Looking for a DAC similar to SMSL D6

[ChaoscripT]

Hi all,
I currently own an SMSL D6 and it has been working well overall, but I noticed something odd and I would appreciate some advice plus DAC recommendations.


Problem / question
When I first got the D6 the sound seemed louder and more detailed at the same volume settings. Over time the sound seems quieter at the same volume knob position. The DAC sits on top of my computer docking station and both units get warm during use. Could heat or thermal interaction between the docking station and the DAC cause a drop in output level or perceived loudness over time?

What I need from the community

• Has anyone seen a DAC - or specifically an SMSL model - behave like this when it runs hot or sits on another warm device?
• Recommendations for DACs with similar performance to the SMSL D6. Important requirements:
  
  • Physical volume wheel
  • USB input from PC
  • Balanced TRS outputs for active speakers (my speakers are powered)
• If possible, please suggest options in different price ranges - budget, midrange, and value for money.

Additional info about my setup

• DAC: SMSL D6
• Placement: on top of my computer docking station - they touch and both get warm
• Speakers: active speakers with TRS inputs (Presounes Eris E5)

Thanks in advance for any experience, tests, or model suggestions.
If you need more details about my chain or can recommend specific measurements I should post here, let me know and I will add them.

Regards.

 

[nanook]

It's hard to imagine, that the output level of the D6 changes with time or mild heat. It's not impossible but quite unlikely.

You are absolutely sure, there's no additional volume setting in Windows, foobar2k or whatever player you use?

You can download REW as a digital signal source, select your D6 as output in the preferences GUI. I would probably use ASIO in case you have the SMSL ASIO driver installed anyways. ASIO bypasses any of the windows volume controls or effects.
WASAPI exclusive should be equally suited.

In case you have an AC Voltmeter:
Unplug the active speakers, open the generator GUI of REW, dial in e.g. 60 Hz and 0dBFS as level and turn on the signal.
Measure the voltage at the RCA jacks - they are derived from the XLR outputs internally, so if they are ok. the XLR should be ok. too.
You can as well measure the voltage at the TRS jacks. Sleeve is Gnd and Tip and Ring are hot and cold respectively.
With 0dBFS digital level you should measure 2.0V for all of the above measurements.

Dual AK4493seq based DACs have gotten rare unfortunately - these chips are extremely well behaved (IMD, THD) in the intermediate level range - imho better than the ES9039q2m (which is excellent close to FS).

Disclaimer:
I don't think anyone can distinguish these chips (if implemented properly) in a blind ABX.

 

[ChaoscripT]

It's hard to imagine, that the output level of the D6 changes with time or mild heat. It's not impossible but quite unlikely.

You are absolutely sure, there's no additional volume setting in Windows, foobar2k or whatever player you use?

You can download REW as a digital signal source, select your D6 as output in the preferences GUI. I would probably use ASIO in case you have the SMSL ASIO driver installed anyways. ASIO bypasses any of the windows volume controls or effects.
WASAPI exclusive should be equally suited.

In case you have an AC Voltmeter:
Unplug the active speakers, open the generator GUI of REW, dial in e.g. 60 Hz and 0dBFS as level and turn on the signal.
Measure the voltage at the RCA jacks - they are derived from the XLR outputs internally, so if they are ok. the XLR should be ok. too.
You can as well measure the voltage at the TRS jacks. Sleeve is Gnd and Tip and Ring are hot and cold respectively.
With 0dBFS digital level you should measure 2.0V for all of the above measurements.

Dual AK4493seq based DACs have gotten rare unfortunately - these chips are extremely well behaved (IMD, THD) in the intermediate level range - imho better than the ES9039q2m (which is excellent close to FS).

Disclaimer:
I don't think anyone can distinguish these chips (if implemented properly) in a blind ABX.

Thanks for reply.

I use Youtube (premium) as my primary source for music, the volume at the computer is on maximum and sure SMSL D6 choosen.
I installed the ASIO / SMSL D6 driver from their website.

By AC Voltmeter, you mean to this? (for example)

https://direct-israline.co.il/media/catalog/product/u/n/uni-t_ut33d_digital_multimeter_auto_range_ac_dc_voltmeter_mini_tester.jpg

If yes, what to choose in the machine to check the outputs?
The settings for REW software - I understand that it's "dial in e.g. 60 Hz and 0dBFS as level and turn on the signal"

Regards.

 

[nanook]

I'm not familiar with using YouTube music, so maybe someone else will jump in?
-> Are there eventually other volume controls that could have been overlooked?

In case you decide to measure:
The voltmeter that you referenced is probably too cheap. The smallest range for AC volts is 200V, so measuring 2V will be fairly inaccurate. It should at least have a range 20Vac.

