SMSL DO400 DAC/Amp Review - The Mid-Fi King

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Күн бұрын

Get the DO400: bit.ly/DO400
Video Timestamps:
00:00 - Intro
01:23 - Build Quality & Looks
02:23 - Controls
02:58 - Under its Hood
04:09 - Sound Performance
07:48 - Power Output
09:33 - Soundstage & Imaging
11:04 - Resolution & Tone & Timbre
12:41 - Dynamics
13:51 - Bass
14:28 - Midrange
15:08 - Treble
15:38 - My Conclusions
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Desktop headphones I’m using:
🎧 Hifiman Susvara: bit.ly/3a39pm2
🎧 Hifiman HE1000SE: bit.ly/3gwkXRW
🎧 Hifiman Arya Stealth: bit.ly/3HORBss
🎧 Audeze LCD-5: bit.ly/3nb5KbD
🎧 Audeze LCD-4: bit.ly/35LFYAK
🎧 Kennerton Rognir: bit.ly/3zD1IxT
🎧 Meze Elite: bit.ly/3RPojys
🎧 Erzetich Phobos V2021: bit.ly/3HMWBhf
🎧 Sennheiser HD800S: amzn.to/3T5FX2J
🎧 Sendy Peacock: bit.ly/3EyZxQf
🎧 Apos Caspian: bit.ly/3nab1QO
Wireless headphones I’m using:
🎧 Sennheiser Momentum 4: amzn.to/3CodrCc
🎧 Sony WH1000XM5: amzn.to/3RUfQKu
🎧 Apple AirPods Max: amzn.to/3rGHQqr
IEMs I’m using:
👂 7Hz Timeless: bit.ly/3q7RNgm
👂 Meze Rai Penta: bit.ly/3j2EhVa
👂 FiiO FH9: bit.ly/3zSWka5
👂 FiiO FH7S: bit.ly/3fYOgi9
👂 FiiO FD7: bit.ly/3nEqw4h
Loudspeakers I’m using:
🔊 KEF Reference 3: amzn.to/3qZKbMm
🔊 Natural Sound NS17: bit.ly/2TuUXx3
🔊 Sound Of Eden Crescendo UNO: bit.ly/3f5jO1X
Integrated/Power Amps I’m using:
💪 Chord Electronics Ultima 5: amzn.to/3CLWVxi
💪 Burson Timekeeper 3X GT: amzn.to/3Ext5hm
💪 Benchmark AHB2: amzn.to/37jcR9M
💪 Topping LA90: bit.ly/3SPThbj
Best DACs I tried so far (in no particular order):
🥇 Gustard R26 Discrete: bit.ly/3TemlZP
🥇 Gustard X26 PRO: bit.ly/2ORB7Ko
🥇 Chord Electronics DAVE: amzn.to/3Tbs2aY
🥇 Denafrips Terminator Plus: bit.ly/3rLr35m
🥇 Rockna Wavelight: bit.ly/3hD33xl
🥇 Audiobyte HydraVox: bit.ly/2VXJjZM
🥇 Musician Aquarius: bit.ly/2U9qwwT
🥇 Matrix Audio Element X2: bit.ly/3Eryerb
🥇 Matrix Audio X-Sabre 3: bit.ly/34oBFyG
🥇 SMSL VMV D2: bit.ly/3q9lIF7
Best Mid-Fi DACs:
🥈 Gustard X18: bit.ly/3CMcJ2W
🥈 Gold Note DS-10 Plus: bit.ly/3f7pYie
🥈 Topping D90SE: bit.ly/3gC5FcO
🥈 Musician Pegasus: bit.ly/2OvCOgn
🥈 Matrix Mini-i Pro 3: bit.ly/3t97FkN
🥈 SMSL SU-10: bit.ly/3Eq9jEm
🥈 SMSL VMV D1SE: bit.ly/3nbaTjT
🥈 SMSL M500 MKIII: bit.ly/3yvztl8
🥈 Soncoz SGD1: bit.ly/36IUQ5r
Best Entry-Level DACs:
🥉 Gustard X16: bit.ly/3SQr6ZL
🥉 Topping D30 PRO: bit.ly/3taPWcE
🥉 Topping E50: bit.ly/3q9e6CE
🥉 Topping D10S: bit.ly/3r1hWNh
🥉 SMSL DO200 MKII: bit.ly/3elkZO4
🥉 SMSL SU-9N: bit.ly/32U7qj3
🥉 Soncoz LA-QXD1: bit.ly/3gf8ONt
Best DAC + Headphone Amp combos:
🎶 Burson Conductor 3X GT: amzn.to/2xcfSKx
🎶 FiiO K9 PRO: bit.ly/3ejKRd3
🎶 Topping DX7 PRO+: bit.ly/3rH6siH
🎶 xDuoo XA-10: bit.ly/39UsS7K
Best Headphone amps:
💣Trafomatic Primavera: bit.ly/3Co8wAZ
💣Trafomatic Head2: bit.ly/3VdNrC1
💣Enleum AMP-23R: bit.ly/3CV2QQN
💣Ferrum OOR + Hypsos: bit.ly/3tbjNSn
💣Burson Soloist 3X GT: bit.ly/3q7nrus
💣Flux Lab Acoustics Volot: bit.ly/3fJegep
💣Benchmark HPA4: bit.ly/2xb6hn5
💣Sparkos Labs Aries: bit.ly/2xcOps1
💣SMSL SP400: bit.ly/3sAUEO2
💣Topping A90 Discrete: bit.ly/2YBwCnZ
💣Singxer SA-1: bit.ly/3eI6aCC
Best USB Dongles & Bluetooth DAC/Amps & Portable DAC/Amps:
📱 Chord Mojo2: amzn.to/3fWXYkM
📱 FiiO BTR7: bit.ly/3fJUhij
📱 Shanling UA5: bit.ly/3yuksQR
📱 xDuoo Poke II: bit.ly/3CIewWO
📱 Topping G5: bit.ly/3Evjs2p
Best DAPs:
🎵 FiiO M17: bit.ly/34pgo84
🎵 FiiO M11 Plus: bit.ly/3Ew0l8K
🎵 Shanling M9: bit.ly/3r4swDh
🎵 Shanling M7: bit.ly/3I9rldH
🎵 Shanling M6 Ultra: bit.ly/3RXGsKQ
🎵 Hiby RS6: bit.ly/3t9mUKw
🎵 Hiby RS5 MKII: bit.ly/3KSqiyE
🎵 Hiby RS2: bit.ly/3EgakPb
These are my honest opinions in different categories. Some of them are affiliated links that help me manage this KZfaq channel at no additional cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
#smsl #audio #review

