---
product_id: 523773336
title: "S.M.S.L SU-1 MQA MQA-CD Audio Decoder AK4493S XU316 768kHz/32Bit DSD512 Hi-Res DAC"
brand: "fanmusic"
price: "€ 182.34"
currency: EUR
in_stock: true
reviews_count: 10
category: "Fanmusic"
url: https://www.desertcart.it/products/523773336-s-m-s-l-su-1-mqa-mqa-cd-audio
store_origin: IT
region: Italy
---

# AKM AK4493S DAC chip, ultra-low distortion <0.00013% Universal USB compatibility with Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, iOS Supports 768kHz/32Bit PCM & DSD512 Hi-Res audio S.M.S.L SU-1 MQA MQA-CD Audio Decoder AK4493S XU316 768kHz/32Bit DSD512 Hi-Res DAC

**Brand:** fanmusic
**Price:** € 182.34
**Availability:** ✅ In Stock

## Summary

> 🎶 Elevate your audio game—hear what you’ve been missing!

## Quick Answers

- **What is this?** S.M.S.L SU-1 MQA MQA-CD Audio Decoder AK4493S XU316 768kHz/32Bit DSD512 Hi-Res DAC by fanmusic
- **How much does it cost?** € 182.34 with free shipping
- **Is it available?** Yes, in stock and ready to ship
- **Where can I buy it?** [www.desertcart.it](https://www.desertcart.it/products/523773336-s-m-s-l-su-1-mqa-mqa-cd-audio)

## Best For

- fanmusic enthusiasts

## Why This Product

- Trusted fanmusic brand quality
- Free international shipping included
- Worldwide delivery with tracking
- 15-day hassle-free returns

## Key Features

- • **True 3D Soundstage:** MQA decoding eliminates time blurring, recreating the authentic spatial depth of studio recordings for immersive listening.
- • **Studio-Grade Clarity:** Experience pristine, distortion-free sound with the latest AK4493S DAC chip, delivering ultra-low distortion below 0.00013%.
- • **Hi-Res Audio Powerhouse:** Supports ultra-high resolution formats up to 768kHz/32Bit PCM and DSD512, ensuring every detail in your music shines.
- • **Plug & Play Versatility:** Broad USB compatibility across Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, and iOS with simple driver installation for hassle-free setup.
- • **Seamless Multi-Source Switching:** Easily toggle between optical and coaxial inputs, perfect for integrating vintage CD and DAT players with modern setups.

## Overview

The S.M.S.L SU-1 is a compact, high-performance MQA and MQA-CD audio decoder featuring the advanced AKM AK4493S DAC chip. It supports ultra-high resolution audio formats up to 768kHz/32Bit PCM and DSD512, delivering studio-quality sound with ultra-low distortion. Compatible with multiple digital inputs including USB, optical, and coaxial, it seamlessly integrates vintage and modern audio sources. Designed for audiophiles and professionals seeking immersive, true-to-life sound reproduction, the SU-1 offers plug-and-play versatility across major operating systems, making it a top-tier choice for high-definition music listening.

## Description

S.M.S.L SU-1 MQA MQA-CD Audio Decoder AK4493S XU316 768kHz/32Bit DSD512 Hi-Res DAC : desertcart.co.uk: Electronics & Photo

Review: Brilliant Sound, Superb Value - Bought this is on review recommendations. Just had an 1990s DAT player refurbished, brought back from the dead after it had spent thirty years in the garage, now it plays perfectly but it had a somewhat compressed sound. This DAC has one of the very latest/best chip sets usually found in units at ten times the price, the DAC in the DAT is thirty years old so could benefit from the latest tech to give it a boost. Some people think all DACs are the same but they are clearly not, a listening test shows this very clearly, just as all headphones don’t sound alike. I have six DACs, some are good, some are not so good and it does not always relate to cost. A have a Fosi which is ok as a headphone DAC and pre amp which is ok, warm sounding but lacking clarity, a Beyerdynamic slightly better but not enough for the additional cost, a Chord Mojo which is very good used between an ipad and twin rca cables to an amp, a Prozor for 5.1 sound from a modern tv to ancient analogue cinema amp which was very cheap but sounds great and now this which sounds brilliant, better than the Chord but at about a fifth of the price. A good DAC puts air and soundstage into the music, separates the instruments and gives clarity to bass and treble. This one has opened up the sound of this DAT player, giving a clearer sound, very pleased with the result for such a low cost item. Also as the DAT is optical cable and the CD player, also from the 90s, is coaxial digital, this unit can take both items and you can switch between them using the button on the front.
Review: Progress - Like most people, my interest in sound devices and recordings is simply about getting as close as possible to the sound of a great performance of the music to which I listen. Bach, Bacharach, Basie, whatever. And this super little sound device constitutes very siginificant progress in that quest. Connected by USB to my PC it takes PCM and DSD files, converts them and sends an analogue signal to my desktop amp (Douk Audio T6). I listen to the output on Sony MDR 1 headphones. Like everyone with good new equipment I hear things differently and more clearly on recordings I have loved for years. Dynamics, attack and decay of notes, balance within ensembles, tonal nuance and so on. The S.M.S.L. SU-1 makes it all possible. Set up and operation are simplicity itself and the Roon music library/player connected immediately. (The only advisory I offer is to ensure you download and install the relevant driver to facilitate ASIO again easily done from the SMSL website) All this for a derisory price compared to regular hifi equipment. The only regret I have is that I now won't be trying out anything else for some time to come.

