Do You Really Even Need MQA? SMSL SU9N Review - A Brave New DAC Bucks the Trend!
Вставка
- Опубліковано 15 жов 2024
- SMSL SU9n amzn.to/2YUwLqU
SMSL SU9n bit.ly/3j1nfcc
SMSL SU8s amzn.to/3ACLAv2
Amazon Music and Disney Plus Free Trial amzn.to/3DRAVj9
www.patreon.com/cheapaudioman
High Res Music Streaming for FREE!!!!
Amazon Music Unlimited Free Trial amzn.to/3fiiMPC
Test Track Playlist:
music.amazon.c...
Satanic Panic Playlist:
music.amazon.c...
Leg Warmers Playlist
music.amazon.c...
cheapaudioman
If you click on this link and sign up for a free trial I will receive a small referral fee.
If you use any of my links to purchase products I will receive a small commission on the sale of that item. Won’t cost you any more to purchase with the link.
Recommended Speaker List
Around $100 (These prices will fluctuate between $75 - $150)
Sony SSCS5 - Lively amzn.to/3pZNnGk
Pioneer AJ First Gen - Laid Back
Neumi BS5 -Neutral amzn.to/3q0SR3B
Around $200
Emotiva Airmotiv B1+ - Crystal Clear and Punchy emotiva.com?aff=9
Elac Debut b5.2 - Neutral amzn.to/2WPNQxw
Wharfedale Diamond 11.2 (In and Out of Stock) - Laid Back/Bassy/Detailed amzn.to/37W8hPA
JBL Stage A130 - Neutral/Great All Arounder at $179 the best value amzn.to/3t7gOHe
Around $400
Klipsch RP600M - Neutral amzn.to/3pBoXCf (This speaker’s price can fluctuate between $440-630 which is really dumb)
Jamo C93ii Bit - Boosted on Top amzn.to/3beIG6F (Can also be found cheaper at Crutchfield)
Q Acoustics 3030i - Neutral with Punch - amzn.to/2OQkpLo
Around $500
SVS Prime bit.ly/2LozJgF
Wharfedale Diamond 12.2 bit.ly/2ZckoD9
Around $600
Elac Uni-Fi UB5.2 - Neutral amzn.to/3s3srPG
Elac Debut Reference - Buttery but Detailed amzn.to/39bt6WC
Polk Reserve R100 - Neutral
Aperion Novus - Neutral and probably the best desktop speaker one can get $599 bit.ly/2Q1H9rW
Aperion Novus Open Box $449 bit.ly/3us8zGx
Wharfedale Diamonds Lush and Detailed amzn.to/3aBAso0 Come as singles
Recommended Amp List
Under $100
Aiyima A07 - Neutral and Full amzn.to/3g9YLNf
Around $130
SMSL AD18 - DAC/Amp Lively on top but solid tone controls amzn.to/3rVZxkN
SMSL SA300 $140 amzn.to/3u83oLs
Around $250
SMSL DA-9 Balanced Amp amzn.to/34SdbLs
Around $400
Emotiva TA-100 - DAC, Phono Stage, Pre Outs - Balanced and Tasty emotiva.com?aff=9
Vista Audio Spark www.vista-audio...
Recommended DACs
Ifi Zen DAC amzn.to/2T3wuyY
FX D01 amzn.to/3d9GY6U
SMSL SU8s amzn.to/2SWTGiw
Denafrips Ares 2 www.denafrips....
Subs
Emotiva SE8 emotiva.com?aff=9
Emotiva SE12 emotiva.com?aff=9
SVS SB1000 Pro bit.ly/3scmwsc
------------SMSL SU9n amzn.to/2YUwLqU
++++++++++SMSL SU9n bit.ly/3j1nfcc
=============SMSL SU8s amzn.to/3ACLAv2
###############Amazon Music and Disney Plus Free Trial amzn.to/3DRAVj9
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!www.patreon.com/cheapaudioman
HI, Randy, why not reply our email?
