SMSL D400 Pro Balanced DAC Review

[Roland68]

Not to bring this topick back up but there are some significant differences between the SMSL DO300EX and SMSL D400 Pro in architecture.

The D400 Pro is using a "CK-03 clock" processing Circuit to reduce clock jitter where the DO300EX does not, well I can't find any of that on the site of SMSL-audio.com.

For example the gustard A26 is using a similar technology with their "K2 clock" and this is their explenation: "K2 Clock In order to provide an accurate clock signal, the A26 features the ultra-low noise K2 module. This ensures that the DAC is able to achieve a very low jitter level for the most transparent sound possible."

Also the D400 Pro is using 5 peices of ""high-end"" dual op amps where the the SMSL DO300EX does not, or I can't find any info on their website about this.

The SMSL DO300EX does have a headphone amplifier though where the D400 pro does not.

Edit: Another difference I found is in the power supply of the DAC's. The DO300EX is using a single power supply where the D400 Pro is using a dual one. Also seems like another type of ultra noise power supply system.

Not saying the D400 Pro sounds better or worse but it might sound different than the DO300EX, and it might sound closer to the Gustard A26 than the DO300EX does.
Haven't heard both this is just info I found on the website of smsl.

Actually, you are wrong on all 3 points.
DO300EX has the "The new self-developed CK-03 clock processing circuit greatly reduces clock jitter" and "Use 5 high-end dual op amps and a large number of audiophile components", original text from the description on the SMSL homepage and I looked into it.
The DO400 Pro has two individual single voltage smps from which the +/- voltage is formed, the DO300EX has a direct smps with +/- voltage, technically there is no difference. These are standard power supplies by the way, nothing special.

I had both DACs here, and even on high-resolution systems I can't hear any difference between the two DACs, not even a hint.

The really big difference is in the housing, the DO300EX has a cheaper sheet steel housing, but that is not a disadvantage.

 

[jody2k]

Actually, you are wrong on all 3 points.
DO300EX has the "The new self-developed CK-03 clock processing circuit greatly reduces clock jitter" and "Use 5 high-end dual op amps and a large number of audiophile components", original text from the description on the SMSL homepage and I looked into it.
The DO400 Pro has two individual single voltage smps from which the +/- voltage is formed, the DO300EX has a direct smps with +/- voltage, technically there is no difference. These are standard power supplies by the way, nothing special.

I had both DACs here, and even on high-resolution systems I can't hear any difference between the two DACs, not even a hint.

The really big difference is in the housing, the DO300EX has a cheaper sheet steel housing, but that is not a disadvantage.

You're right my bad I think I confused this with a other page from SMSL, thanks for pointing this out !
Very confusing with all their rebranding

 

[jody2k]

Received the DO400 Pro today and compared it to my cheap 150$ fiio KA17.
Never been so dissapointed, I literally heared NO difference at all, not even the most subtle detail.

I'm really starting to believe ASR is right all along, no point anymore to spend more than a 100-200$ DAC.
Once correctly volume matched, changes between cheap and expensive dac's seem to be no existent or very subtle.

I could hear a difference between my fiio KA17 and the hifiman EF600, very subtle and no way worth 700$, I send that one back too.

 

[Roland68]

Received the DO400 Pro today and compared it to my cheap 150$ fiio KA17.
Never been so dissapointed, I literally heared NO difference at all, not even the most subtle detail.

I'm really starting to believe ASR is right all along, no point anymore to spend more than a 100-200$ DAC.
Once correctly volume matched, changes between cheap and expensive dac's seem to be no existent or very subtle.

I could hear a difference between my fiio KA17 and the hifiman EF600, very subtle and no way worth 700$, I send that one back too.

What were the other devices, speakers/headphones and music tracks?

 

[jody2k]

What were the other devices, speakers/headphones and music tracks?

Hifiman he1000se headphone, I mostly prefer combined with my luxman speakeramp a-377 (gives a bit more authority and deeper bass).
Tried also with my speakers KEF R300 which I also drive from my luxman.
I mostly listen to metal and more energetic music like trance and drum and base.
i'm aware my luxman speakeramp might not be the cleanest and most technical amplifier I do adore it's soundsignature though.

 

[blueninjasix]

Hifiman he1000se headphone, I mostly prefer combined with my luxman speakeramp a-377 (gives a bit more authority and deeper bass).
Tried also with my speakers KEF R300 which I also drive from my luxman.
I mostly listen to metal and more energetic music like trance and drum and base.
i'm aware my luxman speakeramp might not be the cleanest and most technical amplifier I do adore it's soundsignature though.

