Received my SMSL SU-10 today. Connected it to I-Pad Pro PCM USB B, Topping Pre90 and Benchmark Media AHB2s. I set the AHB2s to medium sensitivity. Unit switched on without any issues. Menu was intuitive. Set the Pre-mode to fixed. No sound.
Worked out that the max vol setting (+2 dB) for the SU-10 has to be set before the fixed option is chosen. That allows the Pre-90 to be the master volume control unit without compromise.
Set Filter to fast linear. Everything else remained left to default. Amir mentioned something about updating the firmware, but there doesn't appear to be one on the SMSL web site. Well, there is something, but I can't open it up after downloading. Anyway, everything worked - sound out of the Wilsons.
My go to test music is Taylor McFerrin - Early Riser. That will put anything through its paces. It really does sort them out from the very first note and then its a relentless barrage of every sonic frequency variable for about 40 mins.
The album was played back from Apple Lossless through an Ipad Pro @ 44.1 MHz. Immediately, I knew there was greater clarity. About 10 secs into the second track I started to resolve what the weird little clicks used to be as a ticking mechanism from a clock. Honestly, I was very much impressed. Then the bass notes kicked in and there was a real noticeable improvement because something in my room started resonating - which was new! I hadn't noticed that when I played the same album on the MA prior to connecting the SU-10. Trouble is, I've played that album track 4 times now and I cannot isolate the slightly irritating noise. Only occurs on that track!
I moved to a Hi-Res Lossless Toni Bennett album (192 MHz) and wow! - you really can hear everything! The big band was so well staged. Again, I was able to resolve more detail and it was immersive as though watching the guys playing in the studio. The biggest revelation for me was that fact, I could visualise the music being played. Difficult to explain, never had that experience before. It’s the sense of being present. What ever that means. I mean on another album I can now distinguish the type of cymbals the drummer is crushing and each Tom he’s beating the hell out of. If you’re a musician it’s a cribbing tool.
I set the AHB2s to high output (2 VRMS) and wasn't happy with the result from over amplification. At lowest output setting (9.8VRMS ) had to crank up the Pre90, but the resolution was really good. However set in the middle with XLR balanced output, seems to be the sweet spot. Quite astonishing really. I’m not going to wax lyrical like some journalist from a hifi mag. But this is the best sound I’ve managed to reproduce in my room in 22 years!
Well well, two chips better than one it would seem. Well, theee with the pcm chip.
The bluetooth connection with my Iphone came up as LDAC on the SU10. Not impressed with it, a big loss in sound quality IMO, but handy if you have guests around sharing music. Maybe someone can point me to how I can get better reproduction from fancy Bluetooth sources.
I certainly do not regret this purchase and I should know, I've had a few! 35 years of searching for excellence and here it is in a little black box, ironically as my earing could be fading fast such is the advancement of time.
What else can possibly come next? I guess a networked version for the Tidal etc.. streamers? Well done SMSL. Great product.
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