SMSL SU-9 is pure musicality and superior sound. I had also : Chord Mojo, RME ADI-2 DAC, Modi 3, Burson Playmate, AQ Cobalt and these are poor SQ toys for rich kids in compare with SU-9. I have paired it with Monolith Monoprice 887 THX amplifier and it's definitely end game. SU-9 is bang for buck.
@@NoThemeReviews Cobalt is way overpriced. Shanling UA2 on same DAC for half of Cobalt price chip smashes it and have 2.5mm balanced. Mojo is OK but for example Rod Rain Audio chinese DAC on ES9038Q2M is better and costs 1/10 of Mojo + of course you have to buy additional AMP.
I was using this as a dac into my audiolab 8000Q with audiolab monoblocks and the sound was really good, now i decided to experiment with this as a preamp and it sounded really nice, don't think i lost much in terms of sound quality, i can't believe something so small can be that powerful, pleasantly surprised.
I don't understand your confusion regarding BT. The SMSL does not need to be tied to a computer as it has optical in and can be used in a media center. You can stream with your phone over BT from tidal, spotify, etc. You cannot do this any other way unless you have a another endpoint with support for the full quality tidal and spotify can give you. Even an expensive Smart TV cannot achieve this. Really appreciate the comparison with other DACs and I 100% agree that differences in audio should be expressed in simpler to understand terms. I am a tad disappointed that you did not mention differences between sound signatures even a little bit. Here is an easy to understand comparisson :I own both the E30 and Smsl Sanskrit MkII 10th, both basically with the same exact internals. Not sure if this was down to cables or power sockets I used, but there were differences. E30 has quicker transients and I hear sounds more to the left and right. Sanskrit has slower transients and gives the impression of deeper soundstage, though sounds from the sides sound closer. In Mountains by Hanz Zimmer, the subbass rumble was quicker and better defined on the E30, though it sounded a tad louder and a bit heavier on the SMSL. The differences are small and you need a/b switching to tell. I used an Atom amp with the wired Devas. Cheers!
I have smsl su9n (it's the same dac without Bluetooth ) I have it paired with smsl sh9 . The only dac amps I had before were Cambridge audio dacmagic, musical fidelity m1 dac with hpap amp , fiio q1 , chord mojo and I also tried the new fiio k7 . The headphones I use as a daily driver are hd 660s and to me smsl su9n is the best dac I ever had it pairs amazingly with my Sennheiser and compared to mojo and fiio K7 I hear details in songs I never heard before my only regret is not buying it sooner .
Unfortunately many companies have realized the potential to exploit the obsession some audio enthusiasts have with measurement. To be clear i am an advocate of using measurement to evaluate audio gear as it highlights dishonest manufacturers and helps us to understand performance. However a big part of use of measurement is to understand what is being measured, which in the context of audio includes recognizing that there are thresholds for audibility and that further improving parameters that are already way beyond those thresholds may be technically interesting but it brings zero benefit to the listener. In fact at a point "objective" audio evaluation and chasing figures which no longer mean anything is just as subjective as the sort of florid language used by highly subjective reviewers which measurement types hate. However companies like SMSL, Topping etc have realized there is a real opportunity to exploit that segment and are doing it with aplomb. Personally i think DACs achieved complete transparency years ago unless catastrophically badly designed or deliberately designed with coloured sound (i.e not designed just to appeal to measurement fetishists). And if a headphone amp has enough power to drive your headphones to the required volume without audible distortion then it is doing its job. Amplifiers are often coloured by design, personal I prefer to use EQ to colour the sound but liking a particular sound signature is a purely subjective preference in which there is no "right" or "wrong". I tend to like broadly flat but with a touch of treble sparkle and don't like bass heavy tuning, but bass heads are just as much entitled to their preference. I think manufacturers are exploiting a no doubt well meaning interest in measurement to fleece the gullible.
Hi! Let me disagree with you, yesterday i sold SU-8 v2, i did side by side comparison with su-9 for 4 days, and su-9 has much cleaner sound, more details, but as in case with su-8 a little bit flat image and a little bit harsh on high frequency(IMHO of course). I think su-9 is worth to upgrade from su-8, sad that you did not hear that. But i have one friend that can't hear difference between dacs, maybe all people different? About the value: im thinking about moving forward from su-9 later and actually i don't know what to get even up to 800$, if the su-9 - Unjustifiably Expensive, please advice what to get upt to 800$? Have a nice day.
