SMSL D1 - ROHM DAC for everyone

[kazuviking]

When using SPDIF not a single crackling happens and the dac never heats up to levels the usb does.I basically soldered dupont wires to a super cheap dacs SPDIF connector(desoldering it would be a pain) and plugged it into the soundcards optical out pins on the motherboard. From the very little time i used optical it fixed every single issue with the D1. The previous issues still happened even with the heatsinks so from the looks of it i cannot use usb. Gonna buy those cheap pcie slot spdif cards for a long time fix.

 

[stemag]

A week ago I purchased an SMSL D1. The sample I received was defective: the inputs cycled on their own without any external intervention. The seller told me that a firmware update would fix the problem, but unfortunately I had already returned the item because it was unusable. So I bought another one, which had stable input selection and was usable. However, touching the metal case produced an effect similar to randomly pressing touch buttons. With the firmware upgrade I received from the seller, the problem disappeared and everything works as it should.

The sound is excellent. When compared with my SMSL DO100 (which is equipped with two ES9038Q2M chips) the bass is deeper, the presentation more natural and balanced, and the spaciousness is better.

I definitely prefer the D1 over the DO100.

 

[Toku]

A week ago I purchased an SMSL D1. The sample I received was defective: the inputs cycled on their own without any external intervention. The seller told me that a firmware update would fix the problem, but unfortunately I had already returned the item because it was unusable. So I bought another one, which had stable input selection and was usable. However, touching the metal case produced an effect similar to randomly pressing touch buttons. With the firmware upgrade I received from the seller, the problem disappeared and everything works as it should.

The sound is excellent. When compared with my SMSL DO100 (which is equipped with two ES9038Q2M chips) the bass is deeper, the presentation more natural and balanced, and the spaciousness is better.

I definitely prefer the D1 over the DO100.

The symptoms are exactly the same as those reported immediately after release. Have you returned the D1 and purchased the same D1 from another sales channel? After that, did the touch buttons for power on/off and input selection work properly?

Sales have ended on Amazon Japan and it is no longer available.
It is also available for pre-order on Aliexpress with no delivery date determined.

 

[stemag]

The symptoms are exactly the same as those reported immediately after release. Have you returned the D1 and purchased the same D1 from another sales channel? After that, did the touch buttons for power on/off and input selection work properly?

Sales have ended on Amazon Japan and it is no longer available.
It is also available for pre-order on Aliexpress with no delivery date determined.

I returned the unusable D1 and purchased another D1 from the same sales channel. This second sample was usable, but touching the metal box caused the input to switch or the device to switch off.
The seller sent me the firmware update files. The firmware update fixed that issue and now everything works as expected.
Sound is great.

 

[Murat gunel]

I returned the unusable D1 and purchased another D1 from the same sales channel. This second sample was usable, but touching the metal box caused the input to switch or the device to switch off.
The seller sent me the firmware update files. The firmware update fixed that issue and now everything works as expected.
Sound is great.

Hello. I have the same problems. How did you update the software? Can I get the files from you? When you touch the safe, it changes according to the head.

 

[stemag]

@Murat gunel
You have a PM.

 

[Toku]

Hello. I have the same problems. How did you update the software? Can I get the files from you? When you touch the safe, it changes according to the head.

There is no official FW update for the SMSL D1 yet. It seems to be being distributed to some users on a test basis.

 

[Murat gunel]

There is no official FW update for the SMSL D1 yet. It seems to be being distributed to some users on a test basis.

After the firmware the situation was fixed. The device is no longer stupid. In terms of sound quality the product is really very successful. Unlike the Sabre chip it has a very musical warm tone. Now everything works without problems. After the firmware everything was fixed.

 

[Roland68]

I also ordered a D1 from Amazon DE, which was now available in their DE warehouse. Ordered on Friday, delivered Saturday morning.
I also purchased the 3-year warranty extension for €5.99.

