• WANTED: Happy members who like to discuss audio and other topics related to our interest. Desire to learn and share knowledge of science required. There are many reviews of audio hardware and expert members to help answer your questions. Click here to have your audio equipment measured for free!

SMSL SU-8 Version 2 Balanced DAC

MWC

Active Member
Joined
Apr 15, 2019
Messages
153
Likes
64
SMSL have responded to this question already, back in this thread (you can read it for yourself) by saying all SU8 now being shipped are v2. Amir had an early version for evaluation hence his pix.
 

heck

Member
Joined
Jun 17, 2019
Messages
12
Likes
0
SMSL have responded to this question already, back in this thread (you can read it for yourself) by saying all SU8 now being shipped are v2. Amir had an early version for evaluation hence his pix.
Thanks for the clarification! I was trying to find answers but failed
 

klimal

Member
Joined
Jun 12, 2019
Messages
19
Likes
8
Press the Power button as you switch on the power. The info will be shown briefly on the display.
 

Shoaibexpert

Addicted to Fun and Learning
Joined
Apr 28, 2019
Messages
521
Likes
192
View attachment 28381[/QUOTE]
I use Chromecast Audio for streaming Tidal through my SU-8 10th anniversary very often, sounds great and is very stable, no audio drops or glitches.
Hi I just realized this can be done and am really excited to use Tidal HiFi without the need for my PC to the SMSL SU-8. Do 96K streams from Tidal run as 24Bit/96K with display on the SMSL SU-8 via the Chromecast Audio? Am in the process of buying a mini Toslink to Toslink cable to do the same. I feel this would have a more cleaner sound than via USB using PC. Thanks
 

badyard

Member
Joined
Oct 18, 2018
Messages
84
Likes
75
(provided that you have a good PC correctly setup for best performance in audio reproduction)
if your goal is maximum quality, then Tidal through USB using a program such as Audirvana is the deal.
Chromecast is clearly inferior in quality, but still enjoyable by all means! (I don't think it does 96k though).
 

BDWoody

Chief Cat Herder
Moderator
Forum Donor
Joined
Jan 9, 2019
Messages
6,948
Likes
22,627
Location
Mid-Atlantic, USA. (Maryland)
When you say Chromecast is clearly inferior in quality, what do you mean?
It will do 24/96... It's basically bitperfect optical. What's going to be better if you don't need more resolution?

Plus...you can group them to play sync'd which is awesome...
 

MWC

Active Member
Joined
Apr 15, 2019
Messages
153
Likes
64
IMHO wifi is always prone to being iffy. Better to have a wired, reliable connection like USB. The future might bring better more reliable wifi and maybe for lower resolutions the future is here. It's certainly still not constantly good enough for Mch..
 

BDWoody

Chief Cat Herder
Moderator
Forum Donor
Joined
Jan 9, 2019
Messages
6,948
Likes
22,627
Location
Mid-Atlantic, USA. (Maryland)
Maybe get a better router. Especially at the relatively low bandwidth req'd for music. I can't remember the last time I had any issues with optical... So, you haven't personally used a CCA, because they're just not good enough for...what?

I see people dismissing them as if they couldn't be 'real hifi'. Generally, they never used one.

How do you run a usb cable out to the garage?
 

MWC

Active Member
Joined
Apr 15, 2019
Messages
153
Likes
64
I guess CCA was an OK device in it's day for what it did. Personally I would not use one as it (any wifi based thing) can't reliably handle Mch music, but I realise most people are not into anything more than 2ch: streaming Spotify, and Tidal at best. I gave Tidal a trial: it could not live up to it's marketing promise to decode MQA. Not that I particularly want MQA, but I did want to give it a decent audition without buying any MQA hardware. CCA has it's own AKM DAC (I believe capable of 2ch 24/192) are you able to keep the CCA DAC out of the way when using the SU8?
 

