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.
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SMSL SU-1 Stereo DAC Review
- Thread starter amirm
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Smsl Su-1 is a transparent DAC, the named soundstage is up to your amp(s) and speakers!
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.
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. 
Timstunes
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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.
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.
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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Your reference-list makes me wonder if you were using the beautiful Technics amp just as a DAC
?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.
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.Your reference-list makes me wonder if you were using the beautiful Technics amp just as a DAC
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.
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?
Naw, changing OP-amps is bs, its all been measured since long.
I've noticed this too. A hissing fire crackling is a great mix with music.
when you full of bs then you see bs everywhere and this forum is your measure for it
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.
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).
This is too philosophical for me, I am a simple man, I do not even know if I have to be offended by this.
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.
They do it because people want them to, because people want to be a DAC-engeneer, themselfs, because people want to spend the money and the companies are kind enough to free them of it because they are audio-companies, not saints! I do not know.
Measurements show no difference.
https://audiosciencereview.com/foru...ng-replacing-op-amps-in-topping-d10-dac.4576/
It is not the only test run by Amir, just one of them, first hit in my search.
But there is more.
Now I get it, OPs need burning-in, right?
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