Jimbos Audio ramblings

[Jimbo]

Yes I have several mobile phone chargers, but I would still need an adapter to a USB type plug. Do such things exist?

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07XZ7Q2...1_TE_dp_1?th=1

[Jimbo]

SMSL SU-1 DAC Listening and Sound Quality.

Albums and tracks used for evaluation.

Ballake Sissoko - Album Tomora - Track-Berekoy
Sera una Noche - Album La Segunda - Tracks La Roca
Agnes Obel - Album - Philharmonics - Track - Close Watch
Horror Inc - Album Briefly Eternal - Track-Phowa
John Campbell - Album Howlin Mercy - Track - Down in the hole ( Yes that old chestnut)


Set up 1.

SMSL SU-1 DAC -USB - MacBook Air -(Audirvana )- USB/SPDIF convertor -Dual 5v LPS (DAC and Convertor powered independently by LPS)- Croft 25R+ - Croft 7

Running through a diverse selection of tracks with large dynamic range and top notch recordings this tiny DAC delivers an astonishing performance. The most noticeable aspects of the sound I could observe straight off were tonal quality and texture especially through the midrange. I am not a detail and resolution freak and I would say although all the information in the upper frequencies was very clean,detailed and pure it was really the midrange that delighted the ear. This DAC paints lush broad strokes and therefore it is both engaging and masterful in how it presents recordings. It's not all about the detail but the big picture.

On Ballake Sissoke the string texture of the Kora sounded perfect with full harmonics and layering, no twanging thin sound here but just beautiful texture and palpable organic natural sounding notes.

Horror Inc is extreme electronic and huge dynamics. The Track Phowa has a massive presence in the room and you are left gobsmacked by the huge dynamic impact.

Agnes Obel is a fav of mine ( bedtime music). I listen too this album a lot on vinyl and the track Close Watch is a mesmerising palette of vocal manipulation and minimalist instrumentation . The SU-1 nails it and absolutely controls the different aspects of the stereo imaging to perfection. Here I notice the difference in precise clarity the vocal imaging sounds in comparison to vinyl.

John Campbell - "Down in the hole" once again defied belief when heard through the SU-1. Huge, controlled and liquid. Cavernous soundstage and dynamics. I have heard this on a Chord DAVE and the only area I felt the SU-1 looses out is in stage depth and imaging. The Su-1 has a very wide soundstage but not the greatest depth.

Finally an album that has been recorded and mastered at the highest level. Sera una Noche. I particularly like the track La Roca. This is basically an Argentinian group with traditional instruments playing in a great ambient space. The SU-1 captures and controls it beautifully. What I heard was impressive and made me forget for a moment I was listening to digital! This DAC lands somewhere in between digital and analogue in its sound. I did not hear any glassy strange artefacts or a digital glare. It actually sounded quite natural and certainly involving. All the music I played had great tone and texture and many of the aspects I look for when listening to vinyl came across without fatigue.

The lack of distortion, precision and very clean sound that this DAC has may have finally broken through my listening pain barrier with digital audio. Maybe some of those technical measured aspects really do matter here and contributed to what I was hearing?

So this tiny device was ticking a lot of boxes, I was impressed but there was more to come!

[Gazjam]

Brilliant James, result!

[Barry]

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07XZ7Q2...1_TE_dp_1?th=1

Thanks Jim, but it has just dawned on me that I am being a complete numpty! I was thinking of chargers for the old Nokia style phones, whereas of course 'smartphones' use a charger which has a USB socket, as does the phone. So all I need is a readily available USB to USB lead.

[Jimbo]

Thanks Jim, but it has just dawned on me that I am being a complete numpty! I was thinking of chargers for the old Nokia style phones, whereas of course 'smartphones' use a charger which has a USB socket, as does the phone. So all I need is a readily available USB to USB lead.

Excellent Barry then its nice and straight forward. Powering the DAC via USB and using the Coaxial input is my preferred route.

[Jimbo]

Brilliant James, result!

Cheers Gary, this one is quite an eye opener or should I say ear opener for many reasons not least it has got me listening to digital music again!

[CageyH]

After watching several “back to back test” videos on YouTube (yes, not the best source) I came to the conclusion that the DAC does not make a big difference, as long as it performs. I gave up looking for a new DAC at that point.

[Jimbo]

After watching several “back to back test” videos on YouTube (yes, not the best source) I came to the conclusion that the DAC does not make a big difference, as long as it performs. I gave up looking for a new DAC at that point.

You are probably right and that is one of the main reasons I did not want to spend a large amount of cash on one when as I have found you can get superb for performance at a reasonable cost.

[Barry]

Good work James.

One of the reasons AoS was created, was partly to discover and announce to the membership, those items of audio hardware which not only sounded good, but also offered exceptional value for money. Your examination of the SU-1 DAC is a continuation of this pursuit.

It has always puzzled me why manufacturers are charging more and more for 'new improved' iterations, when the degree of improvement tends to a vanishingly small limit.

[Jimbo]

Good work James.

One of the reasons AoS was created, was partly to discover and announce to the membership, those items of audio hardware which not only sounded good, but also offered exceptional value for money. Your examination of the SU-1 DAC is a continuation of this pursuit.

It has always puzzled me why manufacturers are charging more and more for 'new improved' iterations, when the degree of improvement tends to a vanishingly small limit.

I am not the biggest fan of digital audio so to find something this great and for a ridiculous price is a big plus. It has also encouraged me to listen to more digital which means it must be doing something right.

Manufacturers are always coming up with usually ever increasingly complex and expensive DACs as they are really only interested in making money. This DAC breaks the rules and goes the other way. I would be surprised if anyone is making much money out of this DAC at all.

Its a HIFI gift to us all.