SMSL DO300 DAC Review

[Blashyrkh]

Minimun Phase is the default PCM filter setting after a reset of my DO300. I did some tests these days and in my opinion Linear Fast and Apodizing are very similar in my audio chain. The Linear Fasts have only a very small bass boost.

which is your chain?

 

[hearone]

I found where it explains about the FW.

SMSL DO300 DAC Review

... I am also very attracted to products using ES9039Pro and ES9038Pro. However, in recent DAC products, the difference in sound quality between high-end and low-end has become smaller, and the performance improvement every year is remarkable. So I haven't reached the point of buying a high-end...

audiosciencereview.com

Hi, Just to be clear, since that was my post, the response was from Judy(Aoshida) not officially SMSL. But since this unit seems to be exclusive to Aoshida (and made for them by SMSL? hopefully they are in the know/loop on the FW status.

 

[Sam Ash]

I have a simple question, would there be an audible difference between the DO300 and the SU-10 assuming one has a decent system?

 

[Gerardo61]

I have a simple question, would there be an audible difference between the DO300 and the SU-10 assuming one has a decent system?

It is difficult to answer your question because you should have both dacs.
I think it will be difficult to hear big differences also in great chain.
They are 2 excellent dacs with great performances.
My DO300 works very, very well with my Jadis I50 (50+50w in class A tube ampli) and Acoustique Quality Pontos 6 speaker

 

[widemediaphotography]

which is your chain?

At the moment: Infinity Delta 40 (channel A), Infinity Reference 41 mkII (channel B), Yamaha YST-300SW, Yamaha RX-V1200, Marantz TT6200, DIY network streamer with Volumio, various CD players (Onkyo/Technics/Marantz )... All components Constantly evolving...

 

[Cirodx]

I have just received my do 300 and I fear it is faulty, with USB input and +2.0 on the display I have strong noises, I understand that if I deactivate the digital filters and activate color sound it makes very strong noises in the sound, if I activate digital filter I can activate color sound okay, is there an explanation?

 

[Cirodx]

filters off and volume dac to +2.0 can't hear too much distortion, bad unit?

 

[widemediaphotography]

Cirodx,
Remember that "Filter Off" isn't a Flat setting for PCM output, but it works just with 8x oversampling signal like 44.1Khz x 8 frequency. Flat is Linear Fast. Please, try PCM on USB with this setting. Use even 0.0 dB gain.

 

[Gerardo61]

I have just received my do 300 and I fear it is faulty, with USB input and +2.0 on the display I have strong noises, I understand that if I deactivate the digital filters and activate color sound it makes very strong noises in the sound, if I activate digital filter I can activate color sound okay, is there an explanation?

Turn the volume down to -2dB o Zero dB using PRE menu. After reduction put menu on FIXED (I use Zero dB with unbalanced output)
I suggest you:

PCM filter : Fast Linear (Is the best)
DSD cut off: 47 KHz

In the future you could try other set up (Colour, DPLL, ecc)

 

[Gerardo61]

filters off and volume dac to +2.0 can't hear too much distortion, bad unit?

maybe the ultrasonic noise produces distorsion on your system?

 

[Cirodx]

sorry can you explain more simply ... I don't understand these things technically, from what I understand filter off is not a standard setting, why does the volume increase so much and distort?

 

[Cirodx]

so for you is not a faulty unit mine? but it doesn't even seem normal such a functioning and such a distortion with deactivated filters.

 

[anome]

Filter off would be for you choosing to upsample and filter prior to output to DAC; i.e. utilizing SoX.

 

[widemediaphotography]

so for you is not a faulty unit mine? but it doesn't even seem normal such a functioning and such a distortion with deactivated filters.

Yes, that's good news for you... Your DAC unit is fine. We have already talked about it on page 10 of this Topic. In any case on page no. 9 of this ESS document you find the confirmation:

https://www.esstech.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/ES9038PRO-Datasheet-v3.7.pdf

 

[Cirodx]

thank you very much for your replies, oversampling or ultrasound what is it for?

 

[anome]

If you have time to burn read thread. TL;DR just use the filter recommended in the OP.

 

[Cirodx]

technically I don't understand these things, maybe for listening with headphones I have to activate the digital filters and deactivate them in case of dac connection to a cd?

 

[DeepSpace57]

I have just received my do 300 and I fear it is faulty, with USB input and +2.0 on the display I have strong noises, I understand that if I deactivate the digital filters and activate color sound it makes very strong noises in the sound, if I activate digital filter I can activate color sound okay, is there an explanation?

The same was here. After updating the device, it think it is gone. Tube 1 and Tube 2 made parasiting sound( not like noise), but tube 3 was without any problem.

 

[Cirodx]

The same was here. After updating the device, it think it is gone. Tube 1 and Tube 2 made parasiting sound( not like noise), but tube 3 was without any problem.

for listening with headphones it is mandatory to activate a filter, otherwise there will be strong distortions.
How loud do you block C 300?, I - 10 I hear my grade 325e headphone sounding cleaner, perhaps because it is more sensitive and low impedance?

 

[Blashyrkh]

technically I don't understand these things, maybe for listening with headphones I have to activate the digital filters and deactivate them in case of dac connection to a cd?

Technical explanation of everything is quite impossible, backread this thread and you may find some information (even if probably not understandable since they are not explained for whom doesn't know the topic)

What you should know, is that you need to select a filter for PCM and leave it as it is, since it will work for 100% scenarios.

Soundcolor may be selected as you prefer, for DSD filter is ok the default, and you can lowe DPLL to minimum value, raising it if you hear issues

That's it