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For those just discovering this review, I have a tip. I think this may have already been covered. The power you send this DAC is very important to the sound. I stupidly had it plugged into a cheap home automated multi plug. I didn't notice any problem until today. I thought the cord might be the problem, but the power source was giving me a faint Morse code-like noise. Tried several devices until I found that my receiver USB was absolutely dead quiet. Back to 70's funk! Hope this helps at least one person.
Got this on this latest Prime Day event, and even after reviews I am pleasantly surprised and impressed. For a secondary system using a thrift store bought bluray player as a transport , an Ayima A07, some old precision acoustic bookshelf speakers, I can't tell much a difference from my main system using a Yamaha Home theater receiver. Keep up these kind of product reviews. When you have a budget , the "cheap" works very well for me.
Thanks Randy. I'm sure this DAC is a great choice, but for the little extra cost I'd rather buy from our friends and neighbors at Schiit. I hope you and your family are happy and well, Kevin
Thankyou for the review. It sent me on an exploration of trial and error between a few DACs. After pushing music through the dac via optical to my active eris 5 (cheap monitors) I could hear a crystal clean sound from the su-1 but it sounded too digital and failed on various frequencies with typical dance music and was harsh and week or too edgy and not worth it even for £60. Though it was better than a non branded dac of £30 I've now settled with a modi 3. The modi 3 I think is the base level and is warmer sounding. It sounds great with accoustic guitar and vocals but even that might be too detailed and fatiguing if listening to dance music for hours, but it gets away with it. The modi 3 is palatable for dance music and a joy with live music. Better than the su-1. So my advice - don't waste your money on this su-1. Get a modi 3 or better. Anything less than £100 I think is wasted money. You maybe ok just listening on headphones, but why not spend an extra £40.
Love your plain spoken audio intelligence. This S.M.S.L. SU-1 makes my 2yr old, broken in Koss Pro 4AA cans sound amazing. Two other budget dacs couldn't do it. Falling in love again!!! Thanks for helping to convince me to buy this dac.
Perfect execution, like the other guy said..."Randy's back"...love the whole vibe and layout of this review...Thank You for all your hard work bringing us information and entertainment...😊
Thanks very much for the review. I saw this on Ali a few weeks back and was hoping you were going to review it. I couldn't find a DAC at that price point that could input USB,OPT and Coax. I had a feeling it was going to sound OK and I'm glad you confirmed it. It looks like it is what I am looking for as I am on a very strict budget and conversion rates + postage or local retailer markups make US produced gear too expensive for me in Australia.
I like that you put these things into context. Some people tell you products like this suck because they don't sound as good on their 2.5k headphones which these never were intended to be used with
I have been wondering for quite some time how all the DACs that you have reviewed stack up to the Emotiva ones. Months ago, I bought a PT1 on sale to get FM tuning, preamp, DAC, headphone amp and phonoamp all at once. (still in the box as I save up for T3 speakers and proper amp/monoblocks) Friends, Romans, Randy, keep lending us your ears!
I bought the PT1 and plugged it into my existing system, and my advice is DON'T WAIT! I noticed a big difference right away, my system has never sounded better.
I love my SMSL C200. Just got it a few weeks ago, and it’s such an excellent allrounder DAC and headphone amplifier. It really has stepped up my digital music listening experience. The timing is spot on, it’s more tonally balanced, and I’m hearing details in the music I wasn’t hearing before. SMSL really make great audio! Thinking I might upgrade my headphones and go with the Hifiman Sundara’s, and dive into the planar magnetic headphone world!
7:18 It's not just about affordability. I'm in the process of returning a MOJO 2 because I don't like the "house" sound; I also sold a MOJO 1 for similar reasons, back in the day. A few years ago I got a Benchmark DAC3L and feeding a Rupert Neve RNHP (via balanced) got pretty much the "plugged into the mastering desk" audio I was after; the MOJO 1 was unmasked, much like the emperor, by the truth. If the SU1 has a decent implementation of the DAC chip with a well designed analogue interface, then price is irrelevant, much to the chagrin of the likes of Chord, et al.
Dumb question? I'm new to all this. This would be my first DAC. Power adapters. I have a variety of phone chargers all around the house. They probably have different wattages. Newer ones a bigger, say for my Pixel phone. Anyway, does the choice matter much? Besides impact on sound quality, it can handle any adapter to USB-C without burning or dying? There's another adapter on the inside?
I have a Sanskrit 10th mkIII, which uses the same 4493S chip. It is very transparent, clean, and detailed. Compared to my Schiit Modi Multibit, it’s more analytical and flatter sounding, and not quite as immersive. But, for half the price, it’s a great performer.
I work at Goodwill and we got a Sanskrit 6th anniversary in about a week ago. I'm time limited from buying stuff for a minimum of 24 hours and sometimes more, but someone got it for $50. I would have charged more.