I should have waited a bit longer before I bought a DAC. I picked up the Topping E30 last year, but I've been dealing with the over-analytical nature of that particular implementation of the akm 4493 chip. The Schiit Modi 3+ uses the same chip, but it sounds a bit Fuller then the Topping product. I really want to get a Geshelli Labs J2 and pair it with either an Aiyima A08 or the Sabaj A20a.
Congratulations on 50k!!!
I remember 100 subs, and wondering why YT was recommending this weird low sub channel to me lol.
Cut to the year 2030 and now president Randy signs new national bing music listening day!
“Turnie, turnie, pushie, pushie, clickie, clickie” oh yeah! Using the right technical terminology adds real technical bonafides to any review channel, especially when you are delving into details of thingamagies and whatchamacallits! Way to go! 😉
Hmm, that sounds like a great lyrics. I just need to find a good song to sample and I have the makings of a new hit single for the hip Tic Tok kiddies.
I try to convey as much technical terminology as I can.
@@cheapaudioman we love you like this, never change!
You need to get your thingymibobs and dodars from doings sorted out . Best reviewer on UA-cam, well Tarun also..
Recently purchased a Toping D70s, and completely in love with it. Have you checked it out? I'd argue that it sounds more "r2r" than my r2r dac. Super clean, but flowing, rich, dynamic, detailed, BIG stage (actually). You're so right about the latest Chinese made dacs. Real passion for audio coming from SMSL and Toppings. Thank you for these great reviews, and congratulations on hitting 50K!
Congrats, on 50k subs. I believe back when you had like a couple hundred I told you I expected you to reach that mark by the end of 2021. Outstanding! Your hard work has paid off.
thanks so much, Tom. I'm very humbled by this. I was hoping for 40 by the end of the year.
Randy, your command of english and your eye to eye connectivity with your viewers makes for an outstanding review medium. Thank You. I have seen so many reviews on speakers, DACs, AMPs, etc., that I have now entered the "review the reviewer mode". Keep up the good work.
Randy Rocks!!! Congrats on 50k !!! Onward to 100k 👍🚀🎉
Randy, I think you should have a second UA-cam channel as food critic, you really did a good job on the banana bread with butter thing, truly multi talented, thanks for the review.
50k !! Congrats Randy!
I don't need MQA so I'm glad companys are offering high quality dacs at a more affordable price without out it but still offers the same enjoyment as warm banana bread with melted butter. Great review and congrats on 50k, now I'm off to bake and fill my soul in two ways. 🎶🍞😋🎶
Thanks, John!
It’s the same price as the su 9 dac, that has mqa .
@@r423sdex no the SMSL SU9N no MQA is $399 and the SMSL SU9 with MQA is $460
@@JohnScheppler just checked, and you are correct sir.
Congratulations on 50k subs Randy, keep up the great work!
Thanks, man
Thank you for this very helpful review. Based on your recommendation, I purchased the SMSL SU-9N and the DA-9 and paired them with a set of Kanto YU4s and a Kanto Sub8. The source is either my iPhone 13 (via optical or digital RCA through a Topping D10S) or my laptop via USB. The combination, used at my desktop, sounds great - very smooth and full. I am very satisfied with the complete setup. Thank you again!
Note: the opinion expressed here is subjective.
Never drank the MQA Kool Aid but really like the Tidal interface. I'm teleworking a couple days a week, spend a lot of time listening to my office system. Tidal streams on an iPad/Schitt Modi3 combo. My main system streams Tidal on a Bluesound Node 2i. Put the Node 2i on my office system this AM. TBH I can't tell a difference between the same tracks on either the Modi or Bluesound streams. BTW: Tried Amazon music but hate the interface and lack of a "Connect" like feature. Since I'm a vet the cost difference is inconsequential.
I think tidal is cool. I just think that MQA doesn’t need to be included in every DAC. Thanks for your service, man.
I don't think the modi does mqa
@@kevingest5452 it doesn’t. That’s the point.
Congrats C.A on reaching 50,000 subcribers my man...keep moving on up!
The advantage of not having UAT is that you can justify buying a new DAC later.
