Absolutely awesome! I have been going back and forth for weeks between the Denafrips and this D1se. you made the decision very clear for me. I chose the D1se. Excellent review left me with no further questions.
Ah man, you're a godsend! You are spot on with this review. Like others, I was on the fence between this and the Ares 2. Since I use my DAC with my TV I bought the D1SE and it is everything you said it is. Neutral and natural done right. I'm loving it. This DAC is probably a lot more versitile being that it hits the sweet spot between musicality and details. I just wish it didn't shout 99 all of the time when the pre-amp is bypassed. They could have put some more useful information on the display instead. Wink wink SMSL. Thank you for saving me from hacking my way through the DAC jungle. You're really good at this. Can't wait for new reviews.
I would love to see even more comparison including higher models to see how much it's worth spending more. How does D1SE perform compared to Gustard X26, Aune S8, Pontus 2, Venus 2 and of course VMV D2?
@@SubjectE57 I'd like to find out too. I did ask SMSL if they'd let me review the D2 but they said no unfortunately so will need to find a friend or viewer who is happy to let me borrow theirs
Gustard has similar options, X18 vs X26 at about double the price. How one perceives any differences moving to the more expensive option depends on speakers, amp and one's own perceptual abilities. My guess, regardless of the above is that the difference will be small, if mostly not at all noticeable as long as output is at the same level of voltage. With dacs, unless the after purchase support is exemplary, I consider the under a grand options to be discardable at the end of their useful life (maybe 5 years, give or take) which is no where near speakers, pres and amps. Plus, the cost to repair "may" be relatively prohibitive considering the price of buying a new unit and updated model if and when the need arrives.
Great review! Really nice way to describe the differences and pros/cons between the different DACs without sounding too technical or too vague. I wish there was a way to select a specific input via remote, rather than having to cycle through. This would be the centre of my hifi/av system controlled from a harmony remote. Switching inputs from TV, to streamer to blu-ray needs to be easy, not require separate cycling (in my use-case).
One thing they could have done with the feet, was ship a jig along with it that aligned with the feet perfectly, but you could set it on top of whatever surface and place the pads in exactly the right spot.
@@quartzofcourse yes absolutely. I'm in the market for an $800 DAC and where it'd be mounted would be in a vertical orientation under my desk. Those feet wouldn't be installed if I end up with this DAC.
@@quartzofcourse I could be wrong but think they want the spike feet to be able to move slightly within the "spikeholders" in order to isolate vibration. Otherwise you could superglue the spike points to the spikeholders. I am considering ditching the spikes altogether and replacing them with sorbothane (or similar) rubbery feet. The extra isolation of the metal spikes doesn't seem worth the trouble, especially if you don't play your music loud or live right next to the railroad tracks (which I don't, on either count). I almost think that the spikes are a marketing thing that signals "this is VMV, our top of the line!", as these are standard on the (VMV) D1se, D2, A1, and A2. Oddly enough though the top of the line VMV D3 is pictured with non-spiked feet, which calls the whole spike thing into question.
I finally got my hands on one and what you describe is what I hear. Great all around DAC! Perfect match for my JBL Studio 590's! The highs are silky smooth now!
I just received my SMSL D1SE! Obviously, the critiques are of personal preference, at best, because from my listening POV, this DAC is of excellent quality! What I noticed first off after installing was the detailed stereo separation happening in the music! Instruments could be "pin-pointed" across the room. I hear no issues with how bass is handled. It is omnipresent and resonant without being too boomy or with heavy pounding "thump". Midrange, particularly in vocals, has presence but does not oversaturate the listening space. The highs are very precise and well dispersed from corner to corner, without piercing my eardrums. I tested it right out of the box, with YOYOMA, OBRIGADO BRAZIL LIVE in CONCERT CD! This CD gives you the full gamut of listening nuances, that put a DAC through its paces! I can't wait to try it out with a new AudioLab 6000CDT CD transport, coming in a few days! As far as I'm concerned, my DAC search is over! I'm quite satisfied! BTW - You do know that your opening song includes the "N-WORD", Right?
I have a semi cheap dac, the d50s from topping. I was wondering if you consider a good upgrade (a noticiable upgrade) from my dac to this vmv? Sorry for bothering you, i have an Audiolab 6000cdt cd transport, is great but i think it deserve a better dac. Thanks!!
Thanks for the feedbacK. Yet I have a question. Is there a way to remove the red screen background when it's turned on ? Then does the display turns off after a minute ?
I ended up finding a good deal on an Open Box version of this beast. If anyone has heard them, I wonder how this would compare with the SU-9N and the M500 MkII, both of which use the same ES9038PRO chips and look to measure very similarly. I know the D1SE has a linear PS and nice caps, etc. Hoping I made the right decision spending more. Cheers!
It's a good question, as all those you mentioned are from SMSL and use the same chip. All the comparative reviews I've seen suggest that SU-9N is essentially the same as SU-9 in terms of sound quality, but that SU-9 definitely beats M500 and D1SE definitely beats SU-9. M500 MkII I think just dealt with some heat issues but otherwise has the same sound as the original M500. M500 would be a great value since it has the headphone jack, but a lot of reviews call the sound a bit "flat" (not in a good way). You made the right choice to spend the extra dollars; now you don't have to wonder if you are missing anything. Zeos of Z reviews contends that no one needs a better DAC than the D1SE. Of course he also says that about the $250 Geshelli Labs J2, but he likes the D1SE's "sound color" features because it's a way to keep from getting bored with your system.
@@andrewfurst5711 Got the D1SE yesterday. Still in Honeymoon period, but I am blown away by this DAC. I feel that I definitely made the right choice here. Excellent review from Cameron on this one as well. A true Jack-Of-All-Trades. HIGHLY REC'D!
@@andrewfurst5711 The problem with Z reviews, and the problem with most online DAC reviewers IMO, is that they just test the DAC alone and not the rest of the unit, meaning the output stage. So Z has his test units in line with a preamp or an integrated amplifier so he (and the rest) never listen to the output of the DAC itself. Then they say "it sounds great" to which I say--aren't we hearing your preamp and/or your integrated amp? I've pointed this (to my mind testing deficiency) out to several reviewers, to no avail.
