SMSL SU-1 Stereo DAC Review

[Haruko]

Hello guys!
Finally I've connected SU-1 to my android phone and Xduoo MT-602 headphone amp and... Signal won't come from phone to dac. Tried it with various cables. Connected my PC - everything is fine, it works, but no connection with mobile phones! Tried few... What can be wrong?

make sure you have USB selected on DAC "duh", mine works both with generic charging usb c usb c cable and with oem smsl cable with otg usb a to usb c reduction. even digital volume control works with phone... my phone is Samsung Galaxy S23

 

[DSJR]

this is exactly what i came here to say lol ! This thing is very bright. Almost dazzlingly so,

I'd not say it's bright - just honest....

If it's an issue, look elsewhere, especially rough tweeters. If the sound goes off at high levels, look at the amp maybe?

 

[Loftrocket]

make sure you have USB selected on DAC "

Believe me, I'm not that dumb.

 

[Haruko]

Believe me, I'm not that dumb.

yes i believe you that's why i said "duh", i tried 3 more devices, 1 android 13, 1 tablet android 13, and one xiaomi redmi with android 12. the redmi did not work

 

[Loftrocket]

I have Realme GT Master Explorer, Android 14. Damn.

 

[staticV3]

Hello guys!
Finally I've connected SU-1 to my android phone and Xduoo MT-602 headphone amp and... Signal won't come from phone to dac. Tried it with various cables. Connected my PC - everything is fine, it works, but no connection with mobile phones! Tried few... What can be wrong?

Try using a USB OTG adapter along with a USB A to C cable:


If that still doesn't work, then your phone probably cannot supply enough current to power the SU-1.
In that case, use a powered USB hub, or a USB splitter like this:

(Delock 83176)

 

[Loftrocket]

My phone connected via Ddhifi TC28CPro power splitter and it's all powered by powerful phone charger.

 

[ObjectiveSubjectivist]

Its SINAD better than Chord Hugo and the price is 1/100

 

[Loftrocket]

Well, i guess not this time. Gonna return it.

 

[Bleib]

A new similar device with BT, higher SNR

 

[staticV3]

A new similar device with BT, higher SNR

One should keep in mind that whenever you see a Dynamic Range/SNR of 120+ dB on Cirrus Logic DACs, then that's with essentially Cirrus' version of ESS' Dynamic Range Enhancement turned on, where the DAC will decrease its noise floor whenever the signal level falls below a certain threshold, essentially gaming the industry-standard DR test.

It's not real Dynamic Range.

 

[Graham849]

This B2 is a special SMSL product release or available widely?

 

[Bleib]

This B2 is a special SMSL product release or available widely?

Saw it on hifigo and hificat at least..

 

[Toku]

Is this model a successor to the PO100 AK, which has disappeared from the market?
However, all SMSL products that use CS43131 have operational problems, which makes me a little worried.

The USB input on B2 uses the BT module QCC5125. Therefore, it only supports 44.1Khz and 48Khz.

 

[Bleib]

Is this model a successor to the PO100 AK, which has disappeared from the market?
However, all SMSL products that use CS43131 have operational problems, which makes me a little worried.

That's too bad because DL100 will also use the DAC..

 

[OK1]

When you think about it, it's incredible performance for the price !

Thanks for this review.

The frequency response slow slope is unusual. Strange.
I highly doubt it could be audible though, even by (very) young ears.

(And, maybe, if they remove MQA support, they could make it even cheaper ?)

A few things, I'd like to discover more about this DAC.

1st these measurements look comprehensive, and impressive. Much respect for this quality of independent testing.

1. The frequency response, down 0.3dB at 20K, also gave me some concern. What is not immediately obvious to me, cos I may have missed this detail if it was contained in the report, is how loud was the signal, for the Frequency Response published on this thread, by Amir. I'm assuming these were measured at 0dBFS, i.e maximum

2. If the FR measurement was done at a lower level, say -2 dBFS, would this yield a better frequency response?

2. Does it have downloadable ASIO device drivers for Windows 10?

 

[OK1]

Try reading the review.

>>>Note that you need to have a USB power supply even if you use non-USB input (it is the only source of power).<<<

If I am using a non USB digital audio source, Can I power this using an Apple USB-C mains charger, such as the one which I use to charge my mobile phone?

 

[staticV3]

2. If the FR measurement was done at a lower level, say -2 dBFS, would this yield a better frequency response?

It would not. The sloped frequency response is caused by the DAC's oversampling filter, not by the high signal level.

2. Does it have downloadable ASIO device drivers for Windows 10?

Yes: https://www.smsl-audio.com/portal/product/downlist/id/11.html

If I am using a non USB digital audio source, Can I power this using an Apple USB-C mains charger, such as the one which I use to charge my mobile phone?

Not sure if USB-C chargers will work. In theory yes, but USB-C can be fussy at times.

USB-A chargers will 100% work.

 

[Toku]

A few things, I'd like to discover more about this DAC.

1st these measurements look comprehensive, and impressive. Much respect for this quality of independent testing.

1. The frequency response, down 0.3dB at 20K, also gave me some concern. What is not immediately obvious to me, cos I may have missed this detail if it was contained in the report, is how loud was the signal, for the Frequency Response published on this thread, by Amir. I'm assuming these were measured at 0dBFS, i.e maximum

2. If the FR measurement was done at a lower level, say -2 dBFS, would this yield a better frequency response?

I think you are too concerned about the numbers from the measuring machine.
A decrease of 0.3dB/20kHz is completely undetectable to the human ear, and the numerical value is only a difference in the measurement error range level. A -3dB drop would be perceptible to people with good hearing.
Also, for low-level signals like DAC, there is almost no difference in FR depending on the output level.

 

[theREALdotnet]

I‘ve added a SU-1 to my system a few days ago, replacing a Topping E30 for subwoofer channel duties in my DLBC setup. I like it because I could buy it new for less than I got from selling the E30, because it doesn’t require an external power supply and because it has no display. It also has better theoretical performance, but of course doesn’t sound any different – except for what I learned here. This only applies to multi-channel setups (like DLBC) using different model DACs, of course.

I wish I had done delay comparisons like that with the E30, but it only occurred to me when the DAC was packed up for shipping.