SMSL D-6 DAC Review

[hi30u]

I also use fixed full output, and feed it to the direct in of my power amp - through an external passive volume control.

That is what I want to do too!
What kind of passive preamp do you have?

 

[LGD_]

That is what I want to do too!
What kind of passive preamp do you have?

It is just a dual potentiometer mounted in a box with RCA connectors - no electronics. This is what I bought, unfortunately NLA:

Amazon.com

But this is very similar, more than I paid, but looks like it might be better quality:

Amazon.com

I have it next to my chair, using Monoprice cables about 6ft long, so I can control volume without constantly going over to my equipment.
No audio deterioration is audible because of the cable length.

Good luck...

 

[Punchy_Power_Cat]

I don't like this DAC having a 2pin full blown 230V AC-In powering a cheaply designed mini AC-DC converter with just one fuse at the In and no grounding at all.

Has anyone elaborated on the safety of this device?!

 

[Ogremic]

I am using it for a few years now, absolutely no problem at all.

 

[Draki]

Few months ago I put the D6 in a system with PC (W11/64). It connected the first time, without driver and worked OK with all sources including the USB.

Today I tried to measure with REW and UMIK-1 USB mic. REW (Java) recognized the D6/UMIK but after few measurements a warning showed some problems with the device ("sound card"). After restarting, it showed the devices (D6/UMIK) but failed again shortly.

Now I can't get the D6 as available device at all on the PC. I even downloaded the D6 driver from the SMSL site, but it still doesn't recognize it.

The D6 is still working fine with optical/coaxial/BT sources so I guess it's not at fault.

Anybody with similar experience? What did I do wrong? *mind you, I am not a computer expert, so please go easy...

 

[blues66]

registered
Iscritto

 

[CivilWizard]

Edit:
I deleted the ASIO driver, and replaced with the most recent one from the SMSL website -
Which meant that I had to re-do the "Streaming:Always On" fix (see post # 200 above), which I did.

So far all has been well, no pops or breakups.
Fingers crossed....

Is this driver fix still working for you? Asking because my D6 has also started with the static/popping noise.

 

[LGD_]

Is this driver fix still working for you? Asking because my D6 has also started with the static/popping noise.

Yes, my D6 is working fine.
I up-convert all PCM in foobar to DSD 256 native for the D6.

 

[J84]

Just pulled the trigger on this DAC and am super excited! I already have a DO100 though, and despite this being an AKM DAC, not expecting much difference for redbook (SINAD is worse actually) but I got this for DSD processing, especially DSD Direct mode (PrD). Hopefully this will elevate the level of my DSD rips, but I won't know for sure until I try. Price was right, got it open box, so not much to lose. Will be using this in my big speaker rig where I do not use EQ or any correction, hoping for some nice detail and synergy. Will move the DO100 to my bedroom headphone rig, and convert DSD to PCM since I use EQ there. IME the ESS DAC does not decode DSD as well as AKM (clips on the original Thriller SACD, doesn't decode mym one DSD512 album). I so wanted a Topping E70 Velvet but lack of DSDD implementation was a deal breaker for me, for me it's a killer feature for AKM DACs. The D-6 looks more velvety to me, happy to find out that what I want is actually available for cheap.

Hi which of of the DAC do you prefer? Does the DO100 sound warm like the D6? I hear the D6 sound warm?

I don't want a bright/fatigue DAC

 

[Esprit]

Hi which of of the DAC do you prefer? Does the DO100 sound warm like the D6? I hear the D6 sound warm?

I don't want a bright/fatigue DAC

No DAC sounds warm, lukewarm, or cold.
If anything, if you touch it with your hand, you can feel the temperature difference.

 

[LGD_]

Hi which of of the DAC do you prefer? Does the DO100 sound warm like the D6? I hear the D6 sound warm?

I don't want a bright/fatigue DAC

Congrats on getting this great DAC. Ignore the naysayers, this DAC is great for DSD upconversion.

I use it exclusively in DSD direct mode, that's the great advantage of AKM chips.
I had some trouble with it going to DSD 512 (DSD 256 was always solid), but this cleared that up:

Synapse _ Shop JDS LABS

Synapse is a UAC2 compliant galvanic isolator, built to eliminate ground loop noise without compromising USB sampling rates. Its ISOUSB211 enhances performance by cancelling USB signal loss and optimizing the USB timing diagram, while supplying super clean, transformer isolated power to your...

jdslabs.com

YMMV...

