SMSL M500 DAC and HP Amp Review

[chaotic_angel]

subbing this thread, glad I found pages 57 - 59 topics, warned me not to buy M500 unless there is clear info from manufacturer

 

[SMSL-Mandy]

The big problem is that version 1.05 does not allow access to the configuration in 32 bits, it only allows access to 24 bits at most. Top updates if you allow it.

Connect with the seller send back to the china factor to upgrade it.

 

[SMSL-Mandy]

If you buy this year, not need to upgrade anymore. All is the newest version. Don't use unofficial upgrade firmware.

The firmware can only be upgraded once, so it is not recommended for users who have not encountered problems to upgrade.

And the USB version upgrade succeeded will not appear on the machine, only change on the computer.so No need to doubt yourself.

If you have upgraded and found a problem, please contact the seller and return it for repair.

 

[overherz]

why you just can not give the correct tools? or at least to say how to do it

 

[Galaxian]

You could offer to send a new unit upon receipt of the purchase invoice with a package to send the defective one back. I don't want to send my unit half way around the world and be without music for months.

 

[Galaxian]

If you buy this year, not need to upgrade anymore. All is the newest version. Don't use unofficial upgrade firmware.

The firmware can only be upgraded once, so it is not recommended for users who have not encountered problems to upgrade.

And the USB version upgrade succeeded will not appear on the machine, only change on the computer.so No need to doubt yourself.
View attachment 63333

If you have upgraded and found a problem, please contact the seller and return it for repair.

I'm not doubting - mine is stuck on 1.05:

Please provide the tools to upgrade.

 

[Toku]

SMSL needs to explain why such a situation occurred and its cause.

 

[afico]

I'm not doubting - mine is stuck on 1.05:

View attachment 63385
Please provide the tools to upgrade.

I agree with this. Same issue with mine bought during this year off Amazon.
Otherwise i think i will send it back and buy a competitor's product.

 

[olavrb]

...
The firmware can only be upgraded once, so it is not recommended for users who have not encountered problems to upgrade.
...

Massive design flaw right there. Is it documented in any user guides?

Edit: Nope, not mentioned anywhere on the product page or the user manual.

 

[Galaxian]

Massive design flaw right there. Is it documented in any user guides?

Edit: Nope, not mentioned anywhere on the product page or the user manual.

It appears there will never be an update again then - "If you buy this year, not need to upgrade anymore. " "The firmware can only be upgraded once". They've issued 1.07, 1.08 and 2.01, broken 32-bit and are not offering any practical solution.

 

[Dexter_prog]

Hey guys. I just got my m500. I'm trying some MQA albums on Tidal, checked exclusive mode and tried both bypassing and not bypassing software MQA but the SMLS displays bitrate as 96 kHz. Shouldn't it be 384 kHz?

 

[majingotan]

Hey guys. I just got my m500. I'm trying some MQA albums on Tidal, checked exclusive mode and tried both bypassing and not bypassing software MQA but the SMLS displays bitrate as 96 kHz. Shouldn't it be 384 kHz?

Depends on the MQA file that you have. Some MQA files are just 24/44.1 KHz without any upsampling involved

 

[Albocan]

Connect with the seller send back to the china factor to upgrade it.

@SMSL-Mandy, I bought my DAC in England through Amazon.uk and now I am in Chile, South America. Could I send it directly to SMSL instead of sending it to England? The shipping cost will be paid by SMSL ??

 

[SMSL-Mandy]

@SMSL-Mandy, I bought my DAC in England through Amazon.uk and now I am in Chile, South America. Could I send it directly to SMSL instead of sending it to England? The shipping cost will be paid by SMSL ??

Connect with the seller. Because we have so many distributors. We can't see all the order number by ourself.

Thanks for understanding. You can discuss it with the seller.

 

[Galaxian]

Connect with the seller. Because we have so many distributors. We can't see all the order number by ourself.

Thanks for understanding. You can discuss it with the seller.

There will be an audit trail and the purchaser can give you the sales invoice, which you can verify with Amazon and then you can send a replacement and ask the purchaser to return the defective unit (whatever defective means).

 

[Galaxian]

Hard to believe a firmware update will only work once… of course except in the event of transforming your device to a brick.
The driver and update-tool SMSL use, look like from the german company thesycon:

https://www.thesycon.de/eng/usb_audiodriver.shtml

https://www.thesycon.de/eng/usb_dfu.shtml

Yes, it will be a customized version.

 

[Dexter_prog]

I've been reading the last pages but couldn't quite understand what's happening. For those with older versions, when you tried updating to 2.01, for some reason it rolled back to 1.05 and it won't let you update to 1.08? Other than this, are those units now failing somehow?

 

[SwampyDude]

I've been reading the last pages but couldn't quite understand what's happening. For those with older versions, when you tried updating to 2.01, for some reason it rolled back to 1.05 and it won't let you update to 1.08? Other than this, are those units now failing somehow?

stuck in 24 bit unable to select 32 bit bought a 32 bit dac expect a 32 bit dac return to supplier unacceptable and impossible for some customers

 

[pacman]

This is unaceptable.

Sabaj sent the tool for firmware upgrade for free for customers of D5 when this kind of problem occurred last year.

Why SMSL can't do the same thing?

 

[Jimbob54]

Hey guys. I just got my m500. I'm trying some MQA albums on Tidal, checked exclusive mode and tried both bypassing and not bypassing software MQA but the SMLS displays bitrate as 96 kHz. Shouldn't it be 384 kHz?

Tidal mqa maxes out at 192, most is 96. Its probably reporting correctly with that set up. I'll find a 192, hold on