Thank you for this! I have been debating between this and topping d30 pro. This helps me make up my mind.... I know i trust your ears because your review of xduoo mt602 was spot on too what i heard. Thank you sir!
Thanks Srbojub! Another complete well thought through review. I especially appreciated your defense of sound fine tuning options in a DAC. I am not sure I agree (perhaps these options should be in the preamp/amp instead), but your point that decisions that fine tune the sound have to be made anyway...so why not let consumers do them, is a good one that I had not previously considered. I think one reason some audiophiles prefer turntables is that they always had much more to fiddle with. Old DACS generally allowed no user sound control. Nice job.
Hi, I love your review and descriptions about this SMSL SU-8s. I have been looking to buy it and cannot find it available anywhere. Do you have any resources that sell this product? Thank you in advance!
Thank you for your review. Would this DAC, with the SMSL DA9 amplifier be a good combo to connect my iPhone to to play losless music? And what speakers would you pair it with. Thanks again!
Great review!!! Thank you very much!! Please help me decide.. What's your advice between smsl su8s or the topping ex5?? Im between this 2 - same price.. Grist dac will have. Thank you again! 👍🙌🏽 great work! 👌🏾💪
Hi.. been listening most of your wonderful review on dacs. Currently im in the mid of deciding new smsl su-9pro vs old smsl m400 model which come with similar pricing comparison in my country. My current system i feel is slightly lack of warm sound.. which dac do you think is suitable ? Thank you in advance. Hope to hear from your expertise engineer 😀
SU-9 pro is more revealing and more transparent. Normally, I would recommend it without a doubt. But if you're truly looking for a warm sounding DAC then you might actually prefer M400 that's quite warm sounding. Just be sure not to pay much more for it. M500 MKII is another great and warm sounding option that's probably very affordable at the moment.
Use the digital filters, like "fast linear" or slow "roll off', (no degradation of sound) but keep it on the "standard" setting. Those settings are on different menus and for good reason. If you set it to "tube" or "crystal" it's creating a lot of distortion. SMSL warns about this on my SU-8 and D1 and claims that it add considerable distortion on all settings other than standard (direct). I don't use tone controls on analog circuits because "direct" sounds much better. Sending the signal through a rather large circuity for bass, treble and balance control degrades the sound. The settings for "crystal", "tube"....... are similar to tone controls. I would say that they are much worse because I tried only a couple settings and instantly noticed a big degradation in sound quality. This was before I read the disclaimer that these other settings add distortion. I am pretty good at avoiding my own psychological biases, because I don't expect to see any difference when I change things. I bi-wired my mono block to my Kef R900 and I was thinking that I was wasting my time, but as soon as the song (which I am totally familiar with) started playing, I was like.... "wait a minute, that part is a little sweeter." Maybe SMSL doesn't add that disclaimer now, but if not they should stick to being honest. Digital filters do not degrade the sound quality, but "sound coloring" filters absolutely do. It's all relative I guess, because I always used tone controls when I had (very low) budget systems (you pretty much have to), but even with a half decent system It seems that tone controls or sound coloring takes away much more than they can ever add back.
Hello Srboljub, for some time now I have been aware of your interesting posts and can say that I am very satisfied with your detailed and factual assessments. Now I need some advice from you. The DAC presented here - the SU-8s SMSL - is very interesting for me. At the moment I have on my PC the one from Meridian, the Explorer 2, which is connected to my active system from Genelec, consisting of 2x 8320 and 1x subwoofer 7350. The system is calibrated using the GLM software. Basically, the sound is very good, but I think that there is still a lot more that can be done, as the Meridian Explorer 2 is a bit outdated, has neither balanced outputs nor a separate power supply, it is unfortunately powered via USB. I am therefore looking for a DAC that offers a much better sound. I am looking for a price range of around € 350 to € 500. Which DACs would be suitable? Many thanks and best regards from German
In that price range you should definitely consider SU-8s if you like quick and snappy sound of Sabre DACs. If you're lookin for something more laid back and with warmer bassline, than Topping D30 pro is a great option. If you're not sure about which type of DAC would click better in your own system... than SU-8s is actually very good, because it offers sound color options that can alter tonality. But the most important thing is that any of these should be a very noticeable upgrade over your current Meridian.
