Massdrop has it for $149 and it seems too good to pass up. I always wanted a DSD DAC and I'm interested in how the ESS Sabre 9018 chip sounds. Here's the specs:
SMSL M8 DAC Details:
• Sabre Reference 32-bit ES9018 DAC chip
• XMOS 32bit USB receiver chip
• Maximum support 384KHZ / 32Bit, DSD
• Professional circuit layout
• Aluminum Housing
• Digital Toslink Optical/Coaxial/USB
• Analog Output: single ended output via RCA port
• THD + N is less than 0.0004%, dynamic> 125dB, SNR> 126dB
• USB support 32bit, 384KHZ PCM signal
• DSD direct decoding
• 7 kinds of filter modes
• Automatic jitter remove control switch
• High precision DPLL locked bandwidth set automatically
• OLED display
• Automatic memory
• Automatic shutdown environmental design
• High precision and low phase noise clock system
• Ultra low noise power processing system
• High precision ultra-low noise resistor
• Solid aluminum CNC aluminum alloy chassis pure aluminum buttons
• 110-240V supported
• THD + N: < 0.0004%
• Output level: 2.15 Vrms
• Dynamic range: > 125dB
• SNR: > 126dB
• Channel separation : > 120Db
• USB Input: PCM = 16bit-24 bit/32kHz-384 kHz, DSD = DSD64, DSD128 (1bit 2.8224MHz - 5.6448MHz)
• USB support: Windows, Mac OS, iOS (need purchase connector), Android 4.0 or more (most models)
• Optical fiber coaxial: 16bit-24 bit/ 32kHz-192 kHz
• Digital Input Format Support:
• Coaxial: 44.1, 48, 88.2, 96, 176.4, 192 kHz
• Optical: 44.1, 48, 88.2, 96, 176.4, 192 kHz
• USB: 44.1, 48, 88.2, 96, 176.4, 192, 352.8, 384 kHz
• DSDx64 (2.8224MHz), DSDx128 (5.6448MHz)
I'm getting kinda bored with my Audio-GD NFB-12.1 (Wolfson 8740 based DAC/headphone amp) and I wanted something that would compliment my Burson HDA-160 headphone amp. Also, I want a DAC that can playback DSD recordings I make with my Korg MR-2000S - the SMSL M8 seems like a perfect match. The reviews I've seen so far have all been positive but this is a relatively new DAC.
What do you think?