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SMSL SU-1 Stereo DAC Review

Rate this DAC:

  • 1. Poor (headless panther)

    Votes: 12 2.3%

  • 2. Not terrible (postman panther)

    Votes: 12 2.3%

  • 3. Fine (happy panther)

    Votes: 64 12.1%

  • 4. Great (golfing panther)

    Votes: 440 83.3%
  • Total voters
    528
Roland68 said:
Unfortunately, the clicking noises were the problem with the SU-1. The noise on my headphones was so loud it was really unpleasant. It always depends on the components. But for me, it was only a €5 difference.

Are you using the three SU-1 for an active system via USB?


The Sabaj A20h is a HPA, but if you can get an older A20d (same chassis as the A20h) for that price, you should go for it. You won't find a symmetrical ES9038Pro for that price anywhere else.
Click to expand...
A20D is like $200+.
I made a mistake on the A20h; it is indeed an HPA only. I was thinking it was similar to the M300 line from SMSL.
 
Jimster480 said:
A20D is like $200+.
I made a mistake on the A20h; it is indeed an HPA only. I was thinking it was similar to the M300 line from SMSL.
Click to expand...
Even at $200, it's still a good price. It's been sold out in Europe for at least a year.
Yes, the naming isn't entirely clear. The A and the two numbers indicate the device series, and the lowercase letter at the end indicates whether it's an AMP, DAC, or HPA. In addition, if necessary, there are four-digit years at the end to distinguish the evolutionary stages of devices with the same name :facepalm: .
 
Roland68 said:
Even at $200, it's still a good price. It's been sold out in Europe for at least a year.
Yes, the naming isn't entirely clear. The A and the two numbers indicate the device series, and the lowercase letter at the end indicates whether it's an AMP, DAC, or HPA. In addition, if necessary, there are four-digit years at the end to distinguish the evolutionary stages of devices with the same name :facepalm: .
Click to expand...
The $200 price is "OK" because the D50 III is also around $200 (especially with current $20 amazon coupon) and it has PEQ and a newer design with better performance.
 
Count Dacula said:
I just paid $32 https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256808487900653.html

I have three DACs inbound :facepalm:
Click to expand...
I'm curious to see if you'll get the 3 SU-1s, too.

The shop is only a few months old, and there are already over 30 reviews claiming the shop is fraudulent and provides false tracking numbers. Shipping was then supposedly to another federal state, a known scam.

I'm always very cautious when prices are significantly below the retailer's purchase price.
 
Count Dacula said:
yeah, no....three different $30 DACs
Click to expand...
Which ones did you pick?
Roland68 said:
I'm curious to see if you'll get the 3 SU-1s, too.

The shop is only a few months old, and there are already over 30 reviews claiming the shop is fraudulent and provides false tracking numbers. Shipping was then supposedly to another federal state, a known scam.

I'm always very cautious when prices are significantly below the retailer's purchase price.
Click to expand...
Thanks for pointing that out! I was considering to order one as well but I was skeptical on the price. After looking at the reviews it looks like it is definitely a fake store that is not sending out what people are ordering.... this is how they can afford to undercut the price!
 
I've bought like this before )). They are scammers. In a week your package will be marked as delivered to Africa or something like that. I was lucky that I was able to open a dispute. There was simply no Dispute button. Take all the necessary screenshots and get ready...
 
By the way, maybe someone is interested, I modified my SU-1. Now it sounds like devices four times more expensive. Believe me, I'm an engineer. :)
If anyone is interested, write me a PM. I can write detailed instructions on the modification. It will require soldering small parts under a microscope!
As for the sound - here no one will believe me anyway. To take measurements, I need to send it to ASR.
So only DIY, hobby and listening with ears. :)
 
Topaloff said:
By the way, maybe someone is interested, I modified my SU-1. Now it sounds like devices four times more expensive. Believe me, I'm an engineer. :)
If anyone is interested, write me a PM. I can write detailed instructions on the modification. It will require soldering small parts under a microscope!
As for the sound - here no one will believe me anyway. To take measurements, I need to send it to ASR.
So only DIY, hobby and listening with ears. :)
Click to expand...
Then by all means send it in to Amir to be tested both by means of electronic testing and measurement and by Amir’s ears. What specific devices have you compared it with that cost four times more? We will need to know the specific devices for benchmark purposes of course. And please do share the modification detailed instructions. I’m sure many readers will want to know what you discovered. Listening with Ears? Is there another way to listen we have yet to discover?

We are all Ears :p
 
Topaloff said:
By the way, maybe someone is interested, I modified my SU-1. Now it sounds like devices four times more expensive. Believe me, I'm an engineer. :)
If anyone is interested, write me a PM. I can write detailed instructions on the modification. It will require soldering small parts under a microscope!
As for the sound - here no one will believe me anyway. To take measurements, I need to send it to ASR.
So only DIY, hobby and listening with ears. :)
Click to expand...
You should send it in to ASR! You would get quite some reputation if it did actually measure so much better.
 
Sounds like other devices 4 times more expensive ? So did you downgrade it, cause standard MEASURES better than devices 10x expensive...
 
Overseas said:
Sounds like other devices 4 times more expensive ? So did you downgrade it, cause standard MEASURES better than devices 10x expensive...
Click to expand...
Something else to think about. I just went back to look at the graphs and it literally has almost perfect measurements... even in Linearity it is quite accurate. Now if he could improve it to be textbook perfect... that would be awesome. Like if he could make it into a D70S...
 
AdamG said:
Then by all means send it in to Amir to be tested both by means of electronic testing and measurement and by Amir’s ears. What specific devices have you compared it with that cost four times more? We will need to know the specific devices for benchmark purposes of course. And please do share the modification detailed instructions. I’m sure many readers will want to know what you discovered. Listening with Ears? Is there another way to listen we have yet to discover?

We are all Ears :p
Click to expand...
Ooooh, more veils to remove :), yet I can still clearly hear recording and production differences, even with my ancient amps and speakers and my shagged ears too...

Mine is now nearly eighteen months old and going strong (not powered 24/7 however). My streaming via CCA is clumsy at best and I don't get clicks and so on between tracks or album 'sides' supposed to be gapless.
 
sarumbear said:
Why? We all use speakers to listen. Their response anomalies are much more than this DAC. Not to mention that the error is on very high frequencies where audibility is very small.
Click to expand...

Because the front end equipments' flaws get amplified many times....literally.
 
Count Dacula said:
Because the front end equipments' flaws get amplified many times....literally.
Click to expand...
What does this mean?

Any frequency response errors in the DAC stay at exactly the same relative amplitude after amplification.

A 2dB treble error doesn't suddenly become a 10dB error just because it passed through an Amp.
 
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