[corgifall]

So, no hiss on low!
That is great!
Thank you!

Just double checked but no hiss on low gain even maxed out.

 

[shenzhenaudio]

I’m in the middle of testing the SU-8S and SH-8S and both are fantastic devices. Good alternatives to the SU/SH-9 stack with a different sound flavor.

Waiting for your reviews.

 

[corgifall]

Waiting for your reviews.

I’ll have both out tomorrow night! Both the SU/SH-8S are winners in my book

 

[OldRoadToad]

personally I don't care what format the file is in... as long as it sounds good.... there isn't anything wrong with how MQA sounds...

I did a blind test of MQA at a Long Beach show a few years ago using an Onkyo DAP. I had no idea what version of the song I was listening to was and I controlled the DAP. I moved the dial to switch between MQA and NO MQA and I did so with my eyes shut and did NOT know what was selected when I began listening nor when I ended.

I could not tell a difference but...I could smell one. A rat. I refuse to pay for fluff and nonsense and MQA is audio's ENC. The Emperor's New Clothes. And you pay for it whether or not you want to. If it is included, it costs to have a decoder with it and if the DAC you own has MQA you paid for that even if you never use it.

No one asked for this. No one said, "Gee...I really wish I could pay for something so "transparent" that I don't even know if it's on unless I do a Pavlov's pooch and drool when the MQA light comes on to tell me I am being sprinkled with faerie dust by Bob Stuart."

No offense but if you can't hear anything unless you are told you are (and I refuse to do that) why pay for it. Stuart is the epitome of a frAudiophile as are his phony cronies in the frAudiophile press that go along with this goofy stuff.

ORT

 

[corgifall]

I did a blind test of MQA at a Long Beach show a few years ago using an Onkyo DAP. I had no idea what version of the song I was listening to was and I controlled the DAP. I moved the dial to switch between MQA and NO MQA and I did so with my eyes shut and did NOT know what was selected when I began listening nor when I ended.

I could not tell a difference but...I could smell one. A rat. I refuse to pay for fluff and nonsense and MQA is audio's ENC. The Emperor's New Clothes. And you pay for it whether or not you want to. If it is included, it costs to have a decoder with it and if the DAC you own has MQA you paid for that even if you never use it.

No one asked for this. No one said, "Gee...I really wish I could pay for something so "transparent" that I don't even know if it's on unless I do a Pavlov's pooch and drool when the MQA light comes on to tell me I am being sprinkled with faerie dust by Bob Stuart."

No offense but if you can't hear anything unless you are told you are (and I refuse to do that) why pay for it. Stuart is the epitome of a frAudiophile as are his phony cronies in the frAudiophile press that go along with this goofy stuff.

ORT

Well you also have issues with most MQA devices slowly “latching” onto the stream when choosing different parts of a song. Most sound compressed for a second or so before adjusting to MQA and sounding normal again. I won’t fault a company for including it as it was a trend in the audiophile world. I personally test to make sure it works properly then proceed to never use it on said device again haha

 

[shenzhenaudio]

Hmm.... Does that indicate the original D90 with AK chips is now a collectors item... ???

Perhaps.

 

[Dixter]

Perhaps.

I'll never understand why they didn't choose to use Burr Brown DACs after the fire at AKM....

 

[John Massaria]

I'll never understand why they didn't choose to use Burr Brown DACs after the fire at AKM....

Yes Burr brown or Wolfson or Analog Devices chips or maybe best option for Topping - an R2R done as well as D90 spec wise

 

[asifur]

Manufacturers have traditionally targeted the mid-year for new product launches, and SMSL, TOPPING, and MOONDROP are no exception. So let's take a look in our crystal ball and preview what's coming.

1st
SMSL has established a solid reputation for providing music lovers with the best value and finest sound quality. Loyal customers will know that the SU-8 was once the most popular product on the market. It sold out completely, and now SMSL has developed a worthy successor, the SU-8s DAC, featuring high-quality performance at the same budget price of 359.99USD, with full MQA support. It will go on sale at 10:00 am on June 10 (UTC+8).