It doesn't have a hand controller, but they did give you a too short cable for a power wall wart. I have my own high quality cable (6 feet) to find the power strip.
I hear great things about Topping. I was told I HAD to buy Topping instead of Schiit. ASR is a Topping fan page. Problem is, unlike Schiit, they have horrible customer service, a high fail and arrive DOA rate. "Well, it sounded good for 15 minutes until it failed and I had to send it back..." Then, I got the Modius maximus and it's been working great since It was new on the market.
I also bought a Topping E30 because of ASR. They judge gear based on measurement and believe all dacs sound the same. Thanks to Randy, I bit the bullet and got a Denafrips Ares. Now I have a Gustard R26 and it sounds way better than E30.
@@onionknight9431 Channels like Randy's help dispel the Topping myth (halo effect) and I hope it helps end the topping cult. I swear ASR is the fox news of audio. Lies and cults. Topping products have the highest fail rate of any DAC. They are mass produced like garbage with little quality control. Ever try to return a topping product? It took me MONTHS and multiple e-mails to get them to admit is was defective and nothing *I* did to damage the DAC. Even when I had it the sound was "meh". There are lower cost DACs that measure and sound better than Topping, and all of the name DACS are built better.
Well this is something, just ordered this DAC to replace my SMSL M100. The micro USB connection on the back is going out (surprise, surprise). Using it with my laptop set up because the main computer I have has a Geschelli stack with the better headphones. Needed this for when I'm downstairs watching your reviews and some music listening. Looks like I made a solid choice.
Based on your recommendation, I went ahead and purchased the SMSL SU-1 to use with my iPhone 12 or my iPad. Now the interesting part begins. Nobody has a video or article showing what parts you need. Based on what I read, it is better to use the Coaxial DAC input to connect the iPhone, that way I can use the USB DAC port can be used for supplying the DAC with power. What cables do I need? Edit on 3/13/24: Thanks, but I got somebody else to help me. Carlos in Texas
Hey randy was thinking on upgrading my listening experience & first time purchasing my dac/amp combo stack, but i was wondering is purchasing the Smsl c200 dac/amp combo a better alternative to actually doing a stack combo like you did with the Smsl SH-6 & Su-1 ? Really trying to get a better understanding of this whole hobby. (Mainly going to be using this for desktop purposes only). Love the videos btw !
Is it worth while buying for this a separate power supply? If so how does one connect a separate power supply as the USB is used for both data and power. Are there any good budget power supplies you can recommend?
I have an onkyo tx-nr6050 with a wiim pro plus, would it make sense to pair with this dac? Would it sound better? Or should I only stick with the wiim pro plus dac? Also, would it improve the sound if i pair klipsch's The fives + wiim pro plus + this Dac?
3 yrs ago, you reviewed a cheap $15 dac sold at Amazon and you said it was good enough for most folks, I purchased it, do you still feel the same? Or does this $80 one sound that much better?
Yes you can I just recently got one and have it hooked up to my dvd player as a cd transport as long as your dvd player has digital coaxial on the back your good to go
Time to do a new Dac tier? All batteries bank are not the same inside, the best uses 18650 battery which are built rolled like capacitors, other power bank that uses sandwich battery are bad sounding
Just ordered a S.M.S.L SU-1, should be here in 2-3 weeks. Going to see if it ups the game on my Pioneer Elite PD-59. Great transport that could use a little sprucing up. ;)
@@ErbsengeneralIt really cleaned things up. Opened up the sound, improved accuracy in the highs tightened up the control and range of the low end output. Cleaned up cymbals, all subtle but in my system, noticeable. I have an Oppo 95 that I usually use for listening. But I have an PD-59 and Elite PDR-19RW. The PD-59 feeds the recorder and is a great transport. Hooked this up for fun, m ay buy another for the other room too! Is it as good as my Oppo, no, but it is a heck a lot better than the 20year old Pioneer DAC hands down
I loved the Skee-lo song reference. SMSL has put out some great products recently, at all price brackets. SU-8s, SH-8s, DA-9, SH-9 and similar from those series, with some patience can be found under $200. These are all incredible values, have built in power supplies, offer balanced connections, and great performance. Similarly this SMSL SU1 at $79 is an incredible value. I dont think anyone would find complaint with its performance. The primary reason to step up to the next price tier is not performance gains but convenience. The extra money gets you additional features such as more connecting options on back, volume control, display screen, which for many are unnecessary add-ons. If someone just wants performance at low cost this might be unbeatable at $79, as long as it has the connections you need.