## Features

- USB supports MQA: 1.Clean up the recording, When the analog sound is converted to a digital signal,time blurring will occur, blurring transient signals over time. . MQA can eliminate this distortion and create a true 3D sound field, which is different from any sound you have ever heard. 2.Encapsulate the sound Once the blur in the recording Is removed,MQA will use what we call a "musical origamiMprocess,Cleverly makes this large resolution file easy to manage.
- Support MQA CD:CD Player + MQA- Enabled DAC,Your CD player's digital output (optical or coaxial) can be fed to an MQA decoder.
- The MQA decoder can restore the original high-resolution signal heard in the studio and confirm it, using the authentication signature.SMSL SU-1 support MQA CD.
- AKM AK4493S :SU-1 utilizes the latest AKM DAC chip,AK4493S, for achieving a distortion lower than 0.00013%
- USB In:Compatible with Windows 7/8/8.1/10/11 (driver is required),Mac 0S X10.6+, Linux(driverless), Android, i0s

## Technical Specifications

| Specification | Value |
|---------------|-------|
| ASIN | B0C1Y7C9HH |
| Batteries Required? | No |
| Batteries included? | No |
| Best Sellers Rank | 12,261 in Electronics & Photo ( See Top 100 in Electronics & Photo ) 42 in Digital-Analog Converters |
| Colour | Black |
| Customer Reviews | 4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars (1,535) |
| Date First Available | 10 April 2023 |
| Included components | no |
| Item Package Quantity | 1 |
| Item Weight | 195 g |
| Item model number | SU-1 |
| Manufacturer | S.M.S.L |
| Material | Copper |
| Part number | SU-1 |
| Plug profile | Wall Mount |
| Product Dimensions | 9 x 7.8 x 2.7 cm; 195 g |
| Specific uses | High definition music, MQA music listening |
| Voltage | 240 Volts |

## Product Details

- **Brand:** Fanmusic
- **Interface type:** Coaxial, Optical, USB
- **Mounting type:** Wall Mount
- **Number of channels:** 2
- **Number of pins:** 8

## Images

![S.M.S.L SU-1 MQA MQA-CD Audio Decoder AK4493S XU316 768kHz/32Bit DSD512 Hi-Res DAC - Image 1](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/21AA7hVlMAL.jpg)

## Questions & Answers

**Q: When I hook it up to play there is music for a second or two and then no music for a second or two. This repeats itself over and over again. Ideas?**
A: I do not have that problem with this device, HOWEVER, I do have that very same problem with another SMSL dac ( M500 MKII), and I have not been able to figure out why this happens. I do not use Windows, and I only play wav files with Linux based software, and Linux operating system. Make your own conclusions.

**Q: how come the output voltage is so low when I connect it to the optical on my TV?  I thought the output was suppose to be 2 Vrms.**
A: only tried whit coaxial in rca out

**Q: Without a separate power input, how much faster does the battery drain on the cell phone?**
A: It consumes very low energy. I don't use it via USB. I haven't tested it.

**Q: I'd like to listen to one of those new MQA-encoded CDs. Will the optical output of my legacy CD player pass the MQA-encoded signal to this SMSL?**
A: Yes, because the SMSL is reading, converting the signal and your legacy CD player is functioning as a transport only.

