SMSL iDEA portable dac+amp

[Matias]

@beowulf using Idea with laptop has no problem at all, it works clean and clear beautifully. The noise bug happens only with Android devices, and it is not noise floor but rather a driver error or something.

 

[Devodonaldson]

Got one of these too, and prefer it over Dragonfly Red. i find the iDea has a more enjoyable sound than the DFR, and also dead silent (no hiss) with my Noble Audio Encore customs. The diminutive size is also another plus and the price.. amazing value!

The only downside is the buzzing noise as reported here.

Please explain why you prefer over your DFR. Been trying sing DFR since it's release. Was waiting on Mytek Clef later this year for MQA use with Android and UAPP. Also, does the buzzing also occur in airplane mode? I turned an Xperia Z3 into a DAP with the DFR, so everything I lsten to primarily is on local storage.

 

[Yogibear91]

Please explain why you prefer over your DFR. Been trying sing DFR since it's release. Was waiting on Mytek Clef later this year for MQA use with Android and UAPP. Also, does the buzzing also occur in airplane mode? I turned an Xperia Z3 into a DAP with the DFR, so everything I lsten to primarily is on local storage.

Ok after 3 days of use this thing is insanely good and yes it hands down dicks all over the dragonfly. it's an xmos usb decoder asynchronous with sabre 9018 chip with an amp thats as clean as my Mrs asshole after colonic irrigation and bleaching!

so the buzz only occurs when the smsl idea is plugged into the phone before an application is open, so before you plug it in first open spotify or foobar or tidal ect then plug it in so the app can recognize it.
works a treat with my s7edge no buzz at all.
Also with a laptop it works perfectly regardless! (make sure you go to smsl audio webpage and download the latest asio xmos idea driver makes a world of difference!)

I don't think even hifimediy can make bang for buck better than this! best ultra portable dac/amp under 200 period!

why buy Dragonfly black or red when there's this. also you would have to go for the overpriced red dragonfly if you were wanting to play 32bit dsd files ect. whereas the smsl idea handles them like a dream. the sound is so similar to the much more expensive m8 and sabre dacs 5/6/7 times its price it's not even funny.

for 60 quid you cannot go wrong. best hifi bargain around atm along side the recently released avantone mp1 headphones £199 beats any Headphone under £600 by a long shot (strong statement but true)!!

get both of these products!! 1. before zeos reviews them. 2. before there gone and people are asking silly money for them.

 

[Devodonaldson]

Ok after 3 days of use this thing is insanely good and yes it hands down dicks all over the dragonfly. it's an xmos usb decoder asynchronous with sabre 9018 chip with an amp thats as clean as my Mrs asshole after colonic irrigation and bleaching!

so the buzz only occurs when the smsl idea is plugged into the phone before an application is open, so before you plug it in first open spotify or foobar or tidal ect then plug it in so the app can recognize it.
works a treat with my s7edge no buzz at all.
Also with a laptop it works perfectly regardless! (make sure you go to smsl audio webpage and download the latest asio xmos idea driver makes a world of difference!)

I don't think even hifimediy can make bang for buck better than this! best ultra portable dac/amp under 200 period!

why buy Dragonfly black or red when there's this. also you would have to go for the overpriced red dragonfly if you were wanting to play 32bit dsd files ect. whereas the smsl idea handles them like a dream. the sound is so similar to the much more expensive m8 and sabre dacs 5/6/7 times its price it's not even funny.

for 60 quid you cannot go wrong. best hifi bargain around atm along side the recently released avantone mp1 headphones £199 beats any Headphone under £600 by a long shot (strong statement but true)!!

get both of these products!! 1. before zeos reviews them. 2. before there gone and people are asking silly money for them.

Ok. Honestly you had me, until you mentioned 32-bit and DSD and the dragonfly red in the second sentence. The DFR is limited to 24-bit 96khz, just like the dragonfly Black. So, to be honest, that huge error in your post leads me to believe that you possibly haven't even used the DFR. I'm really looking for some honest feedback regarding the SMSL Idea, as I have the DFR. Also would like to know the total nber of volume steps on the DAC.

 

[wwyjoe]

Please explain why you prefer over your DFR. Been trying sing DFR since it's release. Was waiting on Mytek Clef later this year for MQA use with Android and UAPP. Also, does the buzzing also occur in airplane mode? I turned an Xperia Z3 into a DAP with the DFR, so everything I lsten to primarily is on local storage.

Personally, i find the DFR' sound is a bit too 'clinical' / bright for my taste, whereas the iDea is more balanced / musical.

BTW, had bought this to go with the iDea. https://m.shenzhenaudio.com/shanling-l2-type-c-to-micro-usb-hifi-audio-cable.html

The shorter and more flexible cable makes my setup even more portable!

 

[Devodonaldson]

Personally, i find the DFR' sound is a bit too 'clinical' / bright for my taste, whereas the iDea is more balanced / musical.

BTW, had bought this to go with the iDea. https://m.shenzhenaudio.com/shanling-l2-type-c-to-micro-usb-hifi-audio-cable.html

The shorter and more flexible cable makes my setup even more portable!

I find that interesting. I never really considered the DFR to be too clinical, granted the only DACs I had to compare it to are the First K12 and hifimediy Android DAC. I really appreciated the the added clarity, volume, etc. I use my DFR on an a Sony Android phone that locks phone volume at full when USB is used, so I have a clipboard with DFR volume steps from 20-60 saved to copy to a terminal emulatir app to change the volume. Doesn't take but a sec, but I always have to turn on screen to change volume. How many steps is the volume control on the IDEA?

