--- product_id: 523773336 title: "SMSL SU-1 MQA MQA-CD Audio Decoder AK4493S XU316 768kHz/32Bit DSD512 Hi-Res DAC" brand: "fanmusic" price: "€ 198.94" currency: EUR in_stock: true reviews_count: 13 category: "Fanmusic" url: https://www.desertcart.at/products/523773336-smsl-su-1-mqa-mqa-cd-audio-decoder-ak4493s-xu316 store_origin: AT region: Austria --- # USB input up to 768kHz/32Bit & DSD512 hi-res decoding AKM AK4493S DAC chip, ultra-low distortion <0.00013% Supports MQA & MQA-CD for authentic studio sound SMSL SU-1 MQA MQA-CD Audio Decoder AK4493S XU316 768kHz/32Bit DSD512 Hi-Res DAC **Brand:** fanmusic **Price:** € 198.94 **Availability:** βœ… In Stock ## Summary > 🎢 Elevate your soundscape β€” hear what you’ve been missing! ## Quick Answers - **What is this?** SMSL SU-1 MQA MQA-CD Audio Decoder AK4493S XU316 768kHz/32Bit DSD512 Hi-Res DAC by fanmusic - **How much does it cost?** € 198.94 with free shipping - **Is it available?** Yes, in stock and ready to ship - **Where can I buy it?** [www.desertcart.at](https://www.desertcart.at/products/523773336-smsl-su-1-mqa-mqa-cd-audio-decoder-ak4493s-xu316) ## 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 - β€’ **Studio-Grade Clarity:** Experience pristine audio with AKM’s latest AK4493S DAC chip, delivering distortion levels below 0.00013% for crystal-clear sound. - β€’ **Versatile Connectivity:** Switch effortlessly between USB, optical, and coaxial inputs to integrate vintage CD players or modern digital sources with ease. - β€’ **Hi-Res Audio Powerhouse:** Seamlessly decode ultra-high resolution files up to 768kHz/32Bit PCM and DSD512, elevating every note with stunning detail. - β€’ **True MQA Master Quality:** Unlock the full potential of your digital music with MQA and MQA-CD support, recreating the original 3D soundstage as heard in the studio. - β€’ **Compact & Discreet Design:** Minimalist footprint (9.6 x 7.8 cm) fits perfectly on any desk or shelf, delivering powerhouse performance without clutter. ## Overview The SMSL SU-1 is a compact, high-performance MQA and MQA-CD compatible DAC featuring the advanced AKM AK4493S chip. It supports ultra-high resolution audio decoding up to 768kHz/32Bit PCM and DSD512, ensuring studio-quality sound reproduction. With versatile USB, optical, and coaxial inputs, it effortlessly upgrades both vintage and modern audio setups, delivering ultra-low distortion and authentic 3D soundstage in a sleek, space-saving design. ## Description SMSL 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: WOW! - Well, this is a pleasant surprise. It must be the bargain of the decade frankly. I bought this to go between my MacBook Pro M1 Pro and a Fosi Audio Tube P1 preamp, from there to a pair of active Edifiers and a Fenton 10" active sub. This system is my office system which I use for casual background music and audio engineering. Yes, audio engineering. I've dabbled with all manner of desks and studio monitors, but it's almost pointless as most people these days listen through phones and base-level systems, so why not master through a base-level system? The DAC itself is precise, incredibly clean, insightful and transparent. It's a country mile away from the built-in DAC on the MacBook Pro (itself not a poor DAC at all), and a lot of higher end DACs I've used. There's no frills, three inputs, one of which is signal/opower USB, and a left/right RCA output. Power and input switching is done with one button on the front. Best of all is the size; it's miniscule! Literally just enough space on the rear panel for the connections. It'll sit out of the way and just get on with doing its business. If it was Β£750 I'd be thrilled with the quality. At a tenth of that it's simply mind boggling. Superb all round, don't hesitate. ## 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 | | Best Sellers Rank | 24,390 in Electronics & Photo ( See Top 100 in Electronics & Photo ) 82 in Digital-Analog Converters | | Brand | Fanmusic | | Compatible Devices | Speaker, Headphone | | Country Of Origin | China | | Customer Reviews | 4.4 out of 5 stars 1,729 Reviews | | Included Components | no | | Interface | Coaxial, Optical, USB | | Interface type | Coaxial , Optical , USB | | Item Dimensions