 

[drewdawg999]

Hi which of of the DAC do you prefer? Does the DO100 sound warm like the D6? I hear the D6 sound warm?

I don't want a bright/fatigue DAC

They're both warm sounding, and non-fatiguing. But I prefer the D-6 for proper DSD support, and this extra sauce that's oh so yummy that they term Velvet Sound. It's buttery smooth yet very sparkly as well.

Also the optical input on the DO100 is glitchy, I was using it to play CDs. So it's been relegated to headphone system duty, just BT input currently from my cell. Sounds very good to me but the D-6 is my main DAC. Tried to find a backup a little while back but was having trouble.

 

[J84]

Congrats on getting this great DAC. Ignore the naysayers, this DAC is great for DSD upconversion.

I use it exclusively in DSD direct mode, that's the great advantage of AKM chips.
I had some trouble with it going to DSD 512 (DSD 256 was always solid), but this cleared that up:

Synapse _ Shop JDS LABS

Synapse is a UAC2 compliant galvanic isolator, built to eliminate ground loop noise without compromising USB sampling rates. Its ISOUSB211 enhances performance by cancelling USB signal loss and optimizing the USB timing diagram, while supplying super clean, transformer isolated power to your...

jdslabs.com

YMMV...

Thanks

 

[J84]

They're both warm sounding, and non-fatiguing. But I prefer the D-6 for proper DSD support, and this extra sauce that's oh so yummy that they term Velvet Sound. It's buttery smooth yet very sparkly as well.

Also the optical input on the DO100 is glitchy, I was using it to play CDs. So it's been relegated to headphone system duty, just BT input currently from my cell. Sounds very good to me but the D-6 is my main DAC. Tried to find a backup a little while back but was having trouble.

Thanks. So the topping E70 velvet will have the velvet sound too?

 

[staticV3]

So the topping E70 velvet will have the velvet sound too?

No sound signature to be found in the E70V: https://www.l7audiolab.com/f/topping-e70-v/

Neither Velvet nor otherwise.
Input becomes output and that's it.

 

[J84]

No sound signature to be found in the E70V: https://www.l7audiolab.com/f/topping-e70-v/

Neither Velvet nor otherwise.
Input becomes output and that's it.

Thanks. So no difference in sound btw the E70 and E70V?

Also what about the SMSL D-6 having velvet sound?

 

[staticV3]

Thanks. So no difference in sound btw the E70 and E70V?

Correct.

Also what about the SMSL D-6 having velvet sound?

No sound signature on the D-6 either. Just plain, clean tap water.

Your music is what provides the taste.

 

[J84]

They're both warm sounding, and non-fatiguing. But I prefer the D-6 for proper DSD support, and this extra sauce that's oh so yummy that they term Velvet Sound. It's buttery smooth yet very sparkly as well.

Also the optical input on the DO100 is glitchy, I was using it to play CDs. So it's been relegated to headphone system duty, just BT input currently from my cell. Sounds very good to me but the D-6 is my main DAC. Tried to find a backup a little while back but was having trouble.

"But I prefer the D-6 for proper DSD support, and this extra sauce that's oh so yummy that they term Velvet Sound"

Correct.


No sound signature on the D-6 either. Just plain, clean tap water.

Your music is what provides the taste.

Thanks

 

[drewdawg999]

"But I prefer the D-6 for proper DSD support, and this extra sauce that's oh so yummy that they term Velvet Sound"

Thanks

Okay I may be biased since almost all my music is warm, especially classic rock. Only music I've heard that's cold is Bartok string quartets, and some recordings from Andrew Hill. Perhaps Schoenberg and Weber too, and Art Ensemble of Chicago, largely avant-garde stuff.

But I associate warm with analogue goodness, like what comes out of my turntable. The D-6 achieves this analogue sound quality that makes me happy. Also I'm running it as dac only (no preamp, volume control), whereas the DO100 doesn't have this option.

I'm also biased towards AKM chip DACs because they treat DSD as an important feature. Also SMSL over Topping since they actually implement the DSD Direct feature on the chip. Admittedly DSD is for a very small niche, if you just play PCM then almost any DAC will do, especially if you don't want balanced output.

 

[Veri]

AKM runs some hot marketing using the Velvet Sound branding. But that's what it is though, marketing.

It's especially funny when reviewers suggest top of the line chips i.e. AK4499 being 'bright' for example. Wasn't it warm and velvety?

It never adds up. Easy way to tell it's all BS.