Thank you for the review. I’m going to connect this DAC to active studio monitors. Could you please recommend a volume controller with a remote control
Uh oh, I've ordered a Geshelli J2 AKM version, but it's on backorder so it won't get to me for another month or so. Now I'm wondering if I should get this instead or keep waiting. I don't use balanced connection, so this is strictly single ended use. EDIT: Like typical audiophile fashion, I ended up order SMSL SU-1 too because why not LOL.
@@lazzzzze1 The Geshelli J2 backorder was taking too long so I end up cancel my order. But I did end up getting the SU-1, resolution is a little bit higher than my current SDAC. Though I find SU-1 ever so slightly more leaner/brighter sounding. So I end up just going back to my old and trusted SDAC LOL.
Hi! I am very new to audio world and would like to get some advice. Would it really improve and give noticeable improvement for music and movies? I am planning to use Smart TV - DAC - Powered Speaker(Klipsch the Fives) My TV would feed PS4 and ATV 4k via HDMI.
i've had both...the schiit modi USB port stopped working after two years...$55.00 to fix.....I prefer the sound of the SMSL...the coaxial port sound is phenomenal for the price
Damn straight...!!! Hifiman 400SE planar magnetic headphones knock it out of the park when it comes to "price to performance ratio"...!!! I initially bought a pair for myself and was so impressed, I bought another pair for my son... who was also very impressed...!!! These days, the art form of assembling an 'audiophile-quality' system for around $1000 dollars is very accessible, constantly evolving, and getting more enjoyable/affordable by the month/year...!!! The young people of today are blessed - as far as music goes...!!!
Ok, Randy, lol. Bought the SMSL and Wiim Pro after your reviews. I plan on pairing them with my Grace Digital powered speakers. I'll let you know. Thanks! Go Navy
I was hoping someone could confirm that my setup will work: PC > SMSL SU-1 > headphone amp for when I want to use headphones > aiyima a07 max > speakers
Windows Updates: Known audio killers. I have experienced a Win 10 update that clobbered a Creative Labs X-Fi card that had worked all through Win 7 into the first half dozen Win 10 updates. With my current convoluted audio setup I view the constant stream of Windows updates with a clenched sphincter and dread.
Hey I also have a Metallica guitar pick that I caught in the croud, it was in little Rock Arkansas. Very useful info here, thank you I'm learning about dac's 😊
I couldn't find the remote. as it was, it was fixed output for this one. maybe the remote is sold separately but I didn't see a ir receiver anywhere on it
the nuforce icon hd from 15 years ago is built and designed much better, probably sounds much better and has a great headphone amp for around the same price used if you can find one.
I bought this DAC because of this video. However, there is a half second of silence before this DAC starts to output sound when I start to play, so I miss the start of the music. I wonder if this is the problem with this DAC or a common problem with external DACs. I am simply playing CZcams videos on my PC, and I see the video start to play before the sound comes out.
in terms of chip and form factor, this looks much like the topping dx1 which actually also has an hp amp. only has a usb input though. but if you're looking for something like that and you only want to use it on pc, i'd say go for the dx1.
Has anyone used this successfully with iPad/iPhone? However could not get working with a direct USB connection. Do I need a powered USB Hub to give enough power here? The manual is not helpful. The SMSL website does not have any information even the scant user manual on it's webpage. I did get it working with optical from WiiM Pro and with Coax from CD transport. Thanks.
Hi, I got the Fosi Audio Q4, with headphones amp (similar price) Is this a better Dac to consider chance mine for this one?, is there a several diference?
I've been using a RPi4 with volumio and a topping D10s and since powering it with a battery pack to power the Pi I've been impressed with the performance. If I use the toppings bridge function to go from the RPi4 usb to Opitcal out of the topping into this SMSL SU1 do people think this is a upgrade or a sidegrade. Or should I just wait for a better DAC with the AKM chip inside. Really interested to know what people think on this. Cheers!
the s in 4493s stands for silky. Without MQA this could have been even cheaper. But without a remote you cannot switch filters, so you are stuck with whichever one smsl chose for this DAC.
Just bought one to connect my iPhone 11 to my hifi. I know I would use the RCA out to my amp but how do I connect my phone to the DAC. I am completely useless with technology so any advice is appreciated.
I have the WIIM pro running right into a carver analog preamp and a Chromecast audio on another system running right into a integrated analog amp not using any DAC and love them. Would I really benefit by plugging in these streamers int this DAC? Keto up the great work.
I was in the same position when I bought the Wiim Pro. Do I? Don't I. I decided to buy the latest version of the Schiit Modi + due to Randy's and other like minded reviews. I paid over the odds as I'm in the UK but what a difference it made. It now brings a smile to my face each time I listen to it. In my mind, the Wiim Pro DAC is sort of okay but very harsh on the higher frequencies, and to be honest it grated on me after a while.