Пікірлер: 41

@Soundnews 9 ай бұрын

Hey folks, it seems that the mic is sometimes rubbing against my hoodie, mildly distorting the sound on several occasions, my apologies for that 🙏

@aceofspades6667 9 ай бұрын

Solid review… appreciate the added details on this one.

@natpick 8 ай бұрын

was looking at buying the smsl d0400,thanks for the review.

@steinerikbhmer6073 9 ай бұрын

Great music and a good review

@MissouriMatt54 4 ай бұрын

Thank you for the video.

@jeffhullinger6256 9 ай бұрын

This is not "mid-fi." It's very high-fidelity gear available at a reasonable price.

@diddymercs 6 ай бұрын

I'd agree. I own the DO400. It's great.

@karolkilian2402 9 ай бұрын

That intro music is satisfyiiinnnn!!!

@kennethsulistyo 9 ай бұрын

Great review as always Sandu! I’ve been watching your review for my future DAC purchase. Recently I watched your Ferrum Wandla review and you gave it your golden award, but I noticed that you remove that from your signature in the future videos. Is there a particular reason for that?

@thomasfischer9259 6 ай бұрын

The king of mid-rate sound channels.

@sgonz2016 9 ай бұрын

Great Review! Thanks a lot. I'm searching for a DAC only, do you think that sounwise this is equal to D400ES/EX or as a standalone DAC that two are better? and in comparison with DO300? Thanks!!

@sanchomill 9 ай бұрын

Thanks. Your opinion of this dac vs fiio k9 pro ess ? (just got k9 non-pro but they seem to be very near from each other)

@ancientalien815 9 ай бұрын

Please do a -4db cut at 750hz 1.2q and -3.5 cut at 550hz 1.4q on you mic if you have the ability. It will sound so much better.

@MatteoCeccarini 9 ай бұрын

Between this and the Burson Audio Conductor 3X Performance, as a dac/amp for planar headphones (EDXS), which one would you choose?

@williamsimj 6 ай бұрын

Hi, what do you think this compared to similarly priced Fiio K9?

@endrizo 8 ай бұрын

it should have bass and trteble controls, smsl shoud make a dedicated PREAMP dac with phono and tape inputs

@djlotfiwah 8 ай бұрын

Hello, thank you for this review, i have this dac since 2 weeks now and very happy with it, use it with PC and Foobar, i want to add a WiiM Pro Plus for streaming , do you think this could make a coherent association?

