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SMSL M8A (ES9038Q2M) DAC w/ Optional SAP-12 Amp

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SMSL M8A (ES9038Q2M) DAC w/ Optional SAP-12 Amp

Name: SMSL M8A (ES9038Q2M) DAC w/ Optional SAP-12 Amp
Brand: SMSL
SKU: smsl-m8a-es9038q2m-dac-sap-12-amp
Price: 184.99 USD
Availability: OutOfStock
Rating: 3 (2 reviews)

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Product Description

This new generation of the SMSL M8A features the ES9038Q2M, an upgrade to the highly regarded series of ESS SABRE DAC chips. Like the last generation, this version includes the XMOS XCore 200 XU208 USB receiving chipset, widely regarded as one of the best USB interface chips on the market Read More

Customer Reviews

3.0

(2 reviews)

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TMBackstrom

160

Oct 7, 2018

Verified Buyer

Only got it yesterday, but it sounds great for its price range! Have played FLAC and DSD files through it with my Android phone, and it has great sound! Highly recommend!

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A community member

Aug 11, 2018

Verified Buyer

It doesn't sound awful like the Schiit Modi Multibit, which is my least favorite outboard DAC ever. But it doesn't sound especially good either. The more I listen and compare, the less I like. Bright and harsh no matter what you do with the filters. The apodizing filter does the best job of taming this, but muffles things a bit. The bottom end is dull, and there isn't much in the way of midrange detail nor spaciousness to the sound. On certain material, the midbass can have a strange, annoying character to it. I like the $79 Hifime SABRE 9018 DAC better, even though it has the 9018 chip versus the 9038 in this unit. The hifime is slightly coarse in the low mids by comparison, but is much more vibrant in the bottom, smoother on top, and has a more spacious sound. The Grace SDAC included in versions of the CTH and LCX sounds better than the M8A. This is the second SMSL product I've owned and I've been a bit disappointed in the sound of both. The other is the DP-3. I actually like the DP-3 a bit better, as there is more life to the low end. And the DP-3 makes a nice transport and Bluetooth transmitter. I think it is a classic case of inferior implementation around the DAC chip. A DAC will only sound as good as its weakest link. It's not bad, but after several hours of listening over a few days, and comparing back and forth with other DACs using the same amp, headphones, and songs, I don't think I'll be using this item very much. I'll probably put it up for sale and try something else.
***EDIT: REVISED DOWNWARD ANOTHER STAR*** The more I listen, the less I like, for the same reasons listed above. Two different $79 DACs (Hifime SABRE 9018 and Grace SDAC) are substantially better sounding for a fraction of the price, and with ostensibly inferior DAC chips than the 9038 in the M8A. The $99 Music Hall 15.2 sounds convincingly better as well. I would return this if I could.

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Recent Activity

Vloh

No I have never. In fact I am quite disappointed with drop after sales service.

Buckaboo

Its not mentioned because there isnt a warranty.

sakujou

Is anyone having noise and cracking issues through the optical input? Through USB it works fine, but through the optical everything I play has a lot of noise and cracking (similar to an old bad tape/vinyl recording. Tried diffent sources (PS4, CD player), different cables, different AC outlet. I am 100% sure the fault is in the DAC the other devices when plugged to my AVR directly have no noise. It is being used in Europe, if that makes any difference since the power supply says it works with 240V as well and I just replaced the AC cable connecting to it (and anyway - USB input w. PC works fine, no noise).