SMSL SU-6 Review (Desktop DAC)

[Acerun]

Perhaps I don't understand you correctly but I'm still not really sure why you don't directly stream to the SU-6's LDAC capable Bluetooth receiver.
What is the purpose of the ifi in this particular setup?

I think putting the LDAC signal through the Zen Blue at 124db of Sinad provides a higher quality signal to the SU-6. In fact Amir stated that it's as good as using USB. For $130 the Zen Blue is a very good bluetooth digital transport.

 

[Lupin]

I think putting the LDAC signal through the Zen Blue at 124db of Sinad provides a higher quality signal to the SU-6. In fact Amir stated that it's as good as using USB. For $130 the Zen Blue is a very good bluetooth digital transport.

I bet the LDAC signal through the SU-6's receiver will be just as good as using the iFi.. from what i see they both use the same Qualcomm bluetooth chip. So why put more devices in the signal path. I'm confident you will not hear the difference in a volume matched double blind test.
The iFi is just a bridge, digital in and digital out. I don't see why it would be any better at that then the Bluetooth receiver of the SU-6.

 

[Acerun]

I bet the LDAC signal through the SU-6's receiver will be just as good as using the iFi.. from what i see they both use the same Qualcomm bluetooth chip. So why put more devices in the signal path. I'm confident you will not hear the difference in a volume matched double blind test.
The iFi is just a bridge, digital in and digital out. I don't see why it would be any better at that then the Bluetooth receiver of the SU-6.

I wish Amir would have tested the Bluetooth on the SU-6. Maybe double-blind I wouldn't know, but to me adding the Ifi sounds more detailed as I switch back and forth. Subjective, I know. Why do you think Amir would go out if his way to point out that the Ifi with a good DAC would have the same level of quality as USB? I would think it's because the Ifi decodes and digitally passes a better signal than one can get going bluetooth direct to most DACs. @amirm might you weigh in?

 

[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.

For Pixel 6: Try this under developer settings and let me know what you discover. You'll have to restart the phone after making the change. I can now force 990k high audio quality without stuttering. I also see 96k via USB to my RME ADI-2FS, before I only saw 48.

 

[Acerun]

I bet the LDAC signal through the SU-6's receiver will be just as good as using the iFi.. from what i see they both use the same Qualcomm bluetooth chip. So why put more devices in the signal path. I'm confident you will not hear the difference in a volume matched double blind test.
The iFi is just a bridge, digital in and digital out. I don't see why it would be any better at that then the Bluetooth receiver of the SU-6.

Amir thinks it would be the same. You are right. Thanks for bringing it to my attention.

 

[Acerun]

So my SMSL SU -6 won't recognize USB-C to USBC connections. I reinstalled the driver. It will recognize USBA to USBC but on phone and on computer it will not go USBC to USBC. Anyone else have this issue?

 

[Acerun]

I

it also will display the DSD, like 64, 128, 256, 512, and a DSD icon will light up.

Hi Liu. My SU-6 will not connect USB-C to USB-C. It will not connect by phone and it will not connect by laptop usbc to usbc. It will connect by laptop USB-A to USB c. I reinstalled the driver even though it said it was the same driver. That did not change anything. Can you help me with any way I can get my SU6 to work USBC to USBC?

 

[RandomEar]

Hi Liu. My SU-6 will not connect USB-C to USB-C. It will not connect by phone and it will not connect by laptop usbc to usbc. It will connect by laptop USB-A to USB c. I reinstalled the driver even though it said it was the same driver. That did not change anything. Can you help me with any way I can get my SU6 to work USBC to USBC?

Two things to check:

• Is your USB C cable able to transfer data? There are cables which are wired up only for power. And it could also be defective.
• Did you try plugging in one side of the cable rotated by 180°? The plugs are symmetrical and the USB C specification requires all plugs and sockets to work in either position. But some manufacturers cheap out and implement non-standard solutions.

 

[Acerun]

Two things to check:

• Is your USB C cable able to transfer data? There are cables which are wired up only for power. And it could also be defective.
• Did you try plugging in one side of the cable rotated by 180°? The plugs are symmetrical and the USB C specification requires all plugs and sockets to work in either position. But some manufacturers cheap out and implement non-standard solutions.

Thank you, I've tried multiple cables, but just to be safe, I'm ordering a USBC to USBC cable that's made for Oculus high speed data transfer. I will update once I've tried it.

 

[TNT]

Will the DAC at power turn on, set itself to 0 dB attenuation and use the last used filter?

I would not like to have to communicate in any way with the thing and still get full level out and a certain filter at every power on.

Can it work like this?

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[melvinjames]

@TNT .. in my experience it retains the last settings regardless of putting it in standby, switching it OFF, or unplugging it entirely.

 

[TNT]

Thanks!!

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[TNT]

So, symphonic orchestra lowers and SU-6 owners... are you satisfied with the strings and horns from your DAC?

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[Nick_L]

I checked two times but could not find any strings and horns at my DAC.

 

[TNT]

"at"?... from! ;-)

I have received a SU-6 and initial impressions is very favourable. It seems to reproduce the recorded material in a very satisfying way. Strings, horns and all

I run it immediately from a Squeezbox Touch using Toslink on the smsl tightest PLL setting for least jitter and the brickwall (7) filter.

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[rajapruk]

I bought 3 of these for the bells and whistles, but I think the strings and horns will be ok as well!

 

[Acerun]

So the USB input of my SU-6 is defective. So I have to pay $28 to send it to China to get it fixed and I'm without it for a month...

 

[Asking Dumb Questions]

Does the SU6 comes with a Volume Controller?

 

[melvinjames]

Does the SU6 comes with a Volume Controller?

Yes, via the remote.

 

[TNT]

I forgot my remote at home - what communication standard does it use - can one use an "one-for-all" remote to change volume - thats all I need...

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