Metal, trance, drum n bass may not be the best types of music to hear subtle musical differences between different pieces of equipment

 

[Kiko1974]

I currently own an SMSL DO 300EX which uses the same chipset as this D400 PRO, an AKM 4491EQ plus one AKM 4499EXEQ. I do like the sound of this chipset combination quite a lot, It gives PCM an analogue-like sound that is hard to find on this price range, and I think It excells with DSD.
Having said that, I'm returning my DO 300EX (I got It from Amazon on last April) and getting the D400 PRO.
Even if the specs of both seem to be the same as they both feature the same AKM chipset combination, same CK-03 clock and the same 5 opamps on its analogue stage, I think the D400 PRO may sound better than the DO 300 EX. First, the D400 PRO features TWO higher quality power supplies, while the DO 300EX only has one of lowe quality, this sure has an impact on sound quality. I think regarding audio components, everything starts with a good power supply.
Second, as both are advertized as featuring 5 high quality or "audiophile quality" opamps, we don't know for sure if these are exactely the very same opamps. Maybe not only the opamps, also the rest of the analogue stage of the D400 PRO may be of higher quality Next to the one on the DO 300EX.
And third, the DO 300EX adds a headphones output that in my opinion is of so so quality to say the least.
Next Monday I'll be receiving my new SMSL D400 PRO and after some break in I'll check if it's worthy of the 230 € more than the cheaper DO300 EX.
And just to finish this post, I do LOVE how the D400 PRO looks and it's new and bigger display and cooler looking interface.

 

[Roland68]

I currently own an SMSL DO 300EX which uses the same chipset as this D400 PRO, an AKM 4491EQ plus one AKM 4499EXEQ. I do like the sound of this chipset combination quite a lot, It gives PCM an analogue-like sound that is hard to find on this price range, and I think It excells with DSD.
Having said that, I'm returning my DO 300EX (I got It from Amazon on last April) and getting the D400 PRO.
Even if the specs of both seem to be the same as they both feature the same AKM chipset combination, same CK-03 clock and the same 5 opamps on its analogue stage, I think the D400 PRO may sound better than the DO 300 EX. First, the D400 PRO features TWO higher quality power supplies, while the DO 300EX only has one of lowe quality, this sure has an impact on sound quality. I think regarding audio components, everything starts with a good power supply.
Second, as both are advertized as featuring 5 high quality or "audiophile quality" opamps, we don't know for sure if these are exactely the very same opamps. Maybe not only the opamps, also the rest of the analogue stage of the D400 PRO may be of higher quality Next to the one on the DO 300EX.
And third, the DO 300EX adds a headphones output that in my opinion is of so so quality to say the least.
Next Monday I'll be receiving my new SMSL D400 PRO and after some break in I'll check if it's worthy of the 230 € more than the cheaper DO300 EX.
And just to finish this post, I do LOVE how the D400 PRO looks and it's new and bigger display and cooler looking interface.

Sorry if this is a bit mean and sarcastic, but the power supply in the DO300EX really must be worse.
The same power supply is also installed in the DO300, which has the same test values as the D400ES (same power supplies as D400 Pro), there are only minimal differences in the decimal place and neither of the two devices is worse or better.
D400EX and DO300 are the same constellation as DO300EX and D400 Pro, only with ESS chips.
The SMSL power supplies with +/- voltage are very tried and tested and have even brought better values and a sound advantage in KHV than the original and high-quality Mean Well IRM power supplies.
The power supplies in the D400 Pro are just cheap replicas of high-quality power supplies. Two identical power supplies are used here to generate a +/- voltage. The positive regulation of a power supply lies on the device ground. Opinions are divided as to whether this is a good thing.

Do a test with both devices, set the volume to exactly the same level with a multimeter and let someone else decide what you hear. You probably won't like the result.
If you're only buying the D400 Pro because of its looks, that's understandable, of course.

 

[Kiko1974]

T

Sorry if this is a bit mean and sarcastic, but the power supply in the DO300EX really must be worse.
The same power supply is also installed in the DO300, which has the same test values as the D400ES (same power supplies as D400 Pro), there are only minimal differences in the decimal place and neither of the two devices is worse or better.
D400EX and DO300 are the same constellation as DO300EX and D400 Pro, only with ESS chips.
The SMSL power supplies with +/- voltage are very tried and tested and have even brought better values and a sound advantage in KHV than the original and high-quality Mean Well IRM power supplies.
The power supplies in the D400 Pro are just cheap replicas of high-quality power supplies. Two identical power supplies are used here to generate a +/- voltage. The positive regulation of a power supply lies on the device ground. Opinions are divided as to whether this is a good thing.