With your settings can sml 8 be good for jazz? I know have topping 50s, mqa can be a plus maybe too. Will worth the change for music with soul and not digital???? Thanks and sorry for so many questions!!!!! Great channel!
Am I to notice a gain in sound quality with this dac over the onboard dac in my Marantz CD6003? I understand the CS4398 is quite a respectable dac chip, so I'm not yet convinced that any gain is to be had with this external dac. I don't have coin to spend on stuff I don't need so I'm curious about the need to buy an external dac of any quality.... I already own the SMSL AO200 with which I am so far absolutely delighted... I only play cd's, and occasionally the USB playback through the CD6003, so I don't use a pc, digital streaming, Bluetooth, Spotify or any of that nonsense. Just cd's. I have thought of either replacing the CD6003 with something a bit newer, say a CD6007, or go for a half-reasonable external dac....
A great presentation and review! Do you think that Topping D30 Pro presents sound with more or less 3D & depth than SU-8S? Same question for SU-9. Thanks.
It's not just the annoyance of a bright display. The reason the display is able to turn off (while the song is playing), is because digital displays are quite noisy and can pollute the signal path.
You're right. On Hegel amplifier, for example, when display is turned off you can clear a subtle improvement in tone calmness. However, in my experience most people just don't notice this (for various reasons) and will simply call it a BS.
Fantastic Thank You....I am receiving a SU-9 later today via Amazon...didn't know SU-8s was coming.....I'm anxious to upgrade the power cord on the SU-9...it made a huge difference on my Topping P50/D50 currently using. Great that you gave music recommendations too !!!
3 points of contact is 1 less than 4 points to transfer vibrations into the most important unit (low level DAC that will be amplified many times) to avoid external noise. I like the thinking of SMSL's engineers. It's not like they were trying to cut corners since they offered more feet to add, but I wouldn't bother adding anything. Maybe the most sensitive components to vibrations are in those two corners and that is why they places the rear pad in the middle to mitigate interference. If people know how low level a DAC signal is they will understand why you don't want to add any noise there. If noise gets on your speaker cables it's not really a big deal, because the final output signal is at a much higher level and all amplification is already done, so the noise won't be amplified. The signal from the DAC goes through 3 amplification stages in the pre-amp and 3 more in the amp (in a class A-A/B), so the smallest amount of noise will also go through those amplification stages and get boosted much louder. This is why I don't understand why people want blue-tooth on a DAC other than on a portable speaker. The metal case of components blocks all high frequency noise from getting on the circuit, thus it's insane to me to purposely funnel in high frequency (2.4 GHz) noise via an antenna. Microwaves, WiFi, cordless phones........ all use 2.4 GHz and will get sucked right into that blue-tooth antenna tuned to receive 2.4 GHz signals. Why doesn't SMSL add blue tooth to their flagship D1 Dac? Because it degrades the sound quality. Blue tooth sounds like ass anyhow, compared to running the signal through a copper wire. At the beach listening to a boombox, sure use blue tooth, but don't destroy your sound quality in your living room (or listening room).
What about the comparison between SU-8 without ‘s’ at the end. I sold my SU-8 after hearing Loxjie D30 and have no regret. It’s not about good or bad, but the matter of taste. Thanks to you great review, I presume SU-8 and SU-8s have the same character.
