SMSL DO100 Review (Stereo DAC)

[GPJ]

On first power up, the filter on my unit was filter #1. I presume that's the default.

That's how mine arrived. I set it to filter 6 and it will remain there. Overall, the DAC is working great. As well as my E50 and D30 Pro. I currently have it hooked to an SP200 by XLR and driving DCA Aeon RT closed with XLR plug. No complaints at all .....

 

[Labjr]

I received an email from Apos today about the new SMSL D-6 DAC. https://apos.audio/products/smsl-d-6?utm_campaign=June 17 New from SMSL: D-6 DAC (TswrGm)&utm_medium=email&utm_source=All Customers who Accept Marketing&_kx=n2WfYcVcbFGPOtEIVZ6VjrVF6yHfZALJjS8jkGbPNXQ=.Ldk8SW

It's an AKM based DAC with TRS balanced outputs. I imagine they'll send one to Amir for review. So Apos going to carry the D-6 but not the DO100?

 

[Walter]

I received an email from Apos today about the new SMSL D-6 DAC. https://apos.audio/products/smsl-d-6?utm_campaign=June 17 New from SMSL: D-6 DAC (TswrGm)&utm_medium=email&utm_source=All Customers who Accept Marketing&_kx=n2WfYcVcbFGPOtEIVZ6VjrVF6yHfZALJjS8jkGbPNXQ=.Ldk8SW

It's an AKM based DAC with TRS balanced outputs. I imagine they'll send one to Amir for review. So Apos going to carry the D-6 but not the DO100?

I think that the AO/DO/HO series is exclusive to Aoshida, but not positive. The D-6 certainly looks interesting if the price is similar.

 

[Labjr]

I think that the AO/DO/HO series is exclusive to Aoshida, but not positive. The D-6 certainly looks interesting if the price is similar.

Similar? It's $169! I don't understand why it has only two conductor AC power inlet? I guess it's well insulated internally.

 

[Walter]

Similar? It's $169! I don't understand why it has only two conductor AC power inlet? I guess it's well insulated internally.

I didn't see the price. That really seems like a fantastic deal. (And I live in a country with few grounded circuits, so that is a plus for me.)

 

[JSmith]

I received an email from Apos today about the new SMSL D-6 DAC.

Thoughts on SMSL D-6 DAC?

So I found this DAC available on Shenzhen Audio website. But I couldn't find any comments on its performance or use: https://shenzhenaudio.com/products/smsl-d-6-dac-dual-ak4493s-bluetooth-5-1-pcm-768khz-32-bit-dsd512-decoder-with-remote-control It seem to offer an interesting mix of features...

www.audiosciencereview.com

JSmith

 

[Zoide]

Good news- made in Ukraine

Wait, what's made in Ukraine?

 

[Matias]

Archimago's review part 3.

REVIEW: S.M.S.L. DO100 DAC [Part III - DSD, Subjective, AMPT Recording, and Conclusions]. And a very close look at the Topping D10 Balanced THD(+N) vs. Level graph.

A blog for audiophiles about more objective topics. Measurements of audio gear. Reasonable, realistic, no snakeoil assessment of sound, and equipment.

archimago.blogspot.com

 

[GPJ]

Archimago's review part 3.

REVIEW: S.M.S.L. DO100 DAC [Part III - DSD, Subjective, AMPT Recording, and Conclusions]. And a very close look at the Topping D10 Balanced THD(+N) vs. Level graph.

A blog for audiophiles about more objective topics. Measurements of audio gear. Reasonable, realistic, no snakeoil assessment of sound, and equipment.

archimago.blogspot.com

Great info on DSD capability. The DO100 appears to handle it quite nicely! (which is a big plus for me).

 

[Labjr]

Great info on DSD capability. The DO100 appears to handle it quite nicely! (which is a big plus for me).

Yep. I do some DSD listening.