I enjoyed this review a lot. While I am not a major headphone user, I still appreciated your perspective! I have the SMSL SU-8 v2, which I purchased for $185 in the good old days when Massdrop was still Massdrop. I've been thinking about upgrading this to the SMSL SU-9 or the Gustard X16 or the Loxjie D50 or...blah, blah blah. Truth is, the SMSL SU-8 v2 sounds good. It's a nice, no-frills DAC with a pleasant sound. I must admit that I really like my Musician Pegasus R2R DAC a lot, and it cost $1,100 (sadly), but it sounds fantastic with my Musical Fidelity M6si and Canton Reference 9.2 DC speakers with Martin Logan Dynamo 500 subwoofer. But after seeing this video, I'm perfectly happy keeping my SMSL SU-8 hooked up to my third system and saving the bucks I could have wasted on the SMSL SU-9! Thank you, sir. You have a new subscriber!
I partially agree with you. I have compared D50s and SU9 (both neutral DACs) and difference is noticable and my conclusion is that SU9 is not neutral compared to D50s. I've both it new for 400$. Also I'm using bluetooth all the time since my dac is hidden from my children and somethimes I'm just to tired to stand up and turn on my pc so I stream music over bt (I don't have dedicated streamer). Compared to d50s this dac is significantly better to my ears on my equipment. Only thing I'm missing is auto standby feature and because of that I'm thinking of selling it and get Topping D70s. D50s and P50 are not in use anymore since I prefer sound reproduction from SU9.
Ive previously had 3 other dacs and my SU-9 sounds slightly on the warm side compared to those. One huge difference that I noticed instantly is that the SU-9 seems to smooth over the treble harshness compared to cheaper dacs. I find bright sounding headphones are more enjoyable to listen to with this dac.
@@johnellison3173 I'm not using it with headphones. SU9 has been intended for desktop use or as standalone DAC so I do not understand complaints about BT. I'm using that part and it sounds nice, it is lossy but still good enough.
I briefly had the d70s and a D50s clone to compare. The D70s was seemingly a step up form the D50s without any of the glare. Any sibilance that grated on the D50s was still there but never noticed as glare, etc. It was very smooth but with a bit more detail. The only thing its' added warmth, bass. mid bass while tight, it bleed into the separation a bit but separation, detail, etc still better than D50s. How much better than SU-9 I can't say. Marginal perhaps? Still, a very, very nice dac and easy to operate. I did not use it for streaming/MQA, just CD/HDCD and SACD.
I'm thinking of pulling the trigger on the new SU-9 Pro. I'm going to run it with a Bluesound Node 2i. I'm kinda new to dacs. I have a 45 day return policy so if I can't justify the 499.99 price on the Pro I can simply return it. I don't use headphones but have a decent home audio system. Klipsch RF7IIS and Parasound Halo amp.
Do it - it's an excellent DAC, as is the SU-9 MQA (that I own). IDK what this person hears - but it's the best lowest-cost midrange DAC in it's class - esp. with one that has all the features it has. It's a cut above in SQ alone, IMO......
I have been into high end audio since my first copy of Stereo Review Magazine in 74 at age 14 and I've seen a lot of snake oil products but Tidal has a better catalog than Qobuz and although I'm not buying into The master quality aspect of MQA I can say the MQA version of a lot of Albums just sound's better to me than what is offered on other streaming platforms. Everyone wants to bash MQA but I will continue to use it and care less about the soap box bitches that scream how terrible it is ... MQA is on even my cheapest DACs so I will continue to enjoy it and care less what others think
@@NoThemeReviews I am into reviews for factual information to help me make an informed buying decision. I take all opinions that are not fact based with a huge grain of salt . You can make an informed choice if you have an in depth knowledge of the reviewers preferred sound signiture and how it differs from your own .... And realizing Zeos (Steve) is obviously deaf is also a valuable insight lol
Regarding Zeos... never trust a man who falls in and out of love with kit so quickly/ I mean how can the only dac you'll ever need be supplanted within months.
Two things about this review concern me. 1. There is no mention of the difference between the output for XLR and line out. I have had great performance using XLR to the 3-4 inputs of my Soundcraft mixer. That makes this DAC quite valuable because I can visibly see the improvement in sound using Audacity. By feeding the headphones via balanced mixer XLR, you have studio sound with very little investment. That makes this little box quite a good value. 2. The ES9038PRO chip is using eight processors into a stereo signal (presumably four per channel, but that's not a given). However, much like any other audio processor, all this processing means the chip is doing some heavy lifting with no latency. In my experience, I have discovered that the chip will require some burn-in before you realize the full benefits of the sound. I let mine run for a full week and notice recordings sounding better and better. Given the best connections (XLR) and a fair amount of time (a couple hours, at least), this unit is indeed a good value and worthy of the price tag.
