RIP my SMSL Sanskrit III ...

[Mark S.]

... which went belly-up yesterday after 9 months almost to the day (it arrived on Dec 11 2024).

Sound crackled, faded over about 5 seconds and finally there was nothing but a quiet, regular clicking. The display still works (I had it disabled, the ability to do this was one of the reasons for buying it), it responds to all the remote functions and Windows still sees it.

Wasn't sure what had failed at first (PC, amp or DAC), but as soon as I put my hand on it - the entire case was at at least 45 degrees, so something on the PCB was burning.

I now regret using the 'aux power' USB-C input (from a Mean Well 5V/3A supply) as this was how it was able to pull enough current to fry something - I didn't actually have any problems with it powered only by the PC's USB.

It's the first time I've been bitten by both the dubious design and QC and using a 3rd party AliExpress seller (saved about 30 quid, getting it for c.£100 instead of 130).

SMSL (Shenzhenaudio) responded immediately to an email enquiry - to tell me (to no great surprise) they only warranty gear they sell directly.

I'll probably open it up and see if there's a chance of a DIY repair (doubtful).

 

[FreakyKiwi]

Shenzen audio is not SMSL they are a reseller of products including SMSL.

Have you contacted whoever you bought the unit from?

 

[Mark S.]

Shenzen audio is not SMSL they are a reseller of products including SMSL.

Have you contacted whoever you bought the unit from?

Oh, I thought Shenzhenaudio actually owned various 'brands', should have done my homework. Whatever, I've always taken it given that you're just taking your chances with these these ultra-budget 'mini hifi' boxes (although avoiding being an 'early adopter' - I hoped the Sanskrit had been around long enough that any obvious flaws had been sorted).

 

[FreakyKiwi]

You may be right after all.

Encountering problems while using

Describe your usage environment as detailed as possible (such as input jack, operating system, output jack, headphone/speaker model) and clearly describe the issue. If shoot a video and upload it to YouTube, it will help us identify specific issues and guide you on how to solve them all at once...

smsl.shop

C Series, AO Series, DO Series, HO Series, PO Series, PS Series products, regardless of where purchased, if you have any after-sales issues or need technical support, please contact this email [email protected] for assistance.

RAW- Series, SU- Series, SD- Series, DA Series, SH- Series products, regardless of where purchased, if you have any after-sales issues or need technical support, please contact this email [email protected] for assistance.

 

[Mark S.]

You may be right after all.

Encountering problems while using

Describe your usage environment as detailed as possible (such as input jack, operating system, output jack, headphone/speaker model) and clearly describe the issue. If shoot a video and upload it to YouTube, it will help us identify specific issues and guide you on how to solve them all at once...

smsl.shop

C Series, AO Series, DO Series, HO Series, PO Series, PS Series products, regardless of where purchased, if you have any after-sales issues or need technical support, please contact this email [email protected] for assistance.

RAW- Series, SU- Series, SD- Series, DA Series, SH- Series products, regardless of where purchased, if you have any after-sales issues or need technical support, please contact this email [email protected] for assistance.

Yes, I've been there, but the bottom line is there is no "manufacturer warranty" from these Chi-fi makers.

If it fries itself inside a few weeks (maybe a month or two) you might have recourse for a refund/replacement from the 3rd-party seller, but good luck with that.

I'm content with letting people know that that however slick the cosmetics and packaging might be, these 'Chi-fi' boxes are NOT designed by competent engineers and are not to be trusted, you're just taking your chances.

Should add that, thankfully, my SMSL SU-1 is still behaving itself, but I won't be shocked if it too expires suddenly.

 

[FreakyKiwi]

I'm content with letting people know that that however slick the cosmetics and packaging might be, these 'Chi-fi' boxes are NOT designed by competent engineers and are not to be trusted, you're just taking your chances.

Hopefully buyers have already gathered this by the lower price compared with buying from a local supplier who should offer support.
With the cost of the return shipping to China for any potential warranty claim I already buy knowing that if I have any issues, it will be a brick.

Touch wood, all of my Chinese hi-fi gear is still working.

 

[Mark S.]

I've had pretty good luck with simple D-class amps over the last 10+ years, but 'front ends' or interfaces are another kettle of fish, and I've learned a hard lesson.

Don't really understand why anyone trusts these little boxes, with their all-singing, all-dancing whizz-bang "configuration" and displays.

"How much is there to go wrong?". "Yes".

 

[somebodyelse]

I'm content with letting people know that that however slick the cosmetics and packaging might be, these 'Chi-fi' boxes are NOT designed by competent engineers and are not to be trusted, you're just taking your chances.

We've no solid information on failure rates - failures occur with all manufacturers. Had you bought through a UK or EU based dealer such as Audiophonics it would still have been in warranty and you would probably have your replacement by now. The fact that Audiophonics has been selling their products for several years suggests their failure rates aren't too far from normal in the industry.

