SMSL SU-9n - Perfectly Competent…Like Many Others
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- Опубликовано: 21 янв 2022
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TIME STAMPS:
Features & Build - 3:27
Voltage - 5:50
Performance & Comnparisons - 6:51
Dynamic Range - 18:00
Bluetooth - 24:21
Value & Conclusion - 25:05
******
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wow, that intro LOL, one of your best reviews yet , keeping it real. thanks.
Lol im loving it.
This guy spends half his reviews telling us that other reviewers don't know how to review equipment, and I love it!
Got my SU-9n back in 11.11 and using it as my dedicated office DAC. Been enjoying it and considering it as my long term DAC. Will pair it with a Singxer SA-1 and xDuoo TA-26 when my budget permits. Cool and informative rap! Thank you for sharing your always reliable impressions.
Spitting them rhymes and keeping it real at all times 🥳
Great content - again, much more than a review! A BIG thank you ❤
Lol, now YOURE rapp’n!
I'll just stick with my $100 smsl dac I bought a year ago with my old stereo receiver sounds good to me still
Your case is well stated! Probably the sort of review we as consumers should demand from the many reviewers out there. So, I will echo the sentiment of others here that you are a stand out reviewer, with a perspective that can be truly useful in vetting the sea of products on the market.
it is weird that it cuts when you change filters and sound colors. i do find that custom 1 and 2 PCM filters do attenuate the highs bit a little bit and i can perceive a slight softening of the sound when compared to the other filters. I agree at $400 it is somewhat expensive but at $339 (on sale), with its features, it makes way more sense.
Appreciate your NO nonsense/BS reviews. I was all set all buying this SU-9n until I discovered the Soncoz LA-QXD1. And you specifically say in this video that the sound is identical. SU-9n has additional functions so it depends on if I'm willing to pay up for those functions.
How does the su-8s or even the Su-9n and EX5 as a dac compare to the D30Pro. I have a Sp200 with Ananda and going to pick up Focal clear headphone
I have this dac and find it enjoyable to listen to. It's my first dedicated DAC that I have purchased. I put it off forever, thinking it wouldn't make any audible difference, and it didn't really. I bought this mainly to support a DAC without MQA and to let manufacturers know I don't want it or care about it. I also wanted a DAC with USB input, XLR output and a large volume display as it's used in my living room with Bluesound NODE (2021). I probably could have spent less but it seemed to fit my needs. Would I buy it again? Probably not. Nevertheless it's a good DAC.
regarding output voltage on the ASR measurements: you even scrolled over it in your video, its 4.9V (at max volume) in "SINAD vs Measured Level" graph, the 4.1V is manually adjusted to have a comparable reference between the other measured DACs.
BTW: great intro!
Clearly my eyes skipped over that. Lol...I read it several times.
Best review ever.
Hope you get a chance to review the Denafrips Ares II. So much hype around it wonder if its justified.
It is pretty special, IMO.
Amazing intro 😂. Super solid video!
Your DAC rap is absolutely spot on. I have the SU-8 Version 2 and it serves me fine. I got rid of the 3 piddly feet and replaced them with 4 sorbotane ones. Works fine.
I see you have a Gustard H-16. Would really appreciate your take on that unit, as it is on my list of future purchases.
The H16 is a great amp. It's built well, has a perfectly neutral/flat sound. It's noiseless, and provides overwhelming power for all of my gear. I haven't done A/B tests yet. But, after a few months of use, I can't find a fault with it. I would have preferred a real volume knob instead of the inset scroll wheel, but it's not a big deal.
@@NoThemeReviews Thanks for that. My current amp is the original Schiit Asgard which has served me well for many years.
But it lacks a balanced out. Other than that it is still doing the job.
finally i found a nice review honest channel!!! thank you :)
Seriously awesome review! Love the rhyme 😂
I'm hoping to hit platinum.
These beats are so fresh.
Great review. For me, the only thing that gets me excited about a DAC is when it has more features than others; an integrated amp, all important inputs/outputs, power for most headphones, bluetooth, etc. I think we are going to see more of these in next few years, and for cheaper. Maybe IFI's zen dac III will.
Yeah, but then we'll be back to the same issue. We'll just get a bunch of combo units that all do the same thing, with variations that don't make a significant difference. There's great technical abilities out of China, but little innovation. I've lost all confidence in iFI. They've started churning out rinse and repeat products.
Do you have a suggestion for me when it comes to upgrading from my Topping DX7s that I do like and enjoy.
