SMSL SU-1 DAC

[Jimbo]

A short review and set up suggestions  for the superb SMSL Su-1 DAC which costs only £80!

[Ackie]

Just got one of these, how are you powering it?  A LPSU?

[Hofnar]

Is it any good?

[Hofnar]

Is it any good?

Would it be an improvement to connect an SU-1 to a SMSL PL100 or is the built in DAC as good?

[Andrew.R]

This DAC plus a cheap linear PSU from aliexpress can be had for less than £130 and for the money they make a very good pairing.

[Hofnar]

This DAC plus a cheap linear PSU from aliexpress can be had for less than £130 and for the money they make a very good pairing.

OK, but would it be an improvement? Or will the PL100 - with the same power supply - sound as good?

[Andrew.R]

No idea, but you could have a look at the reviews and discussions over on https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php

[floppybootstomp]

Does it need a single or dual rail PSU?

The price does seem realistic, I suspect a lot of 'High end' DACs are simply trying to cash in on those who consider themselves audiophiles and think more cash equals better quality.

Ok, of course that maxim holds true sometimes but there are dozens, nee hundreds of examples of Hi Fi equipment selling on snob value and being a complete rip off.

I'm still using a couple of semi-home made DACs from a pair of populated PCBs and toroidals I bought from Ebay about ten years ago, maybe longer ago. I've labelled both 2496 DAC so I'm guessing that's the IC number. They cost about £50 each plus the hardware, case etc

One is used with an Audiolab CD transport and the other with the digital output from a computer.

[Hofnar]

No idea, but you could have a look at the reviews and discussions over on https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php

An interesting site. Thanks! So the SU-1 is a great golfing DAC?

[Hofnar]

OK, but would it be an improvement? Or will the PL100 - with the same power supply - sound as good?

Well, I guess the only way to get the answer is to try it out. Sure, it´s pretty low budget hifi but the price of the DAC alone equals the price of the PL100 so it ought to be better than what´s built in. And there are lot´s of no name chinese DAC:s to be had for less than a tenth of what the SU-1 costs.