You've got my attention! I own both a Bifrost 2 and an Ares II - I like the bass better on the Bifrost 2, but everything else on the Ares II better. I listen to almost all genres of music, and better detail/air/space and better bass, too *definitely* make this DAC very tempting indeed. Edit: the one thing that might be a snag for me is having only one coax input - I stream from a Bluesound Node 2i, and I have a Audiolab CDT6000 CD transport, that I am currently using the 2 coax inputs on my Ares II for.
Yes the thin and sterile sound you mention is often a characteristic of digital reproduction that's not done right. It's probably correlated with the jitter spectrum. I had a chance to sort of verify this on my system, where. while testing a somewhat older DAC, I was able to add actually 2 devices into the signal path, both of which have an effect of reducing jitter. If I use only one of the devices, I do get better resolution but midrange ends up with that thin sound, lacking richness, lacking that last bit of somethingi that makes music involving. Adding the second device solves that problem although granted it somewhat reduces bass impact. But I'll take the slight bass reduction in favor of the richer harmonics. So good one, very perceptive of you.
The isolation feet is a very good idea to avoid vibrations getting on the very small signal in the DAC, that will be amplified many fold by the time it reaches the speakers. It's not a portable device. How hard is it to line up 4 pads on the spikes? This is a very well balanced and sweet DAC. I have the original (and much more expensive) VMV D1 DAC and I think the D1se sounds better. I expected the D1 se to sound very close to the D1 and they do sound quite similar, but I was expecting the original to have an advantage in the better isolated power supply and assumingly better analog output stage. I think the D1se gained it's advantage from SMSLs commitment to always look for ways to tweak things for better overall sound quality. I highly doubt SMSL wanted to add a noisy blue tooth antenna to the D1 (the original doesn't have BT) at this price point, but obviously enough people want to degrade their sound quality even at the $700 range. BT is for portable devices and there is no good reason to use BT in a dedicated system. I didn't add the antenna, because I didn't want to feed a bunch of high frequency noise into the metal case, which otherwise will block such noise. I highly recommend that other do the same if they are no using BT. If SMSL added the cost of isolation feet, they did it for better sound quality. I see a lot of reviewers complaining about the spikes as if SMSL did it for looks, but that isn't the reason, not is it in line with SMSLs mindset of focusing on what matters for sound quality. SMSL has never been about bling. I have a $20,000 front end (neutral) on the D1s and it's revealing enough to see all of the nuanced differences. The D1se is an exceptionally balanced and sweet DAC.
Could you review the upsampling filters in Audirvana (they have variable parameters)? I believe your explanations are very good and it would make me better understand things such as phase linearity and aliasing. perhaps you can use the same file used in the mqa video. great work!
Great review! For rock music is the Ares any better? (I have no access to bifrost, for a reasonable price). On the used market this SMSL is 300 eur cheaper than the Ares.
Have you had a chance to listen to the newer version of this DAC, the VMV D1SE2? The DAC chip is now one number higher but I suspect that the sound will be virtually identical as long as they didn't screw up something else. You liked the red color on the display so I'm sorry to report that it is now blue.
If they use 3 spikes two at front as normal but just one centred at the rear it will never wobble. Silly comment but I could never afford the products you review but love your reviews
thank you very much for your videos. Although I do not agree on all of them, especially regarding the Audeze LCD-X. I'm a musician mixing and mastering my own music and I think that these are fantastic workhorses. I like very much your DAC reviews, and I've seen some of them, and to be honest I'm a bit lost. I was going for the Chord Qutest, but then you have some reservations, and if I understood you well, you might imply that the Qutest is perfect for classical and acoustic jazz. That's what I manly listen. But what about this one you've test, the SMSL VMV D1SE, is it better than the chord ? Will it be good enough for the genre I like, and if possible a bit of pop ? The price seem very good compare to the Chord, and I like the XLR outs. I will listen exclusively on headphones, not on speakers. Thanks again for the videos and the nice work.
You will be fine on nearly any dac these days, and any amp that can properly power whatever your cans are. Buying one dac/amp in this price range over another based on the genre of music you listen to is utterly insane. Please do not fall for this pointless game. Barometric pressure, how much sleep you got the night before, whether your cans move a few mm from their previous position, etc - this error bar is wayyyyyy beyond any perceivable difference between your dac/amp choice. And what perceivable differences there actually are (which is a huge subject of debate to begin with) are so small that even if you noticed a difference, you would adapt to it so quickly that any "preference" you have over another set would be null. And they are not differences in technical performance anyway. If you ever hear terms like "neutral done right" in a review: run By the way, you and nearly every producer/mastering engineer I know (including myself) feel the same way about the LCD-X
@@skengasaurus thank you very very much for your message. I'll try several DACs tomorrow and I'll choose one. I'd like to go for the Chord Qutest or something similar. The R2R technology seems nice but there are no shops in Belgium to test the Pontus 2. Anyway, thanks again and thank you for your nice videos. 😊
Looking at incremental differences very likely though those differences may make an impact on one's listening enjoyment and if the rest of the equipment will show those differences. If you are willing to spend the money and can sell your current dac it may make sense. The SMSL VMV D1SE offers better performance in alot of categories but will you prefer it over the Soncoz which is on the warmer side of neutral? Only a comparison can decide that. I have the Topping D70S which was on sale at the time with a 2yr warranty on APOS. For Price/performance and features, it made sense. These can be had currently for $519 Apos certified with I think a 1 yr warranty. I'm happy. I think the D1se might offer a bit more frequency extension, perhaps separation, but the D70S was a nice medium between DS and R2R designs at a more budget price. It does well for all genres of music IMO. The D1SE may also be my pick, perhaps a Bifrost (feature limiting in comparison) too at that price point and if the D70s weren't readily available and I believe it is being phased out too. Seems there will always be better dacs coming out but I want to keep a dac at least 5 years if not longer if I am spending that kind of money. At that point in time, there will be little resale value and I would expect the dacs then would be like dacs now costing 2-3X the price. At some point down the road, a dac should be good enough for a long, long time, if they aren't already. Hope it helps.