The reason I'm wanting to upgrade is one my wife needs a good DAC/AMP as she's right now using my starter Devilpoetry DAC X6 which is pretty harsh and I want her to have better sound and two because I'm ready for the next step to better sound and I know it exists but in today's world with all the BS reviews and opinion pieces. I'm finding it very difficult to figure out what would be a good next step and possible my end game DAC. I don't have the money to constantly buy the next "Bestest Ever", nor do I want to. I'm trying to find something that doesn't break the bank, is balanced with balanced outs. It can be just a DAC, if it can be used as a pre that would be a bonus. I have some decent to very good dedicated amps to use with it. I know that DACs can and do sound different just comparing the DX6 to the DX7s proved that to me. I'm just wanting to find something that has punch and a full sound with weight to the bass and mids with decent staging/separation/imaging and air without being to bright up top. I know a lot of that has to do with my amps and headphones/iems, of which I have many, but a solid start from the DAC does help doesn't it? Anyway if you have a suggestion that would be great and if not I understand. I've recently tried both the Zen Dac and the EX5 but after listening to my DX7s they both sound veiled in different ways. For both I'd describe it as having a wet blanket thrown over my head and hearing what managed to get through. To me both were muffled and unclear, again like being underwater is the best I can come up with but each had a different reason for that. EX5 just sounded thin and veiled and the Zen Dac was kind of a muddy mess.
I want to thank you for always being honest and giving us just the facts when it has to be hard to do sometimes due to what I call the "Cultists" no matter the camp they come from. I'm old and remember a day when we were called "Customers" and not "Consumers". I think the day we allowed ourselves to be called that and be labeled as "Consumers" we lost something. A consumer is a dumb animal that blindly runs around consuming whatever is put in from of it. A customer on the other hand is discerning and spends their money wisely or at least we used to strive to do so.
Sorry for the wall of text but I do value your reviews/videos and honest opinions.
Thanks again...
Hi! Thanks for all the details. You might want to research the Musical Fidelity MX Dac, Cambridge Audio DacMagic Plus, Cayin iDac 6, Klipsch Heritage Amp, and Monolith THX Desktop.
Fantastic review. I wish I had discovered your RUclips page before made some blind purchases based on other RUclips reviewers. Because you’re truly right about the “COPY AND PASTE” reviews. Please keep up the honest work. 👍👍👏👏👏👏👏
I really like the way you test. ABing is in my opinion the best way to tell any difference between hardware. I’m a music producer and an audiophile, so I’m very much into audio and quality. Most of the time, the hardware makes much less difference in audio quality than the source and the speakers/ HPs imo.
Dayumm son that was fire 🔥 That made my day
I just received the SMSL SU9N and I have to be honest and say how completely surprised I am. In a very good way. I have a Nuprime Ida 8 integrated amplifier and I was told by many people that I would not get a better sound than the dac in the Nuprime. They were very wrong. It is a big difference and is bringing out quality I was just not expecting. Yes the Nuprime sounds insanely good. Best integrated I have ever owned. However the Su9n has made that sound even better. And it's not a case of "oh its different so it's better" Not at all. I am extremely overly analytical when it comes to my audio and I have played over 100 different songs of every genre and quality. My own advice is if you are not happy with your current dac or sound, pull the trigger. I believe you won't regret it.
It would be interesting to know your take on the smsl d300
D300 definitely sounds different, IMO. Shines with classical or acoustic jazz - anything that requires a natural and realistic sound.
Just ordered an SU-9n to replace a Cambridge Audio Dacmagic bought 13 years ago. The Cambridge still sounds good but capacitors in older tech dry out as the years progress. I don't expect the the SU-9n to out perform my Dacmagic, it's just time for me to see what the ESS pro chip offers - if anything at all.
So finally, does the Su-9n outperform the Dacmagic in tour opinion?
@@nimaj1809 Yes, I have been extremely impressed by the SU9n's sound, even though Dac's aren't really supposed to have a "sound." But this little black box is a quality item. I use it in XLR mode connected to a Topping A90 and a basic Sennheiser 650 headphone. I wonder just how revealing this setup would sound connected to a Planar Magnetic type headphone ... could be amazing! The old Dacmagic is still a great option if you're looking for a second hand upgrade over a number of average CD players, but the SU9n is in my humble opinion a £1000 sounding DAC which presently can be bought new for £324.
Fun intro.... clever creative.
This, or Schiit Bifrost? I listen to a number of generes, but I mainly listen to a lot of Metal and rock so I'm wondering how this thing will stand up to something like Blast beats, is it fast enough to to keep up with that?
