Reddit reviews SMSL Audio M3 USB Powered Audio Decoder, Black

Get the DT-770. They're like the 990 but closed and bassier, a good fit for electronic music. They're built like tanks, they don't look great (and don't need to), they isolate well, and thus they barely leak sound.

If you're using with a laptop or phone with underpowered audio out, get the 32 Ohm for $124.

Otherwise, the 80 Ohm version is $118 and also has velour pads. It also has just a bit more bass, but on worse audio sources it will be too quiet or otherwise sound a bit off.

Don't get an amp - if you would need an amp, get the 32 Ohm version. If you're dead set on getting an amp, go for a DAC/Amp, the SMSL M3 is one of the best cheaper desktop models.

Alternatively, and this will be frowned upon here, you could go for HyperX Cloud for $80. You missed the cheaper sale Friday ($65), but from personal experience of having these exact headphones without the microphone, they sound great with everything and have enough detail that they're a significant upgrade over what you have now.

I think the issue with just recommending a single model is music listening like preference is rather personal and varies among people. Headphones have different profiles, some place emphasis on bass or highs, others are completely neutral (some people find neutral sounds off for instance due to years listening to a certain profile). You may want to have a look at r/headphones, there's handy guides in the sidebar including an interactive questionnaire that can help select suggestions.

I personally use this DAC and an
HD 598 CS. The DAC isn't strictly needed to be clear, I mainly use it to switch between set of speakers and headphones easily.

If by earphone you mean in ear buds then I can't really say I have a good suggestion, I just use a standard bluetooth pair of anker which are acceptable. I don't like having expensive earbuds, drives up cost if/when they get lost.

I started off just plugging the cable into the headphone jack on my PC and it worked. But I got a fair bit of hiss and electronic interference so I got a DAC. An SMSL m3. Connect that to my pc via USB and just the headphones into that. Cleans everything up and sounds great.

The X2's are great headphones, really comfy and some really good low end. So I can imagine dance music sounding great on them.

Headphone: Philips SHP9500
Dac/amp: Fiio Q1 or SMSL M3

SHP9500 on Newegg for $53: https://m.newegg.com/products/N82E16826138190?Keyword=Shp9500

Fiio Q1 used on Amazon for $35: https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0157DKAU4/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1499186771&sr=8-1&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&keywords=fiio+q1&dpPl=1&dpID=41Fy1hyjySL&ref=plSrch

SMSL M3 on Amazon for $78: https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B019Y5TR6O/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1499186864&sr=8-1&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&keywords=smsl+m3&dpPl=1&dpID=413PnsUHp%2BL&ref=plSrch

Speaker and amp combo is great. Look at the SMSL M3 for a dac and it will give you a good headphone out.

Well, fuck. I forgot to post my own.

• Mouse: Roccat Leadr
  
• Keyboard:Corsair K65 Reds
  
• DAC/Amp: Currently using [SMSL M3] (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B019Y5TR6O/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1) Normally use SMSL AT18
  
• Headphones : Brainwavz HM5
  
• Mic: Audio Technica AT2020USB+
  
• Monitor: BenQ RL2755
  
  
  
  
  
  

Look up the reviews on these two. Monoprice planar headphones, if you haven't heard planar type headphones you're in for a treat. SMSL should drive them it has a 24 bit/192 kHz sample rate via optical and coaxial, and a 24 bit/96 kHz sample rate via USB. If your computer has coaxial spdif I'd do that, but USB should be fine too just limited to 96kHz but I think that's tidals max supported sample unless we add MQA but I don't care much about MQA.

https://www.amazon.com/Monolith-16050-Planar-Magnetic-Headphones/dp/B01N32N5DD

https://www.amazon.com/SMSL-Audio-M3-Powered-Decoder/dp/B019Y5TR6O

/r/headphones is a nice place to browse

In order of price:

• SMSL M3
  
• SMSL M6
  
• Schiit Magni 2 + Schiit Modi 2
  
  You could just buy the Magni 2 and use your existing DAC. I feel this would be the most cost effective and efficient solution personally.

SMSL M3 if you need a S/Pidf in. 80 bucks on Amazon

Actually, the SMSL SD 793ii is on Massdrop right now for 57.99 Link I would probably buy this.

