SMSL SU-1 Stereo DAC Review

[magreen]

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?

USB 2.0 is plenty. 24-bit 192 kHz uncompressed music stream uses 9216 kbps, or about 9 Mbps. USB 2.0 transfers about 300 Mbps (theoretical max 480 Mbps).

Even if you went to the extravagant limit of 32bit/768KHz, that would only use 49Mbps.

 

[Roland68]

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?

The SU-1 DAC has a USB C port, but it is still only USB 2.0, so it doesn't matter where you connect it.

 

[Mr SuperNobody]

I bough a data/power splitter after seeing the link in this thread. It is handy to own in case I want to use the Smsl dac with my battery powered DAP or maybe a phone basically it gives me some extra options to power the device away from a computer.
They are cheap although I will look for a longer cable that has the same function as it is short more like an adapter, so not very flexible for positioning devices too far away from Smsl DAC, I will try and see if there is an
Improvement to the USB signal when used to isolate or upgrade power with other options, even though it might not be necessary according to large number of asr comments.

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?

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?

 

[Doodski]

I will try and see if there is an
Improvement to the USB signal when used to isolate or upgrade power with other options, even though it might not be necessary according to large number of asr comments.

The USB signal will not be improved.

 

[Scman111]

Hi, newbe here. After I connected this DAC to my 03 Sony CD player my friend said this very interesting thing:
He said that I had increased the fidelity without increasing the shrillness.

 

[wineaholic]

I regret having bought this and not the Topping D30 II. It permanently consumes 3.6W regardless of whether Audio is playing or not. Not a problem on the PC, but I also wanted to use it as a passive streamer with Chromecast or raspberry Pi. Not so good if you live in a country with the highest electricity prices in the world

 

[magreen]

I regret having bought this and not the Topping D30 II. It permanently consumes 3.6W regardless of whether Audio is playing or not. Not a problem on the PC, but I also wanted to use it as a passive streamer with Chromecast or raspberry Pi. Not so good if you live in a country with the highest electricity prices in the world

I googled it, and it appears Ireland has the most expensive household electricity at US$0.477/kWh
Plugging into an electricity calculator, assuming you are correct that it consumes 3.6W 24 hours a day x 365 days per year, I get:

0.086 kWh​	$0.04​	per day
0.6 kWh​	$0.29​	per week
2.6 kWh​	$1.25​	per month
32 kWh​	$15.05​	per year

 

[Roland68]

I regret having bought this and not the Topping D30 II. It permanently consumes 3.6W regardless of whether Audio is playing or not. Not a problem on the PC, but I also wanted to use it as a passive streamer with Chromecast or raspberry Pi. Not so good if you live in a country with the highest electricity prices in the world

Are you sure about the 3.6 watts?
I think that's a bit much for a DAC without a display and with these components.
Another user measured 1.3 watts in operation, which seems more realistic to me.
#824

 

[seederxx]

Need help with SMSL SU-1 DAC + Klipsch Heritage 2.1 – Game audio sounds muffled.

I have a USB DAC (SMSL SU-1), a Klipsch Heritage 2.1 speaker system, and a PC. My setup is as follows:

Connection:
• PC → SMSL SU-1 DAC (via USB)
• DAC → Klipsch subwoofer (via RCA)
• Satellites → Connected to the subwoofer via speaker cables

When playing music, the sound quality is great. However, when playing games, the audio sounds unclear/muffled.

Settings I’ve tried:
• Set Windows to stereo configuration in Sound Settings
• Enabled full-range front speakers
• No option for 2.1 speaker configuration in Windows
• Set in-game sound settings to stereo

I suspect the issue might be related to how Windows or the DAC handles game audio. Has anyone else experienced this, and how can I improve the sound quality while gaming? Any advice is appreciated!

 

[Roland68]

Need help with SMSL SU-1 DAC + Klipsch Heritage 2.1 – Game audio sounds muffled.

I have a USB DAC (SMSL SU-1), a Klipsch Heritage 2.1 speaker system, and a PC. My setup is as follows:

Connection:
• PC → SMSL SU-1 DAC (via USB)
• DAC → Klipsch subwoofer (via RCA)
• Satellites → Connected to the subwoofer via speaker cables

When playing music, the sound quality is great. However, when playing games, the audio sounds unclear/muffled.

Settings I’ve tried:
• Set Windows to stereo configuration in Sound Settings
• Enabled full-range front speakers
• No option for 2.1 speaker configuration in Windows
• Set in-game sound settings to stereo

I suspect the issue might be related to how Windows or the DAC handles game audio. Has anyone else experienced this, and how can I improve the sound quality while gaming? Any advice is appreciated!

