Click to view our Accessibility Statement or contact us with accessibility-related questions
93% would recommend to a friend 
SMSL VMV D1 DAC
01 / 04
SMSL VMV D1 DAC
bookmark_border
Where's the price?
To negotiate the best possible price for our customers, we agree to hide prices prior to logging in.
2K requests
·
160 Sold
Product Description
Featuring top-of-the-line specs and a high-end look to match, the SMSL VMV D1 DAC will take your audio setup to new heights. It has eight built-in channels, paralleled for a better signal-to-noise ratio Read More
You Might Also Like
Customer Reviews
4.9
(21 reviews)
5star(19)
4star(1)
3star(1)
2star(0)
1star(0)
search
close
Images
keyboard_arrow_downSort by: Top Reviews
keyboard_arrow_downmamsterla
17
Aug 26, 2019
checkVerified Buyer
Super detailed, clean sound, built like a tank
I am coming from a Chord Mojo driving a variety of IEMs (MassDrop+, Noble Kaiser X) and my new Focal Stellias. I also ordered a SMSL SU-8, but I have not listened to it much since I have lent it to a co-worker.
I have the SMSL VMV D1 in a system with both a JDS Atom and with a Drop THX AAA 789. I am primarily listening through the Stellias at work. My system is a MacBook Pro with Pangea USB cable into the DAC, using the XLR output to the THX AAA 789 running balanced into the Stellias.
My main comparison is my Chord Mojo to which I have been listening for over a year. The Mojo is a great balance between warmth and detail. It can drive the Stellias well and is a great companion for IEMs. I would still keep it as my portable reference. It has a really pleasant signature. It is quite detailed, but at the same time not etched. There is a reason so many people like the Chord house sound.
The SMSL VMV D1 is definitely a bit cooler than the Mojo. I have mine with the Brickwall filter and the Standard output. I wanted to get used to these settings because I know they measure the most accurately before I seek to flavor the sound with the available sound signatures. Trying the filters out had very little effect for me. I don't think I could reliably tell when any of the filters changed. The sounds however are easy to discern.
The silences on this setup are inky black. There is no noise at all. It is the quietest setup I have ever run. Quieter than the Mojo or my ancient CEntrance Mini that I used at my home setup. If you like detail, the SMSL delivers. You can hear everything in the mix. Spatial queues are all preserved. Guitar strings sound very real with the body of the guitar very present (I play acoustic, so I think I am pretty sensitive to how it sounds). I played Mickey Hart Planet drum and the subterranean Cave drums track vibrated my skull. Everything comes through (my sources are uniformly 44.1k FLAC with few HiRes tracks mixed in).
I am pretty sure this is close to an end game setup. The only thing I would do is experiment with the sound options. I would suspect that the tube settings would be a nice way to take the harshness out of my modern pop/rock recordings. It is amazing how bright some of those sound compared to my classical and jazz tracks. This DAC pulls no punches. Bright material will come across very trebly and you will want to compensate. I feel this is the right choice because you know that the unit is reproducing what is there. Adding tone is a user option and this unit's sound choices are in my limited listening subtle but effective.
I know this unit measures very closely to its sibling the SMSL SU-8, so I intend to do a little more listening to that unit to see if I can discern a difference. For now, I am a happy camper exploring my music collection anew.
Recommends this product? Yes
Djangomeister
64
Sep 26, 2019
mamsterlawould you comment the difference if any that you hear from the su-8 and d1 dac
MusicLover
566
Jan 28, 2020
mamsterlaThank you for your review. Could you share your thoughts on the Focal Stellias? Which closed backs did you compare them to before purchasing
Bigbeard86
36
Jan 26, 2019
checkVerified Buyer
Just got this DAC in - thanks for Fedex home delivery on Saturday.
Listening to just a few songs, and this DAC has blown me away. I am hearing more than I ever have. This is a significant upgrade from a Schiit Bifrost Uber. I am not even using this DAC as balanced out, because I am limited by my Asgard 2 (yet the DAC is still mind-blowing). Waiting for the THX 789 to return so I can complete my setup.
The DAC has many settings and filters you can play with, as well as an async option. I have not tried anything other than standard yet.
I honestly initially regretted spending $900 on a DAC thinking I won't be able to justify the price to upgrade ( l literally cancelled and re-ordered 3 times)...I was very wrong. It feels as if my headphones were previously muffled, and now that was torn off, or, as if my ears were completely clogged with wax and are now completely cleaned out. The slightest sounds in tracks I could not even hear before and so pronounced that it amazed me.