Oh god. If you’re going to throw down the old burn-in myth, then at least provide scientific studies or blind tests to validate such a claim. Burn-in rarely has any noticeable affect on headphones, and I’m deeply skeptical of anyone who says electronic components benefit from it. You may want to do some research on the subject outside of forums.
Wow, this was really comprehensive. I like your no-nonsense style vs. flowery descriptions of “stunning” differences between units. It’s somewhat disappointing the “sound color” feature doesn’t seem to have any effect. I’m generally a “wire with gain” kind of guy, but a touch of correction might push a given speaker or headphone’s response in a better direction from time to time. That said, and I’m not being defensive: I think I (might) fit into that small group of people who would (at least sometimes) benefit from the collection of features on this DAC, and not miss the lacks you mention. To explain, I think you went a bit far in assuming the only use case for a device like this is on a desk connected to a computer. In my case, I’d put it into my console as part of my stereo system in order to have a better performing DAC than the Bluesound Node’s built in unit. I’m a long-time Tidal subscriber and would at least like the MQA option, if only to experiment. I already have the Bluetooth/Airplay option via the Node, so that’s a little less interesting. All that said, I’m certainly not sold on the SU-9 as of yet, I’m currently using a Grace m9xx as my DAC, and honestly it’s fine. This stuff is a hobby, so it’s just fun to experiment, thus I’m always on the hunt :-).
At 13:09, did you seriously criticize a DAC for not being able to TRANSMIT audio over bluetooth? It's a digital audio converter, not an analog audio converter. The receiving device would then have to use its internal DAC to convert the audio, which would defeat the purpose of the dedicated DAC in the first place. Bluetooth audio is digital, so the receiving device must convert it to an analog signal. Your entire bluetooth argument makes zero sense. 🤦♂
Actually,it makes perfect sense. It’s a feature that should be included with dacs, just as the minimally-relevant DSD is implemented when few audiophiles use DSD. Is your position that BT should not be used in dacs at all? Your argument, if taken seriously, would mean that products like the ES100, UP4, etc are not true dacs since they receive BT signal. Unless of course, your position is that receiving BT is fine but sending BT is not. Which also doesn’t track since you’re advocating against a feature people could actually use. If that’s the case, then your objection is based on strict adherence to definitions without regard to added functionality, ease of use and convenience to the end users. And, what about DAPs that have BT transmission? Are we supposed to reject them or consider them as “lesser” products because they have BT? There is at least one Dac that does have BT transmission-the Aune X5s-and it’s no less a Dac because it has that feature. Your argument against BT implementation is frankly not convincing.
@@NoThemeReviews no I already had it for such a long time. It still sounds good but I keep telling myself the usb would give me more volume. Thank you…. If I was going to get a new dac to pair with the sh6 which one do you think I should get?
@@crate718 Doesn't really matter. If you want a basic dac, then the Schiit Modi will do great. You might also be able to find a used JDS Labs El Dac for cheap on eBay--and that's a great product.
you might use BT when this DAC works with your home amplifier and that is not on your desk. However I use for this purpose the network streamer rather than BT ;-)
Hi! Been a fan of your reviews. Saw your SU-9n review and observed that the label changes to LDAC when you connected it a device over BT. Does this also happen with the SU-9? I am connecting an LDAC device to it but it still shows the bluetooth symbol and 44.1khz under it. Yes, I have done the possible android tweaks for this.
Simply not true in the case of the SU-8 to SU-9. The former has been available for over 2 years now and was crying out for a larger screen. It sounds like you're butt hurting for some reason. The fact that it is universally agreed that the SU-9 is a great dac in its price range, your counter argument suggests of click baiting to some degree.
Speaking of being butt hurt, I can understand you having a different opinion, but don’t make blatantly dumb comments. People like you get so fucking offended when others disagree with your particular views that you won’t hesitate even a moment before spewing idiotic imaginary conspiracy theories or making the most inane arguments in support of a product. Claiming other people like something isn’t evidence of worth, especially when those same people have hyped nearly everything they get their grimy hands on. Next time THINK before making a comment.
Hi. I have a SU-9 and SH-9 (XLR) and also a $100 tube amp (RCA) hooked to the SU-9. The SH-9 is in cold storage and I should've gotten a Topping D10 to pair with the tube amp. Maybe those people who look forward to upgrade should all try tubes first.
TBH I'd probably use the Bluetooth receiver mode more than the other features. For example DSD, MQA and high sample rates are really of little utility to me. Probably an unpopular opinion though...
Su-9 was my biggest disappointment in my audio setup, had very nice midrange but very loose in the bass and nothing to write home about in the top end. Scratching to get 6 out of ten.