## Customer Reviews

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Brilliant Sound, Superb Value
*by J***N on 4 March 2025*

Bought this is on review recommendations. Just had an 1990s DAT player refurbished, brought back from the dead after it had spent thirty years in the garage, now it plays perfectly but it had a somewhat compressed sound. This DAC has one of the very latest/best chip sets usually found in units at ten times the price, the DAC in the DAT is thirty years old so could benefit from the latest tech to give it a boost. Some people think all DACs are the same but they are clearly not, a listening test shows this very clearly, just as all headphones don’t sound alike. I have six DACs, some are good, some are not so good and it does not always relate to cost. A have a Fosi which is ok as a headphone DAC and pre amp which is ok, warm sounding but lacking clarity, a Beyerdynamic slightly better but not enough for the additional cost, a Chord Mojo which is very good used between an ipad and twin rca cables to an amp, a Prozor for 5.1 sound from a modern tv to ancient analogue cinema amp which was very cheap but sounds great and now this which sounds brilliant, better than the Chord but at about a fifth of the price. A good DAC puts air and soundstage into the music, separates the instruments and gives clarity to bass and treble. This one has opened up the sound of this DAT player, giving a clearer sound, very pleased with the result for such a low cost item. Also as the DAT is optical cable and the CD player, also from the 90s, is coaxial digital, this unit can take both items and you can switch between them using the button on the front.

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Progress
*by S***K on 25 August 2025*

Like most people, my interest in sound devices and recordings is simply about getting as close as possible to the sound of a great performance of the music to which I listen. Bach, Bacharach, Basie, whatever. And this super little sound device constitutes very siginificant progress in that quest. Connected by USB to my PC it takes PCM and DSD files, converts them and sends an analogue signal to my desktop amp (Douk Audio T6). I listen to the output on Sony MDR 1 headphones. Like everyone with good new equipment I hear things differently and more clearly on recordings I have loved for years. Dynamics, attack and decay of notes, balance within ensembles, tonal nuance and so on. The S.M.S.L. SU-1 makes it all possible. Set up and operation are simplicity itself and the Roon music library/player connected immediately. (The only advisory I offer is to ensure you download and install the relevant driver to facilitate ASIO again easily done from the SMSL website) All this for a derisory price compared to regular hifi equipment. The only regret I have is that I now won't be trying out anything else for some time to come.

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Almost the perfect DAC, small problem with XMOS USB controller >> (Edited Dec. 2024)
*by M***T on 21 August 2023*

Generally flawless DAC although I find I need some bass EQ compared to other converters. So silent and with such high resolution that digital volume control can be used with absolutely zero subjective loss in quality. The issue with the XMOS USB controller is that it goes into a standby mode after 5 seconds of no signal, apparently a default intended for when the chip is used in dongles for mobile devices (i.e. phones) to save a watt or so of power draw (silly for desktop and general hifi applications), and when it 'wakes up' it misses the first half second or so of playback which can get REALLY annoying if you're browsing files. It can be fixed in Windows by installing an XMOS USB driver from the SMSL website (the DAC is otherwise plug-and-play with the default, fairly recent Windows driver), but you then have to edit an XML configuration file to enable "Always On" as an option in its control panel (it's fixed to "On When Needed" otherwise). Search for "XMOS driver settings for no cutoff/delay" on the Audio Science Review forum. *** Edit Dec. 2024 *** the latest XMOS driver from SMSL's site (released in the last month or two) now allows 'Always On' available in the control panel (it might even be the default, I can't remember if I had to change it ), so my criticism above no longer applies. ETA 2 - A general tip - this little box draws practically no power, maybe a watt or two - leave it powered on 24/7 and it will last. If you keep switching it on and off (power cycling it) there's a much higher chance it will fail.

## Frequently Bought Together

- S.M.S.L SU-1 MQA MQA-CD Audio Decoder AK4493S XU316 768kHz/32Bit DSD512 Hi-Res DAC
- TOSLINK – Optical Audio Cable – 3ft – Designed in Germany – Fiber Optic Cable for Soundbar, SPDIF Digital Optical Audio Cord – for Sound Bars, Stereo Systems, amps, Xbox One or PS4 – by CableDirect
- SMSL PO100 PRO MQA DDC XMOS XU316 Digital to Analog Audio Converter Type-C USB Input IIS/Optical/Coaxial Output Mini Portable USB Interface for Phone/PS5/Switch/TV

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*Product available on Desertcart Italy*
*Store origin: IT*
*Last updated: 2026-02-22*