Would I hear a big sound difference if I add this to my desktop setup? Right now my audio is just directly coming from my PC which has built in dac supremefx s1220a and its shielded....I don't hear any noise out of it. Will this SMSL SU1 dac provide an even better experience especially using the optical out? Just trying to decide if it's worth spending the $67 for it right now.
Q: is there a way to control my smsl d-6 volume via IR or toslink through a Chromecast remote? I really don't wanna have multiple remotes. Just ordered smsl d-6 as I have some weird buzzing from my gpu, like coil whine, but it goes not via air, but through hdmi cables to the tv and then through tv to the kali active speakers. No ground loop since its all on one socket and one extension cord. So I've just decided to go balanced. I did try everything to remove isolate the issue, unless it's toslink it keeps going through hdmi and rca cables from gpu to speaker ground pins. I'm afraid to use hum destroyers as some people said it can degrade audio quality. Lifting kali ground pins work, but i read you can get electrocuted this way so a nogo. Also don't wanna buy some fancy 100$+ ifi gnd stuff, that's just too much money.
A nice choice for an 'entry' level system. If $50 isn't an issue, perhaps the Schiit is a 'better' choice. Thank you as always for this review and information.
I'm currently testing the SMSL SU-1 DAC. Sounds wonderful, but... When I switch songs from Tidal, it always cuts off the first second. Very frustrating. This happens on coaxial. On USB it is less noticeable. My streamer is ifi zen stream. Can something be done about it, any ideas? It ruins whole experience
If you are traveling with a laptop and headphones, the Topping DX1 is better. DX1 headphone dac/amp has 3.5mm and 1/4" headphone jacks w/ gain switch, AK4493s dac chip, only 4 1/4" by 3 1/4", line out to power amp, no wasted space for mqa/optical/coax. $99
@@D1N02 Good point. I also use a Sound Blaster Play 4 dongle dac. yeah better for portability. But the DX1 has more detail than the Play 4. Either would be good.
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For those just discovering this review, I have a tip. I think this may have already been covered. The power you send this DAC is very important to the sound. I stupidly had it plugged into a cheap home automated multi plug. I didn't notice any problem until today. I thought the cord might be the problem, but the power source was giving me a faint Morse code-like noise.
Tried several devices until I found that my receiver USB was absolutely dead quiet. Back to 70's funk!
Hope this helps at least one person.
the morse code like noise is probably interference from your wifi router or extender
I got an SU-1 for Christmas and the difference from the internal DAC in my Wiim Mini is literally night and day. It is incredible
Got this on this latest Prime Day event, and even after reviews I am pleasantly surprised and impressed. For a secondary system using a thrift store bought bluray player as a transport , an Ayima A07, some old precision acoustic bookshelf speakers, I can't tell much a difference from my main system using a Yamaha Home theater receiver. Keep up these kind of product reviews. When you have a budget , the "cheap" works very well for me.
How much did you get it for ?
@@tsyriac I got it about 71$ at the same Prime day. Now it's 80, but still a way more has a value than that. I'd spend 100$ for it.
Thanks Randy. I'm sure this DAC is a great choice, but for the little extra cost I'd rather buy from our friends and neighbors at Schiit.
I hope you and your family are happy and well, Kevin
tell em rounded 12v innce s... -.-
Thankyou for the review. It sent me on an exploration of trial and error between a few DACs. After pushing music through the dac via optical to my active eris 5 (cheap monitors) I could hear a crystal clean sound from the su-1 but it sounded too digital and failed on various frequencies with typical dance music and was harsh and week or too edgy and not worth it even for £60. Though it was better than a non branded dac of £30 I've now settled with a modi 3. The modi 3 I think is the base level and is warmer sounding. It sounds great with accoustic guitar and vocals but even that might be too detailed and fatiguing if listening to dance music for hours, but it gets away with it. The modi 3 is palatable for dance music and a joy with live music. Better than the su-1. So my advice - don't waste your money on this su-1. Get a modi 3 or better. Anything less than £100 I think is wasted money. You maybe ok just listening on headphones, but why not spend an extra £40.
Excellent, thank you. Your channel keeps getting better and better. BTW, love the Maxell shirt.
thanks!
Love your plain spoken audio intelligence. This S.M.S.L. SU-1 makes my 2yr old, broken in Koss Pro 4AA cans sound amazing. Two other budget dacs couldn't do it. Falling in love again!!! Thanks for helping to convince me to buy this dac.
Noticed your shirt. I had a poster of that way back when. I believe it was included in 10pack of cassettes
Perfect execution, like the other guy said..."Randy's back"...love the whole vibe and layout of this review...Thank You for all your hard work bringing us information and entertainment...😊
thank you! this video was a lot of fun to make.
I have the smsl su-1 + wiim mini to a marantz sr6015 receiver and it's great!