Do you think the Fiio Q3 would be a better option for me than the Lotoo Paw-S1 if I intend to use it with a Sony IER-Z1R IEM(Impedence-40 ohms)(An IEM that I’ve heard is really demanding)?.The maximum power output of the fiio Q3 is 300 mW at 32 ohm load and for the Lotoo Paw S-1,it’s just 120 mW at 32 ohm load.The review score of fiio Q3 on headfonics is 8 while for the Lotoo Paw s-1 it’s just 7.5.Also,if you think I should purchase another DAC/Amp instead(under $150) then do let me know which one you’d recommend?
Headphonics ratings are among the last things I would consider. They do a very bad job reviewing products and often contradict themselves. Their ratings are based on arbitrary criteria that is entirely subjective. Anyway, you should buy what you think would work best for you. The Q3 has some issues, namely channel imbalance and some noise in the signal when adjusting volume-or at least my review unit did. It’s a fine product but far from perfect. The Z1r is easy to drive. The Q3’s double power output compared to the S1 doesn’t mean it provides better performance. The headphones will merely get louder a bit faster. The S1 can drive headphones up to 300 ohms.
@@NoThemeReviews Two RU-vidrs namely ‘Audiophile Heaven’ and ‘Porta.Fi’ told me that the Lotto Paw-S1 is better both in terms of sound and features in comparison to the Fiio Q3 and the Hidizs-S9 so I think it would be a good decision for me to purchase it after a few days.
Smsl M500 has existed for a while now. I bought mine used for $300. Seems to be near identical in performance to the su9 but has a good built in headphone amp. I love mine
IMO, neither. Both are grotesquely overpriced. If you spend another $150 above the RS MSRP, you could get the RME, which packs far more useful features than both products. Or, buy any number of perfectly good dacs and amps for half the price of either.
Since this DAC is overpriced, please list balanced DACs with remote, volume control and IEC power inlet that perform as good or better than the SU-9 for less money. Great review! We need more unvarnished truth in reviews.
I don't have a list of dacs that use IEC cables. As for "perform as good or better"--I have no idea what that means. If you're referring to measurements--then I find measurements totally irrelevant since you can't hear a difference in the THD and SNR measurements anyway. As for sound signature--well...the differences in sound signature come down to your personal preferences. But, IMO, the differences among dacs have to be fairly significant for you to notice. Slight differences among fairly neutral dacs are hardly ever worth paying more. Anyway, you may want to look at the SMSL Sanskrit Mk2 and Topping E30. Both companies have released a ton of dacs over the years. Traditional (non-Chinese) dac manufacturers don't release dacs as frequently as SMSL and Topping.
@@NoThemeReviews a dac with a sound signature, what’s the point of that. People who test with just their ears are never going to find if it performs good or not. For starters your headphones or speakers could be of poor design. Also not all digital recording are of high standard.
@@r423sdex On a similar note i never quite got the Naim PRaT obsession. I know Naim fans are akin to Scientologists when it comes to their PRaT but i want my kit to play what's on the disc, not fed to me like a subservient believer. For the record i'm using a Creek Evolution 50A and it smokes the Nait 5i with no mention of PRaT or other such nonsense, just a very well designed and engineered amplifier.
@@NoThemeReviews A DAC providing all that this one does but priced like the Topping D90, SMSL M400, RME ADI-2 or Benchmark DAC3 could be described as unjustifiably expensive. This DAC however, at barely $400, is not unjustifiably expensive by any stretch. It measures better than a dozen DACs costing over 5 times it's price. This is the lowest price DAC with top tier performance / measurements that can drive a power amp. It's an RME ADI-2 at 1/4th the price. And no cheapo wal-wart cord like the RME.
@@herrtrigger7220 well, the measurements are utterly meaningless. They have literally no effect to the listening experience. That’s all Topping and SMSL seem to be doing these days-releasing a product every month with slightly lower THD or marginally higher dynamic range. You can’t hear THD or noise under 1%. And you cannot listen to music above 90db for long without damaging your hearing. So, what difference does it make when these products measure well? It’s such a shame ASR refuses to put its measurements into context.
That’s pretty vague. I don’t know what you mean by “better” or “improves on it”. If you’re talking about features and supported resolutions, then many alternatives have more features and greater supported audio resolution. If you’re talking about sound, then there are many alternatives which are as neutral as the Cobalt. I mean, Audioquest priced the Cobalt pretty stupidly as it is in the same price category as some products that have more power output, and more connectivity. You’ll need to be more specific.