Late to the party here, but I just want to highlight an issue with SMSL SU-9n. I bought mine second hand from a reputable user marketplace in Australia. All good for a few months, then it died. I ran it in fixed output. Now the UI seems to freeze for a second or two before changing (and repeat) and there is no audio on the unbalanced outputs but a loud crack every few seconds on the balanced output. I was going to investigate the issue but after trying it on the balanced output I don't want to damage my speakers. When I was young we had an old Methodist wall hanging with a lot of those trite observations. One was 'never buy anything because it is cheap'. Perhaps I should have paid more attention...
Cheapaudiooooman! 50k brother, congrats cause you deserve it. Interesting MQA switcheroo they did here with the big "N". I wonder if others will follow since we don't really won't to peel of anything from music. Plus, the not so rich have a right to great sounds and some boogaloo too.
Hi Randy. Great video and great channel too, by the way. Do you think this DAC would be a nice upgrade from IFI Zen Dac (generation 1) in terms of sound?
I'll absolutely choose a device that does not support MQA over a similar product that does support it, so It's good to see a great company provide a choice.
The chart at 03:30 is misleading. Bluetooth codecs are rated in terms of Kbps, not KHz. The most common codec, the SBC codec, only has a data rate of around 320 Kbps, but "CD quality" is 1,411 Kbps (44.1 KHz). Currently there is NO bluetooth codec available that can stream LOSSLESS CD-quality audio. Even LDAC tops out around ~900 Kbps. UAT is not even CD quality, since the highest rate of 1.2Mbps is still only 1,200 Kbps which is STILL less than CD quality at 1,411 Kbps
I have Tidal and over the last few months, I’ve been listening to MQA and hi-rez tracks to see if I could determine a difference. In general, most of the MQA tracks are definitely louder but really don’t sound any better. However, SOME MQA tracks DO have more sparkle on the high frequencies and a fuller bottom end.
I honestly don’t know why. ✌🏻
If you're not imagining those differences, it's most likely the fact that Tidal has a bunch of different masters on their platform compared to the CD releases. The actual codec itself is likely making no difference at all.
Sparkle and a fuller bottom end....she sounds gorgeous!
@@scrout Yessir! Low End Theory all the way, not to mention those ‘ points sittin’ way up, firm, and high’😆
Great to see they have done this. Obviously read the feedback.
The blocks are building fast for the cheap chief audio man you’re awesome dude keep up the amazing work and congratulations on 50 K
Randy...you are the first to review this item! Congrats! The 3 main differences from this and the SU-9. Clock, MQA, and xmos.
Just ordered mine, its my first standalone dac so im excited for it, very happy they made one that dropped the scamware that is mqa. The removal of UAT is a bit sad but since I only own LDAC headphones, and neither are actually lossless, it doesn't really matter to me.
Really great, attractive camera work and as usual, fabulous review. For the first time I feel strongly about heading over to Patreon to see how to support this talented dude. So good.
that's very nice of you. we have a good time on the patron zooms. good times. check it out. you can always cancel if you don't like it
50 K subscribers.. Congratulations Randy 👏
Watching this channel SOLEY DUE to the Skeletor thumbnail I saw on a different video....well played sir..you have the power....
Hi Randy, just wondering if the SMSL VMV D1se is on your radar? $750 DAC.
Thank you again for another informative video. Great information!
Based only on sound quality, do you prefer the Topping E50 or SMSL SU9N ?
Great review as always. Thanks!
very close to my ear. whichever one has the right features for you I don't think you can go wrong
How does Su9n compare to Geshelli j2 akm dac?
Could not agree with you more !! Well DONE ! For those that believe MQA makes a difference, go for it !
Thanks for giving me this great overview and comprehensive comparison.