I'm sorry, but I don't understand your question. Dacs have little to no effect on the sound of your gear--and very few dacs have a deviation from transparent/neutral. I don't think you need to worry about which dac to get for any type of music. That's more a question directed towards headphones/IEMs.
Bifrost 2
DAC FEVER BABY!
Greetings to all. Can anyone confirm for me if the SMSL SU-9n DAC is compatible with an Android smartphone via USB port? Thanks in advance for the information.
Nice video, and i agree with you, but i have to say this: Some differences can be heard with DAC:s. I had topping e30 and bought topping e50. With that dac change, i head a "clear" difference, E50 had less sharpness to sound. Now why this is, here is my guess: When i first plugged E30 to my PC power out, there was a notable hiss in the sound, so i switched the power source to LG phone charger and it fixed it, but sound was still sharp. My guess is that E50 has better noise protection than E30 and as noise, at least in my experience, affects high notes, and this is what i picked on. So E50 had a difference. I heard no difference with xlr vs rca with E50.
Power source makes a BIG difference.
Good video. Appreciated.
I was wondering if you could recommend a cheaper offering that retains the Bluetooth and remote control.
I need a DAC to hook up a Blue Sky active 2.1 system to my tv (optical), the Bluetooth and remote so my disabled girlfriend can use her mobile to play music, and most importantly control the volume of the active speakers from the DAC.
Would really appreciate suggestions.
Topping EX5
@@NoThemeReviews appreciate the swift suggestion. Thanks.
No themes , so I have a budget under 200, I trust your opinion and your ears, so what can you recommend me ? I presently have Drop s grace DAC and topping L30 amp.I'm not sure is there a better DAC in price class as the grace , if so please let me know, I would buy a new DAC if so .
I've never heard the Grace dac, so I don't know whether there's anything different it offers from the rest. If you feel like buying a new dac, then my go-to recommendation is the Soncoz LA-QXD1. You'll get single-ended and balanced output, a sturdy build, and you can power it with a USB power bank. But, if you're happy with the Grace, then don't buy another dac. Save that money.
@@NoThemeReviews thank you . how about my topping L30 ? I'm using monolith 1570 and Focal eligia headones, should I improve on my amp ?
Hey I was a patron 2 yrs ago but canceled in the past, I'm back and going to join patreon later today..
@@Angel-AbC9 Thanks for your support! For the Eligia and M1570, it's got plenty of power. But there's a significant power roll-off when compared to the output at 300 ohms. It seems Topping used a 4v input to achieve its L30 measurements. When ASR measured it, they used a standard 2v dac, and got half the power output from the L30--which is probably what you're experiencing.
All large-format planar headphones I've used need around 250mw at their given impedance for optimum performance. The L30 does that easily. The Eligia is easy to drive, like most dynamic drivers. The L30 provides lots of power for it.
I don't think you should replace the L30 unless you don't like how it performs, or want something different. Alternatives under $200 that work really well are the Schiit Magni and iFi Zen Can. I've never used the Magnius, but that's about $200 and will give you balanced connection if you're interested in that.
@@NoThemeReviews OK last thought, I have also ifi hip DAC the original,, I like your review on monolith portable THX AAA , overall sound do you think its better than the hip DAC ?
@@Angel-AbC9 I don't think of it in terms of better or worse. They different. The THX Portable has a more analytical sound, with less bass and a bit more treble.
I wasn't sure I liked you until I heard this rap! Now i'm with you till the end lol.
My next one might country western
This is a really great review, well done. I agree generally as I owned this dac its a good DAC but not one that kept my attention long. It's not warm like many reviewers say either I agree with you its neutral. All in all I thought its a bit like vanilla ice cream very nice but it did nothing special to me or the music, its also clearly digitally reproduced music, no pulling on the senses or heart strings like good analogue can. The filters I agree I could hear no difference, the sound colours did tweak but it was extremely subtle to say the least.
I recently acquired the SU-9n its stacked with my HO200 Pre-AMP. With utilities, what software is best for music streaming?
Foobar is a good open source option, though has a steep learning curve. Audirvana, Music Bee are also very good. As for streaming only, Amazon Music HD, Deezer, Spotify.
@@NoThemeReviews I use Spotify but wanting to measure sound, I know I watched the video but I've forgotten the name
Maybe you’re thinking of Voicemeeter Banana
@@NoThemeReviews That's the one
yeah feeling the flow baby!! Thats whats up..