If you need a basic Starter AMP/DAC, [FiiO K1] (https://www.amazon.com/K1-Portable-Headphone-Amplifier-Titanium/dp/B0189EVGAG) or [Schiit Fulla] (http://schiit.com/products/fulla)

If you want a Better starter AMP/DAC when you get better headphones in the future and possibly want speakers as well, [FiiO E10K] (https://www.amazon.com/FiiO-E10K-Headphone-Amplifier-Black/dp/B00LP3AMC2/ref=pd_sim_23_21?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B00LP3AMC2&pd_rd_r=MNNRBCB735A2MXBD3XHA&pd_rd_w=SUoRO&pd_rd_wg=3Gad4&psc=1&refRID=MNNRBCB735A2MXBD3XHA), [SMSL M3] (https://www.amazon.com/SMSL-Audio-M3-Powered-Decoder/dp/B019Y5TR6O/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1481332017&sr=1-1&keywords=smsl+m3), [Schiit Fulla 2] (http://schiit.com/products/fulla-2) or [Micca Origen+] (https://www.amazon.com/Micca-OriGen-High-Resolution-Preamplifier/dp/B01BURJVOC/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_product_top?ie=UTF8)

EDIT: SMSL M3 can drive passive speakers, though the Micca Origen+ can drive powered speakers if that helps

No problem, i know what you mean with all the snake oil and real stuff mixed together.

For under 100:

The Schiit Fulla 2 just came out and has seen pretty great reviews. For what I understand, it uses the same DAC module as their standalone Modi, which costs a 100 itself.

The [SMSL M3] (https://www.amazon.com/SMSL-Audio-M3-Powered-Decoder/dp/B019Y5TR6O) has done me well and has enough power for you.

This one maybe https://www.amazon.co.uk/SMSL-M3-Powered-Audio-Decoder/dp/B019Y5TR6O/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?keywords=smsl+m3&qid=1573921685&sprefix=smsl+m&sr=8-1

I've got a pair of 990s and they're amazing for shooters. Highly elevated treble which makes gunshots // footsteps really audible. I pair them with these, recommended by Z Reviews: https://www.amazon.co.uk/SMSL-M3-Powered-Audio-Decoder/dp/B019Y5TR6O

That one should work fine.

Or go for something better:

Cambridge Audio DacMagic 100

Pro-Ject USB Box S+

Topping D50 HiFi Audio DAC

SMSL SA M3

SMSL Sanskrit

M-Audio Transit Pro

Nobsound Hi-Fi

Sabaj D3

Topping OPA2134

First, don't EQ a headphone amp. Doesn't work like that. EQ is bad in general, and is only sometimes useful to fix measured issues with headphones/speakers.

Buying a cheap little box like this: https://www.amazon.com/SMSL-Audio-M3-Powered-Decoder/dp/B019Y5TR6O will solve the problem.

Equalizer APO is the best EQ. Peace GUI is a nice add-on for it.

The range you are seeing is just more precise. You might be able to change it in the settings.

Those 731i are not bad speakers and are being underpowered by that Kenwood system.

The few quality combo amp/dac units in the UK start at 360 BP and go up from there. Like the Emotiva TA-100 and the SMSL A6.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/A6-COAXIAL-Integrated-Amplifier-Headphone/dp/B01KJJ43AO/

http://www.audiologica.co.uk/emotiva/emotiva-basx-ta100.html

https://www.audiovisualonline.co.uk/product/41784/emotiva-black-basx-ta-100-integrated-stereo-amplifier/

This combo unit is cheaper but not as nice with likely overestimated power:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Q5-Coaxial-Optical-Digital-Amplifier/dp/B015ZHZG1K/

https://www.amazon.co.uk/AD18-Bluetooth-Digital-Decoding-Amplifier/dp/B01MY96MKC/

I would suggest a separate amp and DAC because the selection of combo units at that price is not great.

If you can manage a full size integrated amp under your desk, try this since it has a remote and better than most desktop size units:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Denon-PMA720AE-Integrated-Amplifier-Black/dp/B007Y3OBIS/

If small is required then:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/SA-98E-TDA7498E-Stereo-Digital-Amplifier/dp/B015J0P7VM/

And a small DAC:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Decoder-Optical-Coaxial-Asynchronous-Converter/dp/B00PS0WLX6/

https://www.amazon.co.uk/M6-Asynchronous-Integrated-Headphone-Black/dp/B015J0QAN6/

https://www.amazon.co.uk/M3-Optical-Coaxial-Function-Decoder/dp/B019Y5TR6O

At 300BP there are some good choices for speakers:

Monitor Audio Bronze 2

Elac B6

Polk Audio S15

Maybe Dali Zensor 3 or KEF Q100 if you can find them at a good price.

Brother got me a Audio Interface for Christmas just as I was looking to get a DAC/Amp combo. Is an interface a replacement for the DAC/Amp, or would it still do me some good to get a combo unit anyway?

I've tried looking into it but have found no definite answer to my question.


