SMSL SU-6 Review (Desktop DAC)

[Galke6]

Does anyone knows about the Bluetooth? I mean, is this a receptor and transmitter of Bluetooth or is only a receptor?

 

[pwn87]

Does anyone knows about the Bluetooth? I mean, is this a receptor and transmitter of Bluetooth or is only a receptor?

only receptor.. it also wouldnt make sense because the entire purpose of this device is digital to analog conversion

 

[Acerun]

Today I received the SU-6. First track to send through it, was D'Angelo's Brown Sugar from CD, through optical. I've already sold my E30 so couldn't do a direct comparison, but what struck me was the "air" in the tambourines. Overall sound has a nice amount of body to it. I've ordered some new RCA's from Ali, as suggested by Youtuber "Михаил Греков" (video - watched with automatic translations, which works surprisingly well hehe).

Power cycling works great: AC ON = DAC ON, simple as that

One question: does the DAC have an option to switch between preamp mode & DAC mode, like the Topping E30? Or should I just leave it at 0dB and just assume there's no quality loss?

I also tested LDAC over Bluetooth with my old Huawei P20 Pro & Google Pixel 6 and the SU-6.. The Pixel 6 definitely can't handle 990kbps (24bit), no problem with the Huawei.. But this has become a well known problem with the Pixel 6 lineup.

Screnshot from my Pixel6 LDAC via Quboz...looks like it can

 

[860lacov]

Is remote must have with this unit or can everything be changed with the touch button ?

 

[Nick_L]

Is remote must have with this unit or can everything be changed with the touch button ?

Yes, the remote is a must if you want to change the settings (filters, volume, etc...). The touch button allows to put the device into standby and to change the inputs.

 

[Schlippwhip68]

This is half the price of the Topping E50 and uses the same chip. I am now thinking if the E50 really will be worth it....what does anyone think? I dont need balanced or a remote and wonder if that is what the price bump on the E50 is all about...which it probably is. I am more inclined to go with coax over optical on any dac but the SU6 seems to show a little struggle here which the E50 may sail through calmly...

 

[Schlippwhip68]

Thanks @amirm for the review and congratulations on something I don't think I've ever seen before - your review of the SMSL SU6 is the only, and I mean the only, result that Google returned when I did a Google search [SMSL SU6]! As with @raif71 I wanted to know what chipset SMSL used [is it an ESS mobile chip or the Rohm used in their D300?] , but I guess until SMSL or Shenzhenaudio get it up on their web sites [or @amirm gets permission to open it up] I'll have to put up with my curiosity unsatiated. Like @amirm I'm really taken by the aesthetics of this little thing. I know I had a real whinge about the aesthetics of the display on the SU-9, but SMSL's latest offerings are much more to my liking with this and the D300 being very nice indeed. Really, for the price this is excellent and ought to be near the top of anyone's list looking for a sub $200 unbalanced dac. [Come on SMSL, stick some trs jacks on this thing and give the Topping E50 a run for its money]

I am not sure if this would compare with the E50 in regards to jitter over coaxial...would it?

 

[Veri]

This is half the price of the Topping E50 and uses the same chip.

Just a correction, SU-6 is ESS9038Q2M while E50 is ESS9068AS.

 

[Schlippwhip68]

Just a correction, SU-6 is ESS9038Q2M while E50 is ESS9068AS.

Ok, my mistake, thankyou...still both good chips regardless.

 

[Lupin]

Ok, my mistake, thankyou...still both good chips regardless.

Chips alone don't mean anything.

Besides that I never read or heard anywhere that a person is able to actually hear the difference between a ESS9028, ESS9038Q2M, ESS9038PRO, AK4490, AK4493, AK4497 or AK4499.
Marketing materials are nice and the numbers look attractive but you wont hear the difference.

 

[Schlippwhip68]

Chips alone don't mean anything.

