SMSL SMSL Sanskrit 10th High-end DAC USB Optical Coaxial Input Red

So I have had this playing music for a few hours now, not sure if this sort of thing needs to be worn in but in any case it sounds good and for the price you can't really complain.It has cleaned up the digital signal coming out of this old Cambridge audio cd player before it hits the amp. The onboard dac seemed to lack bass and add a bit of muddle to the sound.This isn't the highest end gear but even so the difference was noticeably cleaner bassier, and even added a little soundstage.It looks fantastic but surprisingly small form factor. As you can see in the pic it is about 2/3 the height of a standard rack mounted cd player. This is good in my setup as I only have a little space anyway but for those with a rack it might be an odd shape and size to fit somewhere.This is a 5 star amp at £79 but I think I will be returning it for a couple reasons.Power supply is micro usb and doesn't pass through power on the usb.I use an old phone as a streamer, previously using the on board DAC and a splitter straight into my amp again produced a decent sound.This DAC has not improved the sound coming out the phone and worse, I now have to worry about charging the phone because it doesn't charge the phone through the usb port like DAC's with their own power supply do. This is the main reason I will almost certainly send it back.I wanted to buy a DAC once and I thought this was a bit too good to be true and alas it was...The other reason is simply the competition, there is so much out there even from SMSL themselves and although I won't get near this price point I think I can spend a bit more get what I need and not worry about it again.If on the other hand you have something like a wiim with its own power supply then you would be golden.I think that would actually be an ideal usecase for this little guy.

Dopo un paio di giorni di rodaggio (circa 20 ore di uso) posso condividere le mie impressioni.Impianto:Amplificatore Denon 720aeDiffusori Dynavoice F7Ex (4 Ohm)Cavi di potenza rame pieno OFC sezione 3,5mmCavo di segnale knukonceptz Krystal RCAFonte PC Dell 13/5368 + T_idal HI-FIDopo aver valutato l’abbinamento di un lettore CD o di un Network Player al mio amplificatore, ma visti anche i costi e gli ingombri, ho deciso piuttosto di investire una somma sensibilmente inferiore per questo DAC e spremere al massimo la qualità e il catalogo offerti dal servizio streaming T_idal.Spinto dal prezzo di questo DAC, le sue buone recensioni, la sua componentistica e la sua praticità, ho voluto cercare di addentrarmi nel digitale di qualità.Spinta derivante anche da alcune recenti registrazioni su vinile onestamente PESSIME in cui mi sono imbattuto (ma questa è un’altra storia).T_idal offre streaming lossless 44.1 Khz (qualità CD) e i cosiddetti “masters”, solitamente con sample rate 88 o 96 Khz in formato MQA.Il Sanskrit 10TH non supporta nativamente MQA, ma l’applicazione dedicata su Windows10 ne consente la decodifica software, con sample rate perfettamente riconosciuto dal DAC e relativo miglioramento audio.N.B.: per quanto non sia specificato nel manuale, anche con collegamento USB, è altamente raccomandato collegare SEMPRE una fonte supplementare di alimentazione utilizzando l’apposito ingresso sul DAC (un alimentatore per iPhone o simili - 5V/1A - andranno benissimo).Fatte queste premesse, il dispositivo si presenta elegante, ben costruito e rifinito, con un utile display molto discreto e il comodissimo telecomando. È possibile posizionarlo orizzontalmente o verticalmente, il display ruoterà automaticamente. È molto leggero, ma rimane stabile anche in posizione verticale.Sul retro troviamo 3 ingressi di segnale: USB, ottico e cossiale. È possibile passare da un ingresso all’altro con il telecomando, dando così la possibilità di sfruttare le sua qualità anche con tv o lettori DVD/BD. Inoltre il telecomando consente anche di abbassare il volume in uscita (da 0 a -40db), consentendogli di essere usato anche come pre (2X batterie AAA non incluse).A bordo abbiamo un chip D/A AKM4490, non recentissimo ma montato su prodotti di fascia ben più alta, accoppiato a due filtri (che non so cosa filtrino, sinceramente) di una non meglio specificata origine giapponese.Le premesse sono più che buone.Installato in due minuti, oltre al PC con T_idal, ho collegato anche la Tv (una Sharp 4K economica) tramite cavo ottico, liberandomi così di un vecchio convertitore da 12€ preso anni fa per lo scopo.Rodato principalmente con la TV; già così arrivano le prime sorpresine. Le voci sono più calde e piene, i diffusori scompaiono, anche file video insospettabili (audio mp3 128kbps, ad esempio) estendono la gamma, con bassi e sfumature che prima non percepivo. Inizia a delinearsi già così una discreta scena e la resa del mio Denon è molto più appagante in ambito home-theater (grazie anche alle casse Dynavoice, che non deludono in questo ambito “non hi-fi”). Sample rate visualizzato: 48 kHz.Fatto un minimo rodaggio, finalmente collego il pc tramite cavo usb. A tal proposito, vanno bene tutti i cavi USB decenti, al limite schermati, è un segnale digitale, o arriva o non arriva. Comunque mi trovo molto bene con i cavi rivestiti RAMpow venduti qui su Amazon ad ottimo prezzo; molto più importanti i cavi di segnale (segnale che sarà analogico in uscita) che lo connettono all’amplificatore.Inizio scrivendo che non si avverte alcun rumore di fondo, fruscio o simili. Anche con volumi elevati e brani in pausa. Merito della qualità intrinseca del DAC, forse anche del Dell, che in quanto a PC non manca di fare le cose come si deve.E allora musica! Il suono è in una parola: ANALOGICO. So che è proprio quello che dovrebbe fare. Ma la resa è davvero simile a quella del mio giradischi Pro-Ject Debut III, tant’è che un paio di volte, finito un album, ho fatto per alzarmi per girare un disco che non c’era. Abitudine!La scena è ampia, i diffusori scompaiono, piani orizzontali ben percepibili. Dettaglio elevatissimo, alcuni brani ascoltati migliaia di volte sembravano arrivare alle mie orecchie per la prima volta. La resa molto analogica si accoppia benissimo con il Denon 720ae, talvolta un po’ analitico e freddo, soprattutto su voci femminili e pianoforte, prendendo sostanza e corpo, risultando correttamente prominenti grazie all’ottima scena restituita. Gli strumenti sono ben separati, spaziati e mai disgiunti dagli altri, nemmeno con musica più orchestrale.La gamma dinamica amplissima della fonte permette al resto alla catena di tirare fuori i muscoli (finalmente, direi), suonando sempre veloce senza mai avere il fiatone.Il DAC Sanskrit 10TH di SMSL, in virtù di questo suono molto analogico, tende ad essere un po’ “prepotente” sui bassi. Non è questione di equalizzazioni o scelte precise del DAC, secondo me.. Piuttosto, nel mio caso, le Dynavoice sono casse già di loro molto esuberanti sui bassi (4 vie, 2 woofer, 3 bass-reflex sul retro), scelte proprio per “scaldare” il suono Denon e all’occorrenza prestarsi al servizio dell’home-cinema. In ogni caso i bassi sono precisi, profondi e mai slabbrati, semplicemente c’è “troppa roba”! Quindi è sufficiente qualche accorgimento (lasciare aria ai reflex, ignorare il tasto Loudness).L’accoppiata con T_idal è davvero ottima. La differenza fra gli stream hi-fi e quelli “master” è ben percepibile, nonostante il mancato supporto nativo MQA, con il display che mostra correttamente il sample rate ricevuto ed elaborato dal DAC.In conclusione, sotto i 100€ sul nuovo, trovo davvero difficile trovare un prodotto, una fonte, che butti fuori un segnale del genere.Ricordo ancora di collegare sempre l’ingresso usb supplementare per alimentazione!Lo consiglio anche a chi ha DAC più costosi o lettori CD entry-level, visto il prezzo irrisorio potrebbe stupirvi.E farvi anche un po’ arrabbiare.Sono molto soddisfatto e non posso che consigliarlo. Continua così, SMSL!