Referring to Michael's comment down below that MQA is a ploy. When I listen to same recording MQA versus non MQA on tidal, I hear a significant difference in sonics and quality in general. Granted I'm listening through a 2k tube dac but still prefer MQA. I would love to feel this excited about all recordings so please people, convert me. From my understanding MQA is 24 bit and non MQA stuff is 16 bit. Please correct me if I'm wrong. So please clarify what I am missing or not understanding. I'll have to spend some time listening/comparing Qobaz and Spotify now that it's up to snuff vs. Tidsl. Oh and Randy I emailed SMSL and the 'N' stands for Nancy.
i've a/b tested mqa vs qobuz hi res, there was a slight difference in sound but i couldn't say one sounds better, they both sound fantastic. when i a/b mqa against my cd transport sometimes the cd sounds slightly better and sometimes the mqa file sounds slightly better. it's really impressive to my ears.
@Christopher , a small correction : there are 24bit MQA files... and 16bit MQA files on Tidal (even if the unfolding do the process at 24bit, and so sending a 24bit stream after that, the source was 16bit). It's a complex thing, as some MQA 16bit can appear as Master if they also have a FLAC version of the album. You do a search with the name of an album, and you can have two version, sometimes more, with several as Master (not talking about different version with Explicit or not, more tracks...). If there are several as Master, it means ost of the time one is 16bit and the other 24bit.
And there are albums without real FLAC, and it will use the 16bit MQA file.
You can get all info in the Tidal app, but using a player like Roon or UAPP will show it
(except with the new change of offer with Hifi being the old Hifi but without MQA/360/Atmos, and Hifi Plus with all formats, and now, even these app can play in Hifi setting a 16bit MQA without telling you it's one, or even a 24bit MQA unprocessed and reduced to 16bit before entering the DAC).
Regarding the "quality", MQA could have had potential but only if used all the whole chain. Most os the MQA you can listen, it's conversion, and if it's change the sound, it's no more what the artists/engineers wanted you to hear. And does the sound a bit, sometimes it can add something positive, sometimes negative, because it not really better or not, it's a difference, like adding a bit of transient exciter. You can add exciter yourself in the chain, which even if it's not exactly the same thing, would mean you are not listening to what artist created anymore. It's like MQA were coming in your house, add a EQ between your DAC and your amp, and say you "hey, it's now what the artist wanted you to hear" ;-)
Indeed, I will make a cup of coffee. Thanks for the reminder!
Red book on a great DAC ..still = AWESOME MUSIC 🥳
Congratulations on 50k + subscribers 🎊👍🎉👏👏👏
Thanks so much!
Great videos as usual! Subbed after the audiophile rant hahahha. Keep them coming.
Also, you probably heard it during editing, but there seems to be considerable hum/noise in the background (ground loop?)
Wow 51K subs! Good job man!
"don't throw away your money, buy these pennies for a $1.12 each!" 😆
Those are audiophile pennies😏
Sith Audio has to be 50% of why I keep coming back to Randy's videos. Now I want mushy banana bread, too. Ugh!
@cheapaudioman .You had me at day old banana bread and molten butter...stay cool my friend!
Hi Randy. great review. compared to SU-9, is this a dialed down features only or SQ is also different? thank you
currently using zen dac v2 with smsl sh-9. loving it without complains. not sure if it'll benefit to change to su-9 or 9n
Were you aware that Sith audio uses only Oxygen free copper? I know that gumballs, purchased with Sith Audio coin are much brighter iin color, sweeter, flavorful and, generally more enjoyable than those purchased with common pocket change.
My Sith Audio audiophile grade speaker grills are worth every penny.
My Sith Audio audiophile label printer uses copper free oxygen.
I’m waiting on the Kickstarter for their spinoff. Sith’s battery free bicycles.
Hey, this is off topic, but what do you think of the Yamaha A-S801 vs. Cambridge CXA81? Which would you say is a better value for the money and will most likely favor more speakers? They are about $300-400 difference. Appreciate it.
I haven't heard either of them unfortunately. I'd like to get a contact over at Yamaha to check out some of their affordable options
Replaced Topping-D90 (the first version.)with SMSL-9n.The sound is cooler.The sound is more Natural, more drive, more patch, more punch.The built-in volume control also plays more efficiently.No"Standard".
