S.M.S.LSU-1 MQA MQA-CD Audio Decoder AK4493S XU316 768kHz/32Bit DSD512 Hi-Res DAC

Update: March 13, 2024 (previously 1 star rating, now I give it 5 star rating).After several exchange of messages between Leaudio seller and myself, it was suggested that I install SMSL SU-1 driver from smsl-audio.com official website, which I did. To my surprise that fixed my DAC! Now I am finally able listen to music from my PC sent to SU-1 by USB cable, which is connected to my SMSL A300 by RCA. It seems the driver installation to my Windows 10 fixed whatever issue I was having with SU-1 DAC. As result of this, I'm updating the previous 1-star rating to 5 stars. As for the sound quality from SU-1, as stated below, it's an improvement over my SMSL A300 amplifier by 15 - 20%, but more specifically, it is the sonic clarity and separation that are the most notable. Though a minimal audio improvement over my amplifier's internal DAC, the sound clarity and instrument separation are noteworthy, and for that I give a 5-star rating. Also, through this DAC, vocals seem to be slightly more forward and clearer.March 6, 2023, initial review, I gave it 1 star rating due to the DAC's failure after 10 days of use.Bought this SMSL SU-1 DAC in November 2023, but I couldn't use it since I didn't have a pair of RCA cables to connect it to my class D SMSL A300 amplifier that I purchased from Amazon at the same time. The DAC was on Black Friday sale, so I figured to try it with my new amplifier.Fast forward to Feb 2024, I finally ordered a pair of CESS 163-4i RCA cables, connected the DAC to my amplifier. The SMSL SU-1 DAC improved the quality by about 15% over my SMSL A300 internal DAC. I used the DAC on and off for about 10 days, then today it simply failed on me. It simply fell dead silent while playing a music file from my PC (PC to USB cable to SMSL SU-1 DAC to RCA cables to SMSL A300 amplifier).I tried another RCA port in the back of my SMSL A300 amplifier, but that too didn't work. The DAC simply does not work at all. I also tried powering down my amp completely, unplug RCA cables between the DAC and the amp, then powered both up again, and toggled between various input options in the DAC to no avail (USB, coaxile, and optical just in case the internal circuit's connectivity had glitched and that toggling among input sources might reset it).The source-light LED still functions on the DAC, but I get absolutely no audio signal going into my amplifier. Heck, I even rebooted my PC just to see if that may be causing an issue, but it was futile. After 2 hours of wrestling with the connections and toggling between input sources and settings, I gave up.Now I'm back to connecting my PC directly to my SMSL A300 amplifier by USB cable, which works fine. As far as SMSL SU-1 DAC is concerned, it was a decent DAC for the price (while it worked). However, the unit I got simply failed after about 10 days of usage.I'd instantly return it for a refund, but the Jan 31 deadline return date is closed, so sadly it's not an option for me. A good-sounding, affordable DAC with a high quality DAC chip, but in my case, I must have received a lemon, so quality control seems questionable. Maybe it's just bad luck on my part, but I still wouldn't recommend this DAC to anyone. You'd be better off to spend a bit more money on a high quality DAC with its own power supply built in.Update On March 11, 2024 I emailed with photo attachments of the failed SMSL SU-1 DAC to support@shenzhenaudio.com. According to their site, they'll honor their product warranty up to 6 months with either a repair, replacement, or refund if their product proves to be defective. Hopefully they'll reply in a timely manner with a resolution. As others may encounter a product failure after the Amazon's 30-day free return policy, I'll post further updates for reference.Update, March 11, 2024, 8 hours later, shenzhenaudio.com support staff replied my to my email, asked for the Amazon purchase invoice and order number. I forwarded them the necessary information.According to their reply, they'll forward my case to their Amazon Support Team. I hope this will be resolved asap as I'll need to either get a replacement DAC or get a refund and buy another DAC, so for now I'm stuck in a limbo with 70 bucks tied up in a failed DAC unit. For now I'm stuck to using the internal DAC of my SMSL A300 amplifier, which is quite ok, but I did like the somewhat improved audio fidelity of SMSL SU-1 DAC.Update March 12, 2024. Got a reply from Leaudio requesting detailed info on what's wrong with my SMSL SU-1 DAC. I forwarded an account of how it simply stopped working while playing music from my laptop connected to it by a USB. Also forwarded 3 photos of the DAC. Hope this matter will be dealt with either a refund, replacement, or repair soon, because at this point, the DAC is useless.

Pretty much everything has been said.Throws a good soundstage for orchestral, or smaller groups, especially for single point mic recordings. Great for classical and jazz. I haven’t tried any rock yet. Very transparent and well balanced sound.The DAC errs toward the polite side of things. It is not overly edgy or sibilant. I don’t think you can go wrong, throwing down $80 for this DAC, at this point in time.This in addition:Just listened to Pink Floyd Pulse Remastered on YouTube. I heard this many times on my previous FOSI Q4 DAC. The SU-1 exposes all the layers, tonality, and acoustic environment of this engineering masterpiece. My respect for this $80 DAC just went up several notches. If you are considering an inexpensive DAC, I suspect you should get this one. Definitely more than your money’s worth.

Good base, details extracted, and great spatial expansion.I had been using Schiit Modi for my main system (musical fidelity + Vandersteen 2c) and DragonFly black 1.5 for my sub system (aura + energy RC10). Basically the sound I was accustomed to was analytical detailed sound. This little S.M.S.L SU 1 unit proved that my system can generate much more dynamic, exciting, and even emotional sound that previous configuration lacked. I bought this for my sub system first, then now I ordered one more since it replaced schiit modi now in my main.I realize my system can generate sound so much more expensive than what they are when the source is as refined as SMSL SU1's output. I scanned all the reviews from famous YouTubers and reviewers and they all tend to agree this one punches all the way up to $500 range. In my book, this one hands down win against Schiit's modi.

It just blow me out of water when I switched it with my 10 years old external sound card. I thought my old sound card is already decent enough but comparing to this DAC, they are definitely not in the same league. The first thing I noticed is the clarity/detail comes from this little thing. I have DROP AAA 789 + HD650 setup, and use Apple Music Lossless as music source, I feel this DAC really brings the best of the two. Aside from that, the low becomes deeper with no compromise in quality. It makes my whole setup really addictive!However, all the good stuff comes with one caveat, that's the driver if you are using Windows. I noticed a non-stopable clipping sound when I launched Chrome browser, the only way to stop that is to close the browser or launch Apple music before launching Chrome. It's not a big deal but I just can't give it a 5 star rating.Overall this is a great DAC for the price!

I really don't know how SMSL did it. I was looking to purchase a higher priced DAC and saw a review on this. Not expecting much, I bought it because it was inexpensive as DACs go. Used the optical output from my Yamaha CD player and WOW. The sound just opened up. Clear mids and highs, and not at the expense of clean and distinctive bass notes. Very balanced. The vocals are smooth across the soundstage and instruments and sounds, not usually heard, are now there. No sibilance. Buying this postponed my purchase of another DAC costing a lot, lot more. Recommended.

Originally bought a Fiio k11 for an all-in-one solution to my headphone audio. Bad choice, the optical line drops volume 75% for .5 seconds randomly, making the only usable input USB-C, not compatible with my equalizer on my motherboard.On top of this fixing my optical line issue, the audio is much more clear, concise, sounds warmer, and less distortion. Paired with a topping l30 II, clear winner.