Get your smsl m400 here: hifi-express.com/products/smsl-m400-mqa-ak4499-dac-pre-order-discount for more info on our Reviewer info, patreon, and personal interest in our reviews: nbtsmedia.com/about-us/ Denafrips ares 2 review: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-Aa1MswOqYpk.html Topping D90 Review: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-C0ziSsO5LKQ.html Burson Pre-amp review: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-4PG0taEZVH8.html
Nice Review!!! I'm a subscriber now. But I would like to know if you prefer this one or the D1SE? I'm going to use it with a class A amplifier, a tube preamp and the LS50 meta. Regards.
Hey I got this dac 3 weeks ago brand new and to be honest out the box it sounded so bad I nearly sent it back. But 3 weeks on I think it has just about run in , and sounds superb. This thing can give people that bit of hi end nirvana for a great price . But prepared to be patient if it’s brand new because it is terrible out the box. Thanks jay for keeping an open mind , I know people get blinkered into thinking more money better sound . I think this was true 10 years ago .
I've seen most of your videos and this by far was your best presentation. I don't care about DACs and will never own one but this was a nice piece of work. Perhaps a bit long, I appreciate not having an intro to sit through. I like you better by yourself. Nice work.
I finally know why it takes so long for you to review a DAC/headphone amplifier. It is really meticulous and professional. It is a good reference and feedback for sellers and buyers. This is a very good video~
MQA loads faster on the 400, has a bit more features, but from other reviews, the SU-9 with ESS 9038Pro also has robust lows, strong mids and slightly rolled off highs but remains revealing.
The unit is visually very good looking! Great review and excellent job at providing context with regards to “is it better than higher priced units”. What the individual likes is what determines the value. On a side note i’m still using the internal dac of the node 2i 😅
I like this review better than the NAD M33 review. I do not know why he does not like their products. Anyway, this review was helpful. Looking forward to the Alta Audio - Alyssa speaker review.
I got one of these a month ago, it's a solid product with flawless operation. Mine is matched with a Freya+(tubes) and Elac Adante floor stand speakers. I would agree that it's pretty neutral.
Great review ! In my setup it does in fact sound fuller than any dac i tried in the 800-4000$ range, it does sacrifice stage depth a bit , compared to the others the detail was in the same ball park in my setup.
Wait I don't get your statement about the Topping D90 comparion where it is more Neutral vs the SMSL M400 and doesn't have the "extra" statement on the sound comment? Isn't the function of DACs supposed to make the sound source the most neutral as possible to faithfully carry the originating sound? and the sound quality be driven by the amplifier/speakers? Why would you want your DAC to introduce "enhancement" to the sound source (unless this is specifically what your after...in say filters, but D90 has filters?)
I love S.M.S.L., MY ad18 after about a year sounds better now than new, Fuller sound, sound stage is expanding, and resolution seems better now too. I am using the sub out which works perfectly for bedroom 2.1 sound bar killing format. And on 91db efficiency Infinity R3s, upgraded.
I would buy a new DAC, I'd use the RCA output. I'd choose between the D90 and M400. I have two question: - Which one has bigger soundstage? - Which one has softer, silkier high frequencies? (I don’t like the sharp and harsh sounds. It doesn't matter if the sound of the system less opened and detailed, just don't be sharp at high frequencies. Thank you!
Hi Jay. Thanks for another excellent review. I am thinking of using this as a pure dac connected to my bluesound node 2i. Do you think this M400 has a better dac as compared to node 2i? And what would be the best input- coaxial? My node 2i is currently connected to a Schiit Freya+ pre amp which in turn is connected to an XTZ A 2 300 power amp. My speakers are Klipsch RP 6000f. Adding this to the rig as a dac to my node 2i , would it enhance my listening experience? Appreciate your thoughts.
