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Showing 1 of 15 conversations about:
The_Jniac
322
Jun 5, 2018
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MedicalMicrobiologistThey will both sound exactly the same, but this if you want the smaller size and/or are confident that SMSL did not screw anything up much when the made the M8A, otherwise the Topping D50.
EDIT: Corrected the comment to reflect correct information.
EDIT: Corrected the comment to reflect correct information.
Frogmeat
562
Jun 5, 2018
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The_JniacHow is it a clear winner, have you reviewed both models?? I didn't even know SMSL put the new chip in their M8 model until this popped up today.
The_Jniac
322
Jun 5, 2018
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FrogmeatI misremembered D: Serves me right for not double checking. Both are fantastic. Although these are measurements of the M8, I doubt SMSL screwed it up too badly when making the M8A.
https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/review-and-measurements-of-smsl-m8-dac.2457/
DAC reviews without measurements are pointless, since it has been demonstrated that humans cannot detect the differences between DACs. See the AES High-res audio study, where they stuck and ADC and DAC (running at 44.1kHz, 16 bits) into a high-resolution playback chain, and not one person from their large sample of audio engineers and audiophiles, on several different systems, could tell the difference between the normal chain and the chain that had the ADC-DAC added.
Frogmeat
562
Jun 5, 2018
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The_JniacI have the D50, and the first M8, and they are both decent little units, and I would give the D50 the edge for a number of reasons, like playing DSD512 natively, and the auto off display feature, which the new M8A also does. Plus I think Topping's models D50 and D10 both are a bit less harsh on things like cymbal crashes than the M8, might be better at using the filter sets on the Sabre chips?? I don't know, might all be in my head, but my ears like the wee bit smoother feel. Looking forward to some reviews on this new DAC, and Hope Amir gets to run measurements on it.
And I wasn't getting on you, sorry if it seemed that way.
Jimster480
395
Jun 6, 2018
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MedicalMicrobiologistI would say the D50 just because it has already been measured and proven.
The_Jniac
322
Jun 6, 2018
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FrogmeatI am sorry as well. I am used to speaking to audiophiles who do not let their complete lack of understanding of psychology or perception get in the way of them being experts. Audio gear becomes a bit less interesting once you figure out just how little DACs, and, to a somewhat lesser extent, amps matter the vast majority of the time. That is, of course, until you realize that you can just buy what measures really well and then spend the money that would have gone into source gear on headphones/speakers, or put it into another hobby.
Major_Infidel
316
Jun 6, 2018
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The_JniacHow dare you utter such blasphemy here, sir. Why just yesterday I was reading an article penned by a renowned expert who waxed eloquently about how much more the soundstage of the $10K DAC he was reviewing opened up when he swapped a $1400 USB cable into the listening chain. LOL.
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