Something like this should do: https://www.amazon.de/automatischer...nhaltung/dp/B09SPYTP84/ref=asc_df_B09SPYTP84?
Or just borrow one from a friend.

Disconnect the TRS plug from both speakers
!!! Accidentally driving the speakers with a sinewave at 0dBFS will very likely damage the speakers !!!

DMM:
You would choose the "~V" or "Vac" position (means Voltage Alternating Current), plug the black lead into "COM" (common) and the red lead into the jack labeled "V/Ohm/... " which is the correct input when measuring Voltage, Resistance, etc. except current.

REW:
Download and install: https://www.avnirvana.com/threads/rew-api-beta-releases.12981/
Open "Preferences" GUI (icon in the upper right corner of the REW main window):

Select ASIO and select the two outputs (in my case I have plugged in a PO100AK, so the outputs are analog and SPDIF at the same time)
Close the Preferences window

Open the "Generator" GUI (icon in the middle of the REW main window):

- Select "the tab "Tones" and choose "Sine"
- Type in the frequency 60Hz
- Type in the level 0dBFS
(depending on the setting in the preferences tab "View" the value will either stay 0dBFS ("

ticked) or it will revert to -3.01dBFS). The footnote should be "0dBFS pk" in both cases)
- Hit the green arrow in the lower left corner of the "Generator" GUI to switch the signal on and off.

I assume you are using a TRS(male) - TRS(male) cable, so you can measure at the TRS plug that would normally be inserted into the active speaker:
- Set the DMM to ~V and choode the range 20V (in case range selection is manually)
- Hold the black lead of the DMM to the sleeve of the TRS plug (Ground) and touch Tip or Ring of the TRS plug with the red lead of the DMM.
- Both of these readings should show 2.0V according to the D6 review when the tone is switched on.

Warning: Be extremely careful in case you use the REW signal generator with your speakers connected to the DAC !
Especially with high frequencies selected you risk to fry the tweeter.

 

[ChaoscripT]

Hi,
Thanks for this!

Here is what I've done,
Here is the preferences tab settings,

Here is the generator windows,

After I click on play,

Now about the test,
In the DMM I choose this (I hope this is the right one),

On the SMSL D6 DAC I turn the volume for the highest - 60.
The test of the TRS cable, I put the red and black of DMM like this,

And the result is 2.62

I really hope that I mesure like it should.

I miss something?

Regards.

 

[danielpugh]

Hi,
Thanks for this!

Here is what I've done,
Here is the preferences tab settings,

View attachment 493178

Here is the generator windows,
View attachment 493179

After I click on play,
View attachment 493180

Now about the test,
In the DMM I choose this (I hope this is the right one),
View attachment 493181

On the SMSL D6 DAC I turn the volume for the highest - 60.
The test of the TRS cable, I put the red and black of DMM like this,
View attachment 493182



And the result is 2.62
View attachment 493183

I really hope that I mesure like it should.

I miss something?

Regards.

i have this dac going into active monitor speakers (neuman kh80) for over a year. by default crazy loud (source windows usb) changed over to optical feed to remove any potential interference. still crazy loud. I am using XLR and on from past experience there is a boost in volume with XLR over RCA. did you perhaps change cables/speaker?

 

[ChaoscripT]

i have this dac going into active monitor speakers (neuman kh80) for over a year. by default crazy loud (source windows usb) changed over to optical feed to remove any potential interference. still crazy loud. I am using XLR and on from past experience there is a boost in volume with XLR over RCA. did you perhaps change cables/speaker?

Nope,
My speakers are active also and I didn't changed the cables also.
Maybe it's just me, but I just want to make sure that everything works properly.

 

[danielpugh]

totally understand. not sure what to suggest apart from maybe getting another on free shipping/returns if available e.g. amazon and testing side-by-side.
if fed by usb flip between default driver and the one provided by smsl. To be honest i dont see a huge difference apart from that it thinks its a headphones without proper driver...

 

[RandomEar]

...

And the result is 2.62


I really hope that I mesure like it should.

I miss something?

Regards.

You measured in diode mode. The result isn't really defined or meaningful in this context. Set your meter to voltage mode (first mode from the left, directly above "OFF") and repeat the measurement, that will give useful results. Also, make you're not shorting the other contacts/rings on that plug - each probe should only be in contact with exactly one ring.

 

[ChaoscripT]

You measured in diode mode. The result isn't really defined or meaningful in this context. Set your meter to voltage mode (first mode from the left, directly above "OFF") and repeat the measurement, that will give useful results. Also, make you're not shorting the other contacts/rings on that plug - each probe should only be in contact with exactly one ring.

OK,
I choose this thing in the voltage meter (the first after "OFF"),
From both cables with the same settings (in the software/DAC volume), it's get up to 1.000V then start from 0 again until 1.000V and again.