Hello! Am I the only one who doesn't hear a difference between each "sound color" settings? I have pretty good ears, and my hi-fi system is quite decent, but no matter how I listen, I can't hear anything noticeable. All presets are somehow the same. Does anyone hear any difference by changing the "sound color" settings? I know the fact that it's all based on added second and third harmonic distortion, which some say is good, others say bad... I also have an SMSL DAC, an SU-10, and I love it. I tried with several types of music and with really high-quality audio materials. What did I do wrong? Surely there is such an audible difference between "rich" and "tube" and "crystal" settings? If so, what can I do to hear it? What should I pay attention to? Or maybe my device is faulty if I can't hear anything in the "sound color" settings, because really the differences in sound should be so obvious?
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
How about compared to an SMSL DO200? It runs dual ES9068AS dacs. Has all the same menu and sound settings. I know the D1SE has a beefier power supply so does anyone have an opinion in sound differences?
I was looking into getting a new setup and heard you mention how well the bifrost 2 did with metal, as I almost exclusively listen to metal. Was looking at the Bifrost 2, a bottlehead S.E.X. , and either an Audeze, or ZMF Headphone. I've seen on the bottlehead forums people mention pairing their amps with the bifrost 2, and was curious how the whole setup would result in for mainly metal music. Currently using a Geshelli labs enog 2 and smsl sp200(THX) and dt1990s and it is good, just want to go another direction.
Hi GS. Thanks to You I bought this DAC. The best HiFi content at YT. What streamer with I2s output would you use for D1se to stream from Apple Music ? Thanks in advance for any advice.
I was waiting for this!!!! thanks!! will be nice if you could check if some of the providers, send you a Gustard X18 (not x16) to compare with this unit.
I have bought the D1SE and it's good. But my amp the sp200 is defective and need to replace it looking at the JOTUNHEIM 2 or the Singxer SA-1 what would be best for the Hifiman Ananda
Will you review the new SMSL D300? Also noticed you have the Singxer SA-1 will you ever do review of that and how does it compare to Topping A90? Thanks :)
I bought this a couple of weeks ago based on your reference in another video to this is being your fave under 1k (along with the Ares and the goldpoint preamp, purchases you also inspired)... At this point you are basically building my system.
@@t0nyxgq I have both and will most likely sell the D1se. I find the Ares II to have a more natural sound even though it doesn't have the immediacy of the D1se. It also does depth in a way I've not heard from any non-R2R dac, giving better sense of realism.
@@cliph6068 I think that choosing "the best" between D1se and Ares II is related to personal preference, type of music auditioned, speakers and amplifiers used, and the quality of one's own hearing. Several years ago (early mid 1990's) I auditioned some Magnepan (planar, boxless) speakers at a dealer and I was blown away at how natural they sounded for solo piano, even their cheapest product (I think these were SMGb). I played piano somewhat myself back then, and the Magnepan sounded so much like the real deal, in comparison all other speakers reproducing the same tracks sounded like toy pianos. I was ready to buy! Except... When I put on full rock music, I felt like some of the sound was missing - where did the cymbals go, why do the drums sound like the drummer is hitting pancakes instead of drums? I could have seen getting the Magnepans for piano solo and other light acoustic music as a second system, but living in an apartment and not having a lot of money to throw around, that was not practical. I realized I wanted my one set of speakers to sound a little less natural (due to the "boxy" nature of the sound) but didn't feel like I was missing the snap, sparkle, crunch, and impact of the full recording. So I went with the boxy speakers (Def Tech Bi-polar towers originally, and many years later Martin Logan Motion towers). While I don't know that comparing Ares II (which I haven't heard) to Magnepan speakers is the correct analogy, based on the descriptions I think I'm in the ballpark in that belief. When someone says a sound is "natural" I often think they mean an emphasized midrange, like the Magnepans of about 30 years ago (and I assume they are largely the same today, though presumably slightly improved in frequency extension and "punch"). I wish there weren't a trade-off between "natural" and punchy/incisive music reproduction, but there often seems to be, especially at reasonably affordable prices. It would be great if we could audition these DACs (D1se and Ares II) at dealers, but I know of none that carry either product. One thing that may be appealing about the D1se over the Ares II is that D1se has those harmonics-emphasizing "color" options, as well as a choice of chip filters, while Ares II has the NOS or OS (at various multiples) for altering the sound. In other words, it appears that the D1se has more options for matching the sound to what the listener prefers, or what fits with their particular system. Based on Goldensound's review, the D1se's "middle ground" (with various types of music) approach might have the widest appeal, though I have no doubt that many will find the Ares II as "best" (of the two) for their own listening pleasure.
You mention the difference between the Aries 2 and this model as well as the Bifrost. Can you provide a feel for the degree of difference? Is, for example, the Aries 2 timbre better to the degree as say a change of loudspeakers or is it more like the change one experiences when he would place the DAC on a different shelving material?
@@GoldenSound I received a reply from Singxer, stating that as the current model is based on the discontinued ak4499 it does not make sense for them to promote (or review) it. Unfortunate as it is a very good and unique product.
Thinking about this one for my headphones, is it a bit too much for my Sennheiser HD660s and Audeze LCD-X? Or would it be better to settle for a bit cheaper dac?
@ J Man Agreed! I would love to hear his thoughts on the Denefrips Pontus 2 as well..brand new subscriber here, reviews are without question second to none as I am seriously considering the Pontus. Wonderful presentation and channel...Bravo and cheers!
@@johnm3544 Does your Pontus 2 have the same microsecond delay as the Aeries2, speaking of the synchrony between audio and visual, making it less desirable for TV?
Здравствуйте. У меня Audient id14 mk2. Думаю менять его на что нибудь лучшее. Только я не пойму, что лучше будет взять, только для прослушивания через колонки. Внешнюю звуковую карту или ЦАП. Что будет лучше звучать за свои деньги?
A comparison with a smsl SU-9 would have been nice. Is it worth the upgrade in sound quality? Uses the same chip but is smaller and cheaper. Why would you pay more?
IMO yes. Though the SU9 and SU9n are also fantastic DACs for the money. The D1SE stages a bit better and has a bit more of an authoritative/impactful presentation. The SU9 is a bit softer.
@@GoldenSound Excellent review! But I had the same question about the SU-9, and I like your response. However I still wonder if the difference in price justifies the improvement in sound delivery, Ya know, diminishing returns, etc. Thank you, great job!