2nd
And while we're on the subject of the SU-8s DAC, on the same day SMSL will release a matching headphone amplifier. Compared with its predecessor, the SH-8s features a number of outstanding improvements. Look forward to a big surprise! In the meantime we can reveal that the SH-8s will go on sale for only $229.99. For comprehensive measurements, please check with Audio Science Review and other audio forums.


3rd
Another item worthy of mention is SMSL's new high-resolution digital player, SD-9. Beautifully designed with full-featured performance, this multi-functional digital player, like the DP5, supports almost all music formats. Full MQA is also supported. It will be announced publicly on June 10, and the pre-order channel starts at 10am!


4th
Seize this season, TOPPING is also about to release their two latest families. Let's turn to the new EX5 DAC/AMP gear first, a product of TOPPING and SHENZHENAUDIO collaboration. It features two ES9038Q2M decoding chips and supports MQA & LDAC. Currently, we have no pricing or launch date.


5th
But wait, there's more exciting news from TOPPING! Due to the AK chip shortage, the D90/D90MQA versions have been discontinued, and TOPPING is planning a brand-new replacement DAC provisionally called the D90se. It adopts the top-end ES9038PRO DAC chip, with other parameters remaining to be announced. Unfortunately, it hasn't been priced yet. Don't forget to follow their official Facebook page for the latest news.


6th
At our end, we would like to introduce an intriguing IEM from MOONDROP, which has not been listed yet. It has appeared in various Chinese headphone/audio EXPO shows and numerous guests have auditioned it and given their testimonials. As a result of this valuable feedback, MOONDROP has micro re-tuned the IEM and made it even better! Recently they have dropped some hints on their social media channels, listing Variations and its 1DD+2BA+2EST configuration. Rumour has it that it's hitting the market around mid-June. We look forward to seeing it!


Finally, thanks for your time and reading, as always, we'd love to hear any questions, comments, and suggestions.

looking forward to the new moondrop

 

[crabdog]

That's some really cool stuff coming.

 

[rprodrigues]

@shenzhenaudio

There will be a non-MQA version for the SMSL su-8s?


I've just ordered the sh-8s from your store on Ali. I need now a companion non-MQA dac for it.

 

[corgifall]

Reviews for both the SH-8S and SU-8S below!

SH-8S: https://www.head-fi.org/showcase/s-m-s-l-sh-8s.25205/reviews#review-26040

SU-8S: https://www.head-fi.org/showcase/s-m-s-l-su-8s.25206/reviews#review-26041

 

[PACSman]

Well you also have issues with most MQA devices slowly “latching” onto the stream when choosing different parts of a song. Most sound compressed for a second or so before adjusting to MQA and sounding normal again. I won’t fault a company for including it as it was a trend in the audiophile world. I personally test to make sure it works properly then proceed to never use it on said device again haha

I agree with the "latching" observation and wish I had thought of the expression. Spot on.

For those streaming, I understand the allure of MQA. MQA provides more perceived sound with less required data. But lossless? No, it is not lossless.

When I see a device labeled with MQA, I think "someone is charging me more money and delivering just 91% of what I should have received." In my opinion, MQA is a borrowed page from Dolby marketing their processing for cassette tapes.

DSD though. Wow! I have some sweet recordings in DSD format that I really enjoy! Maybe MQA is this generation's cassette tape and DSD is this generation's reel-to-real (sic).

 

[shenzhenaudio]

@shenzhenaudio

There will be a non-MQA version for the SMSL su-8s?


I've just ordered the sh-8s from your store on Ali. I need now a companion non-MQA dac for it.

Thanks for your support first, SU-8s has only MQA version at present, thank you.

 

[PenguinHeadphoner]

Thanks for your support first, SU-8s has only MQA version at present, thank you.

Hi,

Thanks for the info.

I was so intesrested in the streamer I was about to click the "Pre-Order" button to get one.

And then I read the reviews from audiosciencereview about it's predecessor the DP5.
There are so many glitches in Software that I decided to patiently wait for an in-depth review of that.

I sincerely hope for the software to be much better... I don't need Roon nor MQA. I just want to be able to stream my files from my computer in their real format... Linux is a bitch for that with the stupid "PulseAudio"...

Regards.