The device works perfectly, except for the touch issue. The touch buttons on the front work perfectly, as long as you don't touch the device anywhere else. If I touch the back or top of the case with two or more fingers, it can turn the device on or off, or change the input.
I also think the latest firmware was already installed. Updating the latest firmware didn't make any difference, and the version number was the same (which doesn't mean anything for SMSL).

To be clear again, the D1 works perfectly for me and is easy to operate using the touch buttons. You just shouldn't touch it additionally. I can live with that.

I find the sound surprisingly good. I paired it with a PA5 II and the Elac BDR62. Very detailed, very clean, and clear, but what impressed me was the bass range. Very deep, very clean, very contoured, and accentuated. Overall, the D1, combined with these components, reproduces acoustic instruments and voices as I know them in real life.
This is, of course, just my subjective personal impression, but we'll listen to the D1 in one of our upcoming comparisons with other DACs.

With an ambient temperature of currently around 31°, the case has reached 34° after 48 hours, which is a very good value.
The case is slightly larger than the SU-1 and C100, and fits well with an L30 II, but also looks good with an L50, L70 or a Violectric HPA V200.

 

[Roland68]

Important note regarding the USB and power connectors on the D1!
Unfortunately, these connectors are too close together, with a center-to-center distance of only 6.55 mm, so not all USB cables will fit if both connectors are needed. This only applies when connected via USB.

The original cable has a 6.3 mm thick connector housing, but only one cable is included. Two Lindy USB 2.0 cables from the Anthra Line unfortunately don't fit because the connector housing is 7.5 mm thick. All my other USB cables with USB-C connectors also have connector housings that are at least 6.9 mm thick, including the metal housings that are now commonly used, such as most cables on Amazon.


With USB 2.0 cables, you can safely reduce the thickness of the connector housings with a file or cutter. I would advise against this with other cables with USB-C connectors, as there are ICs and circuit boards inside the connectors that could be damaged.

 

[tlkw79]

Received my SMSL D1 last week. Love the sound! No complaint at all. Now it became 2nd best in my collection.

 

[Roland68]

Update and workaround for the "touch sensor" problem with the SMSL D1 Rohm DAC.

To put it simply, SMSL has incorporated three physical errors out of ignorance.
- The plexiglass/plastic plate glued into the aluminum front panel is not sufficiently insulated from the aluminum.
- SMSL uses so-called touch springs (spring touch sensors) in the D1. But they really overdid it and used springs that were too large, presumably designed for much thicker material.
- Even worse, they installed these springs incorrectly, or used the wrong springs for this type of installation. In any case, the mounting base was also used to transmit the capacitive energy, instead of using the contact provided on the touch spring.

All three issues cascade together to cause excessive capacitive energy transfer.

Simple solution:
- Open the device and remove the four Torx screws (T6) on the back.
- Carefully pull out the circuit board (don't worry, there's no ribbon cable).
- Now stick a piece of thin, transparent adhesive tape, approximately 19x19 or 20x20mm in size, to the front of both springs. It should extend evenly all the way around.
- Now carefully push the circuit board back in, making sure it sits in the guide of the aluminum housing.
- Screw it back in place, but only tighten the screws slightly by hand.

After this modification, the device no longer responds at all when I touch the housing. This accidental switching or turning off is also gone, as is the skipping of inputs.
Now my D1 can be used as expected.

If anyone tries this mod, feedback would be nice, it will also help other D1 users with this problem.

 

[oldpainless]

Long time lurker, first time posting.

Firstly, I wanted to say thanks for the reviews and measurments, it helped me choose my D6s.

Got my D1 yestarday, and I can say the sound signature is very different to the D6s, and I love it! I get the whole "if its transparent" argument, I really do...until I plugged the D1 in using USB running with my Onkyo A-9010 (uk edition) with my Dali Zensor 5's, and was shocked by the richness and depth.

Bought mine in the UK, and looks like mine is a later batch, as I've no issues with the case or touch panel.

I think these may have been pulled because they are TOO good for the money.

My d6s will be up on ebay on Monday....

Just my 2 cents.

 

[Roland68]

Long time lurker, first time posting.

Firstly, I wanted to say thanks for the reviews and measurments, it helped me choose my D6s.

