SMSL D-6s Balanced DAC Review

[Jimi Floyd]

I might upgrade to an Audio Note DAC at some point if/when I'm more wealthy, because I'm a sucker for AN gear but for the price this is an absolute no-brainer that I'm extremely happy with. it sounds excellent (musical, dynamic, holographic, accurate and large) making the looks somewhat irrelevant to me, as it's all about the sound at the end of the day - anything extra at this price is a bonus. It also has a USB input, which the AN DACs don't have (although the ANK kits do), which I find useful in my setup.

Thanks, Amirm for your excellent reviews, which convinced me to buy the S.M.S.L D6s. I could not be happier.

Any Audio Note DAC would be a downgrade with respect to the SMSL, really.

 

[Jimbob54]

Moved some posts to the measurements thread. Let's try and keep posts in review threads to the DUT please. Thanks

 

[nanook]

Moved some posts to the measurements thread. Let's try and keep posts in review threads to the DUT please. Thanks

Probably a stupid question - but I didn't find a specific measurement thread.
--> Can you provide me with a link?

 

[staticV3]

Probably a stupid question - but I didn't find a specific measurement thread.
--> Can you provide me with a link?

Here you go:

Master Thread: Are measurements Everything or Nothing?

Dear fellow audio scientists, I have been following many of the discussion for a while and appreciate your time, effort and opinion on various issues. I have a short question, which is both fundamental and specific so I would love to hear what you think. I have listened to a couple of decent...

www.audiosciencereview.com

 

[svisner]

This is a review and detailed measurements of the SMSL D-6s balanced stereo DAC with Bluetooth support. It was sent to me by the company and costs US $199.
View attachment 319853
I was pleasantly surprised with the new industrial design which while minimalistic, manages to impress with its modern style. Love the matt diffuser in front of the white LEDs. And the elevated panel gives a distinct and dare I say, luxury feel. A remote control is provided which makes navigation very easy.

Very nice to have built-in power supply in such a small package:
View attachment 319854

SMSL D-6s DAC Measurements
Let's start with our usual dashboard with level adjusted to near 4 volts using XLR output first:
View attachment 319855
Distortion products are at -140 dB! Incredible. SINAD as a result is dominated by noise, and landing the D-6s in our top 20 chart of all DACs tested:
View attachment 319856

Even RCA output is impressive and fully audibly transparent:
View attachment 319857

Output can go to 5 volts using XLR giving us a bit more performance still:
View attachment 319859

As noted, SINAD is determined by noise since distortion component is so low:
View attachment 319858

For compatibility with stereophile magazine measurements, here is the 60 Hz performance:
View attachment 319860

Despite having a "punishing" load of 600 ohm as JA calls it there, D-6s sails with distortion at whopping -120 which I am confident bests anything stereophile has ever tested.

Back to our own tests, linearity is nailed:
View attachment 319861

As is jitter across all three interfaces:
View attachment 319862

Multitone performance makes the company proud:
View attachment 319863

We are some -135 dB in some of the frequency range!

EDIT: Forgot to post the IMD test:
View attachment 319869

Here are the usual filter and frequency response tests:
View attachment 319864
View attachment 319865

Using default F2 filter, we get excellent performance in our wideband THD+N with a slight rise at the upper end:
View attachment 319866

Conclusions
I pride myself in always finding something to complain about in a review but I have nothing for you here. Price is right. The look is right. And performance is top notch regardless of price. I always recommend balanced DACs and here is your chance to get one without any compromise.

I am happy to recommend the SMSL D-6s DAC.

Manufacturer Specifications:​

• Inputs: USB, optical, coaxial, Bluetooth
• Outputs: RCA, XLR
• THD+N: 0.00006% (-123dB)
• Line output amplitude:
  • XLR: 5Vrms
  • RCA: 2.5Vrms (1.13Vrms)
• Output impedance: XLR: 100Ω
• Dynamic range:
  • XLR: 129dB
  • RCA: 126dB
• SNR:
  • XLR: 129dB
  • RCA: 126dB
• USB transmission: Asynchronization
• USB compatibility: Windows 7, 8, 8.1, 10, 11 (needs driver); Mac OS X 10.6 or later, Linux (driverless)
• Sampling rate and bit depth:
  • USB:
    • PCM: 44.1-768kHz (32bit)
    • DSD: 2.8224-22.5792MHz (1bit)
    • DoP: DOP256
  • Optical/coaxial: 44.1-192kHz (24bit); DoP64
• Bluetooth version: 5.1
• Bluetooth codecs: SBC, AAC, aptX, aptX HD, LDAC
• Power consumption: <10W
• Standby power: <0.5W
• Size: 150x42x128.5mm (WxHxD)
• Weight: 1.57lbs (0.71kg)

----------
As always, questions, comments, recommendations, etc. are welcome. Click here if you have some audio gear you want me to test.

