SMSL SU-2: a dumb, wasted opportunity

[Frunse]

I am now in my new Home but still moving stuff from Old Home to the new one, so my Projectprogress still pending
At least my new Kitchen is ready "IKEA" Furniture with "Miele" Devices ....... no AES needed for interconnections LOOOL

 

[TonyJZX]

i think most people here are reasonably discerning (or why would you be here in the first place) and there's always a million new products on the market and you have limited time and space in your life and everyone should know not everything is going to suit your tastes and needs

i remember a few guys not liking the ZD3 because it has an odd shape... or it has outdated bluetooth... that's consumer freedom

as for the above product... SMSL release products at a rate few other companies can match... it seems they dumped everything here for AES and its like... yeahhh... this aint for me... but its a shoe-in for someone... and i have a preamp with aes input...

i do get how OP feels... i would buy a Wiim Ultra if it dumped phono and added usb-c but hey... they take the lost sales, not me....

 

[PGAMiami]

Disagree with the notion this is a dumb wasted opportunity. I’ve been looking for an AES/EBU DAC that is readily available in the US, is simple, has true differential outputs, no wall wart and uses the latest greatest chips so I can add 4 channels to a Trinnov Altitude CI for my surroundi and height speakers. Hoping this works as a set and forget device. Can’t beat it for $95. I prefer the simplicity of no volume, dsp, usb, displays, Bluetooth … If performance is true to spec, it should outperform every AVP.

 

[john61ct]

Yes the OP premise is completely flawed.

There are very few components that are UNIQUE in a very wide ranging price class, this is one of them.

I just love cheap and clean-SQ gadgets that target a single or at least very narrow use case.

 

[john61ct]

"Unique" narrow-purpose devices of great value for money

There are very few components that are UNIQUE in a very wide ranging price class. I just love cheap and clean-SQ gadgets that target a single or at least very narrow use case. I though even if this thread collects very diverse examples it should be of interest I'm especially thinking devices...

www.audiosciencereview.com

 

[wiz2596]

Why SMSL, why?? one USB port is not that hard to implement.

 

[PGAMiami]

My worry is with the power on/off pops. I’m hoping this just stays on standby until there is a signal. I’m using VTV amps with Hypex MP252 modules that will be triggered by the AVP. Any experience on this subject with these is much appreciated. I’m fine just leaving them on if that’s an option.

 

[john61ct]

Why SMSL, why?? one USB port is not that hard to implement.

There is NO reason to expect that here, it is DESIGNED to be UNIQUE, and SMSL succeeded !!

no need for it to compete with a THOUSAND identically featured devices

It's a specialised device, true balanced DAC, nice and clean, with **AES3** input for under $100 for Dog's sake!!

also S/PDIF RCA coax and TOSlink inputs

zero gain/trim control is a plus

RCA outputs 2.0 - 2.3Vrms

XLR 4.0V - 4.7Vrms

If it doesn't meet your needs just move on to the hundreds of available USB-in devices designed for the masses, that DO!!

 

[Frunse]

My worry is with the power on/off pops. I’m hoping this just stays on standby until there is a signal. I’m using VTV amps with Hypex MP252 modules that will be triggered by the AVP. Any experience on this subject with these is much appreciated. I’m fine just leaving them on if that’s an option.

I use it with Hypex AMPS and if both Devices switched on at the same time no Pop or klicks comes from Speaker an Hypex NC122MP needs much longer to start up!

At the End i switch on my Powerstrip and the DAC's goes on and after that i switch the AMPS manualy on for now later it will do it together,
if i am ready with my whole Setup and i have an Relaisvolumcontrol in between DAC and AMP thats switched on some time after the AMP's 1500ms Signal On Time and switched off fast as it could if Powermains goes off but still work in Progress.

Also because off the Volumecontrol the Signal from DAC will never reach the AMP with full Power i guess around -30dB to -20dB will be the sweetspot for my defoult Volume Level (Had this Level on MOTU UL Mk5 before on my Setup)

But never try to switch the DAC On or Off while the Amp is running already some minutes

That's will hurt youre Tweeter probably !!!
That happen to me but i was lucky Tweeter survived and i learned something about LOL



I need to measure the DAC power on Time in comparence if i have Time for the Measuring Setup Build up!

I use this DAC exactly because the Price and because of no other shit is Build in i don't need for my Setup only AES in and XLR Out thats it!!!
Also HYPEX has THD+N off 0.001% max 0.0024% or -118dB Signal to noise Ratio so this DAC is Better than that with an SINAD of 123,5dB
So it don't reduce the quality of the Signal before the AMP that was importand to me. Keep it Clean as possible.

Also knwowing People can't hear differences lower than -110dB probably. But it's fine to have specialy for such an low Price.

For USB i have other possabilitys, MOTU UL MK5 as example or i use HDMI Out on RPI 5 for Streaming or an
MCHStreamer Kit from Minidsp!

 

[Roland68]

Why SMSL, why?? one USB port is not that hard to implement.

The USB connection on the SU-2 is easy for anyone to implement—for example, the PO100 2024, which costs around €40.
This makes it one of the most affordable balanced DACs with an internal power supply; it even includes galvanic isolation—a feature usually found only in units costing €1,000 or more, if at all.
AES connectivity is a unique selling point in this price range anyway.

