SMSL SU-1 Stereo DAC Review

[Roland68]

Hi.
I'm about to buy one of these, does it make sense to isolate the USB port? Is it possible to operate it from an external 5V power supply?

No, only if you have a problem.
The additional power supply is also usually not necessary. You would need a special Y-cable for that.

 

[JeffGB]

I have tried powering my SU-1 with an Apple 5v power supply and feeding it the signal via toslink. It works fine. One advantage I noticed sometimes was that YOUTUBE video's audio started more promptly. There was sometimes a delay when using usb but I'm not sure it's a big enough difference to worry about. It may just be my old motherboard showing it's age.

 

[Watt768]

Thank you both for your answers.
I was thinking of trying out the AKM family, but I'll stick to the AKM4493SEQ level, I have been using a DAC equipped with the ES9038Q2M for quite a few years now.
I’m curious about it

 

[Deleted member 77012]

With the new SMSL driver (5.70), its excellent but I haven't gone in to edit the file for the XMOS yet, so it's stock.

I experienced sturdy problems in terms of gap- and hiccup-less playback when using that 5.70 version in combination with player Audirvana under Windows 11. So I skipped it (the XMOS driver).

 

[Watt768]

The SU1 has arrived. I measured the power supply rails with an oscilloscope, and in my case, there’s no point in using an external power supply. I'm making a small modification so it can accommodate DIP8 opamps, and that's it—I’ll try out a few. Overall, I’m satisfied. Perhaps the lower frequencies are not as intense as with the ESS dacs, just based on listening.

 

[Mr SuperNobody]

Hi asr folk, I recieved my SU-1 last week and after leaving the unit connected to my (always on) PC I have to say I’m very impressed with the sound, it is very clean and balanced so far, and seems to be improving by the day. I had to replace one my fx-audio mk11 dacs (which died after 1 year on line out, but not headphones.) Anyway my only issue is the XMOS panel and lack of display, I mean how can you be sure other than checking the XMOS display panel that the unit is outputting the correct sample rate. I say this because windows drivers and programs “apps” can be problematic. The only programme that successfully changes the sample rate reading on the XMOS panel is HYSOLID, which gives me a bit perfect readout in it’s display, when I use foobar and vlc player (to watch movies) the XMOS panel stays on 44khz!?! I have considered uninstalling XMOS as I read they aren’t necessary, but then I would have no sample rate info at all, So I’m not sure how accurate the XMOS panel is regarding playback and signal being sent to the SU-1?

 

[Deleted member 77012]

how can you be sure other than checking the XMOS display panel that the unit is outputting the correct sample rate

Well – I may be wrong, but I tend to believe that my S.M.S.L SU-1 does not output any sample rate at all.

 

[Mr SuperNobody]

Well – I may be wrong, but I tend to believe that my S.M.S.L SU-1 does not output any sample rate at all.

Ads/manual say It will convert and play exactly the sample rate it recieves up to 768khz and DSD etc, which is then converted to analogue playback, that’s if there are no driver/software issues and digital source is communicating correctly with the unit. That is where the readout on a DAC display is handy, so as to show it is receiving and converting sample rate correctly from digital source material.

 

[Roland68]

Hi asr folk, I recieved my SU-1 last week and after leaving the unit connected to my (always on) PC I have to say I’m very impressed with the sound, it is very clean and balanced so far, and seems to be improving by the day. I had to replace one my fx-audio mk11 dacs (which died after 1 year on line out, but not headphones.) Anyway my only issue is the XMOS panel and lack of display, I mean how can you be sure other than checking the XMOS display panel that the unit is outputting the correct sample rate. I say this because windows drivers and programs “apps” can be problematic. The only programme that successfully changes the sample rate reading on the XMOS panel is HYSOLID, which gives me a bit perfect readout in it’s display, when I use foobar and vlc player (to watch movies) the XMOS panel stays on 44khz!?! I have considered uninstalling XMOS as I read they aren’t necessary, but then I would have no sample rate info at all, So I’m not sure how accurate the XMOS panel is regarding playback and signal being sent to the SU-1?

Then the SMSL C100 would probably be the right device for you.
This is a SU-1 with an additional mini display that can show the current scanning frequency, and BT.

 

[Mr SuperNobody]

Then the SMSL C100 would probably be the right device for you.
This is a SU-1 with an additional mini display that can show the current scanning frequency, and BT.

I realise that different models have displays. I’m curious as to whether the XMOS display is always accurate/to be believed or why there might be a driver issue with FOobar (With asio plug in) and vlc media player, which are both pretty capable media players.