Glad you mentioned the D90's shortcomings. The D90 sounded like a plastic bag was placed over my speakers compared to my ESS DACs. Factor in the hyper fast volume and the D90 is a no-go
Regarding XLR outputs ... Unless you have trully "unbalanced" power amp , it means separate amplification of negative/positive part of sound wave until the output of power amp -- xlr is useless and even not good. One exemple. Rotel power amp. What happens when the signal come to xlr input ? Right after the xlr input you find opamp NE5532 that transform this balanced signal to unbalanced. So , what do you think, will be sound better if you add thid additional opamp chip to the signal path if we compare with rca input ???
Great review as always Jay, but I think most dacs are sonically very good value these days ...especially those at this price point. However, I personally think that most of them will benefit and sound better if and when paired with a tube pre amp, buffer, integrated or power amp. As ironically Tubes seem to work really well with clean digital signal. I just got a tiny $30 fx audio tube pre amp, which I then upgraded with russian tubes and it sounds fab and really opens up the soundstage and makes all my neutral sounding dacs sing when linked to my class d power amp...so an easy cheap upgrade for tiny money. Although one-day I might try a tube integrated because the FX is such a wee tiny thing ...but I'm already happy and not in any hurry.
Best preamp and DAC in one unit? My Rega Brio-R has horrible unusable volume jumps with the remote. So I am relying on DAC (or at the moment node2i volume control).
Very honest review. Is not like wow last generation ess dac chip, It will be the best sound :) thanks to explain again and again to people that implementation - all around the dac chip - is mostly important !
When a DAC comes across as neutral what is the point of having one surly it’s main aim is to enhance the sound. So far trying to find this answer has proven very difficult.
Hello Jay! I'm looking for a better dac for my system. Im using a bluesound node 2022 as a streamer and dac. I saw that you have a node as well, so, which dac would you recommend as a step up for the node? Thanks in advance. Cheers from Chile!!!
So the M400 haves more bass than the D1SE and which one would be best for Ananda headphones to bring the harsh down a bit. Out of the 2 which one would be best ?
First of all, great review! Since i would like to have an all-in-one-solution, having a decent preamp with integrated r2r-dac. I have found the audio-gd r28 (version 2020, dual transformers w. Clock upgrade), which looks very promising. Any chance of getting a review from that device? Cheers
Hi bro..ive got this dac last 4 mths and what you described more or less similar to what i feel about this dac. Which digital filter do u prefer. I cant appreciate difference between all the filters.
Hi Jay I just got the M400. I'm using it as a preamp, connected directly to my Bryston 4B SST amp via XLR and I'm pleased with its performance. Now I'm wondering if I should connect it through my Bryston BP25 preamp. It seems strange that adding another component into the chain would make it sound better (I'm more into neutral/accuracy). Can you explain why?
thank you for the video. You mentioned keeping your USB lengths short, what would you say the maximum length for a USB cable should be without introducing any sound artifacts ? I'm currently running a Topping D90 MQA.
There is always a "maximum that someone puts out" but when I did series of tests in the past (also with measurements) - Shorter the USB, the better it was. So that's why its better to keep USB short and use XLR instead (only if you are running long lengths of cables)
Jay, if you’re still watching comments, how do you feel about this DAC v Bifrost 2? I’ve got Revel F36 speakers and they are very revealing. If they are comparable, I’m leaning towards Bifrost because I’m in the US. It makes managing the purchase less complicated.
I am also considering the Bifrost 2. I've been looking at that one for about 6 months, now. I'm also curious as to how you see the two of these stacking up against each other.
reviewed the bifrost 2 a while for soundstage ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-JKJjFLEjn98.html I would say that bifrost 2 is more neutral much like the topping d90. I do found the bifrost 2 to be slightly more forgiving on the edges in comparison to the topping d90.
Thanks much for the reply. I just watched your soundstage review. My speakers can be edgy occasionally. Based on yours and others, I’m probably going to go with the Schiit.
