The rig is a total bust and they do not, subjectively, pair with each other without serious EQ and DSP usage. Sadly, no interconnects were included. The problem is overall vastness and width. Paired with the Feliks Audio Euphoria ANV Tube Amp…wow. You will need to connect the M400 to an amplifier for your speakers or headphones via your pick of its output types. Well, the DAC is so clinical and smooth, that I do not notice a bass bump at all and there is no blur between the low end and the midrange. Elegant…probably the best term I can describe for this M400. You can really hear this with great speakers and not so much with any headphones I was able to test with. Do not even listen to me, feel free to YouTube, or read other reviews that also confirm this. I do not see the need for DSD values beyond that point. We call that “punching above its weight class”. The SMSL M400 is a desktop DAC featuring an AKM AK4499EQ chipset, LDAC Bluetooth, MQA, and a fully balanced analog output. Bravo to the build quality of the volume knob as well. Learn how your comment data is processed. You might coax me into a DSD128 purchase if it were on sale. However, A/Bing with the Burson Conductor 3, you can clearly see that team Burson offers a noticeably more expansive sound. Softer, maybe, less bright. But, subjectively, I dislike neutrality and clinical accuracy. It is not common, but other products lately have been designing their products like this. It is priced at $809. You can get clinical tonality and not have a painful wince factor. The Feliks amp is hyper smooth…and when I say that, I mean laser-focused like a particle accelerator beam that is pristine and just stunning to look at as it cooks instantly through a solid piece of metal, like Superman’s laser vision. Let us just put it that way. You can get a softer impact and smoothness while remaining clinical and accurate overall. Side by side with the classic Objective2 DAC, you can immediately feel a glazed slickness fall upon every single thing you listen through the M400. However, only briefly and certainly not long enough to even make a proper judgement on. I have heard it! In raw quality and purity, it is excellent. Rig pairing is so important. I have a lot to say about this one, so let me not waste your time further and simply get right into the review. IMO the fidelity factor being that good is a solid trade for the loss of some imaging, that can then be regained with the right amplifier. We can call that a “polite” sound. Disclaimer: The SMSL M200 sent to us for this review is a sample in exchange for our honest opinion. But holy smokes…the TH909 was clearly made for this type of rig. I started my audio journey back in 96' and haven't looked back. Looking to upgrade my DAC from SMSL SU-8 V2 to one mentioned in the title, but I cannot decide which one to get. Your email address will not be published. Contains 2 ACCUSILICON Crystal Oscillators. We can get cheap color panels on DAC’s without them being ungodly expensive. I never felt the need to upgrade or purchase beyond DSD64. Look, there are attractive and well-built DAC’s out there, but then there is this M400 on another level. And I say DSP and not EQ there because DSP’s like Foobar2000s realbassexciter is just so omnipotent by comparison to a standard EQ setup system, that it becomes unfair to speak them in the same sentence. Each time I say that everything you need to enjoy the product should be included and to get started right away, I get slammed with others telling me they disagree. As a pure DAC, it doesn’t matter too much. It is priced at $809. The SMSL M400 features a flagship-level DAC chip It is a great deal for a purist DAC option, but also one that does not slam your ears with impact and harshness. Just thought it was fun. However, it is an extremely well-formed and realistic feeling with the right amp behind it. Top Tier. It is one of the best sounding DAC’s sub-$2000 I have heard in my life. Shipments will be dispatched from 12th May in accordance with the order numbers. Why would you whinge if cables are not included? Look, at this point, you should know the M400 is one of the best pure 100% DACs sub-$1000 out there, (at least that I’ve heard), so it is only natural I am going to pipe this bad boy into some serious headphone amps. That, vs the M400 that is lightning fast and much more clinical in its approach. About S.M.S.L SMSL is a China-based audio equipment manufacturing brand, they specialize in desktop-level DAC/AMP solutions. Simple as that. I can output the M400 directly to the Burson Conductor 3 and use the Conductor as the amplifier, the SMSL M400 as the Source DAC. However, if you like that tube sound, this is a great $1000+ pure amplifier. Slide here to add your score on the gear! If not, head over to Monoprice or something and grab some standard RCA or XLR cables for yourself on the cheap. However, I doubt anyone will ever say it does not reflect a hyper-purist sound type when you listen to it. I am combining these two sections because this DAC is so pure, that both the bottom end and the midrange reflect the traits of the other frequency band…neigh perfectly. I have not pushed the TH909 yet with a really clinical DAC, as I prefer the warmth it can achieve with the Burson line. The bubble space provided is extremely well shaped, which is one hell of a realistic bubble if you ask me. But, in this case, I preferred the USB option with my laptop inventory SSD as the source for music files. Thank you. Now, having said that…as a reviewer, I will always give credit where it is due. The build quality is superb, solid metal housing with a gorgeous reflective glass top that was tempered. I suppose if you are buying an $800+ DAC or Amp, you probably have your own cables anyway. Note, this review follows our new scoring guidelines for 2020 which you can read up on here. Beyond that, the DAC in the Burson sounds remarkably similar in quality to the M400, so there is no reason to pair these together. We thank SMSL for giving us this opportunity. Many of you have asked for a comparison between the TOPPING D90 vs SMSL M400 DACs, so here it is! That sparkle effect, dream chased for years by me, is found here. I love the look of the D90, but the M400 … They are usually treble sensitive and can get bright fast. Make sure you are tone matching properly. It makes the TH909 sound bassier and a little restricted in the size of the stage vs what I am used to just using the Burson + TH909 alone. This is not a DAC and Amp combo. The entire top end has a glistening effect to it, a gentle and stunning luster. The Smsl M400 is a desktop DAC featuring an AKM AK4499EQ chipset, LDAC Bluetooth, MQA, and a fully balanced analog output. If anything, the Burson is noticeably warmer and has a slower roll-off damned near everywhere. So, what are my thoughts? Meaning, the Little Dot is a little more raw, more sterile feeling. However, it remains super clean throughout. The SMSL M400 includes standard RCA, XLR, HDMI, Optical, as well as Bluetooth via a removable dongle antenna. I respect your viewpoint, Simon. Please follow the link we've just sent you to activate the subscription. Get Even More Visitors To Your Blog, Upgrade To A Business Listing >>, © 2001-2020 Blogarama.com | All rights reserved, Top 10 Sites to watch Telugu Movies Online in Hd Quality, Top 6 Best Sites Like Moviewatcher to Watch HD Movies Online for Free. The SMSL M400 is a desktop DAC featuring an AKM AK4499EQ chipset, LDAC Bluetooth, MQA, and a fully balanced analog output. The M400 deserves something a little better than the Little Dot, and you can hear the fidelity difference swapping the Little Dot to the Feliks, while the M400 is still active and sourcing your music. You can get an exceptionally smooth feeling sound while retaining an excellent purity factor that is uncolored top to bottom. The M400 is the flagship model of Desktop DAC’s from the brand’s highly acclaimed “M” series of desktop DAC’s. Do not even bother right now sub $1000. This is a make or break product. The M400 uses the AKM’s new flagship AK4499 DAC chip and it sounds amazing. I’ve hardly ever really been one to criticize cable quality, so I feel that part would not be true about me if they did include a set of basic cables. Chatfuel Vs BotMyWork Chatbot Builder: Which Chatbot Will Be More Productive For Your Business? That is just fine for others to disagree with. It is great to have the option to go that big.