Loxjie d30 is a nice sounding dac. Probably D30 and a Modius are the best choices under $200. I liked the D30 better than the Topping D50s. I have a Lavaudio DS600 (D50s) clone which is still decent as the Loxjie couldn't hold the optical in securely. The DS600/D50s has that glare which especially accentuates even the sibilant passages and draws attention to itself. The SMSL SU-8 sounds like maybe a slightly more refined D50s, perhaps with a bit wider SS and slightly better /more effective filtering choices. I don't know if it is any better than a SONCOZ LA-QXD1. In the writeup, he states "In the upper registers D30 pro has a bit granier and more textured sound to it, while SU-8s sounds cleaner but with more "glare" and "brighness". I'm trying to get away from the glare while more tolerable with movies, it is less so with music. The Loxie D30 didn't seem to have that glare at least it was far less. When I heard the D70s there was none at all. While there wasn't a big jump in detail, the lack of glare in the D70s makes for a much better presentation across the board. Perhaps the SS was wider but I just listened without anything drawing attention to itself and I liked that. I sent the D70s back and kept the DS600. Now I am revisiting that option. So now, I'm deciding between the Modius, D70s and Bitfrost 2. The D70s adds more features and should be a direct competitor with the Bitfrost 2. I don't think the Modius is too far behind either as it seems to be preferred over both the D50s and the Loxjie d30. But the Loxjie d30 is the nicest under $200 I have heard, even against the Topping E30. I ordered the D70s but it has been delayed so I've been going back and forth on which to consider. The Modius, next best choice or the D70s for functionality and some R2R warmth, overall SQ and it may soon become unavailable due to limited supply of chips? The Bitfrost 2 seems to hold up well against the D90 with preferences among listeners going slightly either way. And the Bitfrost has an awesome remote, that alone is worth something. The D70s is definitely both smooth and dynamic sounding, perhaps not quite the energy of a well implemented ESS 9038Pro such as the D90se, but that would have cost well over $200 more for something that may not add much of anything. The Bitfrost 2 may add some depth, give more of that R2R staging while matching the detail so it's close. There's also the Ares 2 as well but there are power outages from time to time and I don't like the idea of having to wait for the warmup period to progress before sounding at its' best and it may not be the best option for movies. A dac should do both music and movies competently. So, the Loxjie D30 is no slouch, it was inexpensive and it's size makes it great for travel while many are not and if you upgrade in the future and decide to go through what I am going through, it's still nice to have. As to upgrading, The SQ differences can be subtle at that point as you move up the chain. Except for the ESS glare which isn't so subtle as you listen.
@@iiWiReviews According to your review, I think I'll be happy not up-grading to SU-8s even if it will enhance the sound quality. Your review helps me from hovering over some other review in vain. Thanks.
@@nc3419 Sometimes I get into these chinese things then I'm like "I can get a solid American made amp or dac from Schiit for cheaper." Schiits stuff really is unbeatable for the price.
Hello, I understand that it would be crazy to answer all the questions that you are asked. . . but I hope you could take a couple of minutes and help me with a query of this model. I just bought this same dac (SU 8s) that you have published but when I go into the settings, specifically the "SOUND COLOR" setting when changing the "tube", "rich", "crystal" and "standard" options I can't perceive or the slightest change between one and the other, they all sound exactly the same, which makes me quite disappointed because I don't know if it's a problem with my dac or if the same thing happens to everyone. I know a person who has a dac of this same brand (smsl) I don't remember the model, but it is apparently more advanced since the screen shows the covers of the singers that are being played, I told him what is happening to me and he says that he It is strange because in his model he says that there are variations between one and the other. If you could really help me with this question, I would really appreciate it since the value of this product, although it is true, is not that expensive, it is still a good amount of money. Thank you in advance and I hope you can help me. Greetings.
Hi. Sound colors have very, but I mean very small influence on the overall sound. It's very similar for different digital filters... If you don't hear any difference that's quite OK.
Nicely Done. I like the idea of a little customization from the SMSL but prefer the warmth of the Topping D30 Pro. How much do you lose using the SE on both ? Looking for a new warmish dac but only need SE. Thanks
Both sound a little cleaner and crisper over balanced connection but SE is still as good as any SE out at this price point. SE outs sound a bit softer and warmer too, so if you're after that kind of sound you have nothing to worry about.
