SMSL SU-1 Stereo DAC Review

[Jimster480]

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.

However real distortion is worse when you have lots of tones at once. So it is best to have the best performing source equipment.

 

[Count Dacula]

I suppose a 2w power supply would be the "minimum" for ASR...?

 

[Jimster480]

I suppose a 2w power supply would be the "minimum" for ASR...?

Depends on the power requirements of the gear itself?

 

[VientoB]

Because the front end equipments' flaws get amplified many times....literally.

No they don't. And they get masked by the loudspeakers.

 

[Jimster480]

No they don't. And they get masked by the loudspeakers.

That isn't my experience at all. If you have high quality speakers; you definitely can hear the poor DAC quality.
Most poor audio electronics get masked by trash recorded music.

 

[audiofromaustria]

Thanks amirm
for the tip, I have now ordered the SMSL SU-1 Stereo DAC.
Does it have to be connected to USB3 (USB3.1), or is the data rate of USB2 sufficient?
All my music is on an M1 MacMini, which have USA3 (3.1) but some devices I connect to a Belkin USB2 Hub with own power supply.

 

[Roland68]

Thanks amirm
for the tip, I have now ordered the SMSL SU-1 Stereo DAC.
Does it have to be connected to USB3 (USB3.1), or is the data rate of USB2 sufficient?
All my music is on an M1 MacMini, which have USA3 (3.1) but some devices I connect to a Belkin USB2 Hub with own power supply.

Every DAC with XMOS only has USB 2.0, regardless of the connector used. This includes the SU-1.
You should also only use USB 2.0 cables.

 

[strumf666]

Works just fine with usb 3.1/10gpbs cable too.

 

[theREALdotnet]

Thanks amirm
for the tip, I have now ordered the SMSL SU-1 Stereo DAC.
Does it have to be connected to USB3 (USB3.1), or is the data rate of USB2 sufficient?
All my music is on an M1 MacMini, which have USA3 (3.1) but some devices I connect to a Belkin USB2 Hub with own power supply.

I'd probably avoid the hub and just plug the DAC into a USB-A port using the cable that came with it. Leave the USB-C/Thunderbolt ports for high-speed applications like storage or displays.

 

[Jimster480]

I'd probably avoid the hub and just plug the DAC into a USB-A port using the cable that came with it. Leave the USB-C/Thunderbolt ports for high-speed applications like storage or displays.

Yep especially since a DAC is only going to use a few mbit anyway

 

[Count Dacula]

Depends on the power requirements of the gear itself

SMSL SU-1 Stereo DAC Review​

 

[Jimster480]

Not sure while you're relinking the review, because it's not like there's a measurement there of the amount of power that the unit requires.

The unit specifications suggest that it uses 5 watts of power or less, which means that you need a 1 amp USB power adapter, which would be 5 watts, not 2 watts.

 

[Count Dacula]

That was easy.

 

[audiofromaustria]

Next days I get my ordered SMSL SU-1 Stereo DAC. First I will test them on an Belkin USB2 hub with own PSU.
Later on my M1 MacMini.

Manual says, power consumption <5W

 

[strumf666]

Next days I get my ordered SMSL SU-1 Stereo DAC. First I will test them on an Belkin USB2 hub with own PSU.
Later on my M1 MacMini.

Manual says, power consumption <5W

SMSL SU-1 Stereo DAC Review

Here are some Toslink in -> Headphone out solutions below $200: -Sound Blaster G3 -Sound Blaster X4 -Topping DX3Pro+ -SMSL C200 -SMSL DL200 -SMSL M300 SE -FiiO K5 Pro -FiiO K7 -FiiO K11 -Sabaj A10d How is the SMSL M300 SE? I'm more inclined to spend 120 euros then 200 euros for the smsl c200...

audiosciencereview.com

 

[audiofromaustria]

@strumf666 thanks - off topic - where you get this nice power meter?

.... found a review here

Sollte jeder Technik-Enthusiast haben! YOJOCK USB Tester Messgerät - Techtest

Es gibt einige Dinge die sich im Sortiment jedes Technik-Enthusiasten befinden sollten. Ein immer wichtiger werdendes Tool, welches aber viele von Euch vermutlich nicht haben werden, ist ein USB Tester bzw. USB Power Meter. Was ist dies? Ein USB Tester ist ein kleines Messgerät welches du...

techtest.org

 

[staticV3]

@strumf666 thanks - off topic - where you get this nice power meter?

.... found a review here

Sollte jeder Technik-Enthusiast haben! YOJOCK USB Tester Messgerät - Techtest

Es gibt einige Dinge die sich im Sortiment jedes Technik-Enthusiasten befinden sollten. Ein immer wichtiger werdendes Tool, welches aber viele von Euch vermutlich nicht haben werden, ist ein USB Tester bzw. USB Power Meter. Was ist dies? Ein USB Tester ist ein kleines Messgerät welches du...

techtest.org

Search for "USB Power Meter" on Amazon, eBay, and AliExpress.

Tons of options out there. Power-Z makes the best. Fnirsi is a good middle-ground.

 

[audiofromaustria]

Last Thursday I get my ordered SMSL SU-1 Stereo DAC.
Very good workmanship and sound quality, I would not have expected for the price!
Handles other formats excellently - HighRes or MQA, DSD native no problem!
Connected directly to Mac USB, system information says 100mA power consumption.

This thing is a real bargain, definitely recommended!

 

[kevin1969]

Oh my God I just bought one of these. I had no idea how small it was. So much extra room for activities now..

 

[strumf666]

I was a bit surprised to discover this dac supports software volume control (connected to a RPi/volumio).