The ideal sound is to turn on the filter to"Fast minimym", and set the sound color to "Rich1".It plays great as a preamp together with a power amplifier!I liked the USB input with P4.Who likes a lot of bass-here it is!
Thank you for the great review! Trying to decide between this (SU9n) and the Gustard X16. Can get the SU9n a bit cheaper than the X16. Still, it's a tough call!
Randy, are the Sith Audio pennies suitable for Scotch taping to the turntable cartridge shells to keep scratched records from skipping?
How about the comparison bet. SU-9n and SU-9? Appreciated.
Have you heard the SMSL D300? I just bought one, and I like it better than my Emotiva DC-1.
Great review ! How would this compare to the likes of chord mojo 2
Great review, thanks a lot!
Do you think this will pair well with the Focal Clear („original“ / old one) and the Monoprice THX AAA 887?
Bob's lawyers in the back heckling.
To clear things up. Jitter is a variation in the clock timing. In other words it’s the digital equivalent of your record, or tape not running at the correct speed. So the analog equivalent is wow and flutter. This is certainly not a perfect comparison between the two of course, but it’s pretty much the easiest way for someone new to the idea to understand what jitter actually means IMO.
IIRC, both the Hiby (the developer of UAT) R2 and R3 pro (sabre and masterhifi) DAPs, provide two-way support for UAT, and LDAC, amongst other codecs, together with other features such as Wifi, 4x MQA rendering, and built-in streaming apps, etc.
My dac has a pushie, pushie, clicky, clicky button and a remote. PRICELESS!
I've d50s topping. Is it worth it to upgrade to SU9N ? One thing that 9n better than d50s is it can change power line cable but sound improvement! I'm uncertain.
Congrats on the 50k. Don't change a thing. Maybe bring it back a couple.
Love your show down to earth and with a hint of fun. 👍✌
With a higher end class D amp (XTZ-A2 300 which uses Icepower chips) do you think the SU-9n would be a good choice or just save up a bit more for the Denafrips Ares II? I only really want to buy one more DAC and forget about it. Right now I've got a Hifi Berry DAC Pro Plus HAT on my Raspberry Pi streamer which is fine but looking for an upgrade. Was waiting for the DAC market to shake out a bit.
Hi Randy! Are you going to put the SMSL SU9n in tier S ? Sorry if I missed that in the video. And just want to mention that I prefer new old stock pennies, yes they were better made..
So I got this dac and I am trying to hook up to my pc but the pc doesn't see usb any advice? Down load the driver and tried a few ports first time hooking up dac so new to this
Did the Emperor replace Lincoln on the Sith penny?
Would you mind testing the MiniDSP Flex? There are very few reviews out there but it seems like good features with its killing feature being dirac room correction (if you buy that option)!
14:30 the superb analogies are why i come here
Hi, what about the combo SU-9N as dac with HO-200 as preamp?
I would like to connect them to my integrated to use it as a final.
Not really a Tidal Fan , Spotify sounds good, Amazon sounds exiting, Qobuz sounded like it had a level of solidity over Tidal and Spotify. Realistically they all sound good you can't make a bad choice with sound quality and in a blind test it would be hard to tell.
Amazon's app is awful. Still waiting for Spotify Hifi to make the switch.
Placebo effect.
@@tonyt.5771 Not really, as on my pc tidal and amazon sounds exactly the same on the android is different story. Tidal app directs sound to any connected dac and amazon for now cannot direct to a dac on android even tho it could in the past and it makes quite big difference.
And thus we add two more undefined terms to the audiophile dictionary of jargon: complete and smooth. Sean and Steve owe you for this. Soon to be confused with a description of a front panel.
MQA seems to be a cash royalty-generating product that few have any need for. Fits well with an audience of people who spend chunks of cash for ever-better cables.
Spend the money on speakers, an item so abjectly imperfect that improvement is actually rewarding. :)
I don’t use Tidal nor MQA but I respect that it was engineered to solve a problem true at its conception, but now not true. Bandwidth via cellphone wireless was once very limited. MQA squeezes the audio file into a package friendly to that bandwidth of old. But now that we can stream (compressed) movies over cell towers, the key advantage to MQA has receded and Tidal etc are forced to sell it on Sound Quality. SQ is not a clear MQA advantage over FLAC or uncompressed CD Quality. But that doesn’t make the MQA team profit pirates.
