• WANTED: Happy members who like to discuss audio and other topics related to our interest. Desire to learn and share knowledge of science required. There are many reviews of audio hardware and expert members to help answer your questions. Click here to have your audio equipment measured for free!

Poll for SMSL ES9039 DAC Owners

Is your SMSL ES9039 Series DAC defective?

  • Total voters
    24
Rhamnetin

Rhamnetin

Active Member
Joined
Dec 1, 2023
Messages
220
Likes
465
Inspired by this thread, I wanted to start this poll after having conversations with numerous owners of SMSL DACs featuring one of the ESS Sabre ES9039 series DACs that died very premature deaths. The applicable SMSL DACs are:
  • SMSL D-6s
  • SMSL DL200
  • SMSL SU-9 Pro
  • SMSL DO400
  • SMSL D400ES
  • SMSL SU-X
Please provide a photo or some kind of proof with your submission. This can't be enforced, but I've made the poll as transparent as possible for this reason.

My SMSL SU-X lasted about 20 days before refusing to power on fully (can't go beyond standby mode). Note that I'm not blaming the ES9039 chip, I just wonder if there's a pattern here.

hvebHR0.jpg
 
I have my D6s for few months by now. I used it as a signal generator to measure stuff. Never had a problem except the IMD Hump that AP can't measure (below its noise floor).
 
gjm said:
SU-X no longer appears on the SMSL shop site.
Click to expand...

SU-X

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
shenzhenaudio.com

S.M.S.L SUX Dual ES9039MSPRO Digital to Analog Convertor (DAC)

shenzhenaudio.com: professional headphone, earphone, amplifier, dac, decoder, hifi player, cable supermarket. you will find good price here.
shenzhenaudio.com shenzhenaudio.com
 
staticV3 said:

SU-X

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
shenzhenaudio.com

S.M.S.L SUX Dual ES9039MSPRO Digital to Analog Convertor (DAC)

shenzhenaudio.com: professional headphone, earphone, amplifier, dac, decoder, hifi player, cable supermarket. you will find good price here.
shenzhenaudio.com shenzhenaudio.com
Click to expand...
I did specifically mention the (official) SMSL 'shop' site: https://smsl.shop/collections/dac.
 
My SMSL D400ES was returned for severe hearing noise issues when using certain filters.
 
Rhamnetin said:
Inspired by this thread, I wanted to start this poll after having conversations with numerous owners of SMSL DACs featuring one of the ESS Sabre ES9039 series DACs that died very premature deaths. The applicable SMSL DACs are:
  • SMSL D-6s
  • SMSL DL200
  • SMSL SU-9 Pro
  • SMSL DO400
  • SMSL D400ES
  • SMSL SU-X
Please provide a photo or some kind of proof with your submission. This can't be enforced, but I've made the poll as transparent as possible for this reason.

My SMSL SU-X lasted about 20 days before refusing to power on fully (can't go beyond standby mode). Note that I'm not blaming the ES9039 chip, I just wonder if there's a pattern here.

hvebHR0.jpg
Click to expand...
do300 uses a single es3039 as well.
 
This is a very interesting thread for me. I would be really interested in what the actual failure is - i.e. if it is really related to the ES9039q2m or ES9039pro. If someone has changed a failed DAC chip with success, this would be a clear hint.

One manufacturer applies a higher supply voltage AVCC for the analog output stages in at least some of their products. This results in 0.9dB higher output voltage using the same gain in the I/V-stage. They use 3.67V instead of the 3.3V +/-5% stated in the datasheet.
The "absolute maximum rating" for AVCC is stated as 3.7V for the ES9039xxx.

I did modify the AVCC divider in my units and traded a tiny bit of SINAD for a good conscience.
I have been designing mixed signal ICs in CMOS technologies and I do not feel comfortable operating an IC close to its max rating supply voltage specification. Doing this will reduce the lifetime of the IC; how much strongly depends on the individual technology and even on the individual design.

This is why I'm not getting tired blaming the "SINAD race" (that is also being fueled by this forum) for being responsible for technically bad or risky design decisions.
A fraction of a dB will make a huge first glance difference in the position within the SINAD chart, so manufacturers are tempted to push the limits.

To make it very clear:
In case this poll should suggest an ES9039xxx related issue in the end, ESS is very, very likely not to blame. I'm fully convinced, they have made sure that their chips will survive the nominal supply voltages +5% in 24/7 "forever".
 