I haven't found one at this price point. They're usually just DACs with some sort of attenuation. Good preamps have different outputs with higher voltages, and sound fuller/more powerful compared to a DAC with attenuation (lean and analytical when connected directly to the power amp). It's simply better to have DAC used as a DAC, connected to an integrated amplifier (that has preamp included). For more input on that topic, you should maybe check the reviews of a fellow reviewer Sandu from the Soundnews. He is focusing more on a preamp mode and he's probably better suited to answer this particular question.
Hi buddy I have the SMSL DA9 amp I bought after seeing your review on. ? I have a old OPPO Dac with balance connections would I be able to use this DAC with it or do you recommend I buy a SMSL Dac
Hi. I would try Oppo DAC first, they use to make a very good DACs. Some of Oppo Blue Ray players are basically legendary for their exceptional sound quality due to high quality DACs inside.
Thanks for the vid, I really vibe your enthusiasm in inscribing the detail being elicited. Don't feel like you need to answer, but did you blind test this device? If not, why not? I personally think this renders almost any and all reviews of a product like this close to worthless, at least in regards to it's sonic impact - it's primary and arguably singular purpose/utility.
I didn't do any blind testing because first it's difficult to organize without someone helping you, and second I really don't agree it's necessary unless you want to prove something to the audience who don't trust your hearing and your ability to not be biased. Personally, I don't want to do that. I do trust myself and my own hearing, and I wholeheartedly disagree that these kind of reviews are worthless. For those who think otherwise, there are sure other sources of information they trust more and that's all fine.
But to me another issue bothers me, why smsl produces in such a short Time this su8s which looks and Works nearly identically as their fantastic su9???!!! It,s like making their own concurrency...
The SMSL Remote Control which also came with my SMSL M-300MKII is realy bad for use, The User should allways have the Manual nearby. Some Button has no function or only 1 Letter for it. Maybe for the SMSL Developers the Use is clear because they work the whole Day with this. For me as a User its every time a new Mystery. AND....... imho your Reviews become longer and longer and longer and also filled with that Hifi Magazine blablabla. It becomes more and more less interesting.
SMSL use the same remote right up to mid range products. Its perfectly fine and easy to use. Once you've accessed the menu it's just a simple up & down on the remote, OK your choice then FN out - easy!
Great review. your ablelity to describe how things sound is amazing
thanks for spending the time to review this.I subscribed due to your great reviews!
finally an audio review.. that speak for more than 20min about sound..
and not about the color used for the output connector...
thanks!!!
Thank you for this! I have been debating between this and topping d30 pro. This helps me make up my mind.... I know i trust your ears because your review of xduoo mt602 was spot on too what i heard. Thank you sir!
Hi buddy amazing review as always.
Thanks Srbojub! Another complete well thought through review. I especially appreciated your defense of sound fine tuning options in a DAC. I am not sure I agree (perhaps these options should be in the preamp/amp instead), but your point that decisions that fine tune the sound have to be made anyway...so why not let consumers do them, is a good one that I had not previously considered. I think one reason some audiophiles prefer turntables is that they always had much more to fiddle with. Old DACS generally allowed no user sound control. Nice job.
Man your reviews have really helped me figure things out! Thanks bud
Another great review! Most reviewers dont provide the level of description that you go over such as the filter effects!
Hi, I love your review and descriptions about this SMSL SU-8s. I have been looking to buy it and cannot find it available anywhere. Do you have any resources that sell this product? Thank you in advance!
Just ordered SU-8S after watching your review for the 5th time 😀. Thank you !
Thank you for your review. Would this DAC, with the SMSL DA9 amplifier be a good combo to connect my iPhone to to play losless music? And what speakers would you pair it with. Thanks again!
I grabbed this for 180 and at that price it's amazing. I'm surprised they have discontinued this model already - Kind of silly IMO. It's great!
Great review! You have cover almost everything but forgot about to mention what audio formats it can decode. Thanks!
no mqa for sure..
@@seanjoe1704 I think it does support MQA.
Great review.This DAC is now on my buy shortlist👍
Keep up the good work
Great review!!! Thank you very much!! Please help me decide.. What's your advice between smsl su8s or the topping ex5??
