SMSL D-6 DAC Review

[E_Majluf]

Good morning everyone, I needed one last test replacing the Madrigal RCA analog cables for the ones I use in the Bryston BDA_3 DAC. And indeed it happened that everything improved, the output curves of the low frequencies were equalized.

I find it hard to believe that these cables are damaged and have that drop in volume in those frequencies and not in the rest.

My apologies to all.

 

[E_Majluf]

Ah, you’re saying there is massive bass roll off. Got it. I thought that was just for the speaker outs you’re saying the roll off is also there when used with an external subwoofer?

pbc, the subwoofer with the D-6 will sing.

 

[g00gle]

Will I run into any problems with using 6.3mm to rca cables to connect my active speakers? Or should I use the rca output with y-splitters instead?

Right now I am manually switching the cables on the dac between my headphone amp and speakers and it is becoming really annoying to do so.

 

[E_Majluf]

Ideally, so you don't have that problem with your phono amplifier, use the RCA outputs for your phono amplifier and the TRS output (6.3mm) for your powered speakers. And depending on the input of your powered speakers you will need to find and buy a cable with those different ends on both ends of the cable.

 

[eyecent]

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D-6 Firmware 1.1 Updated

 

[Tod]

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D-6 Firmware 1.1 Updated

Basic question …
How do you install it?
I use a Mac; does it require the DAC to be connected directly to a Windows PC?

 

[eyecent]

Basic question …
How do you install it?
I use a Mac; does it require the DAC to be connected directly to a Windows PC?

I'm sorry. I don't know much about it. I only have a Windows desktop and an Android phone.

 

[ceausuc]

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D-6 Firmware 1.1 Updated

Any idea if it's a fix for the click problem?

Anyone using this dac with LG tvs on optical input? It is locking the signal? It doesn't seem to have the dpll settings like other smsl dacs.

 

[Greyfox]

Any idea if it's a fix for the click problem?

Anyone using this dac with LG tvs on optical input? It is locking the signal? It doesn't seem to have the dpll settings like other smsl dacs.

Hello!

What do you experience exactly with LG tv+ this dac?

I'm asking, because I was considering to order D6, since I had issues with ESS chip DACS paried with LG tv optical out (random skips in the sound).
Tried to replace the cable, changing the settings, but no luck.
My previous dac was smsl su-8 (ESS) which did not had DPLL setting implemented, so I had to sell it.
Now I have to find either an ESS Dac with DPLL, or AKM. (DPLL is an ESS specific setting, AKM does not have option like that)

But seeing your complaint with this AKM DAC, maybe I should go for SU-6 with ESS+DPLL adjustment option.
Sad, SU-6 does not have the volume knob

 

[ceausuc]

Hello!

What do you experience exactly with LG tv+ this dac?

I'm asking, because I was considering to order D6, since I had issues with ESS chip DACS paried with LG tv optical out (random skips in the sound).
Tried to replace the cable, changing the settings, but no luck.
My previous dac was smsl su-8 (ESS) which did not had DPLL setting implemented, so I had to sell it.
Now I have to find either an ESS Dac with DPLL, or AKM. (DPLL is an ESS specific setting, AKM does not have option like that)

But seeing your complaint with this AKM DAC, maybe I should go for SU-6 with ESS+DPLL adjustment option.
Sad, SU-6 does not have the volume knob

No complaints from me... I don't have this dac, it's on my wish list This is the reason why I'm asking if anyone is using it with tv's on optical input. I don't want to sell it right after because it will drop the signal.
Thanks for clarifying the DPLL setting

 

[Greyfox]

No complaints from me... I don't have this dac, it's on my wish list This is the reason why I'm asking if anyone is using it with tv's on optical input. I don't want to sell it right after because it will drop the signal.
Thanks for clarifying the DPLL setting

Oh, sorry for the missunderstanding
As far as I know ESS is more sensitive on poor signal, that's why DPLL adjustment was implemented.
Since this DAC is AKM, I would not expect this issue but it would be really glad if someone could do a test for us if he owns an LG oled + D6
Too bad LG ships a great tv with poor digital out. :/

 

[drake5000]

Do you have the popping issues when changing sample rates to the DO100?

I just got DO100 and I can confirm it skips around 0,5 sec of audio when changing sample rates.
Comparison to some other devices that I own:
SMSL Sanskrit mk.II (AKM) - smooth switching
Solid State Logic SSL2+ (AKM) - smooth switching
MOTU M4 (ESS) - skips around 1 sec of audio and actually overall terrible in terms of using different sample rates

Which makes me wondering if ESS chips in general struggle to switch sample rates smoothly

Actually I have a lot of other complaints about DO100. Now I’m editing videos where I reproduce these issues for other people to decide if it’s worth to invest in this DAC. I’ll post them in respective thread. Sorry for the off-topic

 

[rentaclaus]

Basic question …
How do you install it?
I use a Mac; does it require the DAC to be connected directly to a Windows PC?

Sorry to say (I use Linux). It requires Windows (10 should be ok). I just updated mine and it went flawless follwing the description from the supplied PDF. What has changed ? I can't tell. There is no change-log.
I use it as USB-DAC in Direct-Mode for my Linux-PC, and via optical for my Sony UBP-X700 BluRay. Both attached to old (> 25years) Naim Nac62/Nap90 with some KEF's (HTS2001) for good old stereo.
And everything sounds better than ever before ...

​

 

[Palladium]

Sorry to say (I use Linux). It requires Windows (10 should be ok). I just updated mine and it went flawless follwing the description from the supplied PDF. What has changed ? I can't tell. There is no change-log.
I use it as USB-DAC in Direct-Mode for my Linux-PC, and via optical for my Sony UBP-X700 BluRay. Both attached to old (> 25years) Naim Nac62/Nap90 with some KEF's (HTS2001) for good old stereo.
And everything sounds better than ever before ...

​

Are you able to test if the playback startup lag for BT is gone?

 

[rentaclaus]

Are you able to test if the playback startup lag for BT is gone?

Connected my Notebook with Bluetooth and Ubuntu 22.04 to the D6. Songs played by youtube start immediately, can't detect any delay.
But I never tried before if it was there ...

 

[WILL]

Updated my D-6, but can’t find anything different.

 

[GPJ]

Which makes me wondering if ESS chips in general struggle to switch sample rates smoothly

No

 

[NotAnAudiophile]

Any idea if it's a fix for the click problem?

Anyone using this dac with LG tvs on optical input? It is locking the signal? It doesn't seem to have the dpll settings like other smsl dacs.

I can confirm it works fine with LG C2, but only with optical out + tv speakers. I don't know if this is a pass-through setting, but it still sounds great while watching movies. The C2 makes an unpleasant sound with output to optical only. I was having the same problem with the Loxjie a30 (ESS sabre chip).

 

[tabby]

Anyone else gets crackling with this dac, when changing bitrate ?Its very annoying. Im running via usb.

 

[Greyfox]

D6 arrived, no problems with LG C9's optical out, sounds great both from TV optical and bluetooth!
Great little amp