700+ euro... How does this compare to a Holo Spring 3 + preamp, 4000 euro? Worth spending 4000 euro? Coming from and ADI2 DAC and listening to 360° genres, on Neumann KH320 + KH 750 DSP monitors & sub . ...and sorry for the stupid question.
You don't have to attach the spiked feet, but it might be wise to get some sorbothane self-adhesive hemispheres to use as feet (4 pack typically under $20). That way you'll reduce scratches and there will be some air below the unit. The ventilation is not just for the DAC but also if you stack it on an amplifier. Sorbothane probably isolates against vibrations as well as the spikes. The spikes on this unit do seem a bit ridiculous, a marketing gimmick that might actually appeal to some customers. In reality only the snobbiest of audiophiles would likely insist on spikes, and in that case a $720 DAC wouldn't be good enough for them (they'd want to pay a minimum of $3,000 and even if they couldn't hear a difference, they'd feel better paying this much or more). The spikes seem to be part of VMV's brand identity now (or sub brand of SMSL) - all of their products have spikes, up and down the line. The spikes seem about as useful for this unit as a spoiler on a commuter car. Yes a spoiler could make a difference on a 200 mph race car, but that's a different design and a different speed. The spikes make me think of the useless and potentially harmful spike on the German military "pickelhaube" helmet of Prussian and early WWI fame. The spike on the pickelhaube might have "looked cool" (or intimidating) but it was actually a negative which caused soldiers to be seen by enemy troops (poking visually above the trench line), not to mention the potential for injuring one's self or fellow troops. The helmet spike was made detachable, then eliminated altogether. VMV has gotten the detachable part of the spikes right, now they just need to eliminate them. However, they cost little to VMV/SMSL, they give the brand an identity while it's still relatively new, they "might" make a slight difference in extreme situations, so they are staying for now. I wouldn't make this a deal-breaker though; as I've mentioned you can attach feet to it of your choice, in place of the spikes.
![Megan Thee Stallion - Neva Play (feat. RM) [Official Video]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/TpYTyAaTRts/mqdefault.jpg)
It has the Hi-Res audio sticker, I'm sold.
The stories you’ve heard.
About the Hi-Res™️ sticker?
They’re all true. _Believe._
Absolutely awesome! I have been going back and forth for weeks between the Denafrips and this D1se. you made the decision very clear for me. I chose the D1se. Excellent review left me with no further questions.
Hi, did you get the D1se? Do you know if it has a femto clock? Or should I even worry about that?
I hope that I found your channel earlier. You are one of the most unbiased and experienced reviewers, you deserve a lot more subs.
All modern DACs should have HDMI inputs for high resolution playback from physical media players like Blu-ray and SACD players.
second to that,,, A HDMI in that extracts the sound and forward the HDMI out.
I agree with you. I have had a D1SE for 40 days. It's a good product.
What do you have now?
Ah man, you're a godsend! You are spot on with this review. Like others, I was on the fence between this and the Ares 2. Since I use my DAC with my TV I bought the D1SE and it is everything you said it is. Neutral and natural done right. I'm loving it.
This DAC is probably a lot more versitile being that it hits the sweet spot between musicality and details. I just wish it didn't shout 99 all of the time when the pre-amp is bypassed. They could have put some more useful information on the display instead. Wink wink SMSL.
Thank you for saving me from hacking my way through the DAC jungle. You're really good at this. Can't wait for new reviews.
You can use blutack to keep the spikes sticked To the feet. Thats what i do with my vmv A1, and It works
I would love to see even more comparison including higher models to see how much it's worth spending more. How does D1SE perform compared to Gustard X26, Aune S8, Pontus 2, Venus 2 and of course VMV D2?
I would also like to know if it's worth spending twice the money on the D2?
I wouldn't be surprised if they all sound the same.
@@SubjectE57 I'd like to find out too. I did ask SMSL if they'd let me review the D2 but they said no unfortunately so will need to find a friend or viewer who is happy to let me borrow theirs
Any chance of comparing to the previous model (D1) which sold for twice(!!) the price? We are in a strange situation where used D1 price = new D1SE.
Gustard has similar options, X18 vs X26 at about double the price. How one perceives any differences moving to the more expensive option depends on speakers, amp and one's own perceptual abilities. My guess, regardless of the above is that the difference will be small, if mostly not at all noticeable as long as output is at the same level of voltage.
With dacs, unless the after purchase support is exemplary, I consider the under a grand options to be discardable at the end of their useful life (maybe 5 years, give or take) which is no where near speakers, pres and amps. Plus, the cost to repair "may" be relatively prohibitive considering the price of buying a new unit and updated model if and when the need arrives.
Great review! Really nice way to describe the differences and pros/cons between the different DACs without sounding too technical or too vague.
I wish there was a way to select a specific input via remote, rather than having to cycle through. This would be the centre of my hifi/av system controlled from a harmony remote. Switching inputs from TV, to streamer to blu-ray needs to be easy, not require separate cycling (in my use-case).
OK, that's it, I'm getting myself one of these!! Thank you for a very thorough review!
I have connected the D1SE directly into my amp! Totally different than going through a pre amp! WOW!! So much bigger sound! Give it a try.
I have a question. Is there a way to remove the red screen background when it's turned on ? Then does the display turns off after 1 minute ?
@@OptLab Late to the party! But yes
@@invisiblekid99Thanks a lot.
One thing they could have done with the feet, was ship a jig along with it that aligned with the feet perfectly, but you could set it on top of whatever surface and place the pads in exactly the right spot.
This would have been a great idea. Likely would have cost almost nothing too. Might send them an email about that :P
They also could have just made the feet one piece instead of two so there’s no need to worry about them slipping off or being misaligned
@@quartzofcourse yes absolutely. I'm in the market for an $800 DAC and where it'd be mounted would be in a vertical orientation under my desk. Those feet wouldn't be installed if I end up with this DAC.
@@quartzofcourse but they are spikes
@@quartzofcourse I could be wrong but think they want the spike feet to be able to move slightly within the "spikeholders" in order to isolate vibration. Otherwise you could superglue the spike points to the spikeholders.