@iikatinggangsengii2471 7 ай бұрын

not sure what is the device, but if its smth like focusrite then yes youll hear mics more accurately

@NewLifeChannel2508 2 ай бұрын

If you can tell: A DAC with which chip sounds better with Infineon MA5332MS (SMSL AO300) or with ES9039MSPro (SMSL DO400) I hesitate between them...

@yamato1420 9 ай бұрын

In what category do you think the Aune S9c leads the DO400 the most?

@kcsi1 5 ай бұрын

The op-amps are in a parallel design, so their error does not accumulate in the signal path, but rather cancels it out.

@InDueTime25 7 ай бұрын

So my plan is to pair this with Topping A70pro? Anyone try that yet? Just ordered this.

@user-bm4ni5wp2h 8 ай бұрын

Do I understand correctly that it makes no sense to connect this device through its balanced outputs to the unbalanced RCA inputs of my amplifier (NAD C356BEE)? After all, in this case, only two contacts of each balanced output will be used, not three, and this will give the same 2.5 V that is on the unbalanced output of the DAC and will not give any advantages of the balanced signal?

@user-wp1ir3et2u 8 ай бұрын

Hi my friend I'd like to know whether the SU 10 justifies its double the price or not [for dac use only]Thanks in advance

@leischner44 4 ай бұрын

If I may say something about that. The Do 400 is a good headphone amplifier. The DAC is also good. I turned the preamp option to off and gave the unit a very good fuse from Phonosophie EII 5 x 20mm activator. The Dac sounds very good, more open and more detailed. The SU 10 is said to be much better as a pure Dac. Best regards from Berlin

@davidmusoke 8 ай бұрын

Thanks for the review... Low-Fi = Low Fidelity ... Mid-Fi = Middle (ok) fidelity ... High-Fi = High Fidelity. So is the Do400 sound just ok and not HIgh Fi?

@acheresh 9 ай бұрын

when "xduoo ta-20 plus" head amp review? :)

@Soundnews 9 ай бұрын

Hey mate, in about a month.

@madridgevara9484 5 ай бұрын

Hello, I am a subscriber. I have asked 3 other audiofilers and none have responded. Could you please tell me. I already have the SU 9N SH9. Can you please tell me how this would benefit me? because Ive heard from you before and you were the reason I bought my setup for my desktop. Thank you. Oh I have sudara's Ananda and Senn 6x x

@Soundnews 5 ай бұрын

Hi, if you want a real upgrade to your setup, then please discard everything that has to do with THX or NFCA modules, go with a fully-discrete (transistor-based) headphone amplifier, ideally working in Class-A and for your DAC, you could try a more natural sounding one. DO400 won't give you any of that. If you want a single unit that does everything right, then I would get HiFiMan's EF600, reviewed by me here: soundnews.net/reviews/amplifiers/headphone-amps/a-deep-dive-into-the-hifiman-ef600-r2r-dac-headphone-amp-headphone-stand/

@madridgevara9484 4 ай бұрын

Thank you for getting back to me.

@gmejia8 9 ай бұрын

For the 500$ this dac costs how would you compare it to the xduoo ta-22? Great review!!

@p.a8741 9 ай бұрын

Hello! To combine with the Arya Organic which one would best match this DO400 or the aune s9c. I read the both reviews and liked them, now I don't know which one is better and will give less bright sound

@eldisenador662 8 ай бұрын

Lo dijo en el video le parece mejor con el DO400

@p.a8741 8 ай бұрын

@@eldisenador662Me parece que lo que dice en el vídeo es que es casi tan bueno como el aune s9c

@JoseFerreira-zb7wh 9 ай бұрын

Seems like a more expensive Loxjie d40 pro.

@Flavius7 9 ай бұрын

Well, basically the same factory, just different brands.

@JoseFerreira-zb7wh 9 ай бұрын

@@Flavius7 exactly. the units themselves seem VERY similar apart from mostly aesthetics.

@illustrious420 9 ай бұрын

@@JoseFerreira-zb7whI'd seen there internal, literally the exact same except for the screen controll chip

@JoseFerreira-zb7wh 9 ай бұрын

@@illustrious420 yes, screen/ ui is more Basic but componentes, functionality (and i Guess sound quality should BE) pretty much the same.

@Flavius7 9 ай бұрын

To be more precise Topping is the champion for launching a new something every 5 seconds, them Smsl. But for the prices they ask...hard to find better gadgets, AND I RESPECT THAT A LOT. These two brands are responsible for probably the best time to be an audiophile in history. This will be their legacy, an essential one for today's and tomorrow's market.