Hi. I recently bought the Schiit Asgaard, based on your recommendation. And, it sounds fantastic. So, thanks so much for a super review. It is incredibly realistic, just as you described. You have the best ears in the business, from my point of view. I'm pairing it with the Ifi Zen Dac V2, and the Arya Stealth. The results are amazing.
I bought this SMSL do300ex DAC 5 months ago. And it clearly outperformed my Chord quest that cost me x3 more. Especially a big difference in symphonic classical music. Much better separation and less congestion. Plus a more warm, less sterile sound. I think SMSL DACs if judged them fairly will kill the US and European Hi-End DAC producers market.
Just leaving a comment to help out with YT algorithm wise 🙂 Can't wait for the Ananda Nano review though! One of the few reviewers i trust not to jump on to hype band wagons.
I've recently purchased it, with a discount and find it trully revealing, musical and versatile. I don't hear the digital shimmer you're mentioning, also think the 4.4 is balanced architecture, but I'll look into it. Great reviews!
Probably because he once saw someone mention how chinese equipment is bad and "digital" so just repeats the nonsense. On A/B tests of most modern dacs you cant hear a difference
@@JackFX1 Agreed. The notion of digital sound, tube-like resonance is nonsense on this TOTL next generation DAC, and to say that is heard in some songs more than others is ludicrous just to bring up products that he lkes/prefers, looks more like advertising than a real review.
@@iScorpio1971 yeah it's a weird review considering so many other people seem to like it. But can you really trust the guy that uses a gamertag instead of his real name :P These are down to 250 bucks on Amazon right now. I picked one up to compare to my topping dx5. I only like the dx5 just the hair more than the smsl c200 so my hopes are high.
I have the EF400 and my DCA headphones are matched to god mode. But my dynamic headphones are less a match. My dynamic were a great match with the Xduoo TA-22 but the DCA was narrow and less fun on that rig.
The one dac review I’m waiting for is the new Smsl VMV DR2 with the rohm chip. At 999.00 I’m hoping it punches above its price point because of that chip.
This has the top of the line AK4499EX DAC which is purportedly better than ES9039MSPRO ? I can't understand how you'd rate DO300 to be better than EX ? the other reviews state completely the opposite ?
There's a companion piece (sort of) called the AO-300, which is the same chassis with a speaker amp included. I assume the chipsets are different because it's only $290 but I'd love to see a review. (Not the A-300 or the AO-200. which are similarly named but different.)
28:17 This just struck me when you said it, but if you have a fairly large DSD library...large enough to the point that you prioritize a DAC that handles DSD natively, are you shopping in this price bracket?
After buying all those dsd albums? Maybe! 😜😆 It's a fair point. I can see this being important to someone relatively new to audio being dsd-curious though.
I am grateful for your work. I have recently purchased it and disagree with your review. The adjustments it offers are identifiable even by my over the hill ears. It took the place of my Geshelli J2S in my main system.
If your budget is in this ballpark the options are plenty. In my experience, spending 500-1500 is a much diminished return. Cheapish audio all pretty much sounds the same as the technology stands today. The only step change in performance i hear from 500 is spending >2.5 or 3k Basically if your budget is 500 or thereabouts, its pretty hard to fk up. Caveat, I do not have golden ears
Thanks for your thoughts. I hear a fairly significant jump from $500-1500 most of the time. IME and to my ears that's one of the steeper parts of the price-performance curve.
Seems decent but smsl and topping units are commodities at this point. Just another box. I also have a disagreement on the AIO value prop. If you can get an aio for factor to sound as good as separates I’m willing to pay 25% more just to save the desktop space.
A fair point on the AIO value question. I prefer sound first and then I'll figure out how to make it work on my desk. But there must be a sizable chunk of the market who agree with you because units like this keep coming out somewhat regularly. Someone is buying them. Thanks for being a regular viewer and commenter 🍻
@@wavetheorysound is there a break-in period with planars such as the Edition XS? I got a refurbished pair at a decent price and I am wondering if I need to let them run?
@@wavetheorysound Hey one other question for you - is there a amp dac combo thats somewhat budget-friendly you recommend with the XS? Ive been hearing that a Tube amp may be a good pairing - someone recommended the Schiit Vali 2
Hi. I recently bought the Schiit Asgaard, based on your recommendation. And, it sounds fantastic. So, thanks so much for a super review. It is incredibly realistic, just as you described. You have the best ears in the business, from my point of view.
I'm pairing it with the Ifi Zen Dac V2, and the Arya Stealth. The results are amazing.
I bought this SMSL do300ex DAC 5 months ago. And it clearly outperformed my Chord quest that cost me x3 more. Especially a big difference in symphonic classical music. Much better separation and less congestion. Plus a more warm, less sterile sound. I think SMSL DACs if judged them fairly will kill the US and European Hi-End DAC producers market.
