 0.025%
- DAC: Wolfson WM8524
- Wireless: Bluetooth (aptX)
- Inputs: 1 MM Phono input, 1 Analog input, 1 USB input, 1 Digital input
- Outputs: Analog output, Headphone output
- Dimensions (W x H x D): 155mm x 45mm x 205mm (6″ x 1.8″ x 8″)
- Weight: 2.9kg (6.4lbs)
Best Speakers to pair with PS Audio Sprout
The ELAC Debut 2.0 B6.2 is one of the best speakers to match with the PS Audio Sprout especially if you want a livelier and more transparent music presentation. The level of transparency that these pair of bookshelf speakers possess is incredible and well worth every penny invested. The revealing nature of the B6.2 stand-mounters is great as they will produce plenty of musical details. ELAC Debut 2.0 B6.2 are agile speakers with fast pacing which adds more energy to the overall sound reproduction when paired with the PS Audio Sprout amplifier. The warm nature of the Sprout amp also helps ease the brightness of the speakers.
More Details at Amazon – ELAC Debut 2.0 B6.2 (Pair)
The Klipsch RP-500M is a pair of bright and lively sounding bookshelf speakers, with expressively detailed midrange reproduction. Furthermore, it is a speaker with high sensitivity and enables the PS Audio Sprout integrated amplifier to drive the RP-500M to high volume levels. This pair of Klipsch loudspeakers are capable of delivering a clean music presentation with astounding clarity. The sonic characteristics of the PS Audio Sprout help ease the harshness a little and the energetic performance of the Klipsch RP-500M complements the integrated amplifier. It may not be for listeners who do not like bright-sounding audio systems.
More Details at Amazon – Klipsch RP-500M (Pair) (Ebony)
The KEF Q150 will be one of the best speakers to pair with your PS Audio Sprout integrated amplifier. The Sprout amplifier has sufficient power to drive the Q150 bookshelf speakers and the pleasing sonic characteristic to smoothen the hard edges. The neutral character of the KEF Q150 is a suitable match for the PS Audio Sprout and can present to its listeners with high levels of sonic details in crystal clear sound quality. For a speaker of this size, the bass performance is decent but adding an active subwoofer into the mix will still be recommended though. The stereo imaging of the KEF Q150s is amazing as well and it will be worth your time to audition them.
More Details at Amazon – KEF Q150 (Pair, Black)
If you are looking for the best entry-level speakers then the Q Acoustics 2020i is definitely one of them. It is a multi-award-winning stand-mounter that has a punchy performance that will complement the PS Audio Sprout amplifier really well. It is also capable of delivering a wide soundstage which is unexpected from a compact speaker at this price range. The sonic characteristics of the 2020i bookshelf speakers are a suitable match with the Sprout integrated amplifier. No matter how loud you play them, they won’t reach a level of harshness and you can enjoy listening to them for hours on end.
More Details at Amazon – Q Acoustics 2020i (Pair) (Graphite)
If you really have a tight budget and do not wish to compromise the overall sound quality, then the Elac Debut B5.2 is an excellent loudspeaker choice to go for and pair with your PS Audio Sprout integrated amplifier. It is a highly rated and well-received compact speaker that is praised by its satisfied owners. The Elac Debut B5.2 has an ideal sense of music timing which adds a bit more enthusiasm to the overall music delivery and not to mention there is clarity in the overall sound reproduction. The PS Audio Sprout is an exemplary match as its sonic characteristics complement the speakers.
More Details at Amazon – ELAC Debut 2.0 B5.2 (Pair)
Entry-level or budget speakers made by Dali will be terrific choices for the PS Audio Sprout as they usually possess articulation, agility, and impeccable music timing for the price. For a warmer sonic characteristic, the Wharfedale loudspeakers will be the ones to go for, and definitely worth your while to hear them out. Adding an active sub will be a good idea and we will suggest checking out SVS. It is a reputable brand that makes high-quality subwoofers that deliver incredible bass performance and are sanely priced. You might want to start with SVS SB-1000 Pro especially you are planning to enhance your music listening experience.
More Details at Amazon – SVS SB-1000 Pro Sealed Sub (Black Ash)
To Conclude
The PS Audio Sprout certainly provides a lot of value to its users and their latest iteration the Sprout100 is even better. The speakers mentioned here are some of the best on the market which is close to the price point of this brilliant amplifier. It is recommended to have an audition with them first and see if you like their sound quality before making your final decision. If you are planning to get a subwoofer, please include it during the speakers’ auditions as this will give you a more accurate result of the overall sound quality.