@@pdcragin33 Well, then maybe they should give it away for the public good, like MP3, FLAC, WAV and others codecs do. Giving it away doesn't make them profit pirates; charging big royalties (especially when it's unneeded) does. They have been trying to profit from hearsay benefits and perceived exclusivity. It's a lot like unobtanium cables: paid unbeneficial.
@@pdcragin33 It never solved a problem because barely anyone adopted it. You could make the same argument for opus which actually does sound better than aac & mp3 at lower bitrates. The thing is opus actually is useful for conference calls but MQA is just a snake oil to convince fools their ears can perceive 24 bit or 96khz. the extra bits and khz only matters for music production end of story.
Hi Randy,
On the Geshelli, did you test for any audible difference between the outputs (RCA vs Balanced)? I noticed someone claiming the RCA is noticeably inferior on this device. I'm interested in buying one of these, but I'd only be using the RCA's. Thanks!
You can actually change the filters and settings on the e50 without the remote, its just not intuitive
Please no hate mail. But I like MQA. It makes a difference and I think for the better.
If you like it, that's cool. It's not like you can listen to music with someone else's ears.
I prefer it on my system as well. Qubuz was ear piercing for me on my system. Tidal is much smoother.
That’s cool. If you love it then go for it and make no apologies
it sounds fabulous to me.
What do you use as a switch. My tube amp (Nobsound 6P1) has 1 input. My Bellari tube preamp has 4 inputs, but now I need more.
Why the heck involve a lossy codec like MQA where nowadays our internet connections can stream bit perfect lossless music flawlessly? MQA is just a better sounding version of audio compression than MP3. Even Amazon HD Music is streaming lossless music in up to 192kHz 24 bits TODAY. That's more than adequate.
I probably should have waited for the Geshelli Labs J2 to come out before I bought the topping E30. Grant it, the Geshelli Labs J2 did not come out until a year after I bought my topping E30, I'm in the process of trying to deal with the a bit over analytical sound of the E30.
I use a couple Sith Audio audiophile pennies taped to the tonearm of my RCA portable tube record player. I recommend them highly when you need to get the correct tonearm balance.
Greetings to all. Can anyone confirm for me if the SMSL SU-9n DAC is compatible with an Android smartphone via USB port? Thanks in advance for the information.
ok, help doing research and i have found smsl has 3 dacs that look the same seem to have same features so help... the su9, m400 and the vmv d1se su9 $459, M400 $859, VMVD1SE $719 can anyone tell me which i should consider....
I have a SU9 it was my first dedicated dac and my first way of streaming over 96 kHz. I am now looking a new better dac and pre amp but I don't care about mqa at all anymore. I hope Spotify got their shot together with hi res.
Do you get a certificate of authenticity with the audiophile pennies?😮
yes. but it's counterfeit
@@cheapaudioman Nooooo!!!😭
Used to use Tidal. But couldn’t justify the expense when Apple came out with Hi-res ( my only streaming source now ). For me MQA was ok, but not a patch on Apples Hi-res at half the price.
PS forgot to mention I run an SMSL M500, Balanced XLR Pre out to a pair of Tannoy GOLD5 powered monitors & headphone out to a pair of Beyer Dynamic DT1770 PRO Closed Back.
Thanks for the review. I have the SMSL DP5 and play my music tracks from an external SSD connected directly to it. I was wondering if this SU9N sounds better than the internal DAC in the SMSL DP5. The speakers are the Emotiva T2+ ( I love them, recommended by you by the way), and a Outlaw RR2160 MkII receiver.
I looked at that too and it seems to me that there is absolutely no reason this should sound any different than yours. They both have the same DAC chip (ES9038Pro) and probably most components around that chip are also shared.
Hi i am very new to hi fi does mqa make a difference in sound?
