good cheap non-ESS DAC with remote/volume/xmos/balanced?

[Rotel75]

Thinking about replacing my "SMSL SU-1 / analog preamp" combo with a DAC-pre.
- good measurements
- non-ESS
- xmos USB
- volume control
- remote control
- balanced out (full size preferred)
- display readable at 3m
- $150 or less

 

[ppataki]

Thinking about replacing my "SMSL SU-1 / analog preamp" combo with a DAC-pre.
- good measurements
- non-ESS
- xmos USB
- volume control
- remote control
- balanced out (full size preferred)
- display readable at 3m
- $150 or less

SMSL D-6

 

[unpluggged]

- non-ESS
- xmos USB

Why?

- balanced out (full size preferred)

What is "full-size"?

 

[JeremyFife]

Hi, you complicate things with your requirements - is there any particular reason for needed these (especially non-ESS, and xmos USB)

Fosi Audio ZD3 Balanced DAC Review

This is a review and detailed measurements of the Fosi Audio ZD3 balanced stereo DAC. It was sent to me by the company and costs US $179.99. The ZD3 manages at the same time to look elegant/modern and cute! The choice of round display is smart as is displaying the level the largest in the...

audiosciencereview.com

SMSL do these sort of devices well too: M300 SE?

 

[Rotel75]

Why?


What is "full-size"?

I know I shouldn't trust youtube DAC reviews so much, but many complained that ESS have harsh highs and are too clinical/digital.

... the first ESS he actually likes!?
And there's the ESS hump which makes me doubt the company

Full size XLR vs TRS XLR (I prefer standard XLR cables and less adapters)

 

[SSS]

The video, hahaha. OP-Amp rolling without knowing the circuit is not professional. Thinking sound better or not is full subjective without any validation in terms of measurments. Another Fosi advertiser.

 

[threni]

I know I shouldn't trust youtube DAC reviews so much, but many complained that ESS have harsh highs and are too clinical/digital.

... the first ESS he actually likes!?
And there's the ESS hump which makes me doubt the company

Full size XLR vs TRS XLR (I prefer standard XLR cables and less adapters)

Whenever any YouTuber uses the word clinical or digital negatively simply stop watching any of their videos ever again as they are utterly clueless and will cause you to make bad purchasing choices by ruling out perfectly performant hardware.

 

[SIY]

I know I shouldn't trust youtube DAC reviews

Stop right there. You need go no further.

 

[Grotti]

I know I shouldn't trust youtube DAC reviews so much, but many complained that ESS have harsh highs and are too clinical/digital.

... the first ESS he actually likes!?
And there's the ESS hump which makes me doubt the company

Full size XLR vs TRS XLR (I prefer standard XLR cables and less adapters)

You are right: you should not trust those reviews respectively reviewers. If you read around on ASR, you will easily understand why. Take RME with their ADI2 DACs as an example: after the fire at AKM factory they had to change to ESS chips. Guess what? They sound indistinguishable from each other! I own a model with AKM, but if I would have to replace it, I would happily buy the new version with ESS DAC without hesitation. The differences between good, very good and excellent measuring DAC-chips are usually way below the threshold of perception und thus they have no destinguishable sound of their own!

 

[Rotel75]

Hi, you complicate things with your requirements - is there any particular reason for needed these (especially non-ESS, and xmos USB)

SMSL do these sort of devices well too: M300 SE?

Just read the M300 SE threads... too many bugs. The USB one is a killer for me.

 

[Power Pop 23]

Just read the M300 SE threads... too many bugs. The USB one is a killer for me.

IIRC, the update did not address micro-clicks

I second the vote for the SMSL D-6. Amir found it measured as performant. I see at least one vendor on Ebay advertising new stock on hand for about $170.

 

[VientoB]

Just read the M300 SE threads... too many bugs. The USB one is a killer for me.

What bugs? Mine is fine.

 

[VientoB]

IIRC, the update did not address micro-clicks

What update?

 

[Rotel75]

What bugs? Mine is fine.

Various issues in https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/new-s-m-s-l-m300-se-120.44485/
I think there was a firmware update to 1.1 but it didn't solve all problems.

My SMSL SU-1 has some issues too, so if i buy something new, I want it to be better (error free).

 

[Miser_Audioman]

I have the SU1 and swapped for a Fosi ZD3. It works great. I just needed the SU1 in a headphone system. There is no way I could tell them apart in blind tests. Speakers, sub adjustments and room treatments are the real difference makers…

 

[VientoB]

Various issues in https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/new-s-m-s-l-m300-se-120.44485/
I think there was a firmware update to 1.1 but it didn't solve all problems.

My SMSL SU-1 has some issues too, so if i buy something new, I want it to be better (error free).

I had a look for a firmware update last week and none were listed.

 

[Power Pop 23]

What update?

By 'update', I mean the version that is called 'upgraded' on the Amazon (USA) site

Amazon.com

 

[JSmith]

ESS have harsh highs and are too clinical/digital.

Rubbish... sure is the silly season.


JSmith

 

[Rotel75]

I had a look for a firmware update last week and none were listed.

SMSL M300SE firmware update to 1.1 available

Just got an email that the SMSL M300SE firmware 1.1 is available now. https://www.smsl-audio.com/portal/product/support

www.audiosciencereview.com

 

[ZCD]

Dacs may be/are indistinguishable from technical side for human ears but when you use a certain dac as a preamp too there are/can be differences which whom can like or dislike more also depending on the amps. At the end it doesn't matter for the normal guy why you can hear these differences if the explanation for that has other reasons than the dac itself.