MASSDROP SMSL U8 DUAL ES9038Q2M Balanced DAC

wushuliu · « **on:** 23 Jun 2018, 02:26 am »

Brand new DAC from SMSL. Looks like a competitor to the popular D50 but with balanced outputs AND a remote. That's a hell of a deal for $199!

https://www.massdrop.com/buy/smsl-su-8-dac

mresseguie · « **Reply #1 on:** 23 Jun 2018, 02:35 am »

This is a deal.

marvda1 · « **Reply #2 on:** 23 Jun 2018, 11:33 am »

does it stand to reason to add balanced and remote and price it the same as the d50 smsl has to use cheaper parts?

wushuliu · « **Reply #3 on:** 23 Jun 2018, 02:56 pm »

Quote from: marvda1 on 23 Jun 2018, 11:33 am

does it stand to reason to add balanced and remote and price it the same as the d50 smsl has to use cheaper parts?

Maybe. The D50 parts are already cheap. There’s nothing premium about the D50.

Reading the description it sounds like the smsl also has THD distortion setting options. The D50 doesn’t...

fredgarvin · « **Reply #4 on:** 23 Jun 2018, 03:29 pm »

This is an example of why I couldn't pull the trigger on the Airist R2R DAC that isn't shipping until Dec. Who knows what we may see coming out before then. This sounds like a great deal.

ohenry · « **Reply #5 on:** 12 Aug 2018, 10:30 pm »

Massdrop has this dac for sale ($199) for two more days if anyone is interested in joining the latest drop.

https://www.massdrop.com/buy/smsl-su-8-dac

jtwrace · « **Reply #6 on:** 12 Aug 2018, 10:42 pm »

Quote from: wushuliu on 23 Jun 2018, 02:26 am

Brand new DAC from SMSL. Looks like a competitor to the popular D50 but with balanced outputs AND a remote. That's a hell of a deal for $199!

https://www.massdrop.com/buy/smsl-su-8-dac

Personally I think it's more of a competitor of the Topping DX7s

OzarkTom · « **Reply #7 on:** 13 Aug 2018, 12:02 am »

It is amazing how cheap in price DAC's are getting, and with a renote also?

jtwrace · « **Reply #8 on:** 13 Aug 2018, 12:40 am »

https://audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/review-and-measurements-of-smsl-su-8-dac.3778/

JLM · « **Reply #9 on:** 13 Aug 2018, 12:06 pm »

Digital advancements are becoming mind blowing.

marvda1 · « **Reply #10 on:** 13 Aug 2018, 04:21 pm »

Quote from: jtwrace on 13 Aug 2018, 12:40 am

https://audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/review-and-measurements-of-smsl-su-8-dac.3778/

I have a problem with the above thread, not once did anyone say what the dang thing sounds like.
does that thread make me want to buy the dac or even give it a listen, hell no.

envydd · « **Reply #11 on:** 13 Aug 2018, 04:41 pm »

I think Amir mentions in some reviews that some of these charts are not audible. Maybe we have reached the limits on audibility? I am listening to a ps audio SGCD and it sounds musical but I don't know if we have such numbers for it. The top magazines don't show numbers!

nc42acc · « **Reply #12 on:** 13 Aug 2018, 05:03 pm »

If it measures good it sounds good......Right?

envydd · « **Reply #13 on:** 13 Aug 2018, 05:35 pm »

Quote from: nc42acc on 13 Aug 2018, 05:03 pm

If it measures good it sounds good......Right?

I wish. Tubes dont measure well (distortion etc) but they supposedly sound better to people. Some of these DACs are said to be clinical/neutral vs Tubey (warm, harmonics, distortion) .... not an expert but curious

marvda1 · « **Reply #14 on:** 13 Aug 2018, 06:39 pm »

Quote from: envydd on 13 Aug 2018, 05:35 pm

I wish. Tubes dont measure well (distortion etc) but they supposedly sound better to people. Some of these DACs are said to be clinical/neutral vs Tubey (warm, harmonics, distortion) .... not an expert but curious

remember the high wattage, low distortion numbers war of the eighties? didn't sound worth a crap.

who?me? · « **Reply #15 on:** 13 Aug 2018, 08:38 pm »

I hate MASSDROP, and I love MASSDROP ....
so many great products, discounted.

I used to get an email everyday from them on new featured items,
bought some great stuff, but had to stop the daily emails, was
ruining my bank account!

JLM · « **Reply #16 on:** 13 Aug 2018, 11:11 pm »

Quote from: marvda1 on 13 Aug 2018, 06:39 pm

remember the high wattage, low distortion numbers war of the eighties? didn't sound worth a crap.

Yes, even before the 80's. As other mentioned, what build quality do you get for $199 (or $249 on Amazon)? But if technology is advancing at this pace, perhaps its all disposable. OTOH do these measurements relate to how it sounds? Regardless it makes a comparably featured $2000 gear from other vendors look like dinosaurs.

envydd · « **Reply #17 on:** 13 Aug 2018, 11:35 pm »

Hi JLM, being new to this hobby, I did some quick tests with my cheap ess DACs connected to both my nuprime hdava (ESS9018 USB module) and a ps audio Stellar DAC (ESS9010). They are both connected to a icepower poweramp (Mivera) and ls50 monitors. The old chips from the above are more musical (especially for classical) compared to the cheap DACs eg sabaj da3 (ESS9038Q2m). I suspect it’s the better output stage and power circuits. But the difference is not huge.

For the money it’s hard to beat the sound - a cheap ess dac and a cheap TI 3255 based amp combo especially if it comes with swappable op amps, all within 500-750. Again that’s my ears and a quick comparison. I don't have signal analyzers in my garage/study!

wgmontgomery · « **Reply #18 on:** 25 Feb 2019, 11:58 am »

Quote from: nc42acc on 13 Aug 2018, 05:03 pm

If it measures good it sounds good......Right?

Actually, many of the better "audiophile" magazines have subjective listening reviews AND measurements. Stereophile is one of my favorites; check them our online. You'll find out what the reviewer thinks about the SOUND of the unit and its its measurements.

The point about 80s wattage wars is perfect. Good measurements do NOT guarantee good sound. When the CD first arrived we were told that they are all "perfect." They weren't anymore perfect than "all amps sound the same."

charmerci · « **Reply #19 on:** 25 Feb 2019, 06:03 pm »

Quote from: marvda1 on 13 Aug 2018, 06:39 pm

remember the high wattage, low distortion numbers war of the eighties? didn't sound worth a crap.

There are a lot of people - including here- who think those old 300/channel receivers sound fantastic.