Thanks very much for the review. I saw this on Ali a few weeks back and was hoping you were going to review it. I couldn't find a DAC at that price point that could input USB,OPT and Coax. I had a feeling it was going to sound OK and I'm glad you confirmed it. It looks like it is what I am looking for as I am on a very strict budget and conversion rates + postage or local retailer markups make US produced gear too expensive for me in Australia.
The Aiyima dac a2 has all you are looking for but at a much lower cost. Under 40 usd.
@@stevelouie5928 Thanks, I will look into the budget Ayima/Fosi Audio ones a little more. Hard to find good reviews on them though.
I have it's big brother the D6s and it is fantastic. Will purchase this one too.
I like that you put these things into context. Some people tell you products like this suck because they don't sound as good on their 2.5k headphones which these never were intended to be used with
I have one of these, from tv to my Musical Fidelity amp. Sounds just brilliant 👍
I wish i had a rabbit in a hat with a bat.... Skee loo 🎶 Two turntables and a microphone, Where it's At
I have been wondering for quite some time how all the DACs that you have reviewed stack up to the Emotiva ones. Months ago, I bought a PT1 on sale to get FM tuning, preamp, DAC, headphone amp and phonoamp all at once. (still in the box as I save up for T3 speakers and proper amp/monoblocks) Friends, Romans, Randy, keep lending us your ears!
I bought the PT1 and plugged it into my existing system, and my advice is DON'T WAIT! I noticed a big difference right away, my system has never sounded better.
2:33 AIUI battery power banks use PWM switching to keep the output voltage constant..
I followed your link and ordered this from Amizon a month ago and I'm still waiting for it. The two Fosi amps I bougth on Ali came much quicker.
I love my SMSL C200. Just got it a few weeks ago, and it’s such an excellent allrounder DAC and headphone amplifier. It really has stepped up my digital music listening experience. The timing is spot on, it’s more tonally balanced, and I’m hearing details in the music I wasn’t hearing before. SMSL really make great audio! Thinking I might upgrade my headphones and go with the Hifiman Sundara’s, and dive into the planar magnetic headphone world!
7:18 It's not just about affordability. I'm in the process of returning a MOJO 2 because I don't like the "house" sound; I also sold a MOJO 1 for similar reasons, back in the day. A few years ago I got a Benchmark DAC3L and feeding a Rupert Neve RNHP (via balanced) got pretty much the "plugged into the mastering desk" audio I was after; the MOJO 1 was unmasked, much like the emperor, by the truth. If the SU1 has a decent implementation of the DAC chip with a well designed analogue interface, then price is irrelevant, much to the chagrin of the likes of Chord, et al.
How can you power the SMSL SU-1?
USB-C connects to the back?
Do you need to turn the unit on and off or is it automatic?
You saved my life as a DJ of 1940´s.................................. Tango songs..
Dumb question? I'm new to all this. This would be my first DAC. Power adapters. I have a variety of phone chargers all around the house. They probably have different wattages. Newer ones a bigger, say for my Pixel phone. Anyway, does the choice matter much? Besides impact on sound quality, it can handle any adapter to USB-C without burning or dying? There's another adapter on the inside?
I have a Sanskrit 10th mkIII, which uses the same 4493S chip. It is very transparent, clean, and detailed. Compared to my Schiit Modi Multibit, it’s more analytical and flatter sounding, and not quite as immersive. But, for half the price, it’s a great performer.
I work at Goodwill and we got a Sanskrit 6th anniversary in about a week ago. I'm time limited from buying stuff for a minimum of 24 hours and sometimes more, but someone got it for $50. I would have charged more.
It doesn't have a hand controller, but they did give you a too short cable for a power wall wart. I have my own high quality cable (6 feet) to find the power strip.
When I see that intro, I can’t help but think “Hm! Hm-hm! Fire! Fire! Hm-hm!”
smsl su1 or schiit Modi+ ?
Randy is back! Great review injected with that CAM humor we've been missing. Be bop a loo bop - I'm the DAC Man - would have been a good theme intro.
thanks!
I bought this DAC and it is super but the problem is using it on cheap tablets and cellphones and charging them at the same time while using the DAC.
I hear great things about Topping. I was told I HAD to buy Topping instead of Schiit. ASR is a Topping fan page. Problem is, unlike Schiit, they have horrible customer service, a high fail and arrive DOA rate. "Well, it sounded good for 15 minutes until it failed and I had to send it back..." Then, I got the Modius maximus and it's been working great since It was new on the market.
I also bought a Topping E30 because of ASR. They judge gear based on measurement and believe all dacs sound the same. Thanks to Randy, I bit the bullet and got a Denafrips Ares. Now I have a Gustard R26 and it sounds way better than E30.