L x W | 9.6L x 7.8W centimetres | | Item Weight | 195 Grams | | Manufacturer | SMSL | | Manufacturer Part Number | SU-1 | | Material | Copper | | Model Number | SU-1 | | Mounting Type | Wall Mount | | Mounting type | Wall Mount | | Number of Channels | 2 | | Number of Items | 1 | | Number of Packs | 1 | | Number of Pins | 8 | | Number of channels | 2 | | Number of pins | 8 | | Product Warranty | Warranty for non-human damage within one year, repairs after one year at your own expense. | | Product dimensions | 9.6L x 7.8W centimetres | | Unit Count | 1.0 count | ## Product Details - **Brand:** Fanmusic - **Interface type:** Coaxial, Optical, USB - **Mounting type:** Wall Mount - **Number of channels:** 2 - **Number of pins:** 8 ## Images ![SMSL 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. ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ WOW! *by B***N on 1 September 2025* Well, this is a pleasant surprise. It must be the bargain of the decade frankly. I bought this to go between my MacBook Pro M1 Pro and a Fosi Audio Tube P1 preamp, from there to a pair of active Edifiers and a Fenton 10" active sub. This system is my office system which I use for casual background music and audio engineering. Yes, audio engineering. I've dabbled with all manner of desks and studio monitors, but it's almost pointless as most people these days listen through phones and base-level systems, so why not master through a base-level system? The DAC itself is precise, incredibly clean, insightful and transparent. It's a country mile away from the built-in DAC on the MacBook Pro (itself not a poor DAC at all), and a lot of higher end DACs I've used. There's no frills, three inputs, one of which is signal/opower USB, and a left/right RCA output. Power and input switching is done with one button on the front. Best of all is the size; it's miniscule! Literally just enough space on the rear panel for the connections. It'll sit out of the way and just get on with doing its business. If it was Β£750 I'd be thrilled with the quality. At a tenth of that it's simply mind boggling. Superb all round, don't hesitate. ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ An amazing piece of audio gear for the price (and size!) *by E***R on 28 February 2024* This is a decoder (DAC) and pre-amp, of the best audio quality. Actually, it's astonishing. Technically there are better DACs, but you can probably only measure the difference with professional equipment. Audio Science Review concludes "SMSL cuts the functionality to the minimum many need, to have high quality conversion of digital to analog for multiple inputs. Performance is superb for the cost, as it provides full transparency to the source. It proves that performance requires great engineering skill, and not a ton of money. A lesson that I hope one day high-end audio companies and their customers appreciate." I have it linked to a Pi2Aes (re-clocker linked to a Pi NAS music server) for my digital music catalogue and Web Radio, including MQA tracks. There's no volume control, which I rather miss, but that is available from the next stage (amp), so it outputs a good 2v. I'd prefer balanced inputs/outputs, but with this performance, who cares? This replaced a much larger DAC with multiple inputs, with greater functionality and lower cost. Did I mention how small it was? Astonishing. ## 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 --- ## Why Shop on Desertcart? - πŸ›’ **Trusted by 1.3+ Million Shoppers** β€” Serving international shoppers since 2016 - 🌍 **Shop Globally** β€” Access 737+ million products across 21 categories - πŸ’° **No Hidden Fees** β€” All customs, duties, and taxes included in the price - πŸ”„ **15-Day Free Returns** β€” Hassle-free returns (30 days for PRO members) - πŸ”’ **Secure Payments** β€” Trusted payment options with buyer protection - ⭐ **TrustPilot Rated 4.5/5** β€” Based on 8,000+ happy customer reviews **Shop now:** [https://www.desertcart.at/products/523773336-smsl-su-1-mqa-mqa-cd-audio-decoder-ak4493s-xu316](https://www.desertcart.at/products/523773336-smsl-su-1-mqa-mqa-cd-audio-decoder-ak4493s-xu316) --- *Product available on Desertcart Austria* *Store origin: AT* *Last updated: 2026-09-11*