Im between this 2 - same price.. Grist dac will have.
Thank you again! 👍🙌🏽 great work! 👌🏾💪
I'm a former equipment reviewer. Love your style of reviewing. Very honest.
Good review 👍
Hi.. been listening most of your wonderful review on dacs. Currently im in the mid of deciding new smsl su-9pro vs old smsl m400 model which come with similar pricing comparison in my country. My current system i feel is slightly lack of warm sound.. which dac do you think is suitable ? Thank you in advance. Hope to hear from your expertise engineer 😀
SU-9 pro is more revealing and more transparent. Normally, I would recommend it without a doubt. But if you're truly looking for a warm sounding DAC then you might actually prefer M400 that's quite warm sounding. Just be sure not to pay much more for it. M500 MKII is another great and warm sounding option that's probably very affordable at the moment.
Thanks to this video i bought the smsl su-8s, what amplifier SMSL do you recommend? Greetings from Argentina.
Thanks for the review
Use the digital filters, like "fast linear" or slow "roll off', (no degradation of sound) but keep it on the "standard" setting. Those settings are on different menus and for good reason. If you set it to "tube" or "crystal" it's creating a lot of distortion. SMSL warns about this on my SU-8 and D1 and claims that it add considerable distortion on all settings other than standard (direct). I don't use tone controls on analog circuits because "direct" sounds much better. Sending the signal through a rather large circuity for bass, treble and balance control degrades the sound. The settings for "crystal", "tube"....... are similar to tone controls. I would say that they are much worse because I tried only a couple settings and instantly noticed a big degradation in sound quality. This was before I read the disclaimer that these other settings add distortion. I am pretty good at avoiding my own psychological biases, because I don't expect to see any difference when I change things. I bi-wired my mono block to my Kef R900 and I was thinking that I was wasting my time, but as soon as the song (which I am totally familiar with) started playing, I was like.... "wait a minute, that part is a little sweeter."
Maybe SMSL doesn't add that disclaimer now, but if not they should stick to being honest. Digital filters do not degrade the sound quality, but "sound coloring" filters absolutely do. It's all relative I guess, because I always used tone controls when I had (very low) budget systems (you pretty much have to), but even with a half decent system It seems that tone controls or sound coloring takes away much more than they can ever add back.
Hello Srboljub,
for some time now I have been aware of your interesting posts and can say that I am very satisfied with your detailed and factual assessments. Now I need some advice from you.
The DAC presented here - the SU-8s SMSL - is very interesting for me. At the moment I have on my PC the one from Meridian, the Explorer 2, which is connected to my active system from Genelec, consisting of 2x 8320 and 1x subwoofer 7350. The system is calibrated using the GLM software. Basically, the sound is very good, but I think that there is still a lot more that can be done, as the Meridian Explorer 2 is a bit outdated, has neither balanced outputs nor a separate power supply, it is unfortunately powered via USB. I am therefore looking for a DAC that offers a much better sound. I am looking for a price range of around € 350 to € 500. Which DACs would be suitable?
Many thanks and best regards from German
In that price range you should definitely consider SU-8s if you like quick and snappy sound of Sabre DACs. If you're lookin for something more laid back and with warmer bassline, than Topping D30 pro is a great option. If you're not sure about which type of DAC would click better in your own system... than SU-8s is actually very good, because it offers sound color options that can alter tonality. But the most important thing is that any of these should be a very noticeable upgrade over your current Meridian.
With your settings can sml 8 be good for jazz? I know have topping 50s, mqa can be a plus maybe too. Will worth the change for music with soul and not digital???? Thanks and sorry for so many questions!!!!! Great channel!
ITS GREAT U CAN ACTUALLY HEAR DIFFERENCE IN FILTERS ? most of people not really can hear any difference in most of the recent DACs
Am I to notice a gain in sound quality with this dac over the onboard dac in my Marantz CD6003? I understand the CS4398 is quite a respectable dac chip, so I'm not yet convinced that any gain is to be had with this external dac. I don't have coin to spend on stuff I don't need so I'm curious about the need to buy an external dac of any quality....