@@onionknight9431 Channels like Randy's help dispel the Topping myth (halo effect) and I hope it helps end the topping cult. I swear ASR is the fox news of audio. Lies and cults. Topping products have the highest fail rate of any DAC. They are mass produced like garbage with little quality control. Ever try to return a topping product? It took me MONTHS and multiple e-mails to get them to admit is was defective and nothing *I* did to damage the DAC. Even when I had it the sound was "meh". There are lower cost DACs that measure and sound better than Topping, and all of the name DACS are built better.
@@onionknight9431 Seems to be a daft comparison given the huge price difference.
Well this is something, just ordered this DAC to replace my SMSL M100. The micro USB connection on the back is going out (surprise, surprise). Using it with my laptop set up because the main computer I have has a Geschelli stack with the better headphones. Needed this for when I'm downstairs watching your reviews and some music listening. Looks like I made a solid choice.
let me know what you think of it
Thanks for the review. Just picked this up as it allows me to utilize usb, coaxial and optical going to my Kanto YU4s at a good price.
Based on your recommendation, I went ahead and purchased the SMSL SU-1 to use with my iPhone 12 or my iPad. Now the interesting part begins. Nobody has a video or article showing what parts you need. Based on what I read, it is better to use the Coaxial DAC input to connect the iPhone, that way I can use the USB DAC port can be used for supplying the DAC with power. What cables do I need?
Edit on 3/13/24: Thanks, but I got somebody else to help me.
Carlos in Texas
At least reply with the solution plz
Hey randy was thinking on upgrading my listening experience & first time purchasing my dac/amp combo stack, but i was wondering is purchasing the Smsl c200 dac/amp combo a better alternative to actually doing a stack combo like you did with the Smsl SH-6 & Su-1 ? Really trying to get a better understanding of this whole hobby. (Mainly going to be using this for desktop purposes only). Love the videos btw !
I have both the SMSL SU-1 and the Schiit Modi+. They are not similar at all, the SU-1 is much better. The Modi+ is just okay at best.
It is even better than Schiit Modi Multibit 2 that I had previously.
Is it worth while buying for this a separate power supply?
If so how does one connect a separate power supply as the USB is used for both data and power.
Are there any good budget power supplies you can recommend?
Do you think Fosi Audio BT20A PRO would be a good match for this DAC ?
I have an onkyo tx-nr6050 with a wiim pro plus, would it make sense to pair with this dac? Would it sound better? Or should I only stick with the wiim pro plus dac?
Also, would it improve the sound if i pair klipsch's The fives + wiim pro plus + this Dac?
Get a better DAC.
3 yrs ago, you reviewed a cheap $15 dac sold at Amazon and you said it was good enough for most folks, I purchased it, do you still feel the same? Or does this $80 one sound that much better?
Thanks
Can i use this dac with my cheap sony dvd player to connect it to the amplifier ?
Kind regards
Yes you can I just recently got one and have it hooked up to my dvd player as a cd transport as long as your dvd player has digital coaxial on the back your good to go
@@superunknown2812
Thank you very much
Kind regards
Not sure where to put this but I would really like to see a review of the jack of all trades amp from Arylic, the modest looking B50. 😎
Time to do a new Dac tier?
All batteries bank are not the same inside, the best uses 18650 battery which are built rolled like capacitors, other power bank that uses sandwich battery are bad sounding
You've been hazed; that explains a lot😮! Love the new intro 👍
Best and most fun intro yet!
Just ordered a S.M.S.L SU-1, should be here in 2-3 weeks. Going to see if it ups the game on my Pioneer Elite PD-59. Great transport that could use a little sprucing up. ;)
Already arrived?
@@Erbsengeneral Yes. My PD-59 is a changed machine! What a bargain!
@@steveschwartz9421 okay, Then i will try it too. Thx Man :)
@@ErbsengeneralIt really cleaned things up. Opened up the sound, improved accuracy in the highs tightened up the control and range of the low end output. Cleaned up cymbals, all subtle but in my system, noticeable. I have an Oppo 95 that I usually use for listening. But I have an PD-59 and Elite PDR-19RW. The PD-59 feeds the recorder and is a great transport. Hooked this up for fun, m ay buy another for the other room too! Is it as good as my Oppo, no, but it is a heck a lot better than the 20year old Pioneer DAC hands down
I loved the Skee-lo song reference.
SMSL has put out some great products recently, at all price brackets. SU-8s, SH-8s, DA-9, SH-9 and similar from those series, with some patience can be found under $200. These are all incredible values, have built in power supplies, offer balanced connections, and great performance. Similarly this SMSL SU1 at $79 is an incredible value. I dont think anyone would find complaint with its performance. The primary reason to step up to the next price tier is not performance gains but convenience. The extra money gets you additional features such as more connecting options on back, volume control, display screen, which for many are unnecessary add-ons.