Last edited:
For those not familiar with this term. The Absolute Maximum Ratings are not meant to be used for operation.
 
Last edited:
I've had several of all of them except the SU-X, and never had a problem. No customers reported issues either. It's a small sample of maybe 18 DACs with that chipset, but nothing of note about them. Electronics have a 1 percent failure rate and it's a numbers game sometimes about how many people complain on the Internet factored by sales volume. They don't seem to run as hot as the 9038Pro (especially when run in current mode like Gustard likes to do, since they claim it sounds better). The DL200 and D-6S have that tick/pop when changing bit rates. The higher end ones fixed the problem though, so maybe we might see an update/fix.
 
Just the other day I was listening to music. At the end of a song, silence.
The signal no longer came out of the DAC, SMSL DO300 with 9039 chip.
This had never happened to me; the display indicated the correct frequency but Roon no longer locked it. I didn't see it among the exit options.
I changed the DAC on the fly and everything worked correctly.
I had to turn it off and on again. The DAC started working again.
I hope it's just an isolated case, if it happens again, I'll change the Dac possibly also looking at other brands.
 
I've owned the DO400 since September 2023 (photo). The first one developed loud crackling without warning and was sent back for a refund. Aoshida offered a replacement, which I accepted. The second unit also developed the same problem. Worked with the company, tested new firmwares, and finally received one that solved the problem. It has been working fine since.
 
alexanderino said:
I've owned the DO400 since September 2023 (photo). Worked with the company, tested new firmwares, and finally received one that solved the problem. It has been working fine since.
Click to expand...
So finally this turned out to be a firmware (not hardware) issue?
Which firmware version is the one that finally worked for you?
Is it this one "IAP_DO400_1V0A3.hex" ?

audiosciencereview.com

SMSL DO400 Fully Balanced Audio Decoder & Headphone Amplifier

The FW update sequence that finally worked for me: - DO400 is plugged in (mains and USB), but power switch at rear of unit is "off" - install SMSL driver (not sure if it is really needed for FW-update) - unpack "DO400MCUVA3.rar" (contains zipped loader directory "ISP_PC_EN2" and hex file...
audiosciencereview.com audiosciencereview.com
 
nanook said:
So finally this turned out to be a firmware (not hardware) issue?
Click to expand...
Correct, given that both the original and replacement DO400s exhibited the same problem.

Which firmware version is the one that finally worked for you?
Is it this one "IAP_DO400_1V0A3.hex" ?
Click to expand...
Yes. It is IAP_DO400_1V0A3.hex. Its checksums are:

MD5B94CDE7BC2C2723134157C89CD191DAA
SHA-13C978B974B55C674179C3F1367F74B145035CC45
SHA-256F403B97FA27E9A5A5AFD27ADD85DF60809EA9FB285E571B3B6A4827F9C959F87
SHA-512BB2021FE3F5E5871EF24B6174D2A7F8E86CF287D8BC42231A7909593B5E3C0BC743B02010613FA58F320C1A9907A6C1B45FF977AF83A7C688C5317740CF5D152
SHA3-256C86977EFB47DFED97989B920E3349FACDC2B452E8B7CAC2607AF8641E074C4BB
SHA3-512FB9C675AEE280DB05D01EBF8A1E3AEAD56348805AEA94DF4A6451849D7D7C8FB9A355BC85F7858A2859CA29D061CBC5389B308B5861DC7A71F28AD4782C0539A
 
Last edited:
How did you compute the checksums of this file?
I'd double check this with the last file that was on the SMSL website (the one that worked for me and that is included in the zip-archive in post #249).

EDIT: I just found a tool online and my checksums are identical to yours :)
 
Last edited:
No problems with my lovely D0400. Still confused why SMSL took all firmwares for download off its website and still haven't fixed the mis-labelled pc, filters.
 
I returned a smsl d400es due to popping and crackling/ clock issue, but i loved the sound so much i ordered another one hoping its just that unit. They really need a firmware fix for this if possible or stop selling them on amazon. Its a great sounding dac though. I really hope smsl can get a handle on things like this otherwise i will have to jump ship. My gustard x16 has worked for years now with a single hitch. Also gustard has zero perceived latency. The smsl has latency but its some what managable at 96k, i record music and communicate with mic on pc so this matters to me. You guys have same problems i do ,not a good sign. Peace
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

J
SMSL filters mislabeled on ES9039 DACs
3 4 5
Replies
80
Views
12K
JIW
J
Back
Top Bottom