I already own the SMSL AO200 with which I am so far absolutely delighted...
I only play cd's, and occasionally the USB playback through the CD6003, so I don't use a pc, digital streaming, Bluetooth, Spotify or any of that nonsense. Just cd's. I have thought of either replacing the CD6003 with something a bit newer, say a CD6007, or go for a half-reasonable external dac....
A great presentation and review! Do you think that Topping D30 Pro presents sound with more or less 3D & depth than SU-8S? Same question for SU-9. Thanks.
I would say they are all very similar in that regard, but D30 pro might have a small lead when it comes to soundstage depth.
@@iiWiReviews Many thanks for your prompt response. Of the three which one would you expect to sound 'better' if paired with an OTL amp such as WA3?
@@WorldView22 I have no experience with OTL amps so not really the one to give advice in this case.
Great vid
What is the difference between SU-8 and SU-8s? is the SU-8s just the new version?
Awesomesauce.
Спасибо за обзор!!
It's not just the annoyance of a bright display. The reason the display is able to turn off (while the song is playing), is because digital displays are quite noisy and can pollute the signal path.
You're right. On Hegel amplifier, for example, when display is turned off you can clear a subtle improvement in tone calmness. However, in my experience most people just don't notice this (for various reasons) and will simply call it a BS.
Fantastic Thank You....I am receiving a SU-9 later today via Amazon...didn't know SU-8s was coming.....I'm anxious to upgrade the power cord on the SU-9...it made a huge difference on my Topping P50/D50 currently using. Great that you gave music recommendations too !!!
Great, hope you'll enjoy it. Be sure to try few sound colors. Cheers!
what power cord did you use?
@@yourdaddy4422 any good 14-10 gauge quality made Power cord is an upgrade to their power cables.
@@yourdaddy4422 Pangea Audio AC 14SE MKII Signature Power Cable
3 points of contact is 1 less than 4 points to transfer vibrations into the most important unit (low level DAC that will be amplified many times) to avoid external noise. I like the thinking of SMSL's engineers. It's not like they were trying to cut corners since they offered more feet to add, but I wouldn't bother adding anything. Maybe the most sensitive components to vibrations are in those two corners and that is why they places the rear pad in the middle to mitigate interference. If people know how low level a DAC signal is they will understand why you don't want to add any noise there. If noise gets on your speaker cables it's not really a big deal, because the final output signal is at a much higher level and all amplification is already done, so the noise won't be amplified. The signal from the DAC goes through 3 amplification stages in the pre-amp and 3 more in the amp (in a class A-A/B), so the smallest amount of noise will also go through those amplification stages and get boosted much louder. This is why I don't understand why people want blue-tooth on a DAC other than on a portable speaker. The metal case of components blocks all high frequency noise from getting on the circuit, thus it's insane to me to purposely funnel in high frequency (2.4 GHz) noise via an antenna. Microwaves, WiFi, cordless phones........ all use 2.4 GHz and will get sucked right into that blue-tooth antenna tuned to receive 2.4 GHz signals.
Why doesn't SMSL add blue tooth to their flagship D1 Dac? Because it degrades the sound quality. Blue tooth sounds like ass anyhow, compared to running the signal through a copper wire. At the beach listening to a boombox, sure use blue tooth, but don't destroy your sound quality in your living room (or listening room).
What about the comparison between SU-8 without ‘s’ at the end. I sold my SU-8 after hearing Loxjie D30 and have no regret. It’s not about good or bad, but the matter of taste. Thanks to you great review, I presume SU-8 and SU-8s have the same character.
I haven't heard the older SU-8 so I can't compare them. But the 8s version is more advanced to my ears than Loxjie D30.
Loxjie d30 is a nice sounding dac. Probably D30 and a Modius are the best choices under $200. I liked the D30 better than the Topping D50s. I have a Lavaudio DS600 (D50s) clone which is still decent as the Loxjie couldn't hold the optical in securely. The DS600/D50s has that glare which especially accentuates even the sibilant passages and draws attention to itself.