If someone just wants performance at low cost this might be unbeatable at $79, as long as it has the connections you need.
Thank you for the review. I’m going to connect this DAC to active studio monitors. Could you please recommend a volume controller with a remote control
Loving the new intro sequence
Uh oh, I've ordered a Geshelli J2 AKM version, but it's on backorder so it won't get to me for another month or so.
Now I'm wondering if I should get this instead or keep waiting. I don't use balanced connection, so this is strictly single ended use.
EDIT: Like typical audiophile fashion, I ended up order SMSL SU-1 too because why not LOL.
Did you end up comparing them?
@@lazzzzze1 The Geshelli J2 backorder was taking too long so I end up cancel my order. But I did end up getting the SU-1, resolution is a little bit higher than my current SDAC. Though I find SU-1 ever so slightly more leaner/brighter sounding. So I end up just going back to my old and trusted SDAC LOL.
Hi! I am very new to audio world and would like to get some advice.
Would it really improve and give noticeable improvement for music and movies?
I am planning to use Smart TV - DAC - Powered Speaker(Klipsch the Fives)
My TV would feed PS4 and ATV 4k via HDMI.
Now, that was fun! Great intro.
Love the new intro! 😂
just having some fun with it. hopefully it will morph over time
@@cheapaudioman having fun is the best way to work!
Digging the schitt outta the new intro!
Love the Review and the Skee-lo reference!!! 👍👍👍
i've had both...the schiit modi USB port stopped working after two years...$55.00 to fix.....I prefer the sound of the SMSL...the coaxial port sound is phenomenal for the price
Hi Randy.
Love the channel!
What’s your take on Audioengine DAC’s?
Randy have you tried the Emotiva Big Ego+?
Damn straight...!!! Hifiman 400SE planar magnetic headphones knock it out of the park when it comes to "price to performance ratio"...!!! I initially bought a pair for myself and was so impressed, I bought another pair for my son... who was also very impressed...!!! These days, the art form of assembling an 'audiophile-quality' system for around $1000 dollars is very accessible, constantly evolving, and getting more enjoyable/affordable by the month/year...!!! The young people of today are blessed - as far as music goes...!!!
Ok, Randy, lol. Bought the SMSL and Wiim Pro after your reviews. I plan on pairing them with my Grace Digital powered speakers. I'll let you know. Thanks! Go Navy
I was hoping someone could confirm that my setup will work:
PC > SMSL SU-1 > headphone amp for when I want to use headphones > aiyima a07 max > speakers
My Schitt Modi DAC stopped working when my laptop windows did an auto update. Schitt wouldn't help. I'll give this a try!
I hope that it works for you
Windows Updates: Known audio killers. I have experienced a Win 10 update that clobbered a Creative Labs X-Fi card that had worked all through Win 7 into the first half dozen Win 10 updates. With my current convoluted audio setup I view the constant stream of Windows updates with a clenched sphincter and dread.
Epic intro!🎉
thanks!
How does this compare to the Fosi Audio DAC-Q4?
Hey I also have a Metallica guitar pick that I caught in the croud, it was in little Rock Arkansas. Very useful info here, thank you I'm learning about dac's 😊
waiting for the le version of this (no mqa) for 50 dollars. 😅
😂😂😂
My, what a small DAC you have there.
Hey! I have that T-shirt! Love that shop in my home town!
Is gain just a pre-set increase, or decrease that affects volume for centering volume controls, or does it affect tone in any way???
I couldn't find the remote. as it was, it was fixed output for this one. maybe the remote is sold separately but I didn't see a ir receiver anywhere on it
Great review and at this price it would be something to consider to compare to my current sabre dac.
Nice review, would this improve my stereo performance on my onkyo tx-rz50. I have a WiiM mini as well.
This vs topping e50? would be interesting if the smsl can outcompete!
Buy whatever is cheaper, and save the rest of money on future speaker or headphone upgrades ;)
the nuforce icon hd from 15 years ago is built and designed much better, probably sounds much better and has a great headphone amp for around the same price used if you can find one.
I bought this DAC because of this video. However, there is a half second of silence before this DAC starts to output sound when I start to play, so I miss the start of the music. I wonder if this is the problem with this DAC or a common problem with external DACs. I am simply playing CZcams videos on my PC, and I see the video start to play before the sound comes out.
in terms of chip and form factor, this looks much like the topping dx1 which actually also has an hp amp. only has a usb input though. but if you're looking for something like that and you only want to use it on pc, i'd say go for the dx1.
Skylabs! ❤
Has anyone used this successfully with iPad/iPhone? However could not get working with a direct USB connection. Do I need a powered USB Hub to give enough power here? The manual is not helpful. The SMSL website does not have any information even the scant user manual on it's webpage. I did get it working with optical from WiiM Pro and with Coax from CD transport. Thanks.
