I got myself an SMSL M8A (ES9028Q2M) a few days ago to pair with my Audio-GD (C-2 2017) Edition headphone amp. Wow, this is an awesome sounding DAC for its price level. It is not harsh or bright in the treble at all, yet all the detail is present. I have heard a few other units in the past which were using SABRE chips, and I ended up unimpressed and fatigued with the harsh mid treble that would present itself. When used in various gear, SABRE chips can often be sibilant at 7-8kHz. This is not at all the case with the M8A. SMSL got everything right this puppy. This is a DAC which reveals all the detail, but also presents the music with a slight amount of foot tapping musical warmth mixed in. Instruments are nicely layered and separated. It is easy to locate where things are in the recording. Bass guitar is nicely defined and present. Bass response is quick, tight, and very detailed. It is not boomy, excessive, or bloated at all. Pairing this DAC with this headphone amp is offering excellent results. Everything just sounds correct. Vocals are very smooth and slightly up front. There is no harshness at all. Soundstage is excellent, and takes my Amiron Home headphone even further in its abilities to demonstrate everything which is present in the music. Treble is extremely clean and articulate, without a hint of grain or sibilance across the entire range. This DAC is all about offering detail retrieval, but it does so in a more musical manner. This should be what it is all about. Detail, while still offering a greatly musical experience. I am so impressed with this unit.
I ended up getting the TOPPING D30 first, but I ended up returning it. I did not like the sound of it at all. IMO, this DAC is overrated. I have seen people claim that the D30 is flat and neutral, but this is not the case at all. The C-2 amp is completely neutral in its signature, so it is very easy to identify the signature of any DAC which is connected to it. I tried the D30 for 2 days, and right away the issues were noticeable. It is rather compressed sounding. People claim that the D30 has a large soundstage as well. I do not agree with this at all. Everything sounds rather crushed together, There is no natural separation between things in the music. Details in music are certainly there, but nothing is defined and separated. There is some mid bass bloat between 200-300Hz, which bleeds into the mids. This is why people often talk about the vocals sounding somewhat distant with the D30. It is because that elevated mid bass is causing the recession through the mids. There is also some missing treble energy from 10-11kHz. It is literally like there is a hole in the treble, and that frequency is scooped right out. It gives snare drums and symbols a somewhat veiled character. It does not sound natural. It is not a neutral sounding DAC at all. It is certainly not terrible, but it was not for me. It is quite warm sounding, and the bass is rather loose, too elevated, and muddy.
I have high standards for audio, and I always have. I find fault in almost everything. The M8A is very impressive, and I highly recommend it. At this price point, it is hard to beat it. The sound quality it offers truly is great.
I think I probably would not be sure about any perceived difference. 