I am considering ditching the spikes altogether and replacing them with sorbothane (or similar) rubbery feet. The extra isolation of the metal spikes doesn't seem worth the trouble, especially if you don't play your music loud or live right next to the railroad tracks (which I don't, on either count).
I almost think that the spikes are a marketing thing that signals "this is VMV, our top of the line!", as these are standard on the (VMV) D1se, D2, A1, and A2. Oddly enough though the top of the line VMV D3 is pictured with non-spiked feet, which calls the whole spike thing into question.
Great to see you back with another excellent review.
I finally got my hands on one and what you describe is what I hear. Great all around DAC! Perfect match for my JBL Studio 590's! The highs are silky smooth now!
I just received my SMSL D1SE! Obviously, the critiques are of personal preference, at best, because from my listening POV, this DAC is of excellent quality! What I noticed first off after installing was the detailed stereo separation happening in the music! Instruments could be "pin-pointed" across the room. I hear no issues with how bass is handled. It is omnipresent and resonant without being too boomy or with heavy pounding "thump". Midrange, particularly in vocals, has presence but does not oversaturate the listening space. The highs are very precise and well dispersed from corner to corner, without piercing my eardrums. I tested it right out of the box, with YOYOMA, OBRIGADO BRAZIL LIVE in CONCERT CD! This CD gives you the full gamut of listening nuances, that put a DAC through its paces! I can't wait to try it out with a new AudioLab 6000CDT CD transport, coming in a few days! As far as I'm concerned, my DAC search is over! I'm quite satisfied!
BTW - You do know that your opening song includes the "N-WORD", Right?
I have a semi cheap dac, the d50s from topping. I was wondering if you consider a good upgrade (a noticiable upgrade) from my dac to this vmv? Sorry for bothering you, i have an Audiolab 6000cdt cd transport, is great but i think it deserve a better dac. Thanks!!
@default How many dacs have you tried to have that opinion?
Thanks for the feedbacK. Yet I have a question. Is there a way to remove the red screen background when it's turned on ? Then does the display turns off after a minute ?
Exceptionally good review! 👏👏👏
I ended up finding a good deal on an Open Box version of this beast. If anyone has heard them, I wonder how this would compare with the SU-9N and the M500 MkII, both of which use the same ES9038PRO chips and look to measure very similarly. I know the D1SE has a linear PS and nice caps, etc. Hoping I made the right decision spending more. Cheers!
It's a good question, as all those you mentioned are from SMSL and use the same chip. All the comparative reviews I've seen suggest that SU-9N is essentially the same as SU-9 in terms of sound quality, but that SU-9 definitely beats M500 and D1SE definitely beats SU-9. M500 MkII I think just dealt with some heat issues but otherwise has the same sound as the original M500. M500 would be a great value since it has the headphone jack, but a lot of reviews call the sound a bit "flat" (not in a good way).
You made the right choice to spend the extra dollars; now you don't have to wonder if you are missing anything. Zeos of Z reviews contends that no one needs a better DAC than the D1SE. Of course he also says that about the $250 Geshelli Labs J2, but he likes the D1SE's "sound color" features because it's a way to keep from getting bored with your system.
@@andrewfurst5711 Got the D1SE yesterday. Still in Honeymoon period, but I am blown away by this DAC. I feel that I definitely made the right choice here. Excellent review from Cameron on this one as well. A true Jack-Of-All-Trades. HIGHLY REC'D!
@@andrewfurst5711 The problem with Z reviews, and the problem with most online DAC reviewers IMO, is that they just test the DAC alone and not the rest of the unit, meaning the output stage. So Z has his test units in line with a preamp or an integrated amplifier so he (and the rest) never listen to the output of the DAC itself. Then they say "it sounds great" to which I say--aren't we hearing your preamp and/or your integrated amp? I've pointed this (to my mind testing deficiency) out to several reviewers, to no avail.
@@r00s. What kind of battery did you put in the D1se remote? Manual says AAA but that can't be.
I have 3 Dac I can choose from the SU-9N for $340 and the SU-9 for $460 and the D1SE for $152 more then the SU-9
Less than a minute in and your quoting Monty Python... Love it!
You've got my attention! I own both a Bifrost 2 and an Ares II - I like the bass better on the Bifrost 2, but everything else on the Ares II better. I listen to almost all genres of music, and better detail/air/space and better bass, too *definitely* make this DAC very tempting indeed.
Edit: the one thing that might be a snag for me is having only one coax input - I stream from a Bluesound Node 2i, and I have a Audiolab CDT6000 CD transport, that I am currently using the 2 coax inputs on my Ares II for.
Hello Neil!
@@billywindsock9597 Hey Billy!
Could you not get a coax splitter 2 into 1 ? Of high quality.
@@redleather420 if you know a good one, let me know. I have this DAC a'd indeed also the node 2i and a cd player, both having coax as best output.
@GoldenSound Have you tried this D1se with the Denafrips Iris, by any chance?
Great Video, glad to see you back to making to making content again!
And for jazz? Excelent excelent Review!!!!! Tempted to Buy this yo replace topping d50s. Greetings from Argentina. Thanks!!!!
I simply love that offense from the first 20 seconds!
Would it go well with Arya and Singxer SA- 1?
Dear @GoldenSound: According to the link you have posted below your video, the complete name of this device is SMSL VMV D1se MQA DAC.
Have a nice day!
Yes the thin and sterile sound you mention is often a characteristic of digital reproduction that's not done right.
It's probably correlated with the jitter spectrum. I had a chance to sort of verify this on my system, where. while testing a somewhat older DAC, I was able to add actually 2 devices into the signal path, both of which have an effect of reducing jitter. If I use only one of the devices, I do get better resolution but midrange ends up with that thin sound, lacking richness, lacking that last bit of somethingi that makes music involving. Adding the second device solves that problem although granted it somewhat reduces bass impact. But I'll take the slight bass reduction in favor of the richer harmonics.
So good one, very perceptive of you.
any quick comments on the sound coloration options ?
Thank you for the measurements!