Just leaving a comment to help out with YT algorithm wise 🙂 Can't wait for the Ananda Nano review though! One of the few reviewers i trust not to jump on to hype band wagons.
+1 for the V550 review, looking forward to it.
I've recently purchased it, with a discount and find it trully revealing, musical and versatile. I don't hear the digital shimmer you're mentioning, also think the 4.4 is balanced architecture, but I'll look into it. Great reviews!
Probably because he once saw someone mention how chinese equipment is bad and "digital" so just repeats the nonsense. On A/B tests of most modern dacs you cant hear a difference
@@JackFX1 Agreed. The notion of digital sound, tube-like resonance is nonsense on this TOTL next generation DAC, and to say that is heard in some songs more than others is ludicrous just to bring up products that he lkes/prefers, looks more like advertising than a real review.
@@iScorpio1971 yeah it's a weird review considering so many other people seem to like it. But can you really trust the guy that uses a gamertag instead of his real name :P
These are down to 250 bucks on Amazon right now. I picked one up to compare to my topping dx5. I only like the dx5 just the hair more than the smsl c200 so my hopes are high.
Thanks for the comparison with the EF400, very useful.
I have the EF400 and my DCA headphones are matched to god mode. But my dynamic headphones are less a match. My dynamic were a great match with the Xduoo TA-22 but the DCA was narrow and less fun on that rig.
The one dac review I’m waiting for is the new Smsl VMV DR2 with the rohm chip. At 999.00 I’m hoping it punches above its price point because of that chip.
hi, will you also review the Geshelli J2S AK4499 and the Archel Pro 3? ☺️
Yup, the J2 is the comparison the SMSL demands. Good call.
Likely the 4499 soon. I'm not sure about Archel 3 yet.
This has the top of the line AK4499EX DAC which is purportedly better than ES9039MSPRO ? I can't understand how you'd rate DO300 to be better than EX ? the other reviews state completely the opposite ?
why don't you have an audio comparison?
I would like to see you reviewing the Aune S9C.
Apreciate your reviews👍👍
Thanks for a fantastic video ……😊 I have a question the óptica decode MQA CD?
There's a companion piece (sort of) called the AO-300, which is the same chassis with a speaker amp included. I assume the chipsets are different because it's only $290 but I'd love to see a review. (Not the A-300 or the AO-200. which are similarly named but different.)
28:17 This just struck me when you said it, but if you have a fairly large DSD library...large enough to the point that you prioritize a DAC that handles DSD natively, are you shopping in this price bracket?
After buying all those dsd albums? Maybe! 😜😆
It's a fair point. I can see this being important to someone relatively new to audio being dsd-curious though.
Great video. 😊
three thumbs up
I am grateful for your work. I have recently purchased it and disagree with your review. The adjustments it offers are identifiable even by my over the hill ears. It took the place of my Geshelli J2S in my main system.
Is the DL300 the same ?
Please review their flagship rohm dac!!
DO300EX VS D400PRO?
If your budget is in this ballpark the options are plenty. In my experience, spending 500-1500 is a much diminished return. Cheapish audio all pretty much sounds the same as the technology stands today. The only step change in performance i hear from 500 is spending >2.5 or 3k
Basically if your budget is 500 or thereabouts, its pretty hard to fk up. Caveat, I do not have golden ears
Thanks for your thoughts. I hear a fairly significant jump from $500-1500 most of the time. IME and to my ears that's one of the steeper parts of the price-performance curve.
Seems decent but smsl and topping units are commodities at this point. Just another box. I also have a disagreement on the AIO value prop. If you can get an aio for factor to sound as good as separates I’m willing to pay 25% more just to save the desktop space.
A fair point on the AIO value question. I prefer sound first and then I'll figure out how to make it work on my desk. But there must be a sizable chunk of the market who agree with you because units like this keep coming out somewhat regularly. Someone is buying them. Thanks for being a regular viewer and commenter 🍻
Cant take SMSL seriously anymore when they keep releasing new products every other months.
Will this power Arya Organics? Cheers🍻
Power it yes. The AO will scale up much higher on improved source gear. Should be a reasonable starting point though.
Awesome, thanks! Just asking for my future self 😆
@@wavetheorysound is there a break-in period with planars such as the Edition XS? I got a refurbished pair at a decent price and I am wondering if I need to let them run?
@@aaronTmusic-250 Sometimes. My memory of the XS was it took about 12 hours for the bass to fully flesh out.
@@wavetheorysound Hey one other question for you - is there a amp dac combo thats somewhat budget-friendly you recommend with the XS? Ive been hearing that a Tube amp may be a good pairing - someone recommended the Schiit Vali 2
You're sounding more and more like AI
Or is AI sounding more and more like me? 😜😆
@@wavetheorysound you do realise aliens introduced digital to rob humans of their humanity