@Inwaves Oficial Look man, I don't answer those types of questions--what's better in terms of sound; I do not promote my own sound preferences. I don't think the Cobalt has any special abilities, nor does it sound unique. In fact, I've already done numerous reviews of the Cobalt. If you want a cheaper alternative, check out the Ikko Zerda, Ztella Zorloo, Topping NX4, Monolith USB Dac, iFi Hip Dac, E1DA 9038, and Lotoo Paw S1. All of these products offer different features, some different sound signatures, and are far cheaper than the Cobalt.
Very good point. I think you could also have added SMSL M400 to the equation to make it even more absurd. Anyway, I agree that chi-fi is simply not ready for making reasonable products that would elevate their user experience. Take a look at Bluesound (Power) Node streamers and amplifiers. Do they use better quality chips or technology comparing to SMSL or Topping? Not at all. Do they make so much more sense? Hell yeah! Because guys at Bluesound understand the context of using modern stereo/hifi equipment and they know how to address users needs with a capable and nicely rounded experience. Expierence of hassle-free, enjoyable music consumption, not the experience of owning a metal box that doesn't fit your lifestyle.
I just ordered the SH9 with a discount which is a good value, I have no intention of getting the SU9 unless it's discounted significantly in the future, else I'm getting Soncoz.
I don't know why its so expensive in the US. I just got this and the matching SH-9 amp for around £500 gbp here in the UK. Its a very good stack. I guess the BT feature is just there so you can quickly play files from your mobile device rather than plugging in cables or setting up your laptop. Its a Quick convenience feature that works rather well.
@@jamescook6890 I bought it from the Shenzhen Audio store on ebay UK a few months ago when it was on offer. They are called wsz0304 on ebay. I also got a further 10% off for buying both items at the same time as I asked the seller if I could get a discount for buying both SH9 and SU9 together. Very good store by the way. Excellent service.
I don't hear the difference of a 2300$ versus a 100$. So yeah I don't get the point. Guess I don't have super hearing. I don't know jack about IEM. Is Moondrop starfield good? Or are there better ones. I prefer hifiman 5xx sound signature over sennheiser 6xx if that helps. I'm not good with audiophile lingo.
Lol...audiophiles aren't good with lingo either. They just make crap up to pretend. I mean, what the hell is a "meaty" or "muscular" sound?? The Starfield is a good option, I think. It's a balanced-sounding IEM, with emphasis on the bass. Treble is boosted but not harsh. My issue with the Starfield is that it's just a bit too heavy and bulky for comfortable listening. And, if you prefer foam eartips, then the bass becomes boomy and undetailed. I haven't heard the 5xx so I don't know what IEM would be comparable. There are a few alternatives you may want to look into: iBasso IT00, KBEar OS1 Pro; Tin Hifi T2 Plus; and Final Audio B2.
@@NoThemeReviews Heavy IEMs? that's no good lol. I like the 5XX I'm pretty sure drop pulled a fast one. Is probably just the Deva in black and I prefer the headband. The build feels cheap, but is comfortable. To me they sound good. If I get a chance I'll send them for review to you. I'm still using it at the moment. Feel free to shit on drop and hifiman lol. I bought them off amazon.
Uh, which triple-priced dacs are you talking about? And just because it might “compete” with more costly products just underscores how ridiculously priced those other products are. As I’ve said over and over again, price is a terrible measure of sound or features.
@@theodorezurla496 You're asking about an entirely subjective opinion. Why does it matter what other people think sounds good? But if you want my subjective opinion about what sounds pleasant, here's a non-exhaustive list: Ikko Zerda; Jolida Fx Dac Mini; Schiit Modi 3; iFi Zen Dac; Monolith THX Portable; Soncoz LA-QXD1; SMSL SU8; Khadas Tone Board; Lotoo Paw S1; SMSL Sanskrit Mk2; Cambridge Audio DacMagic/DacMagic Plus; iFi iOne; Topping D50s; iFi Hip Dac; Chord Mojo; Fiio Q3; Fiio Q5; Topping NX4; Oppo HA2. I'd caution you against asking people "what sounds better" because you'll never get an unbiased answer. Companies like SMSL, Topping, and many others, prey upon consumers' ignorance and make people think adding a "Pro" suffix or presenting atomic-level distortion measurements means "better" sound. It doesn't.
@@NoThemeReviews hi there. I got both SH & SU9. Somehow the Xduoo MT602 and another OEM tube amp that cost a hundred odd dollars sound better. Any advice on how I can get the SH-9 to sound like a tube amp? EQ (what program?)? Thanks!