The interface I was given

The combo I was looking to buy

This looks like it could be a perfect substitute for the AudioEngine D1. It has a coax input (which the D1 doesn't), a quarter inch headphone output (Better than the D1's 3.5mm) and is half the price.

Looking to get my first DAC/amp combo to get the best output I can on my 598s. I'm having trouble deciding between the SMSL M3, the Fiio 10K, The Micca Origen +, or the new Schiit Fulla 2. Not looking to spend more than 100 atm so I'm just looking for advice on which to get as my first DAC/amp combo. If there is something better out there too that I might be missing please leave recommendations. A lot of the guides and forums that I visited don't say much about the Fulla 2 and how it compares in that price range so any help would be greatly appreciated.

I use the SMSL M3. It'll play just about anything I throw @ it (HD quality, DSD). Doesn't have bass feature like the FiiO, but it does improve the quality when listening via my computer and I also use it with my iPhone. It'll even drive my DT880 600 ohm...not to ear bleeding levels, but it will push them to unsafe listening levels. It's definitely and entry level amp.

This looks like almost exactly the same as the https://www.amazon.com/SMSL-Audio-M3-Powered-Decoder/dp/B019Y5TR6O but missing two ports and with hopefully better quality control.

Can someone here tell me why, if I am driving my old AKG k712 why I would need the magni/modi stack instead of this?

Buy a FiiO E10k/SMSL M3

https://www.amazon.com/SMSL-Audio-M3-Powered-Decoder/dp/B019Y5TR6O

A better $80 has never been spent if you are an audiophile. This gets you 95% of the way to pro gear for 5% of the cost.

Super fedt. Det vil jeg undersøge nærmere. Står du stadig ved din anbefaling? Jeg har nemlig også lade mig fortælle på en anden thread, at SMSL AUDIO M3 (https://www.amazon.com/SMSL-Audio-M3-Powered-Decoder/dp/B019Y5TR6O/) kunne være super god at investere i. Vil begge disse tilføre nogenlunde den samme forbedrede lydoplevelse?

Og lige inden jeg glemmer; hvad er leveringstiden på den hollandske side du nævnte?

Mvh

Get an external DAC/amp. This one takes all kinds of digital inputs at a decent price: https://www.amazon.com/SMSL-Audio-M3-Powered-Decoder/dp/B019Y5TR6O/

Tror du skulle klara dig med typ denna: https://www.amazon.de/SMSL-M3-Verst%C3%A4rker-mit-Kopfh%C3%B6rer-schwarz/dp/B019Y5TR6O/ref=sr_1_15?ie=UTF8&qid=1536077031&sr=8-15&keywords=smsl

SMSL är ett kina-budgetmärke, men de använder sig av högklassiga komponenter så de presterar väldigt bra för priset. Klivet till ännu bättre skulle enligt mig ligga mer i 2500-kronors prisklassen.

I denna får du både inbyggd USB DAC (så du får bättre ljud än från datorn) och hörlursförstärkare (så du kan driva typ vilka hörlurar som helst och spela hög volym med) för en billig peng.

Edit: Den jag länkade verkar inte Amazon skicka till Sverige, dock finns det visst andra säljare som gör det (fast då får man ju ingen fri frakt). Eventuellt kan du hitta någon annan DAC av SMSL...

I bit the bullet and ordered!
https://www.amazon.com/SMSL-Audio-M3-Powered-Decoder/dp/B019Y5TR6O.

It has all you listed right?

I hope this is the right place to post this, but I'm looking to buy my first DAC/amp. I've only ever used desktop/laptop/phone outputs and want to upgrade. I wanted to buy a DAC/amp combo rather than a dedicated DAC and dedicated amp for a few reasons: (but I'm open to being convinced otherwise)

1. price; I'm on a relatively small budget and a combo DAC/amp seems to be more cost effective.
   
   
2. portability; I move my desktop often and having to only move one device would be much more convenient.
   
   
   Budget: ~$100 max, preferably less
   
   Source: Almost exclusively my desktop.
   
   Current Headphones: ATH M40x and SHP 9500s. I know that these are super easy to power, but I'm looking to gain some improvement while also future proofing for when I buy something more demanding.
   
   I'm currently looking at a few devices, but open to other suggestions:
   
   
3. SMSL M2 ($65 on amazon)
   
   I like that this one is small (and therefore easily transported). I became interested in it after watching a rave review by Zeos. The only negatives I see are a lack of output options (not currently an issue, but might be in the future) and the fact that it uses 3.5 mm headphone out (I much prefer 1/4").
   
   
4. Monoprice DAC/amp ($67 on sale with promo code)
   
   I've seen mixed reviews for this one, but it's currently on sale and seems like a great value. Not sure how great it would do with my current low impedance headphones. I like the design and output options.
   