 

[staticV3]

I mean how can you be sure other than checking the XMOS display panel that the unit is outputting the correct sample rate.

Use the ASIO or Wasapi Exclusive API for playback, in programs like foobar2000, AIMP, Tidal, etc and you can be sure that all your tracks will be sent at their native sample rate. No double-checking required.

If instead you use Wasapi Shared or DirectSound for playback then all audio will be resampled to the sample rate specified in the Sound Control Panel.

Foobar2000 can be configured for bit-perfect playback, or not.

 

[Mr SuperNobody]

Use the ASIO or Wasapi Exclusive API for playback, in programs like foobar2000, AIMP, Tidal, etc and you can be sure that all your tracks will be sent at their native sample rate. No double-checking required.

If instead you use Wasapi Shared or DirectSound for playback then all audio will be resampled to the sample rate specified in the Sound Control Panel.

Foobar2000 can be configured for bit-perfect playback, or not

As mentioned I am using the foobar with asio, (but when I tried to install foobar wasapi I got error message) I will try to update foobar player. It seems the default display setting for XMOS panel is 44khz when not playing (or not happy) I understand it is a small, cheapish unit and some people don’t like displays but I really l get much comfort from seeing higher sample rates being displayed.Also this is the first DAC that hysolid works seamlessly with so I am happy with that. I read all the comments on this thread and have a y splitter for future fun experiments probably with my DAP as the Y cable (adapter) is way too short to use with PC as is. Thanks!

 

[Rotel75]

I prefer/recommend ASIO, because it completly bypasses the Windows controls.
I trust the XMOS display / ASIO tab.

 

[Mr SuperNobody]

I prefer/recommend ASIO, because it completly bypasses the Windows controls.
I trust the XMOS display / ASIO tab.

Great, clear and concise! I think foobar may have been working fine on smsl- DAC exclusive but I didn’t try the correct files. I have set foobar to ASIO DAC and am getting correct read out on XMOS oanel, phew I feel more relaxed with it now. I will do more research and see if vlc is fixable later, who knows it may be bypassing the xmos driver completely. Thanks for the heads up!

 

[Jazz]

Very likely but I don't think this is my case. Initially I used my pc for power/data followed briefly by an older iPhone charger and lastly by a new Anker GaN PD charger which also charges my iPhone daily. There was no issue with these configurations and it ran great off the Anker for a few months. Issue started after 9 or more months of no use. When I tried it again it was powered from my pc. Anyway, ya gets what ya pays fir.

Keep it. Might be a setting you missed on other stuff. One day you will read some line in the manual of another device and a light bulb will go off and the SMSL will work. I’ve had this happen so many times. Don’t be pessimistic and toss a bad device!
- Horrible sounding 13 year old Oppo BRP I got for nothing. I emailed Oppo (still around for service!), I just needed odd button press while restarting. Now fantastic CD and SACD player!
- Yamaha Aventage I got for nothing. Just needed new firmware and time spent removing terrible old settings by previous owner in ancient UI. Now a great bedroom amp and stereo AVR.
Maybe email SMSL about it?! They might send you a new one as it might be a known defect! Never surrender!

 

[Jazz]

İ think phone chargers are not safe for this little dac. Because mostly phone chargers can supply multiple voltage and somehow if charger switch to 12 volts, it can be destroy the dac. So im using with powerbank.
Just an opinion.

Reusing old Apple iPad chargers. Much better engineered than any other. No issues.

 

[Jazz]

What worries me is that there is no trace of the SU-1 on the S.M.S.L website that I could find. Is it already discontinued?

I just ordered another one, for any future subwoofer additions

https://www.smsl-audio.com/portal/product/detail/id/889.html

 

[theREALdotnet]

https://www.smsl-audio.com/portal/product/detail/id/889.html

Yes, they have it on their site now. Back when I wrote that they didn't, you could only find it at Shenzhen Audio (and other sites).

 

[Jazz]

Yes, they have it on their site now. Back when I wrote that they didn't, you could only find it at Shenzhen Audio (and other sites).

It was up back then too but, hard to find unless you did an internet search.

 

[wineaholic]

I just bought an used unit for 50€. My PC does not have any digital audio outputs (except HDMI) and only two USB 3.0 ports. If I connect the DAC to an USB 2.0 port, does this have any disadvantages? Someone wrote here that it is quieter? Would an USB data/power splitter solve the problem? Or is that misinformation anyway?