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89% would recommend to a friend 
SMSL M3 USB DAC/Amp
01 / 07
SMSL M3 USB DAC/Amp
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Product Description
Measuring 3.75 by 3 inches and weighing just 7.5 ounces, the SMSL M3 USB DAC/amp helps you achieve better sound without taking up too much space in your bag or on your desk. Equipped with the CS4398 DAC chip, it has a 24 bit/192 kHz sample rate via optical and coaxial, and a 24 bit/96 kHz sample rate via USB Read More
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Customer Reviews
4.1
(32 reviews)
5star(13)
4star(10)
3star(8)
2star(0)
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keyboard_arrow_downJ_December_why
481
Jul 14, 2018
checkVerified Buyer
Good for $65. Excellent sound reproduction, driving AKG K712, HD6xx, HE4xx, Beyers @ 250 ohms,, also with powered monitors on rear RCAs. Small box is a space saver.
Knob only controls headphone volume, not RCA output. RCA and headphone outputs run at same time, so powered monitor volume can be controlled by adjusting music playing software or pass RCA output to a knobbed switch like Schiit SYS.
J_December_why
481
Sep 22, 2018
Since first time I noticed the huge improvement of using an external DAC I have not gone back to using low end onboard, the SMSL M3 is not my first dac/amp and therefore I have not compared it to onboard, I compared it to other external dac/amps.
SMSL M3 sounds clean, clear, and flat. Nothing enhanced which is what makes SMSL M3 great. If you want more bass get the DT770 headphones or the m40x with ZMF cowhide pads.
ExacoMvm
35
Sep 23, 2018
J_December_whyWell i already have 4XX and 598 so DT770 or M40X would be just downgrade for me. Bass is not top priority, i just like when its there not too low and not too much ( soundstage and imaging is priority for me aswell as good neutral sound ), btw maybe u could try to compare M3 to onboard or some smartphone? I was wondering how much of an improvement to expect ( especially with 4XX ).
Kpmajka
21
Mar 5, 2019
checkVerified Buyer
A nice, but basic, combo dac. Perfect for upgrading phone / laptop (non-mac) audio.
I bought this one back in 2016. It still works daily. (March 2020) My wife is a grad student and full time worker - so I watch tv with headphones 80% of the time. This paired with my HD58x is great!
Is it amazing? No. But it's a great entry DAC amp. I don't love it via usb with my macbook that is older. Optical, coaxial, and usb with android/chromebook work great.
Favorite way to use it - command strip under my end table next to my recliner. Wireless Roku app through my phone usb into it. (TV headphone watching)
It sounds great. Drives well. Works great for a wireless setup with decent headphones.
I also have a chromecast audio via optical into it there. It's great as a small compact all in one. It sounds better than my chromebook built in headphone amp too. The Chromebook Audio sounds great with an external DAC if you can find one.
It works like a champ. I will my O2/SDAC Drop stack if something happens to this, but I don't think anything will - and I will be bummed about the lack of optical input.
My only real feedback - I did doe one thing - added vinyl to the Volume Knob so it would be more prominent.
(Edited)
Recommends this product? Yes
cbickford
3
Feb 28, 2019
checkVerified Buyer
It's a fantastic DAC for the money. It's small, portable and is extremely clean. An EQ would be great, or access to settings etc. Some people use windows to do this, but honestly this is what i'm trying to get away from with a DAC. I use this mostly with the Massdrop Sennheiser HD6XX. My Harmon Kardon Amp does 10x the job, but it's 10x the price. However, I don't have such an amp in the studio so this is great to drive the headphones and Yamaha's Active HS7 Studio Monitors (acts as a clean preamp). It's a way to get a pretty clean sound out of the PC, and optical support rocks. Saves reaching to the back of the PC to change sources.
Is it worth having one, Not really. It's great, and does provide great clean sound with plenty of oompf, but the additional layer of complication to switch it between devices, take it with you etc is obviously a pain, BUT, you can take it with you, an amp/receiver you can not. It did improve my phone the most, but again when you want to chill and listen to music, you're not always willing to go and get the DAC.
If you hate your phone volume/clarity, and your PC sucks, by all means get one. If you have a good amplifier/receiver, use that instead. A good sound card might even get you by, but price wise you're in the similar ball park. I don't regret buying it, but yeah I don't use it daily. For all the people saying no sound etc, they are possibly too dumb to own a DAC. Press the button to select input and you're done. It's less complicated than a TV remote for Christ sake.
country_pwn
7
Jun 15, 2018
checkVerified Buyer
Great little DAC/Amp. White LEDs and uncolored sound. Drives AKG K7XX headphones very hard. Probably the best value in this space.
I greatly prefer it to my FiiO E10K.
I greatly prefer it to my FiiO E10K.
A community member
Oct 6, 2018
country_pwnHow much better do you thing this is compared to the FiiO E10K?
johnsy.ak
1
Nov 15, 2018
checkVerified Buyer
Using it on a pc, at work, to drive a DT-880 pro. Sound quality improvement is excellent. However like others have said, there is a channel imbalance when the volume knob is turned close to the lowest setting. That is noticeable on my FIIO FH5 IEMs.
oznark
2
Feb 18, 2021
checkVerified Buyer
Good product for the price
Bought this to pair with my HD58X. Works well.
Recommends this product? Yes
mattpnolan
24
Oct 12, 2020
checkVerified Buyer
Sounds great but didn't last.
The SMSL sounded great. I loved the sound - clean and clear. However, it stopped working in under a year. 😔
Recommends this product? No
xXRedDragonXx
3
Nov 21, 2018
checkVerified Buyer
Great entry level dac for the price. Able to drive all the headphones I have at a decent volume with barely any distortion even at high volumes. Build quality is solid. It's fairly heavy so it won't fall off your desk if you accidentally walk away with your headphones still on. S/PDIF (optical) is the best way to connect it for overall audio quality, but it will need a separate USB connection for power. The RCA jacks on the back are always on, so they're great for outputting to a set of powered speakers that have their own amplifier and power switch. The white cables included in the box aren't very good quality and they're white which doesn't match the DAC, neither is the 3.5mm to 1/4 inch adapter. There's an "HD audio" sticker on top and it's very ugly, but it's a metallic sticker so I don't think it's meant to be removed but some IPA will take care of it. The volume knob is not very precise and also has a little bit of play to it. The most confusing thing is that the button is operated by pressing and holding and not by just a tap. This isn't mentioned in the manual.
BlackBrave8
1
Nov 9, 2018
checkVerified Buyer
Sounds very nice and would highly recommend. The only real downside is that because it is a cheap amp it is an analogue volume nob and when you lower it enough it develops channel imbalance. Not something the ruins the product for me considering its cheap price point but something to take into consideration before purchasing.
Judori
1
Jul 18, 2018
checkVerified Buyer
First DAC/Amp i've ever used and they haven't disappointed me at all. At 58.74 i'd for sure buy again or recommend to someone else. Using with Beyerdynamics dt 990 pro if anyone is curious.
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