The SMSL SU-8 sounds like maybe a slightly more refined D50s, perhaps with a bit wider SS and slightly better /more effective filtering choices. I don't know if it is any better than a SONCOZ LA-QXD1. In the writeup, he states "In the upper registers D30 pro has a bit granier and more textured sound to it, while SU-8s sounds cleaner but with more "glare" and "brighness".
I'm trying to get away from the glare while more tolerable with movies, it is less so with music. The Loxie D30 didn't seem to have that glare at least it was far less. When I heard the D70s there was none at all. While there wasn't a big jump in detail, the lack of glare in the D70s makes for a much better presentation across the board. Perhaps the SS was wider but I just listened without anything drawing attention to itself and I liked that. I sent the D70s back and kept the DS600. Now I am revisiting that option.
So now, I'm deciding between the Modius, D70s and Bitfrost 2. The D70s adds more features and should be a direct competitor with the Bitfrost 2. I don't think the Modius is too far behind either as it seems to be preferred over both the D50s and the Loxjie d30. But the Loxjie d30 is the nicest under $200 I have heard, even against the Topping E30.
I ordered the D70s but it has been delayed so I've been going back and forth on which to consider. The Modius, next best choice or the D70s for functionality and some R2R warmth, overall SQ and it may soon become unavailable due to limited supply of chips? The Bitfrost 2 seems to hold up well against the D90 with preferences among listeners going slightly either way. And the Bitfrost has an awesome remote, that alone is worth something.
The D70s is definitely both smooth and dynamic sounding, perhaps not quite the energy of a well implemented ESS 9038Pro such as the D90se, but that would have cost well over $200 more for something that may not add much of anything. The Bitfrost 2 may add some depth, give more of that R2R staging while matching the detail so it's close. There's also the Ares 2 as well but there are power outages from time to time and I don't like the idea of having to wait for the warmup period to progress before sounding at its' best and it may not be the best option for movies. A dac should do both music and movies competently.
So, the Loxjie D30 is no slouch, it was inexpensive and it's size makes it great for travel while many are not and if you upgrade in the future and decide to go through what I am going through, it's still nice to have. As to upgrading, The SQ differences can be subtle at that point as you move up the chain. Except for the ESS glare which isn't so subtle as you listen.
@@nc3419 Thanks. Yes, it's the glare why I sold my SU-8 and get Loxjie D30. Overall sound quality may degrade, but I like its non glare character.
@@iiWiReviews According to your review, I think I'll be happy not up-grading to SU-8s even if it will enhance the sound quality. Your review helps me from hovering over some other review in vain. Thanks.
@@nc3419 Sometimes I get into these chinese things then I'm like "I can get a solid American made amp or dac from Schiit for cheaper." Schiits stuff really is unbeatable for the price.
Hello, I understand that it would be crazy to answer all the questions that you are asked. . . but I hope you could take a couple of minutes and help me with a query of this model. I just bought this same dac (SU 8s) that you have published but when I go into the settings, specifically the "SOUND COLOR" setting when changing the "tube", "rich", "crystal" and "standard" options I can't perceive or the slightest change between one and the other, they all sound exactly the same, which makes me quite disappointed because I don't know if it's a problem with my dac or if the same thing happens to everyone. I know a person who has a dac of this same brand (smsl) I don't remember the model, but it is apparently more advanced since the screen shows the covers of the singers that are being played, I told him what is happening to me and he says that he It is strange because in his model he says that there are variations between one and the other.
If you could really help me with this question, I would really appreciate it since the value of this product, although it is true, is not that expensive, it is still a good amount of money.
Thank you in advance and I hope you can help me. Greetings.
Hi. Sound colors have very, but I mean very small influence on the overall sound. It's very similar for different digital filters... If you don't hear any difference that's quite OK.
@@iiWiReviews How unfortunate that these functions are useless. . . I appreciate your time to answer :) Regards
quick question: does the SMSL SU-8a worth the extra 150$ respect the schiit modi 3 (related to sound quality)?
it sounds like ifi zen dac v2 based on your descriptions with standard mode
Nicely Done.