Got my D1 yestarday, and I can say the sound signature is very different to the D6s, and I love it! I get the whole "if its transparent" argument, I really do...until I plugged the D1 in using USB running with my Onkyo A-9010 (uk edition) with my Dali Zensor 5's, and was shocked by the richness and depth.

Bought mine in the UK, and looks like mine is a later batch, as I've no issues with the case or touch panel.

I think these may have been pulled because they are TOO good for the money.

My d6s will be up on ebay on Monday....

Just my 2 cents.

Hello oldpainless,
First of all, welcome to the forum.

May I ask where you got the information that the D1 Rohm DAC has been discontinued?

My D1 is also from the latest series, but there are fluctuations in the touch function, which is mainly due to how well the plastic front panel is insulated. A second D1 from the same Amazon shipment had no problems.

I'm also amazed by the sound and how clear and detailed it reproduces familiar tracks, and as you also wrote, by the richness and depth. I'll compare it with a few other DACs this weekend.

 

[oldpainless]

Hello oldpainless,
First of all, welcome to the forum.

May I ask where you got the information that the D1 Rohm DAC has been discontinued?

My D1 is also from the latest series, but there are fluctuations in the touch function, which is mainly due to how well the plastic front panel is insulated. A second D1 from the same Amazon shipment had no problems.

I'm also amazed by the sound and how clear and detailed it reproduces familiar tracks, and as you also wrote, by the richness and depth. I'll compare it with a few other DACs this weekend.

Thank you for the welcome.

I remember another member mentioning it in this thread (the member has connections to a youtube reviewer).

Re the problem, maybe it's just random then, or maybe Amazon have different manufacturing batches?

Yeah, it's a lovely sounding DAC, at any money (I've tried various ESS and AKM dac's) and, I'll be keeping this one.

 

[Toku]

Sales of the SMSL D1 have been suspended on Aliexpress and Amazon Japan, and it is no longer available for purchase. Aliexpress is accepting preorders from some unfamiliar retailers in anticipation of a resale, but it is questionable whether they will be sold at all.
SMSL has provided firmware samples to some users, but there has been no progress since then. Even if sales were to resume, the hardware would need to be modified.
In the past, SMSL has often abandoned product improvements in cases like this and instead sold new models, so I predict that sales of the D1 will be discontinued in the same manner.

 

[oldpainless]

Sales of the SMSL D1 have been suspended on Aliexpress and Amazon Japan, and it is no longer available for purchase. Aliexpress is accepting preorders from some unfamiliar retailers in anticipation of a resale, but it is questionable whether they will be sold at all.
SMSL has provided firmware samples to some users, but there has been no progress since then. Even if sales were to resume, the hardware would need to be modified.
In the past, SMSL has often abandoned product improvements in cases like this and instead sold new models, so I predict that sales of the D1 will be discontinued in the same manner.

Then, I'm super glad I got mine!

Thanks for the info. It's a shame, because as I said, the sound on this DAC has blown me away (might get another one as a spare whilst I can).

@Toku Can I ask, do you happen to know what changes were made in the firmware samples they sent out?

 

[Toku]

Then, I'm super glad I got mine!

Thanks for the info. It's a shame, because as I said, the sound on this DAC has blown me away (might get another one as a spare whilst I can).

@Toku Can I ask, do you happen to know what changes were made in the firmware samples they sent out?

It seems like there is a lot of variation in the performance of the D1 depending on the individual unit. The D1 I received worked absolutely horribly. But my opinion on the sound quality is the same as everyone else on the forum.

 

[tlkw79]

I bought my D1 from Taobao directly. So far, no issue on Front panel or sound yet. QC looks good so far.

Also, you guys can see my unit revision. I have no idea is this the latest or............????

 

[tlkw79]

Then, I'm super glad I got mine!

Thanks for the info. It's a shame, because as I said, the sound on this DAC has blown me away (might get another one as a spare whilst I can).

@Toku Can I ask, do you happen to know what changes were made in the firmware samples they sent out?

Yes indeed! The sound really blown me away too.