Hi, I got the Fosi Audio Q4, with headphones amp (similar price) Is this a better Dac to consider chance mine for this one?, is there a several diference?
I wonder how this new SMSL DAC would compare to the older Emotiva XDA-2 DAC? Anyone have any ideas?
I've been using a RPi4 with volumio and a topping D10s and since powering it with a battery pack to power the Pi I've been impressed with the performance. If I use the toppings bridge function to go from the RPi4 usb to Opitcal out of the topping into this SMSL SU1 do people think this is a upgrade or a sidegrade. Or should I just wait for a better DAC with the AKM chip inside. Really interested to know what people think on this. Cheers!
Can it decode MQA directly from Tidal app? Thanks for the great review as usual!!!
Thumbs up just for the Skee-lo I wish song
How this compares to the SMSL PO100 ? They seems to share same Chips. I am looking for one to use along with my pair of Rokit5 speakers.
It really would’ve been nice if you had compared it side-by-side to the latest Schiit Modi.
This is exactly what I have been waiting for. Just ordered it. Thanks Cheapaudioman!
Great intro. Again!!
the s in 4493s stands for silky. Without MQA this could have been even cheaper. But without a remote you cannot switch filters, so you are stuck with whichever one smsl chose for this DAC.
or “sibilance” 😉
Pair that with a WiiM mini and that's probably a nice cheap streamer ya got there.
Does this turn on when power is fed or do I have to turn it on seperately every day when Power is turned on in my office?
You have to turn it on manually by pressing the power button a little bit longer.
could you review the aiyima a5 max dac?
Just bought one to connect my iPhone 11 to my hifi. I know I would use the RCA out to my amp but how do I connect my phone to the DAC. I am completely useless with technology so any advice is appreciated.
I have the WIIM pro running right into a carver analog preamp and a Chromecast audio on another system running right into a integrated analog amp not using any DAC and love them. Would I really benefit by plugging in these streamers int this DAC? Keto up the great work.
I was in the same position when I bought the Wiim Pro. Do I? Don't I. I decided to buy the latest version of the Schiit Modi + due to Randy's and other like minded reviews. I paid over the odds as I'm in the UK but what a difference it made. It now brings a smile to my face each time I listen to it. In my mind, the Wiim Pro DAC is sort of okay but very harsh on the higher frequencies, and to be honest it grated on me after a while.
Yes. The Schitt Modi really helped with bass 'pop'. Made a noticable improvement in the sound from my wiim
Will this dac be an upgrade to the stock deck on a emotiva pt1?
Would I hear a big sound difference if I add this to my desktop setup? Right now my audio is just directly coming from my PC which has built in dac supremefx s1220a and its shielded....I don't hear any noise out of it. Will this SMSL SU1 dac provide an even better experience especially using the optical out? Just trying to decide if it's worth spending the $67 for it right now.
Yes
Q: is there a way to control my smsl d-6 volume via IR or toslink through a Chromecast remote? I really don't wanna have multiple remotes.
Just ordered smsl d-6 as I have some weird buzzing from my gpu, like coil whine, but it goes not via air, but through hdmi cables to the tv and then through tv to the kali active speakers. No ground loop since its all on one socket and one extension cord. So I've just decided to go balanced. I did try everything to remove isolate the issue, unless it's toslink it keeps going through hdmi and rca cables from gpu to speaker ground pins. I'm afraid to use hum destroyers as some people said it can degrade audio quality. Lifting kali ground pins work, but i read you can get electrocuted this way so a nogo. Also don't wanna buy some fancy 100$+ ifi gnd stuff, that's just too much money.
I have first gen active vanatoo transparent one speakers . Would I want to upgrade to external DAC like this?
A nice choice for an 'entry' level system. If $50 isn't an issue, perhaps the Schiit is a 'better' choice. Thank you as always for this review and information.
Thanks, Simon!
@@cheapaudioman You're most welcome, Sir.
I'm currently testing the SMSL SU-1 DAC. Sounds wonderful, but...
When I switch songs from Tidal, it always cuts off the first second. Very frustrating. This happens on coaxial. On USB it is less noticeable.
My streamer is ifi zen stream. Can something be done about it, any ideas?
It ruins whole experience
If you are traveling with a laptop and headphones, the Topping DX1 is better.
DX1 headphone dac/amp has 3.5mm and 1/4" headphone jacks w/ gain switch, AK4493s dac chip, only 4 1/4" by 3 1/4", line out to power amp, no wasted space for mqa/optical/coax. $99
Or just a dongle dac
@@D1N02 Good point.
I also use a Sound Blaster Play 4 dongle dac. yeah better for portability.
But the DX1 has more detail than the Play 4.
Either would be good.
Hi, SMSL SU-1 or TOPPING DX1?