SMSL SU-10 DAC Review

[staticV3]

Dear specialists. We need your professional opinion. In what mode does the SU-10 sound better? When pre out or fixed. And why did you decide that? What exactly are the differences in sound?

There are no differences in the SU-10's output sound quality between pre out and fixed.

If the volume control functionality is useful to you, use pre out.

If the SU-10's maximum output voltage is too hot for your Amplifier, resulting in increased distortion, use pre out to reduce it.

If neither is true, use fixed. That's it.

 

[babadono]

Yes what staticV3 said...I have found with my mixer(preamp if you will) the fixed out CAN be (track/song dependent) too hot for my inputs. I have now dialed it back to -10dB.

 

[babadono]

Ok I added a -12dB pad to the outputs of my SU-10 to the inputs of my mixer. Now I can use the full(?) output of the DAC without overloading the inputs of mixer. But a question has come up. What is the full output? At what setting of the volume control? If fixed is used the display says 0.5dB. If variable is used it is possible to turn up to 2.0dB. Does this mean gain is being added in the analog domain? Or is it all digital inside the ESS9038? Are the numbers on the display arbitrary?

 

[babadono]

Ok did some math(log) At 0dB on display output is nominally 4 Vrms balanced. This is confirmed by Amir's measurements. So +2.0dB is 5Vrms. I am going to assume this is all in the digital domain inside the ESS9038. Also I am assuming full modulation during testing.

 

[Saverio]

Ciao, qualcuno può aiutarmi!? I trasformatori del mio smsl dac su 10 si sono bruciati. Conosci le caratteristiche tecniche di questi trasformatori? Grazie.

 

[ROQUE]

Good evening, when we use the SU 10 as a pre amp it doesn't heat up as much. Are the 16 op amps active in this function?

 

[RandomEar]

Hi, can anyone help me!!! The transformers of my smsl dac su 10 burned out. Do you know the technical characteristics of these transformers? Thank you.

Please use English on the forum, otherwise most people need a translator to read your posts. That being said, look at the photo: The type is written right there. Just google the numbers or ask Noratel for advice. They have multiple distributors/service partners in Europe, but seemingly not in Italy.

 

[twiningstea]

Hi! What is the latest SU-10 firmware version? I found page https://download.shenzhenaudio.com/#su10/1 and it is complete mess.
I have bougth used device running v1.04.

 

[Grooved]

Hi! What is the latest SU-10 firmware version? I found page https://download.shenzhenaudio.com/#su10/1 and it is complete mess.
I have bougth used device running v1.04.

Hi, if you enter "su-10" instead of "su10", it filters a bit better
Now, it's not perfect: there's a MCU firmware, and three firmwares, with two v221101 from Jan 07, 2023 and Nov 03, 2022, and one v2.4 from Dec 02, 2022
It doesn't make much sense

 

[twiningstea]

i searched for su-10

 

[Jimster480]

i searched for su-10

Is your device working properly? If so don't even worry about firmware updates.

 

[twiningstea]

On 3rd page of https://download.shenzhenaudio.com
v1.04. firmware seams to be latest
Search does not work well there

I am IT-boy and tend to always install latest software. I worked in 2nd line software support for couple of years as team lead of complex corporate product and I have professional deformation in this regard The first thing software support will do when they see new support case is to check that the latest version of the software is being used. If not, they will ask customer to install the latest updates. In most cases of complex corporate software support without actual updates, support may be politely refused - no one wants to solve complex problem in outdated software .

 

[Jimster480]

On 3rd page of https://download.shenzhenaudio.com
v1.04. firmware seams to be latest
Search does not work well there

I am IT-boy and tend to always install latest software. I worked in 2nd line software support for couple of years as team lead of complex corporate product and I have professional deformation in this regard The first thing software support will do when they see new support case is to check that the latest version of the software is being used. If not, they will ask customer to install the latest updates. In most cases of complex corporate software support without actual updates, support may be politely refused - no one wants to solve complex problem in outdated software .

I understand your view. I worked in IT for years and I am primarily a software engineer. However in the case of DAC's.... there really isn't much to update unless there is an already known bug or a new feature being added (very rare)... the most I have seen is more options for turning off / dimming the screen.

 

[twiningstea]

Its ok. Finaly SU-10 sounds great! Much better than Eversolo DMP-A6 Gen2 Master Edition itself.
Full chain is like this: Eversolo DMP-A6 Gen2 ME ---> SMSL SU-10 ---> Rotel RB-1552 MkII ---> Diatone DS-2000 speakers