New SMSL M500 MKIII, A new device again?

[Jimster480]

That's exactly what SMSL did with the M400 and Sabaj with the D50 with the AK4499. The AK4499 was specially designed by AKM as a 4-channel chip to achieve higher performance in stereo mode. Nevertheless, 2 - 4 OP amps and a few resistors and capacitors were saved on the two devices and 2 of the 4 channels were not connected.
With very cheap devices one could still assume cost savings, but the devices are both well above the $500/€ price range.

Modding danger!
It would be interesting if an experienced DIYer modified one of the cheaper and well-tested SMSL devices with the 9038 Pro and connected the missing channels and sent Amirm to test it.
DAC1/3/5/7, DAC1b/3b/5b/7b, DAC2/4/6/8 and DAC2b/4b/6b/8b must be bridged. To do this, it may be possible to increase the voltage for DVDD, VDD_R and VDD_L from 1.2V to 1.3V.

It makes absolutely no sense to save a few cents on an expensive device. This is why I always question smsl products because they make these decisions that make no sense.
Like you might as well use a much cheaper chip rather than just use this expensive chip for marketing and not connect the channels.
However SMSL is a contract design company. They have so many products because they are submitted on contract bounties AFAIK.

 

[Roland68]

Without proper firmware this will not work at all.

This would only be the case if SMSL was running the chip in these DACs in multichannel mode, and not in stereo mode.
In Stereo mode, Input Channel 1 is sent to DAC Channels 1/3/5/7 and Input Channel 2 is sent to DAC Channels 2/4/6/8. Then the output should work on all channels at least via the SPDIF input.

Should SMSL actually switch the 9038 Pro to 8 channel mode via register 15 with "Clearing stereo_mode", then that would not only be questionable, but would also significantly increase the possible sources of error in the firmware.

 

[frogmeat69]

Looks like SMSL changed the screen and now volume is the main attraction, which is nice.

 

[Jimster480]

This would only be the case if SMSL was running the chip in these DACs in multichannel mode, and not in stereo mode.
In Stereo mode, Input Channel 1 is sent to DAC Channels 1/3/5/7 and Input Channel 2 is sent to DAC Channels 2/4/6/8. Then the output should work on all channels at least via the SPDIF input.

Should SMSL actually switch the 9038 Pro to 8 channel mode via register 15 with "Clearing stereo_mode", then that would not only be questionable, but would also significantly increase the possible sources of error in the firmware.

Quite interesting, how do you know this? Did you find the manual for the DAC chip?

 

[Roland68]

Quite interesting, how do you know this? Did you find the manual for the DAC chip?

I still have documents from a project, but the documentation for the 9038 Pro has been available to everyone for a long time.
In the meantime there is also the ES9039PRO 32-bit Flagship Ultra High Performance 8-Channel DAC.
Note the "Ultra High Performance" increase over the ES9038PRO Flagship SABER 32-bit 8-Channel Audio DAC with 140dB DNR

 

[Kitarist]

Anyone got the device yet?

 

[Jimster480]

Anyone got the device yet?

I doubt most people from here would buy it without a review first.

 

[192kbps]

TOPPING KILLER？

 

[Bow_Wazoo]

This thing is so ugly...

 

[madmalkav]

I don't understand why it have balanced XLR output and it doesn't have balanced headphone output.

 

[xaviescacs]

Looks like SMSL changed the screen and now volume is the main attraction, which is nice.

They still miss the filter and the bit depth...

https://audiosciencereview.com/foru...500-mkii-review-dac-hp-amp.29468/post-1030786



Besides, the different color for the "db" word is confusing and difficult to justify, specially if it's the same color that indicates if MQA is fed into the unit. And why so small? And please, align it with the bottom of the volume number! Just take a look at the RME volume display.

Also, there is only one USB input, so the "B" is completely superfluous and potentially misleading, also because many people won't be aware of what the "B" stands for. There are icons for indicating input, so if one doesn't want to put simple "USB" one can put an icon in front of the input option selected. That would be in accordance with the MQA logo on the right side.

Those visual interfaces must communicate everything necessary, but only what's strictly necessary and nothing more, as the user takes for granted that all displayed information is useful. And of course any information must be reliable, which doesn't happen with the "db" in green or the "B" on the usb.

We expect the IV version to be perfect!

 

[okok]

@amirm will we get the results, thanks

 

[LME49990]

I don't understand why it have balanced XLR output and it doesn't have balanced headphone output.

If you look at the picture there is a 4.4mm balance headphone out so this is nice

 

[okok]

main differences vs. mk2
the hp board is totally the same, no upgrading
xmos xu316, not sure what's the big deal since the xu216 or even the old xu106 very stable
the published thd+n is more or less the same, maybe 0.5dB better

the biggest difference
mk2 output 5v rms
mk3: 4v

 

[madmalkav]

If you look at the picture there is a 4.4mm balance headphone out so this is nice

Ouch, I always forgot that balanced connector exists, thanks for making me realize!

 

[Kitarist]

Anyone already got this?

 

[Toku]

It seems that the M500 MK3 has arrived at L7Audio, so I think there will be an announcement of the data within a few days.
More than that, there's something like the SMSL SU-10 Dual ESS9038Pro DAC.

Measurements of SMSL SU-10 Dual ESS9038Pro DAC-12KFixed - L7Audiolab

台式设备 话说本站上次测量双目三林还是在年初的时候测的D3，转眼间大半年过去了……前阵子SMSL联系我说发两台新机给我测量，我拆开快递才发现其中一台是老朋友（M500）的三代目，而另一台呢，就是今天的主角：SMSL SU-10

www.l7audiolab.com

 

[Wunderphones]

It seems that the M500 MK3 has arrived at L7Audio, so I think there will be an announcement of the data within a few days.
More than that, there's something like the SMSL SU-10 Dual ESS9038Pro DAC.

Measurements of SMSL SU-10 Dual ESS9038Pro DAC-12KFixed - L7Audiolab

台式设备 话说本站上次测量双目三林还是在年初的时候测的D3，转眼间大半年过去了……前阵子SMSL联系我说发两台新机给我测量，我拆开快递才发现其中一台是老朋友（M500）的三代目，而另一台呢，就是今天的主角：SMSL SU-10

www.l7audiolab.com

That's pretty impressive. It probably costs more than, say, the Topping DX7+, though, which measures about that well and has a headphone amp.

 

[Lupin]

Dual DAC chips setups are just a marketing gimmick imho that some brands use to justify the ridiculous price tag.
So far all dual DAC chip setups are equal at best and mostly worse dan a single DAC chip setup when looking at objective performance.

 

[Toku]

SMSL SU-10 was already posted on HP. The price is $900.
But why a transformer power supply?

SU-10

Foshan ShuangMuSanLin electronics Co., LTD. founded in 2009 which located in Shenzhen, China. And our branch company VMV Technology(HK) Company Limited registered in HK in 2013. Our company is specialized in the audio DAC, stereo headphone amplifier, power amplifier, and with own R&D...

www.smsl-audio.com