Do a test with both devices, set the volume to exactly the same level with a multimeter and let someone else decide what you hear. You probably won't like the result.
If you're only buying the D400 Pro because of its looks, that's understandable, of course.

Thanks for your reply.
Do you really think that I won't like what I hear out of the SMSL D400 PRO Next to the DO 300 EX? Why?
I don't quite understand what you say regarding the power supplies. As I understand It, the D400 PRO features two better quality power supplies (compared to the DO300 EX) and one of the power supplies is for the digital circuitry, and the other one for the analogue one. Am I wrong?
And just to finish, I'm the "don't judge the book by its cover" guy, but I think the D400 PRO with its better looking and finish case and a its bigger display looks much better than the DO300 EX. Also, the front of the DO300 EX is OK, but the rest of the case is flimsy, while the finish quality of the D400 PRO is much better.

 

[Roland68]

Thanks for your reply.
Do you really think that I won't like what I hear out of the SMSL D400 PRO Next to the DO 300 EX? Why?
I don't quite understand what you say regarding the power supplies. As I understand It, the D400 PRO features two better quality power supplies (compared to the DO300 EX) and one of the power supplies is for the digital circuitry, and the other one for the analogue one. Am I wrong?
And just to finish, I'm the "don't judge the book by its cover" guy, but I think the D400 PRO with its better looking and finish case and a its bigger display looks much better than the DO300 EX. Also, the front of the DO300 EX is OK, but the rest of the case is flimsy, while the finish quality of the D400 PRO is much better.

Do an honest blind test and see if there is any difference.
You are completely wrong about the power supplies. In my opinion, the SMSL is actually the better power supply. I don't want to say anything about the quality of the Mornsun at the moment, but here too I think the Mean Well is significantly better.
The digital and analog circuits are not powered by separate power supplies, but the two power supplies, which only supply a +12V voltage, generate a +/-12V voltage from which everything is powered. You can do it that way, it has become common practice, but for me it's just a patchwork. If you ask 3 engineers about this, you'll get 5 different answers.

 

[Kiko1974]

Do an honest blind test and see if there is any difference.
You are completely wrong about the power supplies. In my opinion, the SMSL is actually the better power supply. I don't want to say anything about the quality of the Mornsun at the moment, but here too I think the Mean Well is significantly better.
The digital and analog circuits are not powered by separate power supplies, but the two power supplies, which only supply a +12V voltage, generate a +/-12V voltage from which everything is powered. You can do it that way, it has become common practice, but for me it's just a patchwork. If you ask 3 engineers about this, you'll get 5 different answers.

Thanks again for your reply.
If D/A converters are using and advertizing two power supplies instead of one and they don't use them to power separately the digital and analogue parts of the DAC, then, what's the point? Just plain advertizing and charge more for two underused power supplies where a single one can do all the job?
That's ripping People off.
About the self developed CK-03 máster clock, do you think is also plain advertizing or does It really work and does have an impact for the good on the end sound of the DAC?

 

[Roland68]

Thanks again for your reply.
If D/A converters are using and advertizing two power supplies instead of one and they don't use them to power separately the digital and analogue parts of the DAC, then, what's the point? Just plain advertizing and charge more for two underused power supplies where a single one can do all the job?
That's ripping People off.
About the self developed CK-03 máster clock, do you think is also plain advertizing or does It really work and does have an impact for the good on the end sound of the DAC?

As I said, these two power supplies are needed to generate the positive and negative 12 volt voltage, this has nothing to do with rip-offs, a single one of these power supplies couldn't do that. The experts can argue about whether this makes sense or not.

The CK-03 master clock seems to work really well and reduces the jitter, as can be read in many of Amir's tests. @nanook also found this out with his measurements. However, it is only the replacement for transceiver chips like the AK4118 and is only used for SPDIF and AES. USB runs via the XMOS chips.

 

[Kiko1974]

As I said, these two power supplies are needed to generate the positive and negative 12 volt voltage, this has nothing to do with rip-offs, a single one of these power supplies couldn't do that. The experts can argue about whether this makes sense or not.

The CK-03 master clock seems to work really well and reduces the jitter, as can be read in many of Amir's tests. @nanook also found this out with his measurements. However, it is only the replacement for transceiver chips like the AK4118 and is only used for SPDIF and AES. USB runs via the XMOS chips.

I suppose the CK-03 master clock doesn't work with I²S either.

 

[Roland68]

I suppose the CK-03 master clock doesn't work with I²S either.

No, i2s is processed directly and bypasses CK-03 and XMOS.

