SMSL D-6s Balanced DAC Review

[wavetrade]

At volume 30 my Adam monitors are already at a very high level.

I think you might of already mentioned it, but what amp are you using?

Just got my new NCx500 Audiophonics amp and am pondering gain settings with the DL200. I set the buffer gain to 19db (default is 25). Finding that volume level at 45 is about my normal max listening level. More comfortable around 35 on the dac volume. I am fairly confident the basic operation of the DL200 and D-6s is the same.

Might need to buckle up and order the D-6S and wait out a shipment from China. I would like a smaller dac that I could put on top of the amp. The DL200 is wide.

 

[staticV3]

I think you might of already mentioned it, but what amp are you using?

Adam monitors use built-in amplifiers.

Just got my new NCx500 Audiophonics amp and am pondering gain settings with the DL200. I set the buffer gain to 19db (default is 25). Finding that volume level at 45 is about my normal max listening level. More comfortable around 35 on the dac volume.

You could try the Bypass setting on your Amp if you're after the best possible SNR.

 

[Esprit]

I think you might of already mentioned it, but what amp are you using?

Adam Audio S3X-V via XLR

ADAM Audio - S3X-V Active Studio Monitor (Midfield)

Whether it is a complex sounding orchestra or the subtle sound of a jazz trio, the S3X-V reveals even the finest nuances in the source material.

www.adam-audio.com

At 3,5 meters away, with the DAC at volume "20" I get 70dBA.
I still have 80 points of volume...
P.S. With the Mytek (the numbering is reversed and the maximum is 0 starting from 99) I get to 35 (it would be like putting the SMSL at 65).

 

[Angelilo]

Hello, can we please deactivate the volume potentiometer?

 

[dsnyder0cnn]

Hello, can we please deactivate the volume potentiometer?

I just set mine to "99". IIRC, if you want 4V XLR output / 2V RCA output, "96" works.

 

[Overseas]

I have a friend who sells small wedge-shaped small stands made from ebony wood. They look and feel really nice - he`s a perfectionist! You put several of these under your speaker cables such that the cables are separated ca. 1.5 inches from the floor. This way the electromagnetic fields around the cable do not interact with the floor anymore and the sound is more refined, dynamic etc.
Pointless to disagree, pointless to argue - the best I can do is keep my mouth shut. Doesn't do the friendship any good either.

Key thing here is 'sells'.

 

[wavetrade]

Hello, can we please deactivate the volume potentiometer?

But then I wouldn't have any volume control for the Fosi V3, Topping PA5 or Audiophonics amps that have used. I like the way the E50 does it best - you have settings for either making it a preamp or straight DAC. And there is no volume knob, just control with a remote. Works great for my use.

Funny enough, the regular D-6 also has settings to make it a preamp or straight DAC. Not sure why these newer DACS don't continue with this.

 

[PyramidElectric]

Personally, I don't really care about the Dac being able to be in 'fixed output' mode, this stuff doesn't work like a 'pure direct' switch on an analogue amplifier, just turning the volume up to full will get you there. What would be nice is if you had the option of making the volume control the input selector - which would be a lot more useful for anyone using these in a main hi-fi system feeding integrated amps, which is probably quite a common use case.

 

[horstman]

So I am not sure if I am an AKM or ESS guy. Both seem awesome to me, I just think each DAC is implemented a little differently. And I have avoided any of the ESS DACS that exhibit the hump in Amir's test.

Could you elaborate on that a little, for someone who hasn't read all the DAC tests here?

I've read lots of comments on the possible difference between AKM and ESS chips - also lots of comments stating there are none.

I chose an Smsl C100 over a Topping E30II, because I found the Topping too bright sounding, even though it offered better resolution, clarity and timing.
Maybe it was just more revealing of flaws in my system.

However, both of those DACs use AKM chips ...

 

[Angelilo]

there are a lot of DAC where the quality and degrade with the activated volume, the ideal is to be able to deactivate it...

 

[Angelilo]

For my part, for the moment I am moderately satisfied with the D-6s! on my system my LynxTWO-B sound card works better... that's why I'm desperately looking for a way to turn off the volume of the DAC to see if there is a difference in quality...

 

[PyramidElectric]

there are a lot of DAC where the quality and degrade with the activated volume, the ideal is to be able to deactivate it...

Could you please show evidence of this?

 

[Angelilo]

.Normally deactivating the pre amplifier part of the DAC improves the sound...

 

[Esprit]

Do you have proof?

 

[Bleib]

.Normally deactivating the pre amplifier part of the DAC improves the sound...

With a lot of these DACs it's not possible to turn it off. C200 and D6s are both fantastic objectively. I wouldn't worry about it.

 

[PyramidElectric]

.Normally deactivating the pre amplifier part of the DAC improves the sound...

Maybe in your head... In all these ESS DACs there isn't a seperate 'pre amplifier' circuit, volume control is all done within the DAC chip, and if you leave the volume at 100% it will pass the signal without any volume recalculations, no different than if there was a 'pure DAC' (or whatever you want to call it) mode. How about a test (on a DAC that has a 'volume bypass' mode to prove this @amirm? I feel like this comes up over and over and lots of people seem obsessed by the idea that volume at 100% is degrading the signal in some way vs a 'no volume control' mode.

 

[Angelilo]

I'm not saying that the rule is valid for all DACs... I have a friend who has a Topping by deactivating the volume and he found that the sound quality was really better...

 

[Angelilo]

I have a question for the D-6S processors! I realized that when playing a DSD or MQA file normally I should have a small light that lights up, on my DAC it does not light up. Do you have the same problem please?

 

[Angelilo]

 

[staticV3]

I have a question for the D-6S processors! I realized that when playing a DSD or MQA file normally I should have a small light that lights up, on my DAC it does not light up. Do you have the same problem please?

You need to play the files bit-perfect for the lights to light up.

If you're playing then through CoreAudio, DirectSound, Wasapi Shared, then the lights will not light up.