I like the idea of a little customization from the SMSL but prefer the warmth of the Topping D30 Pro.
How much do you lose using the SE on both ?
Looking for a new warmish dac but only need SE.
Thanks
Both sound a little cleaner and crisper over balanced connection but SE is still as good as any SE out at this price point. SE outs sound a bit softer and warmer too, so if you're after that kind of sound you have nothing to worry about.
sorry for stupid question:
can you connect directly headphnes, or do you need an amplifier to coneect headphones?
You need an amp because this is a DAC only. But you can find 2in1 DAC/AMP solutions such as Topping EX5, EarMen TR-amp, etc.
maybe Aune X8 with Burson Op Amp is the sweet spot?
Excellent
Are there any dacs with high enough quality preamp, able to replace good preamp?
very good question! i wanna know...
Bluesound node;) (n130)
I haven't found one at this price point. They're usually just DACs with some sort of attenuation. Good preamps have different outputs with higher voltages, and sound fuller/more powerful compared to a DAC with attenuation (lean and analytical when connected directly to the power amp). It's simply better to have DAC used as a DAC, connected to an integrated amplifier (that has preamp included).
For more input on that topic, you should maybe check the reviews of a fellow reviewer Sandu from the Soundnews. He is focusing more on a preamp mode and he's probably better suited to answer this particular question.
hello friend, do you think the su9 has better sound than a rme adi 2 dac fs?
I haven't tried RME Adi-2 so can't comment on it yet. But I am interested to get my hands on it if I can.
analitic/speed = GOOD FOR METAL MUSIC ?
how does it compare to the su-8 v2?
The bluetooth is one way input?
How would u compare it to Allo boss 2
Hi buddy I have the SMSL DA9 amp I bought after seeing your review on. ? I have a old OPPO Dac with balance connections would I be able to use this DAC with it or do you recommend I buy a SMSL Dac
Hi. I would try Oppo DAC first, they use to make a very good DACs. Some of Oppo Blue Ray players are basically legendary for their exceptional sound quality due to high quality DACs inside.
@@iiWiReviews Thank you very much. I really appreciate your advice
How would it compare to Topping D50s?
SU-8s has more details, more air, brighter too.
This DAC is at $180 on Drop if anyone is interested.
where?
I like some room to breed. :) Great review.
Thanks for the vid, I really vibe your enthusiasm in inscribing the detail being elicited. Don't feel like you need to answer, but did you blind test this device? If not, why not? I personally think this renders almost any and all reviews of a product like this close to worthless, at least in regards to it's sonic impact - it's primary and arguably singular purpose/utility.
I didn't do any blind testing because first it's difficult to organize without someone helping you, and second I really don't agree it's necessary unless you want to prove something to the audience who don't trust your hearing and your ability to not be biased. Personally, I don't want to do that. I do trust myself and my own hearing, and I wholeheartedly disagree that these kind of reviews are worthless. For those who think otherwise, there are sure other sources of information they trust more and that's all fine.
Don,t need a blind test because you cannot see sound... Haha
But to me another issue bothers me, why smsl produces in such a short Time this su8s which looks and Works nearly identically as their fantastic su9???!!! It,s like making their own concurrency...
The SMSL Remote Control which also came with my SMSL M-300MKII
is realy bad for use,
The User should allways have the Manual nearby.
Some Button has no function or only 1 Letter for it.
Maybe for the SMSL Developers the Use is clear because they work the whole Day with this. For me as a User its every time a new Mystery.
AND....... imho your Reviews become longer and longer and longer and also filled with that Hifi Magazine blablabla.
It becomes more and more less interesting.
SMSL use the same remote right up to mid range products. Its perfectly fine and easy to use. Once you've accessed the menu it's just a simple up & down on the remote, OK your choice then FN out - easy!
Thanks to this video i bought the smsl su-8s, what amplifier do you recommend? Greetings from Argentina.