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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
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271 requests
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246 Sold
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
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keyboard_arrow_downsakujou
0
Oct 26, 2018
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).
Jaggi
737
Sep 24, 2018
It's been mentioned before, but it's gotten even worse now so I'll mention it again...
When this drop first started the sap-12 amp by itself would have cost you $105 + shipping, so the extra $90 to get the amp and dac combo meant a saving of $15 over the stand alone price. Now with the drop price having fallen to $160, the amp by itself only costs $75, so you're actually paying a premium of $15 if you buy the combo.
If you want the combo you'll save $15 by placing two separate orders in checkout, one for the dac and one for the amp, rather than just selecting the combo as a single order. If you're outside the US you'll be hit with extra shipping fees for placing a second order, but it will be less than $15 so you'll still end up saving money overall this way.
When this drop first started the sap-12 amp by itself would have cost you $105 + shipping, so the extra $90 to get the amp and dac combo meant a saving of $15 over the stand alone price. Now with the drop price having fallen to $160, the amp by itself only costs $75, so you're actually paying a premium of $15 if you buy the combo.
If you want the combo you'll save $15 by placing two separate orders in checkout, one for the dac and one for the amp, rather than just selecting the combo as a single order. If you're outside the US you'll be hit with extra shipping fees for placing a second order, but it will be less than $15 so you'll still end up saving money overall this way.
rdodev
632
Sep 23, 2018
It bugs me that Massdrop rarely includes warranty information in many of their products (audiophile or otherwise). I've never seen a merchant which enjoys the wild popularity as Massdrop does having such awful customer service (it takes, in average, 10 days to receive a non-canned response), which I would probably rank as the worst in the business and so blase with the warranty of the products they sell.
neil1115
1
Aug 23, 2018
My unit is showing flac files at a cd sampling rate instead of a better rate like it should. Anyone having this issue?
MadArmour
19
Sep 4, 2018
neil1115You'll need to change the sample rate at the source. If you're using Mac I can show you step by step. Cheers!
Vloh
4
Aug 17, 2018
Product is good but Massdrop service is way below expectation. I have the unit for 4 months. I barely use it for 10 hours, the unit broke down. I contact Massdrop support and there was no response after 2 weeks. I contacted SMSL, they told me if I buy from Massdrop, I should get warranty from Massdrop. Becareful when buying.
Brosefstalin42
260
Aug 13, 2018
alcarvalhoThe O2 is going to squeeze a bit more power out if you have any high impedance headphones or high-powered efficient headphones like the fostex ones sold here constantly or audeze LCD headphones, and SMSL tends to have more faulty units. If you don't have more power hungry headphones, the SAP-12 will do just fine.
alcarvalho
1
Aug 13, 2018
Brosefstalin42I have 2 MrSpeakers headphones: the Alpha Prime and the Ether Flow. I ended up getting the CTH + SDAC combo instead, though and I'm very happy with it. :)
mclehman
10
Jul 7, 2018
Just so everyone knows, it's $5 cheaper to get the DAC and amp as two separate orders than as the combo option.
Jaggi
737
Jul 7, 2018
mclehmanNicely spotted. It's because Massdrop reduced the drop price by $20 but didn't adjust the option pricing. Previously you saved $15 by ordering the combo compared to ordering them separately.
Mind you, final price also depends on where you're having it shipped. For Australia at least, it's still cheaper to order the combo because the extra shipping charges when placing two separate orders are more than the $5 you save on the item price.
Mind you, final price also depends on where you're having it shipped. For Australia at least, it's still cheaper to order the combo because the extra shipping charges when placing two separate orders are more than the $5 you save on the item price.
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