 

[PGAMiami]

There is no loud pop for me at all. The L indicator decided to start working.

EDIT: The L and R indicators flashing is so distracting and annoying. Good thing the Robin acrylic block blocks it and turns the bright af white leds into nice dim cyan one.

Is anyone else having pops with power on or off? Oy is this specific to a bad unit or setup that’s causing issues?

 

[Frunse]

Is anyone else having pops with power on or off? Oy is this specific to a bad unit or setup that’s causing issues?

I have 3 units they all 3 handle the same, no relais on Outputs, and pop's ocure like i told above.

I don't think this is an Bad Device issue.
Is an lowcost Product so they saved some Money on Outputstage Safety Parts

More Expensive Devices has Relais on Outs (on the other side no Relais on D200 or D400ES DAC's so may be they use something else like Transistor or Mosfets or IC based Audio Switches):



This 3 little marked IC's before the Connector's could be Opamps or switches not sure can't read the description on them LOOOOL may be anyone else could tell it.
But if this are Switches than something works wrong on my 3 Devices

Than only an Firmwareupdate could help but thats only possible at SMSL inhouse!

Need to check this with an scope but absolutly no clue what kind off Device this little IC's are.

D200, D400EX uses the same little IC's before Connectors:

 

[Roland68]

Is anyone else having pops with power on or off? Oy is this specific to a bad unit or setup that’s causing issues?

I have 3 units they all 3 handle the same, no relais on Outputs, and pop's ocure like i told above.

I don't think this is an Bad Device issue.
Is an lowcost Product so they saved some Money on Outputstage Safety Parts

More Expensive Devices has Relais on Outs (on the other side no Relais on D200 or D400ES DAC's so may be they use something else like Transistor or Mosfets or IC based Audio Switches):

View attachment 550686

This 3 little marked IC's before the Connector's could be Opamps or switches not sure can't read the description on them LOOOOL may be anyone else could tell it.
But if this are Switches than something works wrong on my 3 Devices

Than only an Firmwareupdate could help but thats only possible at SMSL inhouse!

Need to check this with an scope but absolutly no clue what kind off Device this little IC's are.

D200, D400EX uses the same little IC's before Connectors:

View attachment 550690 View attachment 550691

These components are switches used in many devices for small-signal applications, and they are generally superior to relays.
In the vast majority of cases, the fault lies not with these specific devices, but with the overall configuration.
First and foremost, I would always recommend connecting a source via Toslink to check whether the problem persists or has improved significantly.

 

[Frunse]

These components are switches used in many devices for small-signal applications, and they are generally superior to relays.
In the vast majority of cases, the fault lies not with these specific devices, but with the overall configuration.
First and foremost, I would always recommend connecting a source via Toslink to check whether the problem persists or has improved significantly.

That sounds strange for me, AES in is isolated as well with an Transformer and i feed AES from RME HDSPe AES Card also Isolated AES Outs.

But i can try it soon i hope. Wan't to buy 3 to 5 more of them soon aswell LOOOL

On the other side if nothing connected at all and an pop or Voltage Level shift on Outs happen, measured with an scope on Power on stage, it would tell us the truth about i guess

Also need to test all Outs, Chinch as well, may be they handle different, let see.

 

[Roland68]

That sounds strange for me, AES in is isolated as well with an Transformer and i feed AES from RME HDSPe AES Card also Isolated AES Outs.

But i can try it soon i hope. Wan't to buy 3 to 5 more of them soon aswell LOOOL

On the other side if nothing connected at all and an pop or Voltage Level shift on Outs happen, measured with an scope on Power on stage, it would tell us the truth about i guess

Also need to test all Outs, Chinch as well, may be they handle different, let see.

That is something completely different. Depending on how the cables and sockets are wired, you might have galvanic isolation for the signal transmission, but potentially not between the devices' grounds.
With a Toslink signal, the devices are completely galvanically isolated—at least via those connections.
This also means that, for the Toslink test, the cable must of course be disconnected from the AES port.

 

[Frunse]

You could use the Grond only on one side (source side) for Cable childing, XLR don't need to connect Ground between Devices at all like Cinch.

 

[Roland68]

You could use the Grond only on one side (source side) for Cable childing, XLR don't need to connect Ground between Devices at all like Chinch.

That’s correct in principle, but have you actually checked the situation with your specific devices and cables?
With most devices and commercially available cables, the ground is likely connected.

 

[Frunse]

That’s correct in principle, but have you actually checked the situation with your specific devices and cables?
With most devices and commercially available cables, the ground is likely connected.

I build my own Cable, Ground unconected on slave Side, only 1 Meter Long, but all my Power cords, selfmade, has Shielding connected to the Earth Ground on both side!!!

So even if the AES Cable liying parallel to my Mains Cable, there is an Shield in between!



For AMPS i use the Groneberg Quaddro Reference and for Sorces i use the thiner Groneberg Serie 3 Cabel, Schielding i use as Earthwire Now for long long Time.



Cabel stil aviable for buying

 

[john61ct]

like Chinch.

wut

 

[Frunse]

wut??? Spdif uses Cinch connection.