I don't think it was the FS version but I think Thujan was more of a fan than I was which I totally get why he loves it ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-X5fqJyYK_eo.html
Mine is the most recent version. It even says it on the unit. Haven't heard the older version but I don't see treble roll off in this unit be something to be "fixed" - maybe it was more significant in the previous unit? but this unit just takes the edge off nicely.
There are measurements that prove it. You should look it up/try it for yourself - I did so I know, it is quite interesting, it is not a small difference when it gets very long
he says; ares - better soundstage, airiness, resolution and neutrality. m400 - coloured though attractive sound (rolled off treble and boosted bass) which may be preferable to your taste, and/or if you listen to poorer recordings a lot .
you can have it as fixed output or you can use it to adjust volume. Fixed output vs pre-amp capability is different. It's not technically a pre-amplifier as much as it is a volume decreasing mechanism.
Can anyone tell me if this fully decodes MQA files if they haven't been unfolded at all when they arrive? I cannot use Tidal because of linux so want to send 44khz files to the DAC and have them unfolded to 384, will that be the case?
depends.... if you went with B&W and Focal then you might be already into the bright sound. So question is... do you want the edges off a little (and is that your problem) or did you choose the wrong sound for yourself at the speaker selection level (if you find it REALLY bright - cuz that's not a problem this dac will fix).
@@Jayiyagi I like that type of sound problem is my room is pretty lively and there is only so much I can do to tame it. Yes I only want the edges off a little.
Hi I need advice I have Topping A90 I am using Arya but can't decide between Denafrips Ares and M400 which will be good match for A90 for Arya, since Arya is more clinical will smooth sounding M400 will be better than Denafrips. Thanks
Why would you pair a Topping A90 with any of those 2? Why wouldn't you pair it with a Topping D90. Topping D90 is superior to SMSL M400 device both in measurement and neutrality.
@@RyuMasterEX i beg to differ since I am running a Topping A90 +D90 and it really is something. I understand why some people say its "smoother" than the THX amplifiers.
@@ADesertVoice what do you beg to differ? The objective facts are the output impedance of the ares and M400 are very very high and the input impedance is very low on the a90 therefore your Vin will suffer as a result. It's like using an iem on a OTL lol, maybe you prefer a smaller Vin as many do but it's not optimal.
love ur reviews... would love to see more Stereo Amp (not integrated) or 3 channel amps (for those of us who are in the 50% HD audio and 50% movies domain)...
@@johnsmith328 IMHO having full blown MQA support is not that big a deal. I am happy to have Audirvana or Tidal do ½ the work. I still get up to 24/96 with MQA.
All reviews should be done using balanced connections only. Discussing the unbalanced sound of a balanced component is like reviewing a sports car's performance in the snow.
@@Jayiyagi Personally I tried many things cables gold etc. But true perfect sound comes(with just decent dac+ amp) from room accoustics. But home theater room is bloody expensive. USB, BT, Ethernet - they are lossless without even single bit different from source - Therefore it is bullshit. Balanced is analog - and o boy - with long XLR it will be okay - as long as you don't have shitty chinese LEDs. Then good luck with filtering common mode.
@@WojciechMajstrzyk you should try a very long usb cable to your seating - it will degrade sound noticeably compared to a shorter one 100 percent guaranteed. I a not suggesting expensive vs less expensive cables here. I test all thing audio on a daily basis because testing audio on a daily basis is my daily job. Maybe you should at least try before calling my findings bullshit. If anything else, shorter cables cost you less lol Ps. theres no such a thing as a perfect sound and bluetooth is not truly lossless in 99 percent of the cases even if marketed that way. Wifi and ethernet is lossless I agree there is no to very small difference when talking about long vs short xlr cables. Hence why I value xlr in units so that we wouldn’t need to run long usb cables in a budget computer-file system As I explained in the video
So sick of hearing about DACs! The least permanent part of any HiFi yet ever day there is another review. 1000$ CAD will get you alot of HiFi components that will not become stuck in a whales blow hole in 10 years.
