SMSL SU-9 Balanced DAC Review

SOUNDSONIC · May 19, 2021

Dingenus said:
Mine gets a little bit of lukewarm with a topping L30 on top. The L30 becomes clearly warmer.

Thanks. I thought this is not normal for a DAC...

Tomy · May 21, 2021

Good afternoon from Spain,

I have a question about this SU-9. Is there any possibility that the output is only on the XLR or RCA ports separately and not always both at the same time?. Because I have my JBL LSR305 connected to an active subwoofer (PreSonus Temblor T8) and if I don't have the subwoofer turned off (it's always in stand by mode) it will turn on as long as the DAC is on, which is a drawback that the D70S doesn't have.

Thanks a lot.

SOUNDSONIC · May 27, 2021

Tomy said:
Good afternoon from Spain,

I have a question about this SU-9. Is there any possibility that the output is only on the XLR or RCA ports separately and not always both at the same time?. Because I have my JBL LSR305 connected to an active subwoofer (PreSonus Temblor T8) and if I don't have the subwoofer turned off (it's always in stand by mode) it will turn on as long as the DAC is on, which is a drawback that the D70S doesn't have.

Thanks a lot.

If the SU9 is paired with its big brother, the DA9, the XLR and RCA are operated individually or separately thru the balanced/unbalanced switching on the latter...
.
Buenas dias!

halo · May 30, 2021

SMSL SU-9 or Topping d30 pro?

Looking for a new DAC, but can't choose

(dont need bluetooth, MQA or preamp function)

Looking at measurements only, I can't find an audible difference.
I would even go as far as to buy a SMSL M400 (if it was available)

Anybody here has decent advice?

4udio · May 30, 2021

halo said:
SMSL SU-9 or Topping d30 pro?

Looking for a new DAC, but can't choose
(dont need bluetooth, MQA or preamp function)

Looking at measurements only, I can't find an audible difference.
I would even go as far as to buy a SMSL M400 (if it was available)

Anybody here has decent advice?

halo · May 30, 2021

4udio said:

Thank you.
However I already saw that before I posted.
I like the subjective reviews from this guy.
But the part about midrange is very confusing.
I really can't believe that a DAC would make such a difference.
Based on that I would choose SU-9.
But... I HATE bass, especially sub Bass.
I spent a small fortune to get rid of bass in my living room.
If someone says this dac gives a punchy bass. Or warm low end.
I run for the hills.

I wanted to buy them both from amazon and audition them. But alas amazon here has only topping

4udio · May 30, 2021

halo said:
Thank you.
However I already saw that before I posted.
I like the subjective reviews from this guy.
But the part about midrange is very confusing.
I really can't believe that a DAC would make such a difference.
Based on that I would choose SU-9.
But... I HATE bass, especially sub Bass.
I spent a small fortune to get rid of bass in my living room.
If someone says this dac gives a punchy bass. Or warm low end.
I run for the hills.

I wanted to buy them both from amazon and audition them. But alas amazon here has only topping

I can't speak about d30 pro (I haven't heard one) but SU-9 has prominent bass (compared to D70s)

nhs · May 30, 2021

The smsl su-9 and smsl m500 have a serious bug in their firmware detected by @liu and also measured and confirmed by @WolfX-700. See also post https://www.audiosciencereview.com/...ds/strange-smsl-m500-high-3rd-harmonic.22710/
The SINAD will be very bad (about -75db or -80db) if you are listening to stereo. Therefore I would avoid SMSL SU-9 unless this bug is fixed.

halo · May 30, 2021

nhs said:
The smsl su-9 and smsl m500 have a serious bug in their firmware detected by @liu and also measured and confirmed by @WolfX-700. See also post https://www.audiosciencereview.com/...ds/strange-smsl-m500-high-3rd-harmonic.22710/
The SINAD will be very bad (about -75db or -80db) if you are listening to stereo. Therefore I would avoid SMSL SU-9 unless this bug is fixed.

Thanks so much, for bringing this to my attention

halo · May 30, 2021

4udio said:
I can't speak about d30 pro (I haven't heard one) but SU-9 has prominent bass (compared to D70s)

Thank you for that observation. I am definitely leaning to the Topping.
And also, somehow quad DAC chips impress me more

marcom22 · May 30, 2021

nhs said:
The smsl su-9 and smsl m500 have a serious bug in their firmware detected by @liu and also measured and confirmed by @WolfX-700. See also post https://www.audiosciencereview.com/...ds/strange-smsl-m500-high-3rd-harmonic.22710/
The SINAD will be very bad (about -75db or -80db) if you are listening to stereo. Therefore I would avoid SMSL SU-9 unless this bug is fixed.

For info the fix (with a new firmware) has been tested by Wolf and it seems to work well and as expected. I'm waiting SMSL that put the new firmware on the support page before buy it.
Thanx-X Wolf

aandres_gm · May 30, 2021

marcom22 said:
For info the fix (with a new firmware) has been tested by Wolf and it seems to work well and as expected. I'm waiting SMSL that put the new firmware on the support page before buy it.
Thanx-X Wolf

Since you can't update the firmware via USB, the fix may be a bit harder to roll out

marcom22 · May 30, 2021

aandres_gm said:
Since you can't update the firmware via USB, the fix may be a bit harder to roll out

This case is for M500 but not for SMSL SU-9, with this one you can update the firmware by USB

4udio · May 30, 2021

marcom22 said:
This case is for M500 but not for SMSL SU-9, with this one you can update the firmware by USB

I think SU-9 needs special cable for firmware upgrade: https://www.audiosciencereview.com/...nge-smsl-m500-high-3rd-harmonic.22710/page-20

aandres_gm · May 30, 2021

marcom22 said:
This case is for M500 but not for SMSL SU-9, with this one you can update the firmware by USB

I believe both need a special tool. In case of the M500, you also have to disassemble the chasis to reach the port, from what I've read.

marcom22 · May 30, 2021

I think that you are right, same problem for M500 and SU-9

https://www.****************/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/feet-1100x825.jpg

Condocondor · May 30, 2021

Would liked to have seen some bluetooth performance tests.

marcom22 · Jun 1, 2021

I contacted ShenzhenAudio and tell me that all the units in stock now are fixed with the new firmware. The problem is with Amazon, because they dont know if are fixed or not.

aandres_gm · Jun 1, 2021

marcom22 said:
I contacted ShenzhenAudio and tell me that all the units in stock now are fixed with the new firmware. The problem is with Amazon, because they dont know if are fixed or not.

This sounds somehow hard to believe, but good news if true.

JSmith · Jun 1, 2021

marcom22 said:
I contacted ShenzhenAudio and tell me that all the units in stock now are fixed with the new firmware.

@SHENZHENAUDIO is that correct and when can current owners receive the device to update their own firmware?

JSmith

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