Holy wow. This is a good review that really tells me what I get for the money
The isolation feet is a very good idea to avoid vibrations getting on the very small signal in the DAC, that will be amplified many fold by the time it reaches the speakers. It's not a portable device. How hard is it to line up 4 pads on the spikes? This is a very well balanced and sweet DAC. I have the original (and much more expensive) VMV D1 DAC and I think the D1se sounds better. I expected the D1 se to sound very close to the D1 and they do sound quite similar, but I was expecting the original to have an advantage in the better isolated power supply and assumingly better analog output stage. I think the D1se gained it's advantage from SMSLs commitment to always look for ways to tweak things for better overall sound quality. I highly doubt SMSL wanted to add a noisy blue tooth antenna to the D1 (the original doesn't have BT) at this price point, but obviously enough people want to degrade their sound quality even at the $700 range. BT is for portable devices and there is no good reason to use BT in a dedicated system. I didn't add the antenna, because I didn't want to feed a bunch of high frequency noise into the metal case, which otherwise will block such noise. I highly recommend that other do the same if they are no using BT. If SMSL added the cost of isolation feet, they did it for better sound quality.
I see a lot of reviewers complaining about the spikes as if SMSL did it for looks, but that isn't the reason, not is it in line with SMSLs mindset of focusing on what matters for sound quality. SMSL has never been about bling. I have a $20,000 front end (neutral) on the D1s and it's revealing enough to see all of the nuanced differences. The D1se is an exceptionally balanced and sweet DAC.
If SMSL is all knowing and if they are infallible in their decisions...then whey don't all their dacs have the spikes?
By "front end" you mean what? preamp? integrated amp? something else?
Addressed to Gord Thor.
I've been waiting for this
Man I wish you could review Topping D70S is a very unique DAC, like Ares II and A90 had a child hehe.
Could you review the upsampling filters in Audirvana (they have variable parameters)? I believe your explanations are very good and it would make me better understand things such as phase linearity and aliasing. perhaps you can use the same file used in the mqa video. great work!
Great review!
For rock music is the Ares any better? (I have no access to bifrost, for a reasonable price).
On the used market this SMSL is 300 eur cheaper than the Ares.
Great review. Thanks.
Have you had a chance to listen to the newer version of this DAC, the VMV D1SE2? The DAC chip is now one number higher but I suspect that the sound will be virtually identical as long as they didn't screw up something else. You liked the red color on the display so I'm sorry to report that it is now blue.
Love your videos. Only one issue not many need a lot more
What is the RCA performance like compared to the XLR?
You clearly are very, very heavily influenced by Zeos Pantera on YT. Good job mate.
If they use 3 spikes two at front as normal but just one centred at the rear it will never wobble. Silly comment but I could never afford the products you review but love your reviews
I love your reviews. is this DAC good for headphones or overkill relative to a tone 2 pro?
Can SMSL VMV D1SE be used as a preamp?
This or x26 pro?
thank you very much for your videos. Although I do not agree on all of them, especially regarding the Audeze LCD-X. I'm a musician mixing and mastering my own music and I think that these are fantastic workhorses. I like very much your DAC reviews, and I've seen some of them, and to be honest I'm a bit lost. I was going for the Chord Qutest, but then you have some reservations, and if I understood you well, you might imply that the Qutest is perfect for classical and acoustic jazz. That's what I manly listen. But what about this one you've test, the SMSL VMV D1SE, is it better than the chord ? Will it be good enough for the genre I like, and if possible a bit of pop ? The price seem very good compare to the Chord, and I like the XLR outs. I will listen exclusively on headphones, not on speakers. Thanks again for the videos and the nice work.
You will be fine on nearly any dac these days, and any amp that can properly power whatever your cans are. Buying one dac/amp in this price range over another based on the genre of music you listen to is utterly insane. Please do not fall for this pointless game. Barometric pressure, how much sleep you got the night before, whether your cans move a few mm from their previous position, etc - this error bar is wayyyyyy beyond any perceivable difference between your dac/amp choice. And what perceivable differences there actually are (which is a huge subject of debate to begin with) are so small that even if you noticed a difference, you would adapt to it so quickly that any "preference" you have over another set would be null. And they are not differences in technical performance anyway. If you ever hear terms like "neutral done right" in a review: run
By the way, you and nearly every producer/mastering engineer I know (including myself) feel the same way about the LCD-X
@@skengasaurus thank you very very much for your message. I'll try several DACs tomorrow and I'll choose one. I'd like to go for the Chord Qutest or something similar. The R2R technology seems nice but there are no shops in Belgium to test the Pontus 2. Anyway, thanks again and thank you for your nice videos. 😊
@@skengasaurus Can you name the dacs you've listened to?
Thanks for a great review. I bought the Soncoz sgd1 about a year ago. Is this a worthwhile upgrade do you think?
Looking at incremental differences very likely though those differences may make an impact on one's listening enjoyment and if the rest of the equipment will show those differences. If you are willing to spend the money and can sell your current dac it may make sense. The SMSL VMV D1SE offers better performance in alot of categories but will you prefer it over the Soncoz which is on the warmer side of neutral? Only a comparison can decide that.
I have the Topping D70S which was on sale at the time with a 2yr warranty on APOS. For Price/performance and features, it made sense. These can be had currently for $519 Apos certified with I think a 1 yr warranty. I'm happy. I think the D1se might offer a bit more frequency extension, perhaps separation, but the D70S was a nice medium between DS and R2R designs at a more budget price. It does well for all genres of music IMO.
The D1SE may also be my pick, perhaps a Bifrost (feature limiting in comparison) too at that price point and if the D70s weren't readily available and I believe it is being phased out too. Seems there will always be better dacs coming out but I want to keep a dac at least 5 years if not longer if I am spending that kind of money. At that point in time, there will be little resale value and I would expect the dacs then would be like dacs now costing 2-3X the price. At some point down the road, a dac should be good enough for a long, long time, if they aren't already.
Hope it helps.
@@nc3419 Thankee! I had already decided not to bother. Lots of other things to spend my hifi budget on!
I was looking at your "SMSL VMV D1SE Measurements" page, and the link under the first image links to a Teac DAC page and not the Apos product page.
How does the volume control improve upon earlier/lower tiered SMSL DACs…is this a true preamp option now?
Could you please mention full stack used for review.. including cables? Thanks!
after using the denafrips ares 2 and the d1se - i found that i prefer the d1se in my system . i wonder how the new d1se2 is?
