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SMSL SU-1 Stereo DAC Review

Rate this DAC:

  • 1. Poor (headless panther)

    Votes: 7 1.9%
  • 2. Not terrible (postman panther)

    Votes: 7 1.9%
  • 3. Fine (happy panther)

    Votes: 46 12.2%
  • 4. Great (golfing panther)

    Votes: 316 84.0%

  • Total voters
    376

chatnever

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Just got mine today, and so far I think it sounds very good.

How this it compare to my $1800 R2R, don't really know yet. What I do know is that this has a lower gain on RCA vs the R2R on XLR and that it sounds very good. More testing to follow.
Could you please give me an impression, especially soundstage & “airiness”. My last experience with akm dac is that they somehow lack of detail, technically (just a bit) in comparison with ess counterpart.
 

hcl-1

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I paired it with a Lehmann Headphone Amp (China rebuild by SUQIYA Audio) and it sounds great right at this moment with a pair of AFUL Performer 5.

Now, the Lehmann/AFUL combo sounded also good with a FOSI Audio DX-3, but imo the SMSL sounds even better. Part of it may be, that the SMSL supports DSD, which the Fosi did not. The Combo has a slight hum though, which is less than with the Fosi, but still noticeable ... when I turn the volume to about 50%, which I can only do, when no music is playing, otherwise I'd need a hearing aid and hum wouldn't be my least concern. :) I might have to try this Y-split cable too. Although it could also be the amp.

I still have to open the Lehmann, because I got these OPA2134 PA and MUSE02 to play with. :) They should improve the sound even further. Not sure were this will lead to. o_O
 

Timstunes

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I would not at all be surprised.


100%. If people ask me how to spend their money on a good stereo, I'd say put 50% into your speakers, 25% into your preamp, amp (if you're using passives, though I'd recommend actives most of the time) and source, and 25% into some room treatment.

People who buy $3,000 speakers and then plug them into a $10,000 amplifier and $10,000 DAC or turntable are lunatics.
100 %. I see this everyday on Reddit. On a smaller scale, but often multiple examples. Someone who bought a $500-600 amp, tt, dac and now want advice on $100 speakers. That’s a lot to try and unpack for someone with my limited communicative skills, lol.
 

DearSX

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Going by the measurements, Looks we should be fine with a $200 DAC/pre and a $450 Audiophonics amp for most any speakers regardless of price, or even the Audiophonics all in one integrated.
 
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DearSX

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Could you please give me an impression, especially soundstage & “airiness”. My last experience with akm dac is that they somehow lack of detail, technically (just a bit) in comparison with ess counterpart.
So far I listen to the SU1 and think this is clearer, then I go back to the Denafrips and I'm not sure. I listened to the Denafrips and think this sounds more natural and then go back to the SU1 and I'm not 100% sure. So far one of thing is certain, they both sound very good and both seem to show everything in the music.

For reference I had the Cambridge audio CVXv2 streamer DAC, music fidelity v90 dac, Technics g700m2, and I always thought is this one better than the last or does it even sound different? I returned or sold all those.
 

Philipp

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I'm not 100% sure
The output voltage could make the difference in your hearing expirience or at least play the main part. If all those DAC were transparent but had different output voltage, maybe you heard the louder models as the „better“ models?
 
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Philipp

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Aaron1

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Good work SMSL - now do a MA12070 based low power amp (20 watt?) in the same spirit - no extras at all (e.g. no BT, no pot, no nothing...), just max performance. External power OK so that one can have different ambition - but please do provide an optional power brick.

Thanks!

//
Hi, are you saying to make an amplifier with MA12070 and only need RCA input? Isn't this 80W*2? Why would you say 20W?
 

maudio

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So far I listen to the SU1 and think this is clearer, then I go back to the Denafrips and I'm not sure. I listened to the Denafrips and think this sounds more natural and then go back to the SU1 and I'm not 100% sure. So far one of thing is certain, they both sound very good and both seem to show everything in the music.
Interest to read since i have a NOS Dac, similar to R2R, and also ordered SU-1 which will arrive inna day or two. Before the DAC in the chain i have Innuos USB recklocker with its great 3-stage LPSU so i hope this will complement with the maybe more "digitally" sounding SU-1.
 

DearSX

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Your reference-list makes me wonder if you were using the beautiful Technics amp just as a DAC :) ?
I used it to replace my whole system and I didn't think it sounded any better, maybe slightly worse, but then. Again my A21 has way more power.

Output voltage is definitely different, I'm using the XLR on the Denafrips and RCA on SU1, just moving th optical cable between the 2 to switch them back and forth. So I not always getting the exact same volume on both systems.
 

Philipp

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"digitally" sounding
If the sound reproduction is to clean for your taste, just light up your fireplace, it adds a warm component to the sound-mix in your room if needed. It is for a reason that modern recordings add the crackling noise of a turntable/tonearm/needle directly in their recording, to give the recipient a „warmer“ (and for some = more pleasing) sound.
 

maudio

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If the sound reproduction is to clean for your taste, just light up your fireplace, it adds a warm component to the sound-mix in your room if needed. It is for a reason that modern recordings add the crackling noise of a turntable/tonearm/needle directly in their recording, to give the recipient a „warmer“ (and for some = more pleasing) sound.
Naw, it's about harmonics and in this case about op-amps producing them. It has all been measured since long..

My SU-1 DAC is arriving today - does anyone know if there are op-amps that can be changed easily?
 

Philipp

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Naw, changing OP-amps is bs, its all been measured since long.
 

Doodski

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If the sound reproduction is to clean for your taste, just light up your fireplace, it adds a warm component to the sound-mix in your room if needed. It is for a reason that modern recordings add the crackling noise of a turntable/tonearm/needle directly in their recording, to give the recipient a „warmer“ (and for some = more pleasing) sound.
I've noticed this too. A hissing fire crackling is a great mix with music.
 

Doodski

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Naw, changing OP-amps is bs, its all been measured since long.
I think I had a very good and now have a decent handle on OP amps. Once the gain and feedback are designed into the circuit swapping out OP amps is a crapshoot. You are getting lucky or imagining things if you think there are large improvements. But... Go for it I think it's great peeps are learning to work PCBs and circuitry.
 

Philipp

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Once the gain and feedback are designed into the circuit swapping out OP amps is a crapshoot.
Exactly! Implementation is key, one should not mess with the original design, I know that one could/can and does, but normally it is just for the „playing around“ reason. In the end you might as well learn something while playing around, but mainly you will find out that you should Not mess with the original design, it is already designed for perfection (in this case at least).
 

Philipp

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when you full of bs then you see bs everywhere and this forum is your measure for it
This is too philosophical for me, I am a simple man, I do not even know if I have to be offended by this.
 

maudio

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I think I had a very good and now have a decent handle on OP amps. Once the gain and feedback are designed into the circuit swapping out OP amps is a crapshoot. You are getting lucky or imagining things if you think there are large improvements. But... Go for it I think it's great peeps are learning to work PCBs and circuitry.
No ones talking about large improvements, you have fantasized that.
But some companies with great test-results on this forum test and even endorse changing op-amps, are you implying they do not know they own circuit they designed? So all the great test results must be accidental.
 
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