1000ROUNDZ
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This could be wrong tho, the SMSL M400 will apparently use the AK4499 not the 4497.
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2019 CES Asia ---SMSL will bring new product there
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ShadowNeko
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I really hope that's the case. It would be amazing if it's $500 or lower.
799$ to compete with the D90. Makes sense. Too bad, will have to pick one up used a few years down the road. USD to CAD kills it completely.
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are you a dreamer, the m200 is $270 how can the m400 be $400 or less.
It feels like the logical step in the naming series, the m500 is $400, so why even bother putting these dacs in this line of names if the naming scheme means nothing in relation of higher number equals better product.
you need to watch the specs, m400 compete with the D90.
Just because m400 has the same 4499 as d90 it doesnt mean they compete at the same price point... sp200 doesnt compete at the same price range with Benchmark hpa4 just because thy both have flagship thx aaa 888 chip inside, there are other components that measure up to the price. if smsl released m400 at the same price as d90 it would be doa... could also fint d90 at 600 when it was first released
maxxevv
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Its the targeted audience that matters.
Clearly, the D90 sells quite reasonably well at its price point. The M400 has almost identical specifications and based on their own published AP measurement results, measures at least as good as the D90.
And what's the D90 MQA's MSRP again ... ?
Manufacturers will sell their products at whatever their target audience will accept. Clearly there is a market for the D90 (and maybe D90 MQA) , so there is clearly a market for an SMSL DAC at that pricepoint for that kind of published performance too.
Audio transparency wise, the M200 and M300 are clearly beyond audible transparency. And they are clearly in the low US$200/pc range, which I think is the market segment you are looking at. The former having a build-in power supply, the latter having a separate power brick. Almost identical performance and features. Well worth a look if you are only willing to spend in that ballpark.
jannek
Active Member
I think the same. M400 has about the same features as D90 (MQA), measures as well and the new design of the case, build and display quality at least keeps up with D90 too. So why should a price in that region be a killer? Only for people which had a hope that it would be cheaper than M500 because of the model name and are not willing or able to spend more... maybe it would have been better to name it M600.
I'm also expecting the M400 to match the D90 in price. But at that price I will probably not buy it, and just get the Soncoz SGD1. You are not going to hear a difference. I would be willing to pay a small premium for the M400 because of how pretty it looks 
, but if at the D90's price level its a bit too much of a premium for me.
, but if at the D90's price level its a bit too much of a premium for me.1000ROUNDZ
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Announcement and listing of the M400 is now available on Apos, with pre-orders starting on May 6th with a 5% discount off $809.99... This is quite a bit much more than what I hoped...
https://apos.audio/blogs/news/smsl-m400-mqa-dac-coming-soon-on-apos-audio
https://apos.audio/products/smsl-m400-mqa-dac?sca_ref=192872.JmleJm3x6b
https://apos.audio/blogs/news/smsl-m400-mqa-dac-coming-soon-on-apos-audio
https://apos.audio/products/smsl-m400-mqa-dac?sca_ref=192872.JmleJm3x6b
LolAnnouncement and listing of the M400 is now available on Apos, with pre-orders starting on May 6th with a 5% discount off $809.99... This is quite a bit much more than what I hoped...
https://apos.audio/blogs/news/smsl-m400-mqa-dac-coming-soon-on-apos-audio
https://apos.audio/products/smsl-m400-mqa-dac?sca_ref=192872.JmleJm3x6b
who will pay $100 more than d90... Everyone who didn't buy d90 at 600 yearly bird are regreting awaiting cheaper alternatives
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hopefully their team understands their price x demand curves on the DAC market currently.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Price_elasticity_of_demand
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Price_elasticity_of_demand
Lol
The $799 MQA version was never offered at any discount.
Announcement and listing of the M400 is now available on Apos, with pre-orders starting on May 6th with a 5% discount off $809.99... This is quite a bit much more than what I hoped...
https://apos.audio/blogs/news/smsl-m400-mqa-dac-coming-soon-on-apos-audio
https://apos.audio/products/smsl-m400-mqa-dac?sca_ref=192872.JmleJm3x6b
Noticed that last night. Too bad. 5% discount is like 40$, a joke. If they actually tried and marked it down 20% for the first few units, I would bite.
chlipong
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A M400 version without MQA would make it cheaper and more interesting to people who don't plan to use MQA.