Necessity is the mother of invention. I needed a DAC for my bedroom audio video setup. Yes everything is pretty bunched here. My MOTU USB interface mixer decided USB was not working so I verified it truly was faulty. 100 % proven. I needed a DAC and the usual suspect I would pick would be a pain to get and I wanted something different and new to me. Being in audio for allot of years, being jaded by overly expensive jewels of unobtainium was not it. However, I knew of the SMSL Sanskrit before and was curious.Setup and associated gear.Lenovo i7 Windows 10 computer and Sony Blue Ray 800 series. And still MOTU Ultralite mk.4 as mixer in this case only. Anthem AVM-30 processor Preamplifier and Crown XLS-1202 power amplifier and Elac 6.2 speakers and SVS 10 inch Subwoofer PB-1000. Aiwa AD-F660 Cassette Deck. Modest cabling nothing special.Windows 10 drivers and XMOS.I had no challenges at all with the driver from the website. Picked the right one and installed and off to the races.Remote control operation. Press the C key 1st!The remote is fine with operation for filters toggling and volume up and down input select and so on. Real easy. Have some AAA batteries handy for the remote control. Remote is plastic with buttons easy to use. You got a remote for your TV right? Same deal here.Hook up and things.Connected USB aux power at first but don’t need never plan to run my mobiles on this. It is USB Buss powered with your favorite compliant power adapter. Instructions vague on that point. Coaxial digital to my Sony Blueray player. Computer USB of course. Maxed out advanced to 32 bit 384Khz because I can.Listening.Pick your input 1 2 3. Each is for USB and Optical Toslink, and Coaxial inputs.I don’t have an optical source though.The sound is quite nice. My Schiit Asgard with the AKM4490 module sounds more grander as my Schiit audio Modius DAC neither are in this system. My MOTU is a hair more detailed overall.Particulars sound of the SMSL Sanskrit.It is a smooth operator. I liked the first filter scheme best for me. The bass is well laid out and punchy and has good extension. Midrange is easy going and not as in your face as my MOTU can sometimes be. The MOTU uses ESS Sabre DACs and get a bit pushy at times in the midrange and treble. The SMSL is nice and calm and a cool customer here. I never heard anything that made me want to skip to another song, no. I would play it again. Highs are relatively airy, but as open as my MOTU or Schiit twins but I find for hours I can go on listening just fine. My Elacs never glared at me with this DAC. Nice. Dynamics are well done and the sense of pace and urgency the music has is well conveyed here. Remember this is a reasonably priced DAC and compromises abound and the SMSL is no different here. So on to the closing thoughts.Closing thoughts.The SMSL Sanskrit is a great way to modestly get that computer sounding the way it can and should along with other digital sources you may have. Set your expectations accordingly though. It is an honest product and well done. Operation is easy and the interfacing couldn’t be easier at least for me. Your mileage may vary. No telling how your technology will fare here. You just have to find out. But for me at least. I am a happy customer and the SMSL solves a need and turned it into a desire to do more with my bedroom system rather than just my living room editing station listening place. Pretty darn good job SMSL. Recommended.