 

[markstein]

Yes, I've been there, but the bottom line is there is no "manufacturer warranty" from these Chi-fi makers.

If it fries itself inside a few weeks (maybe a month or two) you might have recourse for a refund/replacement from the 3rd-party seller, but good luck with that.

I'm content with letting people know that that however slick the cosmetics and packaging might be, these 'Chi-fi' boxes are NOT designed by competent engineers and are not to be trusted, you're just taking your chances.

Should add that, thankfully, my SMSL SU-1 is still behaving itself, but I won't be shocked if it too expires suddenly.

This is the reason I would not buy such devices - despite the very good, sometimes state-of-the-art measurements. There is a lot more than that to make a product "great".

- long term reliability
- a professional manufacturer being long into this business
- a professional and local after sales service

I am willing to pay a lot more for this convenience...

 

[Mark S.]

Overall, what really irks me is the lack of focus on the basic functionality people actually need - if only they'd focus on solid design instead of cramming in bells and whistles (and slick little OLED displays/'interfaces' that will last a year - if you're lucky).

I bought the Sanskrit because it's a high-performing DAC with a simple, monochrome LED display (which can be turned off) and (importantly) a remote that can select input and has digital attenuation/volume control which can be used for the optical-out from my TV for streamed content. With with its 32-bit processing and S/N of c. 116dB+ that attenuation is more than (in fact well beyond) adequate for the purpose.

What else does anyone really need from a DAC or 'front end'?

As I said, my mistake appears to have been using the 'aux power' input - the Sanskrit would almost certainly still be working fine had I stuck to using just the PC's USB 5V, but it was there so I used it, and thanks to SMSL's incompetent design it fried itself.

Keep It Simple, Stupid.

 

[BlackTalon]

My Shenzhenaudio DAC/ HPA is going strong, and it's closing in on 3 years old. Not sure why one failure damns the whole sea of millions of DACs/ HPAs from several Chinese manufacturers.

 

[Mark S.]

My Shenzhenaudio DAC/ HPA is going strong, and it's closing in on 3 years old. Not sure why one failure damns the whole sea of millions of DACs/ HPAs from several Chinese manufacturers.

The Sanskrit III was £130 in the UK when I bought mine (I saved £30 buying from a reputable far-Eastern seller, it was actually difficult to find a UK stockist anyway), not a massive amount of money but not trivial either.

It is (or was) a long-running and relatively 'prestigious' model in the SMSL range.

You'll understand why I'm pretty pissed-off at getting 9 months of use out of it before it fried itself thanks to careless/incompetent design or careless/cheap manufacture.

 

[Mark S.]

We've no solid information on failure rates - failures occur with all manufacturers. Had you bought through a UK or EU based dealer such as Audiophonics it would still have been in warranty and you would probably have your replacement by now. The fact that Audiophonics has been selling their products for several years suggests their failure rates aren't too far from normal in the industry.

Failure rates on DC-powered, low current devices like DACs should be (and actually usually are) zero by now. DOA, faulty from new is another matter, that's almost always going to be easily resolvable between buyer and seller. Mine sat working fine for 9 months before deciding to STB.

 

[RexrothPigeon]

You'll understand why I'm pretty pissed-off at getting 9 months of use out of it before it fried itself thanks to careless/incompetent design or careless/cheap manufacture.

Whether or not your irritation at your device is merited has zero bearing on the definite inappropriateness of your ensuing decision to smear Chinese manufactured products more broadly

 

[somebodyelse]

Failure rates on DC-powered, low current devices like DACs should be (and actually usually are) zero by now.

Got any stats to back that claim up? It's the sort of thing manufacturers usually don't like to share.

 

[markstein]

I would not focus that much on the failure per se, but on the customer service after a failure happened. Inside and outside of warranty phase.

 

[Mark S.]

Got any stats to back that claim up? It's the sort of thing manufacturers usually don't like to share.

As I said, I'm referring to failure in service, not DOA/ faulty out of the box. The former is far more of a problem for 'consumers'. I haven't even bothered contacting the seller of the Sanskrit because 1) I don't actually think it's their problem (not at fault in any way) 2) the Sanskrit is out of production so they wouldn't have a replacement to send me even if they wanted to.

 

[Jimi Floyd]

I would blame your power supply

 

[raindance]

For the 10,000,000th time stop with the chi-fi references. We have valuable members on this forum who are Chinese and this is insulting to them.

 

[Ropeburn]

For the 10,000,000th time stop with the chi-fi references. We have valuable members on this forum who are Chinese and this is insulting to them.

They don't even need to be here and read it, for it to be inappropriate. Smearing people in their absence doesn't make it one bit better.