SMSL D1 - ROHM DAC for everyone

[Roland68]

You do not need external power source when connect D1 with USB input only. Just make sure your USB input is clean or filtered. I believe the power input only use it when you connect D1 with optical or coaxial.

The D1 can be powered via the USB data cable if the computer provides sufficient power, which most do.
If you only want to power the D1 via USB power, the V+ port on the data cable must not be connected.

 

[DEF]

The name is a little unfortunate, as SMSL has used D1 several times.


View attachment 450048

I think I'd take four of them
Or maybe not? Currently using 1x PO100 Pro and 2x PO100 (for vms)
I guess one benefit is this one stacks pretty well.

 

[Roland68]

I think I'd take four of them
Or maybe not? Currently using 1x PO100 Pro and 2x PO100 (for vms)
I guess one benefit is this one stacks pretty well.

But the PO100 Pro and PO100 are pure DDCs without DAC functionality. What kind of DACs have you connected so far?

With the D1, you no longer need the PO100 Pro and PO100, as the D1 uses the same technology and circuitry.

 

[DEF]

But the PO100 Pro and PO100 are pure DDCs without DAC functionality. What kind of DACs have you connected so far?

With the D1, you no longer need the PO100 Pro and PO100, as the D1 uses the same technology and circuitry.

i see

ipad
vm1
vm2

upcoming:
pc2
pc3

another digiface usb

 

[wiz2596]

Release the measurements !!!!

 

[JSmith]

Unlike the Sabre chip it has a very musical warm tone.

What's this crap?

I like the sound

Of a certain musical genre... or?

a reviewer had a dac where you could only switch the dac chip in the dac/preamp combo and he did prefer akm over rohm and ess

One was slightly louder... quite deceptive. That video, is it meant to be comedy?


JSmith

 

[Murat gunel]

What's this crap?

Of a certain musical genre... or?

One was slightly louder... quite deceptive. That video, is it meant to be comedy?


JSmith

This is not nonsense. This is called experience. It is about personal experience and ear. It feels fuller and warmer than the ps200 I used. Ps200 is more detailed but tiring. Just my personal opinion. No need to call bullshit

 

[JSmith]

It feels fuller and warmer than the ps200 I used.

So you mean it's heavier and runs hotter?

C'mon man... this is ASR. Level match them, compare without peeking or tells and pop back in with your results.


JSmith

 

[oldpainless]

This is not nonsense. This is called experience. It is about personal experience and ear. It feels fuller and warmer than the ps200 I used. Ps200 is more detailed but tiring. Just my personal opinion. No need to call bullshit

I've had a few different AKM and ESS Dacs. (all highly rated here)...yep, very detailed and clear, but....

My disc spinner is a 1st gen Onkyo C-7030 (with the Wolfson Dac), and it's sooo musical.

But, as with all things in life, it's each to their own.

 

[JSmith]

But, as with all things in life, it's each to their own.

Not when we deal with empirical facts... feel free to do some of your own proper comparisons and show an audible difference, with a p-value of 0.05 or less.

Please, can people stop posting FUD on ASR about DAC's... or show the results and you will be listened to.


JSmith

 

[amanieux]

What's this crap?

Of a certain musical genre... or?

One was slightly louder... quite deceptive. That video, is it meant to be comedy?


JSmith

he mentions that some dac are quieter, he did not normalize the volume, no idea why

 

[oldpainless]

Not when we deal with empirical facts... feel free to do some of your own proper comparisons and show an audible difference, with a p-value of 0.05 or less.

Please, can people stop posting FUD on ASR about DAC's... or show the results and you will be listened to.


JSmith

Sorry, I'm sure you are more qualified than I, but, please. I used to work in maths stats as a living, so whilst something can be mathatically correct, it ignores so many other factors, it "can" be invaild - classic case with the Bell Curve ( Google "ai why the bell curve is wrong".....hint, "mr average" does not exist).

Anyways, in others news, you are correct, and anyone that does not conform to your point of view is wrong - got it.

No flame wars, not interested. We are all here because we are looking for something when it comes to "musical" preferences, and this forum is awesome for folks that have questions and would like others opinions to help inform their next purchase, or report or help fix a bug.