   
5. Micca OriGen ($100 on amazon)
   
   
6. SMSL M3 ($84 on amazon)
   
   Like I said, I'm open to other suggestions in the $70-$100 range.
   
   
   

Looking to use the micro USB port on the back of this SMSL Audio M3 USB Powered Audio Decoder, Black https://www.amazon.com/dp/B019Y5TR6O/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_tai_-7V2CbF7TZHW6 to and from my pc while i use the optical port to and from my ps4 and then into my speakers so i can switch between the 2

SMSL Audio M3 USB Powered Audio Decoder, Black https://www.amazon.com/dp/B019Y5TR6O/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_pW04BbB8S5RCK

cheap dac, might need a separate amp for 300ohm headphones

SMSL Sanskrit 6th 32bit/192kHz USB/Optical/Coaxial to Analog Audio Decoder (Black) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00SY9RBOM/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_FZ04BbTT8PZAG

harder to find longer to ship dac and amp combo
but will most likely be enough for you to power your 6xx, if you wanted too you could get the o2 amp if you had extra money and that would be most them enough amp.


https://www.massdrop.com/buy/smsl-m6-dac-amp?utm_source=shopping&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=1565854957&utm_term=60393664758&utm_content=295242953181&utm_keyword=&utm_placement=pla-520538315942&utm_network=g:m::1o3&utm_device=&gclid=CjwKCAiAt4rfBRBKEiwAC678KUMxZ-9pFEfGTGKCvcK_sMzZ4JQ1e03DWHsJYr2GdSb3PLj_OqrvMxoCWVYQAvD_BwE

also this, not bad for massdrop

if you want a tube amp, then look for a little dot:

https://www.amazon.com/Little-Dot-6JI-standard-Headphone/dp/B00A2QM5O6/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1541588044&sr=8-5&keywords=little+dot&dpID=41VfvJT3eeL&preST=_SY300_QL70_&dpSrc=srch

If you just want something cheap to properly power your headphones, get a cheap dac/amp like smsl, or the fiio e10k:

https://www.amazon.com/SMSL-Audio-M3-Powered-Decoder/dp/B019Y5TR6O/ref=sr_1_13?ie=UTF8&qid=1541588108&sr=8-13&keywords=smsl

https://www.amazon.com/FiiO-E10K-Headphone-Amplifier-Black/dp/B00LP3AMC2/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1541588171&sr=8-3&keywords=fiio

they will sound much better then that cheap hybrid or a phone, but they are obviously not the best thing ever.

Thanks! I'm currently looking at the SMSL M3 (link to shenzhenaudio) as I am using optical in. From the listed specs this should work?

Sure Try this SMSL DAC/AMP

or This one

Sure thing! DAC here, amp here.

https://www.massdrop.com/buy/smsl-m3-dac-amp

https://www.amazon.com/SMSL-Audio-M3-Powered-Decoder/dp/B019Y5TR6O

The SMSL M3 is really a DAC based Headphone amp that also appears to have Pre-Amp capability.

But your statement - Will my DAC output signal to both the front connector and the back? - is vague and unclear. Are you asking if you can listen to music on the speaker AND the headphones, the answer is very likely YES.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7QwD5Byp1AU

What you have to determine is whether the Audio Out RCA connectors are Pre-Amp Outs which can be controlled by the volume control, or whether they are FIXED Line Level Outputs. I would make the most sense if they are Pre-Amp out, which is why I say you can listen to speakers and headphones at the same time. But, it my quick search, I haven't been able to confirm it.

DAC : https://www.amazon.com/SMSL-Audio-M3-Powered-Decoder/dp/B019Y5TR6O

AMP : https://www.amazon.com/Bravo-Audio-Ocean-Headphone-Amplifier/dp/B00A2QKSVI

is this any good ?

Hey everyone, I just purchased the SMSL M3 AMP/DAC and i'm constantly hearing white noise when I have no audio playing, it's driving me crazy!

I'm very disappointed by this, because I bought this DAC to solve the distortions and popping my PC's onboard audio was causing... while it did fix that, I got white noise in return for it...

The knob on the DAC never has to go above 25% for it to drive my M50x(38 Ohm) headphones. Could this be the issue, that the M50x is too sensitive?

I'm currently running the power and audio over USB-A to mini-USB from my PC into the DAC. I tried using another cable but it didn't help.
This DAC also supports SPDIF Toslink, would using that input fix the white noise? I want to buy a Toslink cable, but I don't even know if that would fix the problem

Will this dac work well with the dt 770 pro 250 ohms? do I need an amp aswell?

Here you are. It's really nice, DAC+headphones amp. It's the best (only?) option in this price bracket.