What a great little DAC!I have been looking for a budget-friendly DAC for oh... about a week now.I was all set to get a much more expensive unit but then I happened across this one. This little guy is for my PC so I don't need a full-blown, professional, $500.00 plus DAC to drive a REALTEK sound card.I read almost all the reviews and was impressed. Of course, reviews can be deceiving (as we all know by now) so I skipped over to YouTube and checked out some videos on the DAC and it got really good reviews. What really got me was the extra micro-USB power I could add to the DAC so it was not struggling when decoding 384 bit. I just plugged in my extra Samsung phone micro-USB charger and walla! Works!I also loved the fact that this has various multi-inputs: USB - Optical - Coax. I use the USB for FLAC files and the optical for Gaming and MP3 files. To top it all off, it has a freaking remote! What sub-100.00 dollar DAC has a remote?Color me impressed.Sound! Ahhhh..... the big question.All I can say is I have paired this with the SMSL SP100 Headphone Amplifier (little dude!) and it sounds really good! I mean really good. I was surprised at how good it sounded. Like...DAMN! That sounds really good. The soundstage is about as good as you are going to get from a PC sound card. Trust me. I have been in IT 25 + years. This is as good as it gets with motherboard sound.Decoding - terrific. You do need a driver from the SMSL website but its, download, install, reboot, set sound settings in Control Panel, done. Like...5 minutes total.Some of you might be asking "Why do I need the amp? I have one already!".Well, Amazonians, here's why: The SMSL AMP has the key piece I personally needed.Like a lot of you, I have a few different pairs of headphones. However, most AMP's only have one output, the headphone jack (Yeah, you could use a splitter but...ugly). The SMSL SP100 Headphone Amplifier has a neat little feature that a lot of the other AMP's I looked at did not. The AMPS Inputs are actually joined internally. One is an Input AND one is an Output. I know, confusing especially with the marking on the back of the unit both saying "Input", but hear me out.Since both the AMP's RCA connectors are "joined: within the unit, the input from the DAC out through the headphone jack allows the SMSL AMP, volume, tube sound, etc...to be heard. The OUTPUT RCA (the second set of RCA jacks on the back of the AMP) is tied to the Input RCA and provides no volume or amplification. Sounds bad, right? Wrong! Since I have multiple headphones this allows me to use a second multi-port AMP connected to the SMSL amp via an RCA to 3.5MM cable and not "double-amp" the sound. It's just a simple passthrough to the 2nd AMP. You can see it in the picture above. It's the black amp, bottom left.So, I now have TWO amps. One I can use for my critical listening (SMSL) and one I can use for my speakers and other headphones. The beauty of this setup is I get the DAC decoding, filtering, and sound to BOTH AMPS!The clarity and sound stage is VERY good. I'm not going to tell you this is the best setup EVER or your head is going to explode because of the sound but for a PC, to me, it's exceptional. I simply do not need anything else. I have the gaming sound (optical), the FLAC\DSD\MP3 sound (USB 384 bit) and the plugs for multiple headphones. Simple!PHEW! What a relief. Great sound across the board to all my headphones and speakers without having to play the "un-plug and plug-in game".I love it.I highly recommend you consider this little guy (and the AMP for that matter). Great, semi-inexpensive (everything, units, cables, etc...under 200.00 total) DAC\AMP combination. Just a great PC setup. Oh, and you can get everything you see in the pictures above right here on good old Amazon.

Diable, quel rapport qualité/prix incroyable !Ce DAC a été testé quasi-exhaustivement et est recommandé par audio science review, site où l'on utilise non pas des oreilles subjectives d'auditeurs aux commentaires ésotériques voire fumeux, mais un bon vieil oscilloscope.Ce DAC a aussi reçu la distinction qobuzissime du site de streaming.Pour ma part je l'ai comparé à deux DACs : Chord Qutest et AMI Music DS5. A chaque écoute, a été utilisé l'excellent serveur de musique sous GNU/Linux, à savoir mpd (Music Player Daemon) qui sans nul pilote s'avère capable de lire nombre de formats PCM jusqu'à 768KHz et DSD64/128/256/512 (DoP ou ici avec le SMSL DSD natif). Ce serveur tournait sur un ordinateur de poche à processeur ARM dédié, ici un Odroid-C2, et allait lire les fichiers de musique stockés sur un NAS Synology via une interface gigabit. Un Raspberry Pi 4 doté d'un vrai port ethernet gigabit aurait aussi fait l'affaire.A l'écoute, par nature subjective, ce SMSL, sans coûteuse alimentation linéaire externe dédiée ni câble USB hors de prix, s'en sort un poil mieux que les deux DACs précités qui valaient il y a peu 15 fois, respectivement 7 fois, son prix.Le rendu de la scène est vraiment incroyable.De plus, le circuit XMOS du SMSL Sanskrit 10th v2, qui gère l'interface USB accepte de passer sans broncher du PCM au DSD et vice-versa, sans petit artéfact sonore.Un must have je pense et une difficulté extrême pour la concurrence. Le temps des DACs audiophiles réservés aux gros portefeuilles est terminé :-)