S.M.S.L Sanskrit 10th MKII DAC Decoder AK4493 HiFi DAC 32Bit/768KHz XMOS USB Native DSD256 USB Optical Coaxial Input Audio Decoder(Black)

Playing my Dead & Company Radio Station (which I have created using Algorithms and AI) on Pandora through a Sony BDPS7200 Dual Core 3D 4K Upscaling Blu-ray Player with Wi-Fi (2014 Model)... Connected to the S.M.S.L Sanskrit 10th MKII AK4493 HiFi 768KHz 32Bit XMOS USB Native DSD256 Decoder (Black) DAC with a Monster Cable M Series 75 ohms coaxial cable... The DAC is connected to the Arcam AVR 380 with Monster Cable THX 1000 analog interconnects... IN CD QUALITY FOR FREE !!!!! But most important of all... I used to experience a substantial amount of "jitter" while watching 3D movies. I have connected my Arcam BD300 to the Sony KDL-55HX850 3D TV using a Monster Cable M2000 hdmi cable... The TV was connected to the Arcam receiver with a Monster Cable M Series optical cable and so was the Arcam blu-ray player (along with being connected with Monster Cable THX 1000 analog interconnects, which are now connected to the Sanskrit DAC). I bought it for under $100 and am extremely pleased with the sound quality (I'm comparing the sound quality to that of a Topping D30 DAC, FiiO Taishan DAC and the Wolfson internal DACs in the Arcam blu-ray player and the Arcam receiver). The remote leaves a lot to be desired... But I can easily live with it. Thank you for your time and patience.

I bought this to compare to my current dac collection ranging in price from $99 to $2000 . The resolving capability is truly impressive. The 6 digital filters allows one to choose a filter best suited for the genre of music being played .The sound quality is amazing especially for the price , and there's a digital volume control. Sound quality is of course subjective but to me lowering the noise floor and increasing dynamics is a plus. Is it colored ? technically yes . But who cares my system never sounded so good . I do use a regulated power supply as it does not come with one. An Apple USB adapter works just fine.

In an audio market that has become seemingly saturated with budget DAC's, it came as a pleasant surprise when I recently auditioned the superb audio qualities of the SMSL Sanskrit 10 Mk II. But please read on because there is one major caveat that I developed after having owned it now for 3 months.Other DAC units that I measured the 10 Mk II against were the likes of the Schiit Modi 3 and Modi 3+, along with the SMSL M100, and the DAC sections from the Fiio K3, Soundavo Hp-DAC1, and the iFi ZenDAC.For the purposes of this evaluation, I elected to pair the 10 Mk II with the Douk Audio P1 Blue Tooth tube/hybrid DAC/Preamp/Head Amp - the link to which is shown below (using just the wired RCA connections to the Douk Audio P1):https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07TJS2DBT/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o04_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1The reason I elected to use the Douk Audio P1 as the preamp/head-amp section was because I was evaluating that unit also for a separate review, which I recently uploaded also. The 10 Mk II was connected to my desktop PV via USB cables (which were Audioquest Pearl versions), and to ensure a no noise scenario, I made sure to use the iFi USB purifier between the DAC and the PC.The 10 Mk II is a superbly crafted DAC with a wonderful little remote. In effect, this gives you a Preamp also, and no Head Amp is needed, unless of course, you need to listen to headphones also.With the tube/hybrid Douk Audio P1, the sound qualities were as follows (evaluated using superb recordings and quality streams):1. Midrange and treble frequencies - dynamic, biting - with an almost silky-like warmer quality to them. These frequencies are reproduced in such a manner that you (at times) are wondering if you are listening to a state-of-the-art system.2. Bass frequencies - again, dynamic, full (without bloat) - with exceptional low reach.3. Sound staging and depth - it is here where this combo exhibits uncanny-like spatial qualities. You can sense and feel the "air" around the instruments and the hall/room ambience of the performances.4. Imaging - the ability to precisely locate where the instruments and vocalists are positioned is also uncanny.I'll tell you, I've become really impressed with this SMSL 10 Mk II in so many ways. I did not expect to experience the stellar sound qualities that I heard from this budget level amp. If after listening to the audio qualities of this setup, you told me that the 10 Mk II was a $500 DAC, I would have believed it. Knowing it costs just a tad over $100 USD, makes this unit a no-brainer.So, combining the superb audio characteristics with the low price of the SMSL Sanskrit 10 MK II, I can easily give it 5 stars.As a matter of information, I used the following audio items for my evaluation:1. Speakers: Presonus Eris E5 XT Powered 5" Studio Monitors.2. Subwoofer: Mackie CR8S-XBT 8 inch 300 watt powered subwoofer3. Cables used: USB = Audioquest Pearl; RCA cables = World's Best Cables.4. Headphones used: HiFiMan Sundara, HiFiMan 400i 2020 version, Drop/HiFiMan 35X, Philips SHP 9500, Sivga 007, Brainwavz HM5, Status Audio CB-1, and Koss KPH-30i's.5. Preamp/Headphone Amp: Douk Audio P1 Tube/Hybrid.---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------EDITED COMMENTS - 26 June 2021Alas - some good things may typically come to an end. My Sanskrit 10 Mk II developed a severe mid-frequency hum in both channels, more so on the left channel. I troubleshot everything and in the end discovered it was the SMSL. Since it was beyond the window of return, I tried SMSL technical support - which, quite frankly, there was none. So I contacted Amazon customer service, and they did an exception, allowing me to send the unit back (almost 3 months after the fact), for a full refund. It was the lack of US technical support which caused me to have to look in another direction. Again - the sound is superb, but if something happens, and you need tech support...well, forget about it.As a result - mainly due to technical support issues (or the lack of technical support) - I downgraded my review of the 10 Mk II to 4 stars instead of my initial 5 stars.I subsequently ordered a Schiit Modi 3+ and it is being paired with the same wonderful Douk Audio P1 tube preamp/headphone amp.

Allowed me to upgrade my 1996 CD player - Pioneer stable platter which I brought out of retirement when my expensive SACD player broke down.The sound quality, ease of use, and overall performance are beyond criticism when the cost of this item is considered.Speedy delivery to New Zealand and we’ll packaged.

Cool product. Good price. Sounds so much better than the on board d/a.But it if you realize you might have a need for it.Not mainstream generally these days. It is nice to see niche support versus the expensive high end that might cost you thousands.

Awesome sound quality!Good value for money!

Clean design, great sound, easy to hook up and use. Demerits: Never got a reply to a technical question I put to the company, and even though I don’t need it, this is the first product I have ever bought where the manufacturer was too cheap to provide a set of batteries for the remote. But on sound, it definitely delivers, and that’s what counts. One star down for the unresponsive tech-support and the nickel-and-diming on the batteries. I actually would be fine without the display too but what the hey.

Works great once you figure out how to use it.