SMSL DP5 Music Streamer and DAC Review

[RichB]

Roon compatibility is a different thing. I was testing Airplay and it would fail to play. The only thing left to test it with would be DLNA and I am not a fan of that. Nor do I have a setup to test with that.

Is is possible to test with native Roon support?

- Rich

 

[RichB]

Not according to Roon it’s not.

Roon Ready Devices

There are devices that support Roon but have not completed the compatibility testing.

A Raspberry Pi3 can be powered from a 1 amp 5 volt USB power supply running DietPi with Roon endpoint. This works well with the Sonica DAC and RMC-1. The Pi powers on with the device.

- Rich

 

[Glasvegas]

I was seriously looking at this unit for my bedroom, thanks to this review I will look elsewhere.

My main system is comprised of the Matrix Audio Element X. I will say its software is 90-95% there. It has a few minor niggles that I can live with (example: scrolling through folders in the player, if I enter a folder and then return, it jumps back to the top of the list and I'll have to scroll back down to where I was browsing).

The only other affordable alternative I can find is the Yamaha WXA-50, and that's about it. A lot of members here suggest building Raspberry Pi units but many of us are looking for a wifi based simple all-in-one-box solution. with good UI. The cheaper Matrix Audio units are around $1000 and is too much for a second system. This is a gap in the market that I hope it will be filled soon.

Your right. There is a gap in the market for a reasonably priced, high quality streamer/DAC - that just works!

I always find it curious that audiophiles demand perfection from hardware, yet put up with software which is at best a work in progress, at worst a bug fest.

As for the Matrix Element streamers just check some of the threads on this forum. The posts are now all about functionality, not sound quality.

The Matrix Element X software is 90-95% there. Really? Is that acceptable on a £2,800 device?

 

[Apesbrain]

There is a gap in the market for a reasonably priced, high quality streamer/DAC - that just works!

The Bluesound Node 2i is pretty close at $450.

Or, a second-hand Squeezebox Touch at around $150.

Or, a Raspberry Pi running piCorePlayer (Squeezebox) or Ropieee (Roon) plus a HiFiBerry Digi/DAC board for about $100.

 

[Glasvegas]

The Bluesound Node 2i is pretty close at $450.

Or, a second-hand Squeezebox Touch at around $150.

Or, a Raspberry Pi running piCorePlayer (Squeezebox) or Ropieee (Roon) plus a HiFiBerry Digi/DAC board for about $100.

High quality? The Node 2i didn't get a very good review on this forum.

Is the squeezebox standalone? Not really familiar with it.

Tried Raspberry Pi with Volumio. A complete bug fest.

 

[Sukie]

Tried Raspberry Pi with Volumio. A complete bug fest.

I, like many on here, have run RPi with no problems at all. I run it using Moode to stream Qobuz and it works a treat.

 

[Apesbrain]

Tried Raspberry Pi with Volumio. A complete bug fest.

What are you running as a server?

 

[Ron Texas]

The panther loses its head again. I'm not a fan of dedicated streamers when there are computer based alternatives which work so well. Thank you @amirm for another detailed review. Even a cast off Windows notebook will do the job if it isn't noisy.

 

[Sukie]

A lot of members here suggest building Raspberry Pi units but many of us are looking for a wifi based simple all-in-one-box solution. with good UI. The cheaper Matrix Audio units are around $1000 and is too much for a second system. This is a gap in the market that I hope it will be filled soon.

Whilst I agree that the SMSL DP5 should be better, an RPi4 provides a cheap and easy solution. It's pretty easy to set up and you can stick a DAC hat on it to provide a single box solution.

 

[Glasvegas]

What are you running as a server?

I don't use a server. Check my profile. Tidal is my only music source.

 

[Apesbrain]

I'm not a fan of dedicated streamers when there are computer based alternatives which work so well.

This is a good point. You can buy an AWOW NV41 fanless mini-PC and an internal 2TB storage drive for about $300. Connect to your favorite DAC via USB. Run LMS or another free server. Control/remote desktop from another PC or phone/tablet.

 

[Alexanderc]

High quality? The Node 2i didn't get a very good review on this forum.

Is the squeezebox standalone? Not really familiar with it.

Tried Raspberry Pi with Volumio. A complete bug fest.

The node 2i (or any other streamer) using digital out to an external DAC would presumably be as good as the DAC, yes? Just a matter of liking the interface/controls? Or have I got that wrong?

 

[Apesbrain]

High quality? The Node 2i didn't get a very good review on this forum.

Had to go back and re-read that thread; it's quite a roller coaster. Conclusion seems to be that it performs fine on any output other than optical. Recent price cut may mean a new model is on the way that fixes the issue.

Or have I got that wrong?

I think you're pretty much correct. Preference is a matter of usability, services supported, and reliability/ease of maintenance.

 

[Glasvegas]

The node 2i (or any other streamer) using digital out to an external DAC would presumably be as good as the DAC, yes? Just a matter of liking the interface/controls? Or have I got that wrong?

You're right. That's how I use the CCA. However, I meant a there was a gap in the market for an all in one standalone Streamer/DAC. It doesn't really qualify if it then needs an additional external DAC.

 

[Alexanderc]

You're right. That's how I use the CCA. However, I meant a there was a gap in the market for an all in one standalone Streamer/DAC. It doesn't really qualify if it then needs an additional external DAC.

I understand. Sorry ‘bout that.
How do the Denon & Marantz units fare? HEOS is on most of their recent AVRs, but they both make stand alone DAC/streamers. I think they are in the ballpark in price. Cambridge Audio too.

 

[Theriverlethe]

So, it seems that DACs are sorted, and streamers are sorted, but putting them both in the same box to a high level of performance is somehow a skill that only Matrix has managed to sort?

I mean, that or a Raspberry Pi with HAT.

 

[GDK]

I mean, that or a Raspberry Pi with HAT.

You’ve made a valid point, but there are lots of people to whom assembling a RPi unit has limited appeal. Plus, a Pi plus DAC hat isn’t nearly as flexible as these all-in-one solutions are meant to be.

 

[MakeMineVinyl]

Kind of disappointing glitches. These results reinforce my feelings that with any unit which relies heavily on being-up-do-date-with-moving-target software/firmware, this is best accomplished with discrete boxes so if the streaming side of the box doesn't / can't keep up to date, the DAC portion isn't useless. There's also a similar problem with integrated amplifiers/preamps/DACs where if DAC technology advances, your preamplifier/power amplifier section isn't useless. With separate DAC and integrated amp one of these boxes can be changed out without the other being affected.

 

[Helicopter]

Thanks for the review. I agree with your assessment. It needs to work easily for the advertised and intended purpose.

If someone makes a device with the functionality of an Amazon Echo Link, with full HD streaming, a DAC as good as this, and built in EQ, I will hand them $500 or so. At some point fairly early, it is worth just going cheap computer + DAC, so it needs to be priced well under $800 and it needs to be super convenient to integrate and use. I should be able to control it with my phone and my voice (indirectly) too.

 

[PuX]

The only thing left to test it with would be DLNA and I am not a fan of that.

but isn't DLNA the only option to stream hi-res files without additional compression? I was under the impression AirPlay would re-compress audio to it's standard/limit, which is probably 16 bit 44.1khz apple lossless at best.

I am not a fan of DLNA either, but SMB is generally unsupported on streaming devices.