BDWoody

Chief Cat Herder
Moderator
Forum Donor
Joined
Jan 9, 2019
Messages
6,948
Likes
22,627
Location
Mid-Atlantic, USA. (Maryland)
If you're using optical, it's just a passthrough.

Ok device for what it did, in it's day... What is better for what it does today?
I believe if they sold them with the optical cable as well as the mini-mini, they would have gotten a lot further into the audiophile market...
 

badyard

Member
Joined
Oct 18, 2018
Messages
84
Likes
75
When you say Chromecast is clearly inferior in quality, what do you mean?
It will do 24/96... It's basically bitperfect optical. What's going to be better if you don't need more resolution?

Plus...you can group them to play sync'd which is awesome...
I surely consider chromecast audio "via optical" as hi-fi and I think it's an amazing little device!
It just doesn't sound as good as (in my case) a properly setup PC using Audirvana.
You can try it yourself!
 

shoobopper

Member
Joined
Jul 20, 2019
Messages
5
Likes
3
Are each inputs' volumes able to be individually controlled? If I were to hook up powered monitors with RCA and headphones with XLR, can they each be individually controlled? This question also goes for multiple inputs via XLR splitters.
 

jonmichael

Member
Joined
Apr 15, 2018
Messages
45
Likes
12
Location
Colorado
There is only volume control in the SU-8. What you do with the output volume after it leaves the DAC is dependent on your outboard equipment.
 

shoobopper

Member
Joined
Jul 20, 2019
Messages
5
Likes
3
There is only volume control in the SU-8. What you do with the output volume after it leaves the DAC is dependent on your outboard equipment.

I understand that it is able to change volume, I was just wondering if xlr and rca output volumes were able to be controlled independently.
 

shoobopper

Member
Joined
Jul 20, 2019
Messages
5
Likes
3
Here’s the gist of my questions:

I have an smsl su-8 with a thx aaa 789 order processing. I am purchasing jbl 305ps. I am looking to interconnect my su-8 and 789 with xlr. My goal is to have each volume easily adjustable (preferably with the remote for the su-8). For the powered monitors should I:
1.) Buy xlr splitters
2.) buy xlr to rca for speakers
3.) buy a separate preamp (recommendations?)

Also some questions: Can different outputs’ volume on the su-8 individually controlled? (Is this the case with splitters or would I need to use different outputs)
Can the 789’s pass through volume be controlled?

Sorry for wall of text just trying to learn
 

maxxevv

Major Contributor
Joined
Apr 12, 2018
Messages
1,872
Likes
1,964
You could get a passive XLR switcher box. And just switch between the outputs that you're using via that box.
Pretty inexpensive for the passive ones.

This was asked on some thread regarding the SU-8 or the THX 789 ( can't recall exactly which).
 

Gyroscopics

Active Member
Joined
Feb 19, 2019
Messages
105
Likes
71
Here’s the gist of my questions:

I have an smsl su-8 with a thx aaa 789 order processing. I am purchasing jbl 305ps. I am looking to interconnect my su-8 and 789 with xlr. My goal is to have each volume easily adjustable (preferably with the remote for the su-8). For the powered monitors should I:
1.) Buy xlr splitters
2.) buy xlr to rca for speakers
3.) buy a separate preamp (recommendations?)

Also some questions: Can different outputs’ volume on the su-8 individually controlled? (Is this the case with splitters or would I need to use different outputs)
Can the 789’s pass through volume be controlled?

Sorry for wall of text just trying to learn


I use this as RCA to XLR converter, as Volume Control (pre-amp), and as Switcher, all in one box for my JBL 306p.

Nobsound Mini Fully-Balanced/Single-Ended Passive Preamp; Hi-Fi Pre-Amplifier; XLR/RCA Volume Controller for Active Monitor Speakers
 

Oukkidoukki

Senior Member
Joined
Sep 6, 2018
Messages
498
Likes
233
Every box/splitter you put between dac and speakers will downgrade the signal quality...not much point to hunt high end dac then but as you wish.
 
Top Bottom