Besides that I never read or heard anywhere that a person is able to actually hear the difference between a ESS9028, ESS9038Q2M, ESS9038PRO, AK4490, AK4493, AK4497 or AK4499.
Marketing materials are nice and the numbers look attractive but you wont hear the difference.

True. Different implementation's of the same chip give different results. Agreed.

 

[Acerun]

Amir should be reviewing the sister amp, the SH-6 very soon. By all accounts it looks like a high value performer like the SU-6.

 

[Schlippwhip68]

Can anyone explain..sorry..what Digital PLL (DPPL) is on the SU6? I ask because I wish to use coaxial but am a bit nervous over Amirs results here. So what is Digital PLL (DPPL) and how do i change it to the best setting on the SU6 or would i be better off looking elsewhere for coaxial harmony?

 

[Veri]

Can anyone explain..sorry..what Digital PLL (DPPL) is on the SU6? I ask because I wish to use coaxial but am a bit nervous over Amirs results here. So what is Digital PLL (DPPL) and how do i change it to the best setting on the SU6 or would i be better off looking elsewhere for coaxial harmony?

Phase lock loop, it is to lower jitter. DPLL (min) has Max jitter suppression but has a harder time to lock onto signal. It's a trade-off, a noisier digital input might not play nice with max PLL setting. So it's nice that you can play with it in the UI..

 

[Schlippwhip68]

Phase lock loop, it is to lower jitter. DPLL (min) has Max jitter suppression but has a harder time to lock onto signal. It's a trade-off, a noisier digital input might not play nice with max PLL setting. So it's nice that you can play with it in the UI..

Ok...getting there in my head...bare with me...where in the UI can i manipulate the PLL setting on the SU6? Is it one of the filter options..?

 

[Veri]

Ok...getting there in my head...bare with me...where in the UI can i manipulate the PLL setting on the SU6? Is it one of the filter options..?

I'm.. not sure All I see is that Amir found it in "the options".

 

[Acerun]

I believe you choose it via the remote

 

[Schlippwhip68]

I'm.. not sure All I see is that Amir found it in "the options".

Check this out!

AIYIMA A300

Product description:Chipset: TPA3255+QCC3034+ES9023Bluetooth: Version 5.0, supports AAC, SBC, APTX, APTX-LL, APTX-HDInput channel: AUX (unbalance), XLR (balance), bluetoothInput Sensitivity: 1VrmsXLR maximum input level: 2.2vrmsSignal-to-noise ratio: >110dbTotal Harmonic Distortion: 0.02%Speaker...

www.aiyima.com

 

[Purity86]

So I have it running on Bluetooth but it isn't showing me the bitrate...just says Ld which I take to mean LDAC.

PS it sounds fantastic with my new JBL 305Ps in the garage.

I'm still looking for a DAC for my TV with my JBL 305p MII, and I'm worried about preamp performance!?
I started with E30, and I canceled my order for this matter, and I did read about DX30pro+ and I didn't love the reviews about it (in the pre-amp perspective).
And now I'm reading about SU-6, so do you recommend it?
I will use it directly: TV>optical>SU-6> JBL 305 (controlled by the remote).

 

[Jerderv]

I'm still looking for a DAC for my TV with my JBL 305p MII, and I'm worried about preamp performance!?
I started with E30, and I canceled my order for this matter, and I did read about DX30pro+ and I didn't love the reviews about it (in the pre-amp perspective).
And now I'm reading about SU-6, so do you recommend it?
I will use it directly: TV>optical>SU-6> JBL 305 (controlled by the remote).

Im running TV>Optical>SU-6>amps/dsp>speakers/subwoofer. The volume control works well and im happy with how the setup is working. I really wish the amazon firestick could control the SU-6 volume. The firestick had an IR profile that worked great with my SMSL q5 pro. When i would power on the tv it would also power on the Q5 pro and the volume control would turn the amp up and down. Worked great only needed one remote. Now im back to two remotes one for the tv/firestick and one for the stereo. Hopefully amazon will had the new IR profile for the SU-6.