I don't agree with your assessment of the Su-9. I've owned the Topping D30, SMSL Su-8v2, and now the Su-9. IMO, the Su-9 is the better of the three. It's neutral, linear sounding, and punchy but not sterile-bright like the others. Gotta use the balanced outs, disable preamp mode, minimize DPLL, and ditch the stock cable for the DAC's best SQ though. If one can't hear the difference in the filters or sound color options maybe the rest of the chain is not revealing enough of upstream gears. Pairing of components is important, IMO. Most of the 'chip' type amps ('789, '887, A90, Heresy, Atom) have a kind of sameness to their SQ that may not allow subtleties to be revealed. I paired my Su-9 with a Gustard H20 and HFM Arya and can hear the difference between filters and sound color options - though it may be too subtle to non-existent for many 'casual' listeners. I think it's a good value all things considered b/c a higher performing DAC will be much, much more expensive.
Fantastic that you are using the Ollo S4x. Please can you recommend a suitable desk top amp and DAC to pair with them as I only have an Xduoo X05 plus portable amp/dac at present.
The S4x is really easy to drive, so it doesn’t require any special equipment. Is there a reason you don’t want to use the Xduoo? What type of sound signature are you looking for, and what’s your budget?
@@NoThemeReviews I love them with the Xduoo but always feel there is too little bass for my liking which I know is as it should be in this headphone. I love detail but would prefer more bass presence. As these are my first headphones amp/dac what could you recommend as a great headphone amp/dac stack for £1000? Thanks for the feedback loved the detail and honesty in your review
@@jamescook6890 I'll give you some stack ideas, as well as dac and amps you may want to consider: If you want a simple all-in-one solution, the iFi Zen Dac is a very good bargain. It's a bit on the warmer side of neutral, but is a good option to consider. The JDS Labs Element is a neutral, well-built option as well. The Monolith THX Desktop is overkill for the S4x, but does offer a lot of features. It's more analytical than the Zen Dac and Element, but it also has built-in EQ and Sensaround capabilities. The Schiit Modi 3 and Monolith Liquid Spark is a good neutral stack. In the alternative, you could use the Schiit Heresy instead of the Liquid Spark. The Liquid Spark is a tiny bit leaner on bass and has a slight treble emphasis compared to the Heresy. The JDS Labs El Dac is a neutral dac that I have connected to several amps. As a standalone dac, this is worth considering. Of course, you could be as happy with the SMSL Sanskrit. If you want balanced, then the Soncoz LA-QXD1 would be my suggestion. You could pair any amp you want with one of the dacs I just mentioned--as they're all neutral. For example, the Rupert Neve Headphone Amplifier, Zen Can, Drop 789, Bellari HA540 Mk2 or HA543 are all very good options to consider--among many, many others. Paying more won't get you "better" sound.
@@NoThemeReviews thank you so much for taking the time to give so many options lots of food for thought. To future proof my set up do you have any future recommendations for my next headphone as a contrast to the S4x? Maybe a Planar? Or closed back?
@@jamescook6890 You've got many options, from all sorts of price brackets. For a warmer-sound: Meze 99 Classics; Philips Fidelio X2; Sony MDR-Z7 Mk2; Marshall Monitor; HD6xx; Neumann NDH20; Denon D2000 or D5200; AKG K361 For a balanced sound: Monolith M1070 or M1570; Sivga Phoenix; Sendy Aiva; Shure SRH1540; Emotiva GR1; Audeze LCD1 or LCD2; AKG K371 For a more analytical, less bassy sound: Austrian Audio Hi-x55; DT990; Focal Elex; Rane RH50; HD800s; Focal Clear You may also want to look at the DT880, 250 ohm variant. There's a lot of misinformation about the 600 ohm version, so it's best to just avoid that particular type. Frankly, the sky is the limit. You could spend weeks going through all your options. I have all of the headphones I mentioned above, so this is just from my experience. I'm sure you could find alternatives I haven't thought of.
I like so much your review, congrats!!! small question... I have the Ifi zen dac, do you know any dac (just dac, without headphone amplifier or other features) that worth the upgrade related to sound quality? thanks.
Hi. I don't know what type of upgrade you're looking for. I'm sure you can find a dac that has a different sound signature, and maybe that might be more pleasing to you. But, as far as objective sound performance...no, I don't think you can really get "upgrades." For instance, the Zen Dac renders high resolution audio, just like most other dacs. So, as far as being able to play very high resolution tracks, the Zen Dac is as capable as any other dac. If you think that the Zen Dac sounds a bit too warm for your tastes, then you certainly have alternatives to consider. For example, the Topping E30, SMSL Sankskrit Mk2, Soncoz LA-QXD1, SMSL SU-8, Schiit Modi 3, and iFi iOne are more neutral and may help you hear a bit more detail, less bass emphasis, and more accurate treble than the Zen Dac. If you want something with a warmer sound signature than the Zen Dac, then you could give the Jolida Fx Dac Mini a try. It's discontinued but you may be able to find it. Unfortunately, there aren't many options around for warm-sounding dacs. If you want a more analytical sound, then maybe something from Mytek Audio, or a dac from an older generation Sabre chipset.