 

[Kiko1974]

No, i2s is processed directly and bypasses CK-03 and XMOS.

And I think, 'though I may be wrong, that AKM IC's don't have the jitter rejection measures that Sabre IC's have.

 

[Roland68]

And I think, 'though I may be wrong, that AKM IC's don't have the jitter rejection measures that Sabre IC's have.

Believing is not knowing, and yes, you are wrong.
Don't be mad at me, but you keep chasing white rabbits.
Where did you get this knowledge from?
Look at the tests and it is not reflected there, AKM and ESS are on the same level and jitter has been a solved problem for a long time.
Jitter is actually not a problem with DAC chips and should have been reduced beforehand or not generated if possible.

And some measurements also show that AKM is ahead.
RME ADI-2 DAC FS - AKM Versus ESS Measurements (DAC, Preamp & Headamp)
He writes the important thing about this in his conclusion.

 

[Kiko1974]

Believing is not knowing, and yes, you are wrong.
Don't be mad at me, but you keep chasing white rabbits.
Where did you get this knowledge from?
Look at the tests and it is not reflected there, AKM and ESS are on the same level and jitter has been a solved problem for a long time.
Jitter is actually not a problem with DAC chips and should have been reduced beforehand or not generated if possible.

And some measurements also show that AKM is ahead.
RME ADI-2 DAC FS - AKM Versus ESS Measurements (DAC, Preamp & Headamp)
He writes the important thing about this in his conclusion.

I get my Knowledge from the internet. I'm just a 50 yerars old crippled, sorry, I mean a person with a dissability, Spanish average guy from Southern Spain.
Sabre seems to be more open to disclouse their C's designs known by everybody, while AKM seems to be more "secretive" about theirs. That may be the reason why I think Sabre think implements more jitter rejection counter measures than AKM.
Just one question, and please don't take me wrong, I'm trying to condradict you or question your information, which I appreciate and thank, but, if D/A IC's have jitter rejection counter measures, then why the need of something like SMSL's CK-03 clock?
I know that jitter IS a complex matter, so I may be simplifying things about It.

 

[Roland68]

I get my Knowledge from the internet. I'm just a 50 yerars old crippled, sorry, I mean a person with a dissability, Spanish average guy from Southern Spain.
Sabre seems to be more open to disclouse their C's designs known by everybody, while AKM seems to be more "secretive" about theirs. That may be the reason why I think Sabre think implements more jitter rejection counter measures than AKM.
Just one question, and please don't take me wrong, I'm trying to condradict you or question your information, which I appreciate and thank, but, if D/A IC's have jitter rejection counter measures, then why the need of something like SMSL's CK-03 clock?
I know that jitter IS a complex matter, so I may be simplifying things about It.

In fact, engineers and developers consider ESS to be the company that doesn't give out a lot of information, not AKM. But your opinion shows that ESS's marketing is apparently better.
The DAC manufacturers have a great interest in generating little jitter in the measured values. That's why they have developed the measures for jitter reduction extremely further, especially in recent years.
The better has always been the enemy of the good.

 

[Kiko1974]

In fact, engineers and developers consider ESS to be the company that doesn't give out a lot of information, not AKM. But your opinion shows that ESS's marketing is apparently better.
The DAC manufacturers have a great interest in generating little jitter in the measured values. That's why they have developed the measures for jitter reduction extremely further, especially in recent years.
The better has always been the enemy of the good.

I guess you are right, Sabre like to advertize all the bells and whistles of their DAC chips, but AKM is not getting behind with their new two IC's solution with the AK4191 and AK4499EX.

 

[Kiko1974]

Sorry to disturb your rest on a weekend Roland68.
I'd like to ask you something, not only about the D400 PRO, but in general: do you believe that Hi-Fi components DO need a break in time?
I do. I own a Chinese copy of the now discontinued EAR 834P tube Phono preamp since 2017. I've tried new production tubes until I moved to NOS Telefunken ECC83'S (the European equivalent/nomenclatura of US 12AX7) and with either new and NOS tubes, I can positively say that vaccum tubes DO need a break in period.
Around a month and half I changed my ancient B&W DM601's, first series from 1996 (I got their filters changed in 2018) and a new pair of KEF Q-550 and the first impression about their sound couldn't be worse. After a couple of weeks or so and some hours of use, I very much like the sound of these, at least for the kind of music I listen to (Hard Rock, I love Van Halen, movie soundtracks and some Classical an 80's Pop music), and I think the sound of the KEF's is much better, or I least I like them best, that the one of the old B&W. But out of the box I thought their sound was flat and lifeless. Break in I think made the change.