 

[sabih]

Can anybody please perform measurements of this DAC?

Can anybody also explain, How is this DAC sounding better subjectively? Better soundstage? better bass? better treble? High resolution? DTS type sound quality?

 

[oldpainless]

Can anybody please perform measurements of this DAC?

Can anybody also explain, How is this DAC sounding better subjectively? Better soundstage? better bass? better treble? High resolution? DTS type sound quality?

As I see it, the problem now is that this thread has been tainted somewhat, by some people being shouted down as not "knowing what they are talking about", so it seems no one wants to say anything, if see you what I mean.

I like your DTS type sound comment, as that's not a bad way of describing this DAC (IMHO) - revealing, but warm - you can listen for long periods without feeling fatigued.

My D6s is going up on ebay this week - nice and clear, but I couldn't listen to it for long periods, with any of the filters.

 

[sabih]

As I see it, the problem now is that this thread has been tainted somewhat, by some people being shouted down as not "knowing what they are talking about", so it seems no one wants to say anything, if see you what I mean.

I like your DTS type sound comment, as that's not a bad way of describing this DAC (IMHO) - revealing, but warm - you can listen for long periods without feeling fatigued.

My D6s is going up on ebay this week - nice and clear, but I couldn't listen to it for long periods, with any of the filters.

@oldpainless

I am personally a fan of cirrus logic DACs, particularly CS4398 dac due to its rich, juicy and punchy sound. All other ESS and AKM DACs sound dry when compared to Cirrus Logic DACs.
Another DAC I loved was some Analog devices DACs used in Denon DTS amps [Golden color AVRs from 2001 to 2004]. But it is very hard to find a dedicated DAC based on analog devices chip.

Considering my above comments. How can you compare sound of ROHM as compared to Cirrus Logic and Analog Devices [excluding ESS and AKMs DACs which are either too dry or too sharp sounding to my ears].

 

[oldpainless]

@oldpainless

I am personally a fan of cirrus logic DACs, particularly CS4398 dac due to its rich, juicy and punchy sound. All other ESS and AKM DACs sound dry when compared to Cirrus Logic DACs.
Another DAC I loved was some Analog devices DACs used in Denon DTS amps [Golden color AVRs from 2001 to 2004]. But it is very hard to find a dedicated DAC based on analog devices chip.

Considering my above comments. How can you compare sound of ROHM as compared to Cirrus Logic and Analog Devices [excluding ESS and AKMs DACs which are either too dry or too sharp sounding to my ears].

My disk spinner is an Onkyo C-7030 Gen 1, with the Wolfson Dac (I played the lottery and got lucky - opened it up to check, and yep, Wolfson chip (Gen 2 has AKM, and Gen 3 has Teac)).

There are lots of debates online re the sound of Cirrus vs Wolfson, but both tend to sound warm and rich - sound wise, I'd put the ROHM D1 somewhere between the Wolfson and the SMSL D6s.

For reference, both my Onkyo C-7030 and the D1 are feeding an Onkyo A9010 (UK Edition) amp via RCA, and a pair of Dali Zensor 5's with a BK P12-300SB-DF sub.

I like to listen to both the Onkyo and the ROHM - depends on my mood, and certainly with the Onkyo C-7030, it's more than the sum of it's parts.

Hope that helps.

 

[Schlippwhip68]

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.

Excellent! SMSL if you are reading this then please take note and act accordingly! Might give a year before purchase on the D1….if my curiosity does not get the better of me.

 

[Schlippwhip68]

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.

….pennies….

 

[Holdegron]

I bought at Amazon. My copy is working flawlessly for now.
The panel reacts correctly.
The sound is surprisingly mature, the stage and bass are impressive. Classical music sounds very natural.
Especially the bass - Massive Attack, massages the ears.
At this price it is a very good DAC. It is interesting that there is so little information about him.

 

[Schlippwhip68]

I bought at Amazon. My copy is working flawlessly for now.
The panel reacts correctly.
The sound is surprisingly mature, the stage and bass are impressive. Classical music sounds very natural.
Especially the bass - Massive Attack, massages the ears.
At this price it is a very good DAC. It is interesting that there is so little information about him.

Looks like the Fiio R2R may have a challenger….