(Edited)
Viper_Necklampy
16
Jul 29, 2019
Bigbeard86Nice review, so, you got the THX aaa 789? How it sounds to you with that? The upgrade is quite perceiveable? Isn't that audio heaven?
Also, which filter on Smsl d1 you use? And headphone?
I Ordered a thx 789, considering D1, and Lcd-3 too..
jazzfannj
34
Jan 13, 2020
checkVerified Buyer
Rock solid with lots of options
Built like a tank with lots of options for connections, display, PCM filter, DSD filter, clock, volume control and sound coloration.
Trying the tell the difference between well made DACs can be difficult, if not near impossible, so picking a DAC really depends on whether or not the DAC has the features that one needs or would like to have. The SMSL VMV D1 has plenty of features and options and sounds great, which made it an easy choice for me.
Update:
After living with and listening to the VMV D1 for the past year I stand by original review. This DAC sounds great and works flawlessly.
(Edited)
Recommends this product? Yes
Kelvinwsy
23
Mar 13, 2019
checkVerified Buyer
The unit is of very high quality construction. Solid build with an well thought out separate sub-enclosure for the Power Supply for the DAC. The unit comes with a machined aluminium control but the key to remove the battery is of plastic, with 2 teeth protrusions to engage the 2 slots in the battery compartment cover. The tips of the protrusions already show some wear.
It is quite intuitive to cycle through the functions of the DAC listed in the remote. There are multiple input options, cut-off filter frequency options for PCM and DSD, clock asynchronous and synchronous modes.
Most unusual are the 9 Sound Output modes through the DSP algorithm built into the DAC - There are 3 flavors each for Rich, Crystal, and Tube. The Default is Standard which bypasses the DSP function. It is very interesting to try the various Sound Output Modes. The effect of the Sound depends on your system synergy with your other components. A general comment is that the "ESS Sound" can be modified using the output modes. I chose the Tube Modes which makes the Sound Output more mellow.
The DAC has very high specifications and the various Filter options makes many combinations possible: Linear, Slow / Fast roll over/Apodizing.
Output via RCA is 2.2 V and XLR 4.6 V - stronger than normal. It is possible to drive a set of Headphones using a Twin XLR or RCA wire harness and setting the Volume control to variable. Not the best Headphone amplifier money can buy but it is certainly more powerful than many HP amps out there in the audiophile market.
Overall a very good buy.
Symbiosis
21
Nov 16, 2019
checkVerified Buyer
DAC
This is a DAC. It takes Digital Audio and Converts it to analogue signal. There are many DACs that do this job... But this one does it's job just a little better. I'm really digging the way this thing sounds. At this price point I can't recommend it to everyone, that would be a silly thing to say. But for me, the extra 5-7% detail/resolution I get over my (now on sale for $170) SMSL-SU8 is enough to justify the price difference and let myself rest easy that this was a good choice for my taste and needs. :)
FISTDEYUMA
64
Apr 10, 2020
checkVerified Buyer
Unbelieable
This was my end game DAC. Before this i was buying gear in the hopes it would be better than i had. This is the first game changer I have found. It has changed my focus to getting gear that matches or improves on the sound I found on this DAC/amp/headphones.
I have some pricey DAP but this combined with my THX Achromatic Audio Amplifier is pure heaven. I use them with my HD800s with no room noise and my Ether CX closed-back with room noise. Of late I've discarded all but the hd800s. I have nothing to compare them. Any place else will use my DX220 with whatever cans or earbuds I feel like carrying around.
I did not know how good my setup is until I tried to run my HD800s on my DAP. It sucked. I'm so happy to have such a good setup from Drop. Years of searching for the best system have all disappointed me, until now.
Something happened a month after I started listening to my new setup and it broke in. I wish I could describe it but words can only cause confusion. This sound is only when using my HD800s and this DAC. It is like an echo but not an echo. More an expansion of the music without expanding anything. You can see my problem, words have not been invented that describes it.
I have not tried to connect a power amp and speakers but one of my bookshelf setups has a hint of the same effect. For that I feel very blessed. Unfortunately it is also fixed in place.
I have some money from the sad death of my father that has been tied up for years. If there is anything left after paying off some debts, I plan to get a headphone upgrade.
My current desire is Focial Utopia along with the matching amp. I've been told this the endgame for headphones.
The goal is to have a this advanced sound on a transportable setup if not portable. Given the failure of the dx220 to repeat the sound im not sure if I will not need to upgrade my DAP as well.
With the DAC and Amp this is a fixed in place setup. Making it movable and even better DAC and Headphones portable, would put me in music heaven.
