SMSL D400ES DAC Review

[Burns]

I’m not sure why you are asking this question but its programmed with my Logitech Harmony to turn off with everything else when I press the off button.

But even if I left it on, its not a big deal.

All my audio devices have a 12V trigger and I can't imagine living and buying a device without this feature. You have a way. Sure, nothing will happen unless it shortens the life of the device.

 

[Lsc]

All my audio devices have a 12V trigger and I can't imagine living and buying a device without this feature. You have a way. Sure, nothing will happen unless it shortens the life of the device.

I also enjoy having a 12v trigger between my pre/pro and my 2 amps. I’m not sure I’d buy another amp without it unless it has an auto on feature. That’s cool that the Topping has a trigger option. I’m sure if I waited a few months I could have picked one up that’s the equivalent of the DO300 but I ran out of patience.

If I couldn’t turn the DAC on and off without a remote or a trigger I probably wouldn’t have bought it. Nevertheless, these are cheap so I wouldn’t feel too bad if they died earlier than expected. Now if one of my Gotham G213s croaked because I shortened it’s life by leaving it always on (which some people recommend), I would have a totally different emotion because it would be a royal pain to get them shipped and repaired.

 

[Burns]

I also enjoy having a 12v trigger between my pre/pro and my 2 amps. I’m not sure I’d buy another amp without it unless it has an auto on feature. That’s cool that the Topping has a trigger option. I’m sure if I waited a few months I could have picked one up that’s the equivalent of the DO300 but I ran out of patience.

If I couldn’t turn the DAC on and off without a remote or a trigger I probably wouldn’t have bought it. Nevertheless, these are cheap so I wouldn’t feel too bad if they died earlier than expected. Now if one of my Gotham G213s croaked because I shortened it’s life by leaving it always on (which some people recommend), I would have a totally different emotion because it would be a royal pain to get them shipped and repaired.

That is, you confirm that it may shorten the life of the device if it is always on. You can always return the DO300 and replace it with an e70 or dx7pro+

 

[Lsc]

That is, you confirm that it may shorten the life of the device if it is always on. You can always return the DO300 and replace it with an e70 or dx7pro+

Lol. I think it’s inconclusive as there are arguments where they recommend to not power cycle components as that may shorten the life of the device.

Also per my previous comment, I don’t leave the DO300 on. My off button on my Harmony remote turns it off and it turns on only when I choose an activity that involves sound running thru the DO300.

I like the DO300. It’s about 3 days old and I don’t plan on replacing it with alternatives that use older ESS chipsets. I just need them to make an inexpensive preamps that sound as good as the $10,000 for less than $1000 with HT bypass, then I’m all set. Hopefully in the next year they will have one that’s worth buying, otherwise I’ll have to spurge next year when I get my discretionary bonus which I don’t want to do.

 

[Burns]

Lol. I think it’s inconclusive as there are arguments where they recommend to not power cycle components as that may shorten the life of the device.

Also per my previous comment, I don’t leave the DO300 on. My off button on my Harmony remote turns it off and it turns on only when I choose an activity that involves sound running thru the DO300.

I like the DO300. It’s about 3 days old and I don’t plan on replacing it with alternatives that use older ESS chipsets. I just need them to make an inexpensive preamps that sound as good as the $10,000 for less than $1000 with HT bypass, then I’m all set. Hopefully in the next year they will have one that’s worth buying, otherwise I’ll have to spurge next year when I get my discretionary bonus which I don’t want to do.

I asked in reference to Gotham G213s. Have you read that probably 9039 is more stripped compared to 9038? higher number is not always better.

 

[Lsc]

I asked in reference to Gotham G213s. Have you read that probably 9039 is more stripped compared to 9038? higher number is not always better.

I have not but I don’t follow DACs too closely. What I have read and based my decision on was the reviews where the 9039 based DACs are near the top of the list except for the SU-10 pro that use dual 9038s. My only stance on this since I’m buying in 2023, is that I’ll buy the newest offering for a reasonable price. I personally don’t think the differences in DACs make a huge difference in the overall sound quality. I probably have exhausted all my capacity to discuss DACs for the year 2023 in the last 2 days with you .

My buddy has never turned off his dual JL Audio F112s and 15 years later one of them croaked out on him - known issue and cost $450 or so thru JL to fix. Other people who regularly turn their JL sub off had their power issue earlier. So, as I said it’s inconclusive but I don’t like to keep any of my stuff on as personal preference. My other JL sub, the F113 is also set to auto on.

 

[Blashyrkh]

If the DAC allows user setting the volume to +2dB, then it simply means the built-in filters are calibrated to have 2dB of headroom to reduce the chance of intersample clipping. A 1kHz sine does not have intersample clipping issue so it won't clip.

Just to understand, If I set the DAC at +2, does it have more chances of intersample clipping than setting it to 0db? Or that it still has 2dB headroom due to the -4dB attenuation of filter?
Which should be the best dB setting to avoid clipping?