Ahhh haha this is awesome 😹👌🏻
That intro... Lmao.
Thanks a lot for the output voltage clarification. I think I'll have to dig through de ASR thread... sigh.
I haven't watched yet but good review
That’s an excellent point about DR of the music files. The guy on SoundNews every once in a while says that Tidal has great DR, but I haven’t seen him actually produce evidence of that. It’s crazy how all these dacs have such similar DR, and it’s usually beyond what we will ever hear.
His ears are the proof of evidence.
@@nicktan4530 Lol he also shills as hard as Zeos. SoundNews dude probably spends little to no time researching the nonsense he says.
@@hectorharris5650 I am not going to bash or quote logic and rational with him. However, when I asked regarding HPA 4 and Massdrop, there is no response regarding my comment especially headphone scaling. Do you think he mentioned nonesens in Susvara ? I really dont think so especially since Susvara really needs more power.
@@nicktan4530 He just repeats other reviewers who don't know anything. He just quotes specs and then says how awesome everything sounds because of those specs. Maybe the Susvara needs more power, but so what? Everybody who owns a Susvara (and there aren't a lot of them) say this.
@@hectorharris5650 I have no idea. All I know he state that HPA-4 does not drive them properly and speaker amps works well. Either it really make sense. But still if only we get to A/B to find out the truth.
"this gustard DAC is even MORE revealing than the last one! just trust me, bro!"
Nice haha
I agree that there are $200 DACs that sound as good as this $400 unit. But this $400 unit probably also sounds just as good as many $800 DACs out there or even more expensive ones. There are still people who buy $2,000 DACs & $10,000 DACs and those will probably sound no better than much cheaper ones. It's just how it goes.
Any recommendation for dacs apart from RME at least for sound and features ? And what about stand alone dacs for the most features you have tested ? Of course we look for neutral sound signature.
The vast majority of dacs don't have different features. That's the biggest issues in the market, other than the silly pricing. All of them support the same PCM and DSD. They all have ESS or AKM chips. They all include some form of PCM filters that don't materially affect the sound. They all have balanced or single-ended in some combination. The D90se had voltage options...but that's not really something I consider a groundbreaking feature.
The only feature-rich products I've come across so far are the RME and Matrix Mini-i Pro 3. These set themselves apart from all the rest.
@@NoThemeReviews How about Geshelli J2 dac where you can have different gain voltage ? Heard about that one.
@@nicktan4530 I reviewed the J2 a while ago. I don't remember it having switchable voltage.
@@NoThemeReviews Weird, maybe its the previous iteration. So what would be the recommended dacs with balanced, PCM, DSD without the amp ? Means standalone dacs.
@@nicktan4530 Well...you've got plenty of good options. Soncoz LA-QXD1, Topping D30 Pro, SMSL SU8/SU9, etc. My go-to are the Soncoz, RME, and Matrix Mini-i Pro 3.
LOL....Kicked right to the point like a Chop to the throat!
Lol you act like people are buying new dacs every month, i have an smsl su-8 had it since release. The partnering gear is far higher end so I'm looking at one of these because it fixes the su-8s small issues.
Nope, only that companies and the typical reviewers hype every new Dac that’s released every month.
They're definitely pumping them out these days.
I bought one. This review is pretty on point. This thing ain't good. The highs are too sharp.
*cough* your dragonfly cobalt vs red video *cough*
You specifically mentioned it had more sound stage. But in most of your videos you reiterate soundstage doesn't change dac to dac. Also you say cobalt is more powerful but asr measurements prove otherwise. I also considered leaving this comment there as a late joke :D
Yup, I used to mention soundstage in my much older reviews of dacs. It wasn’t until I started doing more Dac tests and thought about what the hell I was saying when I realized I was being a fool. As for the ASR measurement, well, all I can say is that the Cobalt appeared to be more efficient in driving the same headphone. I didn’t have to resort to the same volume on the cobalt as the red, as far as I recall.
@@NoThemeReviews you just said what you heard or thought you heard on those videos. Your style was different, impressions was initial like many others. Lately I've obtained too many equipment and tried to AB them to the best of my abilities. Result? I'm getting rid of some of them because there is no real difference to justify keeping all of them. 😀
I agree. When I started out doing reviews I was under the same impression as others that there are always differences. My methods weren’t refined. I experimented with different styles, and I think I finally found what works. Some of the things I said years ago is not consistent with what I’ve found now.
I think the da-9 has a better value.
What is this intro? 🤣🤣
Call me MC Spammer