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Find here a selection of useful and/or essential accessories for this product. These are specially selected by the Audiophonics team according to the characteristics of the product.

The SMSL SU-3 is a compact USB digital-to-analog converter (DAC) designed to integrate a high-resolution digital source into a Hi-Fi or desktop audio system. It combines an AKM AK4496 conversion chip with an XMOS XU-316 USB audio interface, supporting PCM streams up to 32bit / 768kHz and DSD up to DSD512 via USB. It also features a 32-band PEQ parametric equalizer, whose settings are retained after the device is switched off, and two femtosecond quartz oscillators designed to provide a precise conversion clock. Its USB power supply filtering stage helps limit electrical interference. The SU-3 features USB, optical and coaxial digital inputs, as well as unbalanced RCA and balanced XLR analog outputs. The specified output levels are 2Vrms via RCA and 4Vrms via XLR. Its compact CNC-machined aluminum alloy enclosure measures 116 × 40 × 87 mm and weighs 310g. It can therefore be used with an integrated amplifier, a power amplifier or active speakers equipped with suitable analog inputs.
The SMSL SU-3 uses the AKM AK4496 converter to transform digital signals into analog signals, paired with the XMOS XU-316 USB audio controller. Via USB, it supports PCM up to 32bit / 768kHz and native DSD up to DSD512, corresponding to a frequency of 22.5792MHz. The optical and coaxial inputs accept PCM streams up to 24bit / 192kHz. The manufacturer specifies a total harmonic distortion plus noise (THD+N) of 0.00012%, equivalent to -118dB. The dynamic range and signal-to-noise ratio are specified at 126dB via XLR and 123dB via RCA. Asynchronous USB audio transfer allows the DAC to manage audio data synchronization during playback. The SU-3 is therefore suitable for converting high-resolution audio files from a computer or a compatible digital source.

The SMSL SU-3 incorporates two low-phase-noise femtosecond quartz oscillators. They serve as clock references to control digital signal synchronization and reduce jitter, i.e. unwanted timing variations in clock signals. This architecture is designed to stabilize the digital-to-analog conversion process and preserve the temporal integrity of the audio signal. The oscillators work alongside the XMOS XU-316 interface and the AKM AK4496 conversion stage to process supported audio streams.

The SMSL SU-3 incorporates a 32-band PEQ parametric equalizer, allowing precise adjustment of the audio system's frequency response. This function can be used to adapt playback to the speakers, listening room or user's preferences. Unlike simple preset equalization, a parametric equalizer allows several frequency bands to be adjusted individually and precisely. The settings are retained after the device is switched off, eliminating the need to reconfigure the equalizer each time the unit is powered on. The parameters available for each band should be checked in the software or configuration interface provided by SMSL.

The SMSL SU-3 incorporates a USB power supply filtering system designed to reduce noise, residual ripple and electromagnetic interference that may be present in the power supply. This design aims to stabilize the power supplied to the digital circuits, oscillators and converter. The DAC can operate using power supplied by the USB port, without requiring a dedicated external power adapter in a compatible USB configuration. Its power consumption is specified at less than 5W during operation and less than 0.1W in standby. The integrated filtering is designed to maintain suitable power supply conditions for audio processing while keeping the installation compact.


| 1 | Power Button / Source Selector |
| 2 | COAX LED Indicator |
| 3 | OPT LED Indicator |
| 4 | USB LED Indicator |
| 5 | Sampling Rate LED Indicator |
| 6 | Balanced XLR Line Output |
| 7 | RCA Line Output |
| 8 | Coaxial Input |
| 9 | Toslink Optical Input |
| 10 | USB Input / Power Supply |
Technical Specifications
| Specifications | |
|---|---|
| Product type | DAC |
| DAC chip | AK4496 |
| USB interface | XMOS XU316 |
| Inputs | 1x USB Input 1x Toslink Optical Input 1x Coaxial SPDIF Input |
| Outputs | 1x RCA 1x Balanced XLR |
| Output level | RCA : 2Vrms XLR : 4Vrms |
| THD+N | 0.00012 (-118dB) |
| Dynamic range | RCA : 123dB XLR : 126dB |
| SNR | RCA : 123dB XLR : 126dB |
| Sampling rate | USB : PCM 32bit 768kHz, DSD512 Toslink, Coaxial : PCM 24bit 192kHz |
| USB transmission | Asynchronous |
| OS compatibility | Windows 7 / 8 / 8.1 / 10 / 11 Mac OS X10.6 or later, Linux |
| General | |
|---|---|
| Power consumption | <5W |
| Standby power consumption | <0.1W |
| Dimensions | 116 x 40 x 87mm |
| Weight | 310g |
| Package contents | 1x SMSL SU-3 |
| Input | SPDIF |
| Input | USB |
| Input | Optical |
| Output | XLR |
| Output | RCA |
| DAC / ADC Chip | AK4496 |
| Max sampling rate | 768kHz |
| Max sampling rate | DSD512 |
| Color | Black |
| Networking | No |
| Remote Control | No |