Jimbos Audio ramblings

[Jimbo]

Looks like Ortofon are doing something new with the 2M range of things.

What have you heard?

[Wakefield Turntables]

Heres a link https://www.analogplanet.com/content...-mm-cartridges

[Jimbo]

Thanks mate just liked at the Ortofon site too. Not sure if it is just a different mounting design or they have changed internals a little?


R stands for reduced as in height so it is a design change to accommodate a wider range of tonearms.

[Jimbo]

After a long period without any change to my digital system I thought it was time to upgrade the sound quality with another DAC. My current device has started to have a few issues with connectivity and the inputs are a getting a bit fragile so time to move on. What should I expect from a £30 DAC?

But what should I buy as there are trillions of DACs now available all carving out a sonic niche at every price level from £20 - £40,000. So I decided to noodle the net and search for something universally regarded, decent sounding and maybe a “Giant killer” .

Amusingly I followed every YouTuber, Internet review site and forum warrior to gauge opinion on devices at all prices and funnily enough the world of digital audio ranges from comments like “Dacs are all the same, its just ones and noughts” too extreme views about particular DACs having magical insights and incredible detail retrieval able to recreate a sonic image and soundscape far beyond anything analogue can do - yeah right.

Luckily I have been able to listen too numerous DACs over the years at every price level including some of the most highly regarded in the industry but none have made me feel I wanted to open my wallet and shell any money especially as DACs have evolved at an exponential rate over the past 10 years or so. Who wants to buy yesterdays technology when there is something far more exciting just round the corner? Ok some folk like yesterdays technology - err vinyl?


One factor I have noticed is that many DACs sound the same and differences are small, I think speakers and amplifiers contribute a far greater difference to your listening experience than any DAC in your system at least from my experience.

Anyhoo I feel we reached some sort of plateau with digital audio and I really don’t see or read anything that suggests it is advancing very fast at all nowadays. What is really great is that because of the competitive market place for DAC sales manufacturers have developed products that perform at a very high level indeed now, at a very low price and as can be seen on a famous technical review site they measure phenomenally well.

In fact having done some research it is interesting how many very cheap DACs now measure incredibly well and indeed measure better than some very expensive high end gear. Not that measurements tell you everything and I personally don’t buy gear based purely on measurements but at least you can be sure the device is performing well technically if that is your thing. Great performance is now available at every decreasing prices!


So after much consideration and consultation and a quick look at my bank account I have decided to buy another DAC. After five years I have gone bonkers and decided to double the amount I spent on my last DAC. Will I regret it, will this improve my digital listening, we will see?


SMSL SU-1.


I decided to buy the SMSL SU-1 as it seemed to tick most of the boxes I had in mind. It is well made and it has all the features I am looking for and very cheap. I am not paying for an expensive Bling Box, an expensive PSU or features I will not use.The SU-1 is minimalist product, DACs do not get much more basic than this. It has USB, Coax and Toslink inputs and RCA outputs and that’s it. No volume control but it does have lights letting you know what input is being used and an on/off switch.

A36EEBD2-6BCB-497A-8727-B0FFC0C1343E by [url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/162281319@N03/]/url], on Flickr

41915167-0837-469C-BA28-01440EE818DA by , on Flickr



I am in the process of evaluating the DAC at the moment as I can configure it a number of ways in my system so I am trying to find the best implementation however this is my first listening experience of the SMSL SU-1 DAC. My initial listening was via USB output from my MacBook Air Laptop via a USB to Coax convertor and using Audirvana. I hooked up the tiny box, the SMSL is very small, and the Su-1 was recognised by Audirvana as a DSD DAC and everything worked straight away without any problems or glitches. The SU-1 is then connected to my Croft preamp using RCA input.


So how does it sound?

[Macca]

Based on the measurements it should have no sound of its own. Noise and distortion below 130dB right across the board, jitter below 140dB. Perfect linearity, FR only 0.3dB down at 20Khz.

I think the only Achilles heel might be reliability - and credibility, in some circles

[Jimbo]

Based on the measurements it should have no sound of its own. Noise and distortion below 130dB right across the board, jitter below 140dB. Perfect linearity, FR only 0.3dB down at 20Khz.

I think the only Achilles heel might be reliability - and credibility, in some circles

Yes it has superlative measurements and would embarrass some very high end DACS. It may even embarrass some of those who have spent gazillions on expensive DACS / PSU and Clocking. But when you have gone to that trouble and expense would you want to admit it?

What is absurd is the cost and how tiny this device is. Amazon are selling it for £67!

[walpurgis]

One of these would do the trick for many: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/225836643....c101506.m1851

I have a couple and they sound just fine, cost me less than a fiver each a couple of years ago.

[Macca]

Yes it has superlative measurements and would embarrass some very high end DACS. It may even embarrass some of those who have spent gazillions on expensive DACS / PSU and Clocking. But when you have gone to that trouble and expense would you want to admit it?

What is absurd is the cost and how tiny this device is. Amazon are selling it for £67!

I paid twice that for mine! But it does have a cool orange and blue display screen. And can be used as a pre-amp. (Although I don't, I'm too paranoid that it will glitch and go to full output. Plus I like a proper rotary volume control).

[Macca]

Come on then James, are you now getting Pure, Perfect Sound Forever?

[Jimbo]

Haha not quite but very close. It probably is pure and perfect but I miss the distortion I get from vinyl