Any donations are much appreciated using: https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/how-to-support-audio-science-review.8150/

I installed a D6S in a system that uses McIntosh tube amplifier and MartinLogal electostatic speakers. Excellent detail and imaging. I wasn't really sure I'd be able to hear the differences between DACs, but the D6S is really superb. Thanks.

 

[dogmamann]

. I wasn't really sure I'd be able to hear the differences between DACs, but the D6S is really superb. Thanks.

you are able to hear the difference between them? What did you compare it with ?

 

[svisner]

you are able to hear the difference between them? What did you compare it with ?

SMSL Sanskrit 10th. Also a pretty good DAC. Aiyima T8. I use a Schiit Lyr3 on my desktop system. The D6S is at least as good.

 

[dogmamann]

SMSL Sanskrit 10th. Also a pretty good DAC. Aiyima T8. I use a Schiit Lyr3 on my desktop system. The D6S is at least as good.

If you don’t hear any difference, are you claiming that all the 3 dacs you mentioned are sounding the same ? If yes, isn’t it just enough to buy the cheapest of the 3 and call it a day?

 

[Feesh]

SMSL Sanskrit 10th. Also a pretty good DAC. Aiyima T8. I use a Schiit Lyr3 on my desktop system. The D6S is at least as good.

Also replaced my Sanskrit 10th MKII with a D6s. Easily noticable differ

 

[Feesh]

Same here. Noticed within the first couple of tracks.

Going from the D6s to the DO300 on the other hand - could not notice a difference.

 

[svisner]

If you don’t hear any difference, are you claiming that all the 3 dacs you mentioned are sounding the same ? If yes, isn’t it just enough to buy the cheapest of the 3 and call it a day?

Not an unreasonable question. I think it has better imaging than the Sanskrit. In fact, I think it's less expensive than the Lyr but I think it may sound just a bit better (better imaging perhaps) and has options (e.g., optical, coax) that the Lyr does not offer. I still use the Lyr on my desktop system, where it serves very well, and I still use two Sanskrits, one also for my desktop and another for bedroom system. While I prefer the D6S, the Sanskrit it a good piece of gear.

 

[dogmamann]

Not an unreasonable question. I think it has better imaging than the Sanskrit. In fact, I think it's less expensive than the Lyr but I think it may sound just a bit better (better imaging perhaps) and has options (e.g., optical, coax) that the Lyr does not offer. I still use the Lyr on my desktop system, where it serves very well, and I still use two Sanskrits, one also for my desktop and another for bedroom system. While I prefer the D6S, the Sanskrit it a good piece of gear.

As per the science it cannot have better imaging. But I get your point.

 

[hyperknot]

I'm looking for a balanced DAC which can take SPDIF input. I'm planning to use it with Genelec 8030C speakers using balanced cables.

Which DAC would you recommend for this purpose? I'm thinking about SMSL D6, D6s or M300 SE. Are these equally good? Is there a major upgrade in the D6s vs the D6 version for my use case?

 

[Bleib]

I'm looking for a balanced DAC which can take SPDIF input. I'm planning to use it with Genelec 8030C speakers using balanced cables.

Which DAC would you recommend for this purpose? I'm thinking about SMSL D6, D6s or M300 SE. Are these equally good? Is there a major upgrade in the D6s vs the D6 version for my use case?

I'd pay slightly more for daw-mda1 for more inputs. Easier to change settings as well, nicer display
You probably can't hear the difference between s and non-s.

 

[hyperknot]

I'd pay slightly more for daw-mda1 for more inputs. Easier to change settings as well, nicer display
You probably can't hear the difference between s and non-s.

But I don't need more input I only want an SPDIF and an USB. SPDIF I'll use with a WiiM Mini and the USB with a computer possibly. And the MDA1 is double the price of the D6, from what I found. Is there anything else on these more expensive versions which might be worth it? So far I like the normal D6 as a middle ground.

 

[antcollinet]

I'm looking for a balanced DAC which can take SPDIF input. I'm planning to use it with Genelec 8030C speakers using balanced cables.

Which DAC would you recommend for this purpose? I'm thinking about SMSL D6, D6s or M300 SE. Are these equally good? Is there a major upgrade in the D6s vs the D6 version for my use case?

Pretty much any DAC will provide the same audio quality. To be certain select from the blue and green sections of the Sinad chart here.

After that, you can just make your decision based on other criteria - price, features, perceived quality, after sales support etc. The D6s as measured here measures exceptionally, falling in the top 17 of all DACS measured on this site. If that has the features you need at a price you like, go for it.

 

[audiomaestro]

Does the SMSL D-6s display screen show the sources bitrate data on it?