@@NoThemeReviews I was searching something like the su9, but I think will be no big difference compared to ifi zen dac that I already own. I'm looking for something "musical". Im not sure if this su9 worth it, as you mention, su8 will be a better chooise for me becuase I dont need the extra features added to the su9, but again, I dont know what will be an upgrade right for me, thanks.
The Topping D30 Pro looks to be the lowest price volume controlled balanced DAC with top tier specs like the M-400. It's only about $50 less than SU-9 and uses Cirrus chips. The SU-9 has shown solid reliability since it's launch so you have to weigh that against a new a brand new product that's not much lower in price. The only thing I've noticed with the SU-9 is there are 2 to 3 (barely audible) pops when you switch inputs or power it up while amps are powered up. My M-500, M-400, RME ADI-2, Modius and D90 are all silent when switching make a very faint pop when powering up. To me the SU-9 is easier to listen to than M-500, may be this is from the better op amps in SU-9. The sound colors are useless as No Theme says.
I owned this DAC for awhile. I bought it to pair with my Topping A90 that I had recently purchased. I sold the stack in less than a year. I didn't hate the products. They were just a solid "MEH" in every regard. The build quality is undeniably cheap. It's immediately evident once you open the packaging. The knob and switches are very raw, the RCA ports are easy to move around with just a finger and I thought I was going to break a solder joint just from removing the plastic caps that come installed over the ports. The small screen and odd menu system also leaves a lot to be desired. And there's nothing worse than using a remote that is used across multiple models and between different brands. Don't get me wrong. Chi-Fi products gives people access to hifi at a price typically much lower than more established brands. But there's something very rewarding about holding and using a product that oozes quality and is very well made. This just isn't it.
Can you really not use the Bluetooth input without a USB connection? That seems utterly stupid, like you'd have to be trying to make it that way. Not sure why Bluetooth output would matter though. You only need to receive on here as far as I can see. Sending Bluetooth from it would bypass the DAC - might as well use the PC or phone's Bluetooth.
Right on! Chi-Fi is getting really expensive and really quick. This DAC should cost 249usd at most! Many ChiFi products are quickly getting into 400, 500, 700 territory, sorry but this puts value and performance balance out of whack with these ChiFi products .
Hi, I bought hd 560-v4 headset can you tell me what would be a good matching Dac and headphone amp to pair with these Cans, please help, I was reviewing the A90 and D90,
How does the SU9 compare with the Topping D70s and Gustard X16? Thanks Also I think your review focuses primarily for desktop applications only. What about using the SU9 with a streamer for your audio system. As a streamer and DAC the Matrix is superb, it has only one limitation - it can’t read music from an external hard disk (even one that is self powered). For that one feature, one needs to consider the Element M or Element I
A number of issues have been reported of users of this DAC . Noise and channel drop outs . Maybe wise to look elsewhere for a DAC from SMSL . Their M500 -which I own , also has issues with excessive 3 rd harmonic distortion.
I've heard you mention the Liquid Spark stack a couple of times. Do you plan on reviewing them anytime soon? I've had the LS amp for two years, and over all that time, I've used a SMSL Idea dongle amp/dac as a dac, and I'm ready to get rid of it.
I saw the price and thought, "Huh, SEEMS reasonable". Then I looked at the specs and thought better of it. As always with AK, they don't provide any headphone output specs, and even sites like Crutchfield (which do a very good job of noting specs) don't have any meaningful info. For example, the dac supposedly has 2vrms...but at what load? AK never says for ANY of their devices, and I am convinced that is because their amp outputs are substantially lower than any competing options. Then there's the 2 ohm output impedance...which is pretty high for sensitive IEMs. Then there's the little issue that the AK dac uses the same dac as the cheaper Ikko Zerda...so, clearly nothing exotic. Anyway, I have a soft spot for AK's tuning, so I might buy the dac at some point...but I've been burned many times by AK products, so I'll probably wait.