 

[Yogibear91]

Ok. Honestly you had me, until you mentioned 32-bit and DSD and the dragonfly red in the second sentence. The DFR is limited to 24-bit 96khz, just like the dragonfly Black. So, to be honest, that huge error in your post leads me to believe that you possibly haven't even used the DFR. I'm really looking for some honest feedback regarding the SMSL Idea, as I have the DFR. Also would like to know the total nber of volume steps on the DAC.

ok. If you read my post properly I'm reviewing the smsl idea "my honest feedback on the smsl" must be pretty honest as I've been listening to it for the past 3 days solidly and if you carry on reading it thourghly it starts saying it beats the dfr hands down. and then I say the smsl can play dsd because it can.

I have only heard dfb and dfr in 24 bit your right but as far as I was lead to believe, when listening to them both, the reason in upgrading to the dfr is because you are able to play 32 bit but it gets downsampled (where as the dfb won't read them at all) and has a slightly better chipset. my point they can play the files they get downsampled. my next point was why go for any dragonfly at all when the smsl idea does everything they do and more whilst sound more clinical and detailed for half the price. that's my opinion. I have heard 32bit file on my idea so know it handles it at 32 bit just as easy as 24 bit and sounds incredible. so if the dfr doesn't play dsd why buy it at all over the black one? anyway heard all 3 and I still think the smsl sounds better all be it when I was a b ing them it was in 24 bit. just go out spend the money on smsl and you wont regret it. it even has colour indicator like df red and black.
bye

 

[Matias]

There is no recording that uses 32 bit resolution (noise floor). In fact not even 24 bit. Higher numbers in my opinion are pointless. Higher sound quality would come from a cleaner power supply, higher power opamp, etc. and not by running 32 bit 768kHz or DSD 512...
I still would have bought the Idea if it were 24/96 for the sound quality itself in the price point.

 

[Yogibear91]

There is no recording that uses 32 bit resolution (noise floor). In fact not even 24 bit. Higher numbers in my opinion are pointless. Higher sound quality would come from a cleaner power supply, higher power opamp, etc. and not by running 32 bit 768kHz or DSD 512...
I still would have bought the Idea if it were 24/96 for the sound quality itself in the price point.

massively agreed

 

[Devodonaldson]

Anyone else willing to weigh in on the idea vs dragonfly red? Also still trying to find out the number of volume steps on the DAC

 

[TrantaLocked]

There's 22 volume steps, from no output to max output.

Impressions. For context, I've previously heard the following ultra mini dacs-amps: Creative X-Fi Go! Pro and Soundblaster E1, FiiO K1, Dragonfly v1.2, Audioengine D3. (no DF Red).

Well then. The SMSL Idea sounds really good, especially when considering form factor. In terms of size and weight, I'd def put it in the same category as the FiiO K1, so yes it's extremely low footprint. Clean and neutral enough sound, with a hint of recession in the upper treble. First impression is it's one of the better ones I've heard, but I still might slightly prefer the Audioengine D3. Both sound great though. I'll see if burn in makes any difference in sound signature.

Other notes: The Idea gets hot. The device works with native Windows 10 audio driver or the XMOS driver from SMSL's website, which enables some extra functionality. Device volume defaults to 10/20 every time plugged in. I can't overstate how small and light the thing actually is in person; it's really. really. small. And good-looking too. There's one single LED that's usually blue for me but may change color depending on usage scenario. It doesn't work OTG with Spotify on my Samsung Galaxy Express Prime, but I've yet to try other apps for OTG. Packaging includes the Idea and three 6" cables; one Micro USB to Micro USB, one to USB C, one to USB A.

 

[Oscar-HiFi]

I would be interested in a SMSL Idea vs Shanling Up shootout....

 

[Matias]

I counted 22 steps of volume including max and zero (mute).
As for aesthetics I wish it came with black USB cables instead of the white ones.

 

[crashbowman]

Any chance anyone can elaborate a bit more on the buzzing with Android. I had been considering this for a few weeks, but waiting on more feedback to roll in. I was planning to use with UAPP, but with UAPP you normally connect then open and it sounded like the solution to stop the buzzing was to open an app before connecting.

 

[rggz]

There's 20 tactile volume steps, from no output to max output.

Impressions. For context, I've previously heard the following ultra mini dacs-amps: Creative X-Fi Go! Pro and Soundblaster E1, FiiO K1, Dragonfly v1.2, Audioengine D3. (no DF Red).

Well then. The SMSL Idea sounds really good, especially when considering form factor. In terms of size and weight, I'd def put it in the same category as the FiiO K1, so yes it's extremely low footprint. Clean and neutral enough sound, with a hint of recession in the upper treble. First impression is it's one of the better ones I've heard, but I still might slightly prefer the Audioengine D3. Both sound great though. I'll see if burn in makes any difference in sound signature.

Other notes: The Idea gets warm. The device works with native Windows 10 audio driver or the XMOS driver from SMSL's website, which enables some extra functionality. Device volume defaults to low every time plugged in. I can't overstate how small and light the thing actually is in person; it's really. really. small. And good-looking too. There's one single LED that's usually blue for me but may change color depending on usage scenario. It doesn't work OTG with Spotify on my Samsung Galaxy Express Prime, but I've yet to try other apps for OTG. Packaging includes the Idea and three 6" cables; one Micro USB to Micro USB, one to USB C, one to USB A.

Thank you for your impressions! Tbh a bit sad the fact Spotify won't work via OTG. Does the iDEA have enough power to drive an Etymotic ER-4S? It would be nice as a portable solution, I just can use them with an amp to get its full potential.