Jimster480
Headphoneus Supremus
What is your take on the filters.....What is your experience toggling through them?
To me mini sounds the best, fast tapers off the top and slow tapers the low / mids a bit.
What is your take on the filters.....What is your experience toggling through them?
SMSL just released upgraded version of SMSL M8 with [COLOR=111111]ES9028Q2M chip and DSD512 support. Anyone heard it already? Strangely, they state it has lower SNR than M8 ([/COLOR]M8a ~ 117 vs M8 ~ 125). Dunno if to believe those numbers anyway.
https://www.amazon.com/SMSL-ES9028-Optical-Coaxial-Decoder/dp/B06XVWS9DV
It's on their website as well but antivirus says it's corrupted so I am sending Amazon link.
So I'm confusing this M8A vs the Modi Multibit, which one should sound better?
Hard to say as I haven't heard either one but just ordred both.
I kind of went on an ordering spree I just want to test all the controversial stuff
Hard to say as I haven't heard either one but just ordred both.
I kind of went on an ordering spree I just want to test all the controversial stuff
So we will have a battle, right haha. I'm not living in the US so I can't return the one I don't like, so I just wait here :3
Cool, we will be waiting on your impressions.
The M8A is here, connected and playing. It only took 3 days from Shenzhen to Switzerland using free shipping, amazing right?
It uses 5V DC power as opposed to the M8 using 9V. Luckily the P1 linear power supply, also from SMSL, I was using with the M8 can be configured to output 12, 9 or 5 V from the second connection, nice.
Soundwise it's too early to say however I note something that was not working before (for whatever reason) with the M8 is now working perfectly.
I explain myself. As you know it's a whole mess configuring drivers, Foobar etc, and getting everything to work properly.
I have configured my Foobar to output as follows:
OK, now previously with the M8 this setting did not seem to take effect. WAV, LPCM, FLAC, etc. would output as such thus not being converted to DSD.
This same setting with the M8A is now working (probably the driver is doing its work properly).
Other than that I do notice a firmer, more pronounced bass, that's all for the moment.
Oh and the M8A is much heavier than the M8, at least 40% more, weird.
The M8A is here, connected and playing. It only took 3 days from Shenzhen to Switzerland using free shipping, amazing right?
It uses 5V DC power as opposed to the M8 using 9V. Luckily the P1 linear power supply, also from SMSL, I was using with the M8 can be configured to output 12, 9 or 5 V from the second connection, nice.
Soundwise it's too early to say however I note something that was not working before (for whatever reason) with the M8 is now working perfectly.
I explain myself. As you know it's a whole mess configuring drivers, Foobar etc, and getting everything to work properly.
I have configured my Foobar to output as follows:
OK, now previously with the M8 this setting did not seem to take effect. WAV, LPCM, FLAC, etc. would output as such thus not being converted to DSD.
This same setting with the M8A is now working (probably the driver is doing its work properly).
Other than that I do notice a firmer, more pronounced bass, that's all for the moment.
Oh and the M8A is much heavier than the M8, at least 40% more, weird.
I have a few different DAC in various devices,AKM AK4490, ES9018, Burr-Brown PCM 1792 & PCM1793 and now ES9028 with the M8A.
I can tell you that this implementation is clearly both the most analytical and the most enjoyable I have experienced yet.
It has possibilities (combined with Foobar2000) that clearly set it apart. One of the reasons is the Windows driver which is clearly customized and allows a lot of flexibility. Hence as I described in my previous post all my music streaming to the M8A is done through USB and all music formats are converted to DSD512. I have set the 60K analog filter which I find most "musical".
I can recommend the M8A to anyone on a budget (or not). One condition though is the use of a linear power supply. You can get very nice ones on aliexpress or use the SMSL one (which I find too expensive although it matches the design of the M8x).
I've got an old school tank of a variable linear power supply that might do the trick initially. Do you see any benefit in getting something with schottky diodes, etc.?
Basically
Thanks!
I will be sure to post as soon as I get them. The M8A drop just ended so it should be a week or two before I get that one (I hope not longer) and the Schiit is already in the mail xD
I also ordered an SMSL M9 on Amazon at a cheap price, lets see if it shows up.
Beyond -100dB noise levels are pretty meaningless.
The Topping is using an inferior DAC (Cirrus) and an old implementation of the XMOS chip. It can therefore only be inferior (albeit cheaper as well).
[/quote
DAC is a dac, the specs are similar and all the flagship DACs compete.
Xmos is the same thing for both from what I have seen.
They use the same drivers and interface.
Any further impressions on sound? I don't know if I can hold on for Jimster's toys to arrive. Looking for simple entry level dsd dac for my very high end audio system. Very interested in bass response as that is a strength of my system and firmer, better bass not easy to get in entry level components. Jimster's Topping D30 on the bay for $85 delivered, but if M8A likely better then that's the one.
Has anyone messed with mini shelving units? This Topping looks awfully cute:
http://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/NrwAAOSwDmBY5K17/s-l1600.jpg