I am not all in on MQA but Tidal is the cleanest out of the bunch.
the SMSL SU9n + DA9 is the same price range as an IOTAVX SA3 w/ BT Dongle. Which would you recommend for my Wharfedale 12.2 bookies?
Pairing my 12.2 with the DA-9 currently and couldnt be happier. The 12.2 loves crystal clear and dead neutral amps like the DA-9, 'warm' or 'bright' sounding amps dont really go well with the 12.2. Find the most neutral and analytical amp/dac within your budget and the 12.2 will start showing its true colours. Its unbeatable in its price range and more! Heck I like the 12.2 over my R200 and OG LS50. Just amazing.
@@AbsoluteFidelity funny enough, I took advantage of some early black Friday deals earlier this week and picked up the SMSL DA9 and SU9N! Thanks for the feedback. Glad to hear they make a good combo with the 12.2's
@@mocomike01 let me know what you think about the da9/su9n combo with the 12.2, I actually looking for a new dac now.
@@AbsoluteFidelity definitely will do.
@@AbsoluteFidelity so my da-9 and su-9n came in. I'm definitely loving the combo with my diamond 12.2. More importantly, my wife whose not an "audiophile" by any means, was shocked when I had her listen to it. I only have experience with dac/amp combos (loxjie a30 and Fiio K5 pro) but compared to my Loxjie a30 this separates combo has a fuller/thicker sound, has wider soundstage and better instrument separation. Hope this helps.
Hiby devices and any dap running hiby os will transmit in UAT
Nope. Banana nut loaf needs to be warm right out of the oven so the butter melts right into it. If it's dry, you don't have enough banana in it.
Nice DAC.
Have you watched GoldenSound's videos about MQA?
Stablemate SD-9 NDAP supports two-way UAT/LDAC, together with HibyLink, which makes it an interesting companion for the SU-9.
Do not agree. Yes, if you listen to music with KZ 10pro or KATO, guess you do not need MQA. I remember the time when some were saying 'no mp3, vinyl is better', later 'no flac, mp3 does well' and now we have 'no need of MQA'. Come on, it is $60 bucks plus some boutique features, 60, how often do you buy >$300 dac!!??
Which has the best soundstage, this or E50?
Has to be audiophile butter of course....
Well, margarine just won't do.
Sith Audio pennies are the best way to keep your turntable level!
There actually is "some" functionality without the remote on the Topping E50 DAC, by using the front touch sensitive button, though not a lot.
Are Sith Audio Pennies tonearm balanced?
Great review
N is for now buy this. I will be picking this up on Black Friday.
Hopefully we can get an American made "better sounding" DAC from like Schitt with a competitive price. Schiit bifrost 2 can go on sale and that's what I'd get more likely
Nice click bait title.👍 I feel MQA sounds better with most music, but not all. Better separation, better attack, decay, and doing it all while using much lower internet bandwidth. Also DAC’s don’t need to have a full MQA decoder to play MQA. TIDAL Music up to 24bit/96kHz will play 24bit/96kHz without an MQA DAC. Only 192kHz and higher sampling rate music requires the DAC to actually have MQA. Most music is mastered at 24/48 or less. Only a very very small percentage of music is 24/192 or over. So for most music an MQA DAC isn’t required anyway.
IMO many that dislike MQA haven’t even heard it, but simply follow the popular hate on TIDAL with MQA crowd. What I’ve noticed in blind listening demonstrations is that people really like the sound of my budget DAC playing MQA encoded music, until you tell them it is TIDAL with MQA. Hmmm?
The only way the entire 1% audiophile music industry will survive is to accept different preferences, rather than demonize and aggressively dismiss them. Try appreciating the good, rather than focusing on the bad. Lastly, enjoy whatever makes “YOU” happy.
thanks, Dave Kelly
What's the difference between this and the E50.
They’re two different DACs.
@@cheapaudioman what is the sound difference?
Ηi Randy .I 'd appreciate your opinion on the new LOXJIE D30 v2 dac [270 euros in France]I am looking forward to a review . Stay safe .