Just to make it clear from the start, the SU-1 is just a simple device that converts digital data to analog.
For the SU-1 and other DACs there is no difference in the data, no matter whether it is music, speech, games, test tones etc., the DAC chip treats everything the same.

 

[Roland68]

Need help with SMSL SU-1 DAC + Klipsch Heritage 2.1 – Game audio sounds muffled.

I have a USB DAC (SMSL SU-1), a Klipsch Heritage 2.1 speaker system, and a PC. My setup is as follows:

Connection:
• PC → SMSL SU-1 DAC (via USB)
• DAC → Klipsch subwoofer (via RCA)
• Satellites → Connected to the subwoofer via speaker cables

When playing music, the sound quality is great. However, when playing games, the audio sounds unclear/muffled.

Settings I’ve tried:
• Set Windows to stereo configuration in Sound Settings
• Enabled full-range front speakers
• No option for 2.1 speaker configuration in Windows
• Set in-game sound settings to stereo

I suspect the issue might be related to how Windows or the DAC handles game audio. Has anyone else experienced this, and how can I improve the sound quality while gaming? Any advice is appreciated!

You can assume that everything after the PC has nothing to do with your problem.
Your PC also has no information about what comes after your DAC, so the 2.1 system is irrelevant.
If you have already googled it, then you should have read that such problems are in the game (patches installed?) or in the Windows audio settings.

Two tips: uninstall/remove all audio drivers and tools that you have installed at some point and that have something to do with audio or gaming. After restarting, only install the most necessary audio drivers.
Deactivate all audio drivers and tools in the settings.

 

[blunile]

This is an already near-perfect dac to my standard, but I did a little mod to be able to roll the buffer op amp on a Dip-8 Socket.

It’s a very tiny dac with very limited space to work with which for me was more fun. I also added some bypass caps.

I know there is no advantage of this mod im terms of sound quality, but it does add some fun doing this hobby.

 

[boki78]

I bought my SMSL SU-1 few days ago and I have problem. I connect DAC to PC with USB cable and it works but I can't install driver from offical website. I have Windows 10 64 bit in my PC but when I try to install driver Windows installer shows me message: "Error opening installation log file. Verify that specified log file location exists and is writable." I tried almost everything I found on internet ( tried to install like admin, stop and restart explorer.exe, also some things with CMD) but nothing works for me. My Windows 10 works fine and I can install anything I want.
Does anybody know what to do to fix this problem and install driver?

Thanks for answers!

 

[Arthur]

@boki78

are you using the correct installer.
try with the latest:

https://www.smsl-audio.com/upload/portal/undefined/SMSLUSBAudioDriver.zip

before installing:
1 - disconnect SU-1
2 - de-install xmos
3 - delete directory C:\Program Files\XMOS

Arthur

 

[boki78]

Thank you Arthur for your answer.

I tried all that but with no success, I don't have Xmos direcory because I can't install driver at all. I think this is problem with Windows installer but my Windows works fine, this is only problem I have.
I really don't know what to do...

 

[musica]

I am a new owner of a SU-1. I have connected it to my PC via USB, but in addition to its cable, there is also a USB extension of about 2 meters. What could this situation cause?

 

[Watt768]

View attachment 429027

This is an already near-perfect dac to my standard, but I did a little mod to be able to roll the buffer op amp on a Dip-8 Socket.

View attachment 429028

View attachment 429029

It’s a very tiny dac with very limited space to work with which for me was more fun. I also added some bypass caps.

View attachment 429030

I know there is no advantage of this mod im terms of sound quality, but it does add some fun doing this hobby.

I did the same thing, but I came to the conclusion that replacing the opa doesn’t make sense, i made the converters so small that they fit underneath.

 

[Roland68]

I am a new owner of a SU-1. I have connected it to my PC via USB, but in addition to its cable, there is also a USB extension of about 2 meters. What could this situation cause?

As long as there are no audible dropouts or clicking noises, everything is fine.

 

[theREALdotnet]

I am a new owner of a SU-1. I have connected it to my PC via USB, but in addition to its cable, there is also a USB extension of about 2 meters. What could this situation cause?

It causes the DAC to be able to be placed an extra two metres away from the PC

Seriously, anything under 5m should be harmless, as long as the cables are decent quality.

 

[Doodski]

USB Standards, Speeds and Cable Length Limits​

https://www.eaton.com/us/en-us/products/data-video-cables-accessories/usb--thunderbolt-and-lightning-cables/usb-cable-maximum-length.html