 

[Cristian]

I guess no one needs to mention that the Dac does not take usb-c to usb-c cables well(at least it does not work with Macs)

 

[Atanasi]

guess no one needs to mention that the Dac does not take usb-c to usb-c cables well(at least it does not work with Macs)

Incompatibility with C-C is sadly a common issue with various devices.

 

[GPJ]

I am going to give these a shot, and send them back if they don't work (will have them tomorrow):

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B092JR2SV3?psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details

They are rated with only USB 2.0 so hoping that is the ticket.

I tried a few C to C cables I had on hand to connect an Xduoo X10Tll to the DO100 and they didn't work.

The supplied C to C cable that came with the Xduoo works just fine but is too short and very thin.

The adapter that came with my Galaxy S9+ (C to USB 3.0) with a regular USB to C also worked fine.

Official Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus USB-C to Standard USB Adapter - Black

Turn your USB-C port into a full sized USB 3.0 input and use memory sticks, keyboards and more on your Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus with this official Samsung adapter. Also supports Samsung fast charging protocols.

www.mobilefun.co.uk

 

[wacomme]

Has there been any consensus regarding the best filter setting? 4? 6? Something else?

 

[GPJ]

I use F6 on DO100. It is practically the same as my Topping E50 (F1) and D30 Pro (F2) and I am happy with those set there.

 

[staticV3]

Has there been any consensus regarding the best filter setting? 4? 6? Something else?

Here are all 9038Q2M filters in detail.
The worst for anti-aliasing are Lin Slow (FL2), Min Fast (FL4), Min Slow (FL5), Lin Fast (FL6).
That leaves Hybrid fast (FL1), Brickwall (FL7), and Apodizing fast (FL3) as the only filters that do their job.
Out of these, Apodizing extends best to 20kHz (-0.844dB) while still retaining good attenuation at Nyquist (-72.048dB). That's probably the reason why ESS chose Apo as the default filter.

 

[bennetng]

Here are all 9038Q2M filters in detail.
The worst for anti-aliasing are Lin Slow (FL2), Min Fast (FL4), Min Slow (FL5), Lin Fast (FL6).
That leaves Hybrid fast (FL1), Brickwall (FL7), and Apodizing fast (FL3) as the only filters that do their job.
Out of these, Apodizing extends best to 20kHz (-0.844dB) while still retaining good attenuation at Nyquist (-72.048dB). That's probably the reason why ESS chose Apo as the default filter.

You can also test the filters in a different way to evaluate other aspects like passband ripple as well, like this:

Topping D90SE Review (Balanced DAC)

Nice @dsnyder0cnn. Suggest changing the Topping D90SE to Filter 5 "Fast-Roll Linear" (best IMO) to remove all that rippling in the frequency response from the apodizing filter (Filter 1). Thanks for the tip. I plan to measure the amplitude and time-domain behavior of all seven filters…perhaps...

www.audiosciencereview.com

 

[melvinjames]

I used F3 when I first got the DAC and now use F6. Both filters sound good to my aging ears. Here's an excerpt from Arichmago's Part I review that may be of interest:

"As a technically accurate audiophile, I like FL6 "Linear Fast Roll-Off" as being one with good frequency extension, sharp roll-off, minimal ultrasonic imaging, and linear phase (best temporal performance without phase shift)."

 

[wacomme]

So . . . no consensus.

 

[RandomEar]

So . . . no consensus.

All filters are compromises: Flatness in the audible band vs. steepness vs. out-of-band attenuation vs. out-of-band flatness vs. filter complexity and delay. In modern ESS and AKM DACs, linear fast roll-off filters are typically considered the "most-correct", as they don't change the phase, have a decent steepness and decent out-of-band attenuation. But arguments can be made, why you would prefer higher attenuation or a steeper/sharper drop-off.

In any case, as long as the filters are flat in the audible band - which applies to most filters, with the exception of some custom, slow and super slow ones - and your amp does not have a specific problem with a little bit of ultrasonic noise, there should be no audible difference.