Is the VMV D1SE better then the SMSL M400 warmer or
Hello!
Am I the only one who doesn't hear a difference between each "sound color" settings? I have pretty good ears, and my hi-fi system is quite decent, but no matter how I listen, I can't hear anything noticeable. All presets are somehow the same. Does anyone hear any difference by changing the "sound color" settings?
I know the fact that it's all based on added second and third harmonic distortion, which some say is good, others say bad... I also have an SMSL DAC, an SU-10, and I love it.
I tried with several types of music and with really high-quality audio materials. What did I do wrong? Surely there is such an audible difference between "rich" and "tube" and "crystal" settings? If so, what can I do to hear it? What should I pay attention to?
Or maybe my device is faulty if I can't hear anything in the "sound color" settings, because really the differences in sound should be so obvious?
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
How about compared to an SMSL DO200? It runs dual ES9068AS dacs. Has all the same menu and sound settings. I know the D1SE has a beefier power supply so does anyone have an opinion in sound differences?
smsl do100 is much inferior to do200 ?
i am using do100 .
I was looking into getting a new setup and heard you mention how well the bifrost 2 did with metal, as I almost exclusively listen to metal. Was looking at the Bifrost 2, a bottlehead S.E.X. , and either an Audeze, or ZMF Headphone. I've seen on the bottlehead forums people mention pairing their amps with the bifrost 2, and was curious how the whole setup would result in for mainly metal music. Currently using a Geshelli labs enog 2 and smsl sp200(THX) and dt1990s and it is good, just want to go another direction.
It would have to sound great
Excellent review!
How it compares against topping D70s?
Hi GS. Thanks to You I bought this DAC. The best HiFi content at YT. What streamer with I2s output would you use for D1se to stream from Apple Music ? Thanks in advance for any advice.
I was waiting for this!!!! thanks!!
will be nice if you could check if some of the providers, send you a Gustard X18 (not x16) to compare with this unit.
Great review. Just wish it went longer.
I have bought the D1SE and it's good. But my amp the sp200 is defective and need to replace it looking at the JOTUNHEIM 2 or the Singxer SA-1 what would be best for the Hifiman Ananda
Jot 2
@@r00s. Im looking into getting the Jot 2 i already have the SMSL VMV D1SE and have it hooked up to a SP200.
Will you review the new SMSL D300? Also noticed you have the Singxer SA-1 will you ever do review of that and how does it compare to Topping A90? Thanks :)
He's alive!!
What amp you would choose for this Dac I have the SP200 but its defective on the xlr side. Im looking at the Topping A30pro or the SINGXER SA-1
I bought this a couple of weeks ago based on your reference in another video to this is being your fave under 1k (along with the Ares and the goldpoint preamp, purchases you also inspired)...
At this point you are basically building my system.
How does this compare to the denafrips?
Same here. I Purchased this DAC based on @GoldenSound recomendation in one of his past videos. Absolutlely love it!
@@t0nyxgq I have both and will most likely sell the D1se. I find the Ares II to have a more natural sound even though it doesn't have the immediacy of the D1se. It also does depth in a way I've not heard from any non-R2R dac, giving better sense of realism.
@@t0nyxgq haven't had a chance to do a proper comparison yet. But will.share thoughts once I do
@@cliph6068 I think that choosing "the best" between D1se and Ares II is related to personal preference, type of music auditioned, speakers and amplifiers used, and the quality of one's own hearing.
Several years ago (early mid 1990's) I auditioned some Magnepan (planar, boxless) speakers at a dealer and I was blown away at how natural they sounded for solo piano, even their cheapest product (I think these were SMGb). I played piano somewhat myself back then, and the Magnepan sounded so much like the real deal, in comparison all other speakers reproducing the same tracks sounded like toy pianos. I was ready to buy! Except...
When I put on full rock music, I felt like some of the sound was missing - where did the cymbals go, why do the drums sound like the drummer is hitting pancakes instead of drums? I could have seen getting the Magnepans for piano solo and other light acoustic music as a second system, but living in an apartment and not having a lot of money to throw around, that was not practical. I realized I wanted my one set of speakers to sound a little less natural (due to the "boxy" nature of the sound) but didn't feel like I was missing the snap, sparkle, crunch, and impact of the full recording. So I went with the boxy speakers (Def Tech Bi-polar towers originally, and many years later Martin Logan Motion towers).
While I don't know that comparing Ares II (which I haven't heard) to Magnepan speakers is the correct analogy, based on the descriptions I think I'm in the ballpark in that belief. When someone says a sound is "natural" I often think they mean an emphasized midrange, like the Magnepans of about 30 years ago (and I assume they are largely the same today, though presumably slightly improved in frequency extension and "punch"). I wish there weren't a trade-off between "natural" and punchy/incisive music reproduction, but there often seems to be, especially at reasonably affordable prices.
It would be great if we could audition these DACs (D1se and Ares II) at dealers, but I know of none that carry either product. One thing that may be appealing about the D1se over the Ares II is that D1se has those harmonics-emphasizing "color" options, as well as a choice of chip filters, while Ares II has the NOS or OS (at various multiples) for altering the sound. In other words, it appears that the D1se has more options for matching the sound to what the listener prefers, or what fits with their particular system. Based on Goldensound's review, the D1se's "middle ground" (with various types of music) approach might have the widest appeal, though I have no doubt that many will find the Ares II as "best" (of the two) for their own listening pleasure.
How do smsl D1se compare to smsl su-9? I want to know
I'm torn between this (SMSL VMV D1se2) latest version with the ESS ES9039MSPRO DAC chip and the GUSTARD X18 for my V2 Arya
Would the SMSL SP200 work or would the SINGXER SA-1 amp to match the D1SE. And would the D1SE be better than the SMSL M400
You mention the difference between the Aries 2 and this model as well as the Bifrost. Can you provide a feel for the degree of difference? Is, for example, the Aries 2 timbre better to the degree as say a change of loudspeakers or is it more like the change one experiences when he would place the DAC on a different shelving material?
I got the Arya Stealth as a good all-rounder headphone... Wound the all-rounder D1SE might be a perfect match for it?
SU-10? Seems like they have made some fundamental improvements. What say you?