but on forums from adepts you can hear smth like: oh, this dac is georgious. I can hear the huge changes in sound quality compare to another dac for $300. the sound is warm and clean like diamond, soundstage is bigger, deeper and subbase increased drastically. and blah blah blah 😁
great review i own the su-8 and could not agree more about the sound filters and color filters i thought it was me not hearing a difference even on some high end headphones like stax L700, Sennheiser HD800s and hifman arya , nice to know im not the only one, this has opened my eyes to which reviewers are full of schiit, that need to have some sense of i can hear better than you type of mentality. just to correct you the smsl SU-8 does have 2 separate dac chips. I've never believed that dacs make a great deal of deference, , rather the source and headphones are much more important. imow the moral of this story is a fool and his money is soon parted. one more thing i would love to see, but know it would never happen is a blind test with all the highest rated audio you tubers of dacs cables ect we could even ask your mate zeos lol
I cant too make any differences on filters or color filters with STAX. The DAC is just as good as any other ESS DAC. The MQA part is very good tho. It does its job.
I don't understand your authoritative review, when you clearly don't understand the BT use cases. You also make very broad and severely over confident statements about equalization. I'm finding this review more agitating than informative. I see now why you turn off the thumbs up/down now.
Yeah, I do make authoritative reviews. Since I have the product and do the comparisons, spend my personal time and effort, without shilling a company or product, and ask nothing from you in return, I think that’s my right. I’m not going to hem and haw and cater to others. After all, don’t people who praise these products sound as authoritative and emphatic about their positions? Why should I give less than my full impression of a product? Are you agitated that you’re not hearing what you wanted to hear, or hear things you disagree with? Surely that shouldn’t be a surprise in this hobby. Also, the like and dislike options are still there. Vote to your heart’s discontent. It just seems like a skewed standard. If my opinions comport with yours, then we’re good. But if you don’t like what I have to say, then you imply insults. It’s no wonder reviewers get burned out. Try to be a little more circumspect in your comments.
@@NoThemeReviews Actually, I get sick of the fanboy reviews. I find them useless and a waste of time. I looked to yours because I wanted to hear more about the bad. I don't really have any bias for this product, it just seemed to me that instead of providing a more balanced review that leaned towards the negative that you went to the other extreme. Go back and listen to your review. It's "useles" this and "useless" that and "just about everything that everyone else is telling you is wrong". Look, I don't completely dislike this style, I just find it too similar to how news is presented today where people give strong, and often wrong, opinions as facts.
@@johncrighton4738 When I say things are useless, I explain why. You can choose to disagree with my opinions, and as long as you voice those objections with courtesy, it's not an issue. But, what you're basically asking me to do is not give my opinions based upon my experiences. That's simply unfair. Literally every other reviewer--professional and amateur, for profit or for pleasure--has the leeway to provide their opinions about these subjects; so why don't I get that same opportunity? I do not do this for profit as I make pennies off my videos. I don't hide content behind paywalls. I give people my impressions, whether they like it or not. Y'all can agree or disagree with my findings, which is your prerogative. But my content is not intended to relay basic information you can find off the spec sheets. There is no "balanced" approach when there's so much misinformation and disinformation in the audiophile community. When I have issues about the BT integration, it's based on specific reasons. When I say BT is lossy and less resolving signal than wired connection, that's a fact. When I complain about digital filters having little to no audible effect, it's based upon A/B tests. Why shouldn't I tell people about all of this? I mean, if I were out to sell you a product, I'd definitely take your approach. I'd tell people I don't hear a difference but I'm sure someone can--just to cover all my bases. But I'm not going to play that game. Here's my outlook on all this: I have a full time job that takes up 60 hours of my week. I do these reviews as a hobby, and that takes up a lot of spare time I have. I don't ask for anything in return for all my content and effort (other than the minimal inconvenience of having ads). So, I feel entirely justified in making my points with confidence and authority. I don't have time or patience to hold punches or make sure I'm not alienating people. The fact that you're tired of fanboy reviews is something I very much appreciate. But the corollary of that is having to accept other people's opinions. I'm not a news broadcaster, I'm not a reporter, and I have no reason to sugar-coat my experiences with gear, or to hedge my bets in other words. It's simply not fair to me.
Dac are done with regards to measurements, you won’t hear a difference. They are all transparent. Your amplifier and speakers are unable to resolve the level they are at.
Actually, that was just B-roll. Unlike some other reviewers, I actually do my tests FIRST then record footage. At some point y'all have to learn that visuals for audio gear reviews is relatively unimportant.
I wonder how many audiophiles have committed suicide due to listening to your channel. I rather enjoy how you don't hesitate at all to take away someone's Santa Claus, lol.
Su-9 was my biggest disappointment in my audio setup, had very nice midrange but very loose in the bass and nothing to write home about in the top end. Scratching to get 6 out of ten.