I also tried to do more vram up to 3 (I don't if it's good or not),

And still the measure got until 1.400V then start from 0, each time the result was different, but 1.400V is the maximum.

Regards.

 

[nanook]

DMM: You might have to push the yellow button "AC/DC" until the symbol for AC is shown in the display. Should be the symbol ~ above the "AC" written on the button.
Some DMMs start with AC after power-up and others with "DC".

 

[nanook]

You are brave on a steep learning curve - appreciated!

 

[ChaoscripT]

You are brave on a steep learning curve - appreciated!

Thanks for the warm words.
Your guides and explanations really help me to measure. Thanks for That.

DMM: You might have to push the yellow button "AC/DC" until the symbol for AC is shown in the display. Should be the symbol ~ above the "AC" written on the button.
Some DMMs start with AC after power-up and others with "DC".

OK, so I choose AC, like this,

Now when I measure, I used the same settings,
Software - 50Hz, 1VRMS
DAC - 60 Volume

The result on the DMM was maximum .170 V, possible? (in the picture above it's not the result, just show the AC icon, but instead of .271, mine is .170)
And If I put the red & black on the same place (not touch them self) I got result of 1.032V (something like that).

Regards.

 

[nanook]

In REW the setting for the level should be 0dBFS (or - 3.01dBFS depending on other settings) - the footnote should say "0dBFS pk" in any case.

REW does not know "how many volts the DAC will output when playing a digital signal with 0dBFS".
(it is possible to check this out, enter the measured value and then REW can output the level you have entered in volts in the generator GUI).
For now I would select dBFS in the generator GUI and enter "0" such that the digital signal is 0dBFS.

If you read 0.17Vac with a full-scale sinewave, then this is indeed a bit more than 20dB down from the expected value.

The DMM looks well suited and the range is correct. It displays the battery symbol - so you better change the battery (usually a 9V block) in order to be sure it doesn't measure "nonsense".

 

[nanook]

According to Amir's review, you should measure
2Vrms between sleeve and tip (hot)
2Vrms between sleeve and ring (cold)
4Vrms between tip and ring (differential signal)
2Vrms at RCA outputs

SMSL D-6 DAC Review

This is a review and detailed measurements of the SMSL D-6 balanced stereo DAC with Bluetooth. It was sent to be by Shenzhenaudio and costs US $169.99. I like the compact enclosure even though there is a built-in power supply and balanced outputs. Included volume control lets you bypass a...

www.audiosciencereview.com

 

[nanook]

Just saw that you had the DAC volume at 60.
Assuming 0.5dB per step, this could explain the 0.17V you measured.

 

[Ropeburn]

Thanks for reply.

I use Youtube (premium) as my primary source for music, the volume at the computer is on maximum and sure SMSL D6 choosen.
I installed the ASIO / SMSL D6 driver from their website.

By AC Voltmeter, you mean to this? (for example)

https://direct-israline.co.il/media/catalog/product/u/n/uni-t_ut33d_digital_multimeter_auto_range_ac_dc_voltmeter_mini_tester.jpg

If yes, what to choose in the machine to check the outputs?
The settings for REW software - I understand that it's "dial in e.g. 60 Hz and 0dBFS as level and turn on the signal"

Regards.

I've noticed: YouTube is low output, compared to direct playback from an audio player app on the same device. It's very noticeable. When I use a downloader and play the same music, it's significantly louder, as in full volume - didn't measure, but it must be 3dB easily or even more. Output doesn't matter either: blutoof, USB, headphone jack, it's all the same. YouTube never does full technical volume for some reason, at least on Android.

 

[ChaoscripT]

OK,
So made again mesaurement,
Tones - settings, 50Hz, 0dBFS.

I measure only TRS cables, they connected to DAC.
Measurement 1 - DAC Volume 0 -
Sleeve & Ring - .002 V
Sleeve & Tip - .002 V
Tip & Ring - .002 V

Measurement 2 - DAC Volume 10 -
Sleeve & Ring - .023 V
Sleeve & Tip - .023 V
Tip & Ring - .048 V

Measurement 3 - DAC Volume 60 -
Sleeve & Ring - 2.01 V
Sleeve & Tip - 2.01 V
Tip & Ring - 4.01 V

So it seems that before I didn't measure like I should, now these measurements should be good.
I use this image, before I saw this image I thought I need to measure with the black o-ring lol

 

[Ropeburn]

I use this image, before I saw this image I thought I need to measure with the black o-ring lol

Ehehehe. Rookie mistake, don't worry. We all started clueless at a point.

The important thing is learning, even and especially this basic stuff.

 

[ChaoscripT]

Ehehehe. Rookie mistake, don't worry. We all started clueless at a point.

The important thing is learning, even and especially this basic stuff.

You right,
We learn new things everyday