SMSL DO400 Fully Balanced Audio Decoder & Headphone Amplifier

[pundel]

Here is the video of my DO400's crackling artifacts over USB (lower the volume before playing):

Some notes:

• Only the USB outputinput is affected
• The crackles seem to occur after the unit has been switched off (with remote) for many hours — for example, overnight
• Resetting the DO400 has no effect
• Using the back power switch to turn off and on removes the crackling, but it is a temporary fix
• Crackling is much louder than normal audio output; therefore, the amp was turned down by 12 dB for this recording
• Audio captured with an Olympus LS-12 recorder, amplified to -1 dBFS, fade in and fade out applied — no other processing

it's very sad that your do400 is defective I hope you will get your money back I ordered my do400 for 386 usd at a discount I hope everything will be fine For me the price matters

 

[alster8]

Hi everyone,

Got interested in DO400, what would you suggest, will there be a noticeable difference over Audinst HUD-DX1? I guess it will, but anyhow I'd love to hear expert opinions.
I mainly use my audio connected to gaming PC for online games, some music and generally love good things )
Thanks

 

[pundel]

I think that yes, the do400 has 9 sound modes for every taste, in the video I compared the Xduoo TA-22, said that they sound similar in one of the modes, it became very important for me that I can experiment with the sound, and the experts on the website and in the comments to the video write that the do400 has a more interesting filling compared to the d90, and they sell their d90

 

[Darwin793]

it's very sad that your do400 is defective I hope you will get your money back I ordered my do400 for 386 usd at a discount I hope everything will be fine For me the price matters

Where did you purchase this for $386 usd? I see it on ebay from Aoshido for $464 usd.

 

[pundel]

aliexpress

 

[SidiousX]

Good to know yours is working as designed. I have do a PO100 Pro, but that does not fix the fundamental problem — namely, that my DO400's USB output is broken.


I've recorded the crackling, and will post a clip shortly. While the DO400's firmware can be upgraded, I doubt that will fix mine because I suspect it's faulty.

Here is the video of my DO400's crackling artifacts over USB (lower the volume before playing):

Some notes:

• Only the USB outputinput is affected
• The crackles seem to occur after the unit has been switched off (with remote) for many hours — for example, overnight
• Resetting the DO400 has no effect
• Using the back power switch to turn off and on removes the crackling, but it is a temporary fix
• Crackling is much louder than normal audio output; therefore, the amp was turned down by 12 dB for this recording
• Audio captured with an Olympus LS-12 recorder, amplified to -1 dBFS, fade in and fade out applied — no other processing

Ok unfortuantelly it seems to be real.
Have you contacted your provider, or SMSL directly?
As I have written ealrier, I 'm sure if would be simple fixed by firmware upgrade.
I do not think I will be able to check mine, in this week, next one at the earliest.

 

[SidiousX]

Where did you purchase this for $386 usd? I see it on ebay from Aoshido for $464 usd.

I have seen earlier that one gent quoted it at 330USD, I was suprised aswell. In EU, not even China this price is not possible.

 

[SidiousX]

Hi everyone,

Got interested in DO400, what would you suggest, will there be a noticeable difference over Audinst HUD-DX1? I guess it will, but anyhow I'd love to hear expert opinions.
I mainly use my audio connected to gaming PC for online games, some music and generally love good things )
Thanks

This one, you have mentioned "Audinst HUD-DX1" I do not know, but I assumed its not combo ESS9039/XU-316, ergo...
For me similar / older setup is mainly used in that case PC / DAC /AMP.
If I understand you correctly that is.
Tho for me its mainly music, very seldom some older FPS.

 

[SidiousX]

Huh, shame about the display being LCD vs OLED (I think? no mention of OLED and some pictures show mild backlighting so I assume it is LCD), but at least they have configurable brightness and screen on timeouts.
I'd much rather an always on OLED with very low brightness.

I am strongly considering replacing my D90/A90 stack with this as it appears I can configure the FN button on the remote to swap between headphone and XLR pre out, with the front knob controlling the XLR pre out volume. This essentially means this unit provides more features than my Topping stack, in a smaller size!

If we get good results on 50 mV SNR and 33 ohm power vs distortion measurements I'll take it. Can't say no to "providing significant thrust for each interface simultaneously"!

Hmm, I have forgotten to reply to this one. I'm not sure if its oled or lcd, but i know this, as a man who doing this for years.
Do yourself a favor and setup display into shutting down after the lowest possible time. That is my advce. It will burned out eitherway, even if its LCD, if you leave it at default, meaning AOD.

 

[tiagoalam]

Here is the video of my DO400's crackling artifacts over USB (lower the volume before playing):

Some notes:

• Only the USB outputinput is affected
• The crackles seem to occur after the unit has been switched off (with remote) for many hours — for example, overnight
• Resetting the DO400 has no effect
• Using the back power switch to turn off and on removes the crackling, but it is a temporary fix
• Crackling is much louder than normal audio output; therefore, the amp was turned down by 12 dB for this recording
• Audio captured with an Olympus LS-12 recorder, amplified to -1 dBFS, fade in and fade out applied — no other processing

Have you tried changing the cable and USB port?

 

[SidiousX]

Have you tried changing the cable and USB port?

Good call, @jcadduono aswell you could try port USB 2.0 in spite of 3.0 if you did not yet.

 

[alexanderino]

Ok unfortuantelly it seems to be real.
Have you contacted your provider, or SMSL directly?
As I have written ealrier, I 'm sure if would be simple fixed by firmware upgrade.
I do not think I will be able to check mine, in this week, next one at the earliest.

I have a few more days to determine whether it can be fixed or should be sent back for a refund. There is no firmware available on the official DO400 page, so the likelihood of a fix is doubtful.

Good luck with yours. To test for my issue, select USB input (maybe even change sampling rate to 176.4 kHz) and leave it on standby (power switch on at the back, power turned off by remote so that the red LED is glowing). After 12–24 hours have passed, turn on with remote and check for crackling, even when nothing is playing.

 

[alexanderino]

Have you tried changing the cable and USB port?

I don't have a spare USB-A to -B cable, but I did try another 2.0 port and two other 3.0 ports. I suspect (and will later confirm, also with another cable) that it does not matter. The crackling you hear in the video is with nothing playing — that is, no audio sent to the DAC.

 

[alster8]

This one, you have mentioned "Audinst HUD-DX1" I do not know, but I assumed its not combo ESS9039/XU-316, ergo...
For me similar / older setup is mainly used in that case PC / DAC /AMP.
If I understand you correctly that is.
Tho for me its mainly music, very seldom some older FPS.

That's what it's like, pls check the link.

http://www.audinst.com/en/dx1

 

[alexanderino]

Update: unplugged the USB cable from the DO400 and turned it on after approximately 19 hours. Result: the same crackling. Turning off the power at the rear helped, of course.

This unit's going back.

 

[tiagoalam]

 

[pundel]

thanks

thanks

 

[pundel]

here I threw off a comparison of LOXJIE D40 PRO and SMSL DO400, maybe it will be interesting to me

 

[flywood]

here I threw off a comparison of LOXJIE D40 PRO and SMSL DO400, maybe it will be interesting to me

As I've said it's just a d40pro copy.

 

[David_M]

if you don't care about the HPA and run it line level out it's probably impossible to determine which DAC you're listening to. i received one today and it sounds like the a70pro/d70pro that it took the place of; there's no way I could pick those 2 dac/amps apart.

I'm very curious about this ...why would you sell the a70pro/d70pro, a more advanced hp/dac pair, for the do400? Can't tell them apart soundwise, at line-level and HP amps?