What is The amplifier , Speakers and XLR Cables you have used here ? Please . Thanks
Thanks for this nice review. Would be interesting to see how it compares to Singxer sda-6, any plans for reviewing that one ?
If they're happy to send one over I'd love to!
@@GoldenSound I’ve forwarded the request to Leter Chen of Singxer, maybe you could also drop him a mail ?
@@GoldenSound I received a reply from Singxer, stating that as the current model is based on the discontinued ak4499 it does not make sense for them to promote (or review) it. Unfortunate as it is a very good and unique product.
Maybe Sandu would lend you his unit ? ruclips.net/video/SvvsihxaZ9k/видео.html
How do you like it compaired to Qutest or Topping dacs you have tested?
Thinking about this one for my headphones, is it a bit too much for my Sennheiser HD660s and Audeze LCD-X? Or would it be better to settle for a bit cheaper dac?
I would love to hear your thoughts on denafrips pontus ii
@ J Man Agreed! I would love to hear his thoughts on the Denefrips Pontus 2 as well..brand new subscriber here, reviews are without question second to none as I am seriously considering the Pontus. Wonderful presentation and channel...Bravo and cheers!
@@johnm3544 Thanks very much for your insights between the two...I think it's time to order one to see for myself! Thanks again, and cheers...
@@johnm3544 Does your Pontus 2 have the same microsecond delay as the Aeries2, speaking of the synchrony between audio and visual, making it less desirable for TV?
Is this a big step up from FiiO K9 Pro's DAC? I wonder if I should sell it and buy the SMSL + some headphone amp (which one?) ?
I currently have a Topping E30 DAC. Have you ever used that DAC? If so how much difference do you think I could see is switching to this SMCL?
Is a preamp recommended or can this dac along run a pair of focal alpha twin evo for 2ch listening
How does this compare to the Holo Audio Spring 3? I know it’s way cheaper but does it sound as nice?
What's up with that beautiful woven white xlr cable? What company is that from
Здравствуйте. У меня Audient id14 mk2. Думаю менять его на что нибудь лучшее. Только я не пойму, что лучше будет взять, только для прослушивания через колонки. Внешнюю звуковую карту или ЦАП. Что будет лучше звучать за свои деньги?
4 vids in rapid succession go brrr
A comparison with a smsl SU-9 would have been nice. Is it worth the upgrade in sound quality? Uses the same chip but is smaller and cheaper. Why would you pay more?
IMO yes. Though the SU9 and SU9n are also fantastic DACs for the money. The D1SE stages a bit better and has a bit more of an authoritative/impactful presentation. The SU9 is a bit softer.
@@GoldenSound Excellent review! But I had the same question about the SU-9, and I like your response. However I still wonder if the difference in price justifies the improvement in sound delivery, Ya know, diminishing returns, etc. Thank you, great job!
Only because of the red screen I can't buy this. Is this color removable ?
Do they make an equivalent quality DAC/Headphone Amp?
Do I need a Driver for Windows 10? Where do I get the Driver for the VMV D1se?
700+ euro... How does this compare to a Holo Spring 3 + preamp, 4000 euro? Worth spending 4000 euro? Coming from and ADI2 DAC and listening to 360° genres, on Neumann KH320 + KH 750 DSP monitors & sub . ...and sorry for the stupid question.
What would be a good dac for someone who listens to drum and bass?
What is the logical step between this and say, the Spring 3?
FH5 spotted ! Is the Forsberg racing Nissan "gold leader" Datsun 280Z your favorite car ? ;)
I will appreciate if you can review the EverSolo Z8 DAC
Would this be a good pairing with the Violectric V226?
Hi will this so full decoding of MQA via coaxial? (And yes yes I know MQA SchmankQA :p)
Hi, I'm into rock and metal. Can you post a link to the Biofrost 2 you mention in your video?
It's from Schiit Audio
This DAC definitely wins the dumbest decision for a feet system. Would it be Ok to stack without the feet? How hot is it?
You don't have to attach the spiked feet, but it might be wise to get some sorbothane self-adhesive hemispheres to use as feet (4 pack typically under $20). That way you'll reduce scratches and there will be some air below the unit. The ventilation is not just for the DAC but also if you stack it on an amplifier. Sorbothane probably isolates against vibrations as well as the spikes.
The spikes on this unit do seem a bit ridiculous, a marketing gimmick that might actually appeal to some customers. In reality only the snobbiest of audiophiles would likely insist on spikes, and in that case a $720 DAC wouldn't be good enough for them (they'd want to pay a minimum of $3,000 and even if they couldn't hear a difference, they'd feel better paying this much or more). The spikes seem to be part of VMV's brand identity now (or sub brand of SMSL) - all of their products have spikes, up and down the line.
The spikes seem about as useful for this unit as a spoiler on a commuter car. Yes a spoiler could make a difference on a 200 mph race car, but that's a different design and a different speed. The spikes make me think of the useless and potentially harmful spike on the German military "pickelhaube" helmet of Prussian and early WWI fame. The spike on the pickelhaube might have "looked cool" (or intimidating) but it was actually a negative which caused soldiers to be seen by enemy troops (poking visually above the trench line), not to mention the potential for injuring one's self or fellow troops. The helmet spike was made detachable, then eliminated altogether.
VMV has gotten the detachable part of the spikes right, now they just need to eliminate them. However, they cost little to VMV/SMSL, they give the brand an identity while it's still relatively new, they "might" make a slight difference in extreme situations, so they are staying for now. I wouldn't make this a deal-breaker though; as I've mentioned you can attach feet to it of your choice, in place of the spikes.
Is there a version with out MQA?
Does anyone use it with pi2aes via I2S? Does it work? What are your impressions over USB/spdif?
*Great insight as usual. Thank you! How does this SMSL VMV D1SE compare to Denafrips Pontus 2? Your input would be greatly appreciated.*
Is that a fair comparison
@@WeeWeeJumbo Obviously not.. Ok, *How about SMSL VMV D3 vs Denafrips Pontus II* ?
Does anyone know the output voltage of the RCAs on this?
I couldn't find the info.
2 Vrms
I hope you can review pro idsd signature
u had a chance to listen to the SMSL SU-10?