This DAC has awoke me to a sound I'm positively addicted to. It makes me work to get the same sound on my computer, portable and theater systems. Even if those fail to get the same quality, I'm sure the headphones will be better and the rest will be an upgrade.
I've always wondered why people would spend life changing amounts of money on audio gear. This DAC has shown me the reason. It is simply amazing.
I'll be reading a lot before I buy anything and the lawyers could take years more, but the results should more than pleasing. I'll be happy to listen to advice on headphones and DAPs.
(Edited)
Yurio
56
Apr 25, 2021
It's not the point whether I can or can not. There are a lot of rich people ,out there, I'm not one of them. Money doesn't need to be spent on crap. I was looking to get one system that would be my last one. I took a chance on PS Audio,, Stellar amp, preamp, power regenerator, and Directstream for the DAC. Before I used to look for a new component to replace what I thought was the weak link, but still something wasn't there. A nightmare, chasing the dragon... Like 10 pr. of speakers that people review on YouTube. Basically what many other people do when they don't know what they're doing to great results. Reason I put my 2cents is to say that you'll end up spending more in the long run buying something new,, hoping that this one item will complete your system. If I had to do it allover again I'd just save up for one whole system where everything matches and be done.
PS one thing that really surprised me, Power regenerator did more good then any other component in the chain. Clean power means so much.
(Edited)
eddiezr
106
May 3, 2021
YurioClean power, along with quality power cables, interconnects, and speaker cables are cost effective upgrades. 🙂👍
(Edited)
Jedi_IT
100
Feb 9, 2019
checkVerified Buyer
The depth, dimension and clarity... It's like listening to music for the first time! I have the THX AAA 789 paired with this. Did I mention the separation! I'm not even using balanced yet!
BarrieB
1
Sep 28, 2021
checkVerified Buyer
Just had it for a couple of days but very happy so far.
I have watched several reviews of this product but with already having a few dacs including some quality ones I found the price a little high to acquire another one. When I saw your special at a substantial savings I ordered it and put it in my daily driver system. It converts the digital signal from my Mac Mini ( Bitperfect, Tidal, iTunes, USB cable) and inputs into my T+A Acoustic integrated amp (PA 1260R) which drives a pair of ADS and a pair of Dynaudio speakers (my Euro system). I often play both pairs of speakers at the same time for a low volume but expansive sound. The D1 when turned on, found the input and set itself automatically. I may play with the the various filters available but love the automation and sound as is. Highly recommend this product and DROP provided the right price opportunity to experience this quality product
Recommends this product? Yes
RyanPin
325
May 21, 2021
checkVerified Buyer
Sounds Wonderful!
If there was any faults in the way it sounds, I can’t hear it. Then again, for the price, it better sound good! Combined with the thx aaa 789, it puts you as close to the music and sound as clearly as possible.
It is pricey, and the only reason that I pulled the trigger and bought was the reduction in price. This kind of price and quality means that I won’t be upgrading DACs for a long while.
Recommends this product? Yes
rpseals
30
Jan 31, 2020
checkVerified Buyer
Extraordinary.
This paired with the THX AAA has permanently replaced my HDVD 800. I ran balanced out from the Sennheiser when the 789 finally arrived, and it was a game changer. Decided to go for the D1 when it dropped again, and I have absolutely no regrets except for the pretty $2000 Sennheiser amp back in its box with no need to function. Its pretty exciting and satisfying to reach this level of fidelity.
I was cranky because of the THX AAA's lack of availability for a good long while. It was a long wait for me. (Totally worth the wait. Its amazing.) The D1 purchase made up for it, though. Gotta give props. The D1 shipped weeks ahead of the Est date. I tracked the shipping upon notification, zoomed in and noticed it was scheduled to arrive that day. Hong Kong to Pgh in 1 day. Safe & sound. Glorious.
All I got left to say: I was attracted to the D1's design. Isolated power supply, and quality parts. I'm smitten with this beast regardless of what it sounds like, but its my pleasure to say the leap of faith to replace a $2000 dac/amp with this new gear actually paid off. My favorite music has never sounded as detailed, lush & clean. I also gave it a test drive while hooked up to a Cronus Magnum 3 in my living room, where it outperformed a Modi 3 Multibit. The D1 is king in my house. Zeos was right.
Showing 19 of 43
Recent Activity
Related Products
Drop Refurbished
Like-new products you can trustDrop Rewards
Get $5 for every 500 points you earn! Learn more
Drop Keyboard Club
Become a member and expand your keycap collectionCollaborate With Us
For Brands & DesignersFollow Drop