Your reviews helped me to decide on the Topping D70 Octo. Love it. Thanks so much. Since then, I've found that the $59 Schiit Magni Heretic is an excellent partner for the Octo. Clean as a whistle, with staging, and power. Every time I see your vids, my gear purchase mania sets in. But I'm sticking with the cheap little amp this time.
Thanks for an excellent review. I thought your discussion of the differences with regard to the Geshelli, decay of notes, spatial cues, etc. was outstanding.
Thank you once again for your comprehensive and in-depth review of this equipment. I would like to know if you may possibly be reviewing the FiiO R2R headphone DAC amp in the future? Stay well, Sir.
It would be nice to watch the SMSL VMV P2 review. It's costs twice more, but how much better does it sound? And comparison of the VMV P2 with Geshelli Erish 3 Pro would be fascinating for plenty of fans of your channel IMHO.
Nicely Done. You mentioned a better sound experience via balanced. Maybe I missed this in the review but is the same sound experience had via 4.4 as the xlr from the front jacks ? Thanks
Balanced will sound better because such balanced devices will _always_ (9/10 times) have inferior single ended designs. A proper designed single ended device won't sound worse than a balanced one just because it is single ended. This is with home use and therefore short cable lengths of course. (I don't think that you wanted to imply this but some could read it as such)
Hi all, I just bought the Schiit Magni/Modi stack and it arrived defective. It sounded louder but idk I felt like I really wanted more bass. What would be a good option for a Dac/Amp that's good for a metal/bass lover, I am looking to spend around 500 give or take. What would yall suggest? I am rocking Sennhesier HD 518 Headphones as well. I was looking at the xDuoo TA-22 DAC/Tube Amp what is everyone's thoughts in it in 2024?
I've got the 68 ohm (V2) and 50 ohm (V3) He6se and even with a -6.9db preamp reduction to equalize them, it's a walk in the park. The H400 can handle the Susvara no problem.
I’ve seen comments elsewhere from people saying they had issues with reliability with this brand. Any idea what that is like? Dealing with warranties with companies in China sounds complicated
I got this unit from Apos in the US and they should be responsable for any warranty claims. In Europe, Audiophonics should be very reliable. That said, I usually don't use most of these devices long enough to encounter issues. The nature of the job requires me to move on quickly.
Don't get scared from comments online. SMSL hasn't ever had problems out of the norm with new releases, every mass produced product can have issues and you need to buy from a store that can assist you with warranty without too many issues, because never say never. There are some good sellers in EU, UK and US...check if what you want is there before buying. The H400 is not massively produced, I got mine this month and I had to wait for it because they don't make a ton of them, considering the cost of it. I think I saw it already on Amazon UK as well, so you have plenty of choice.
After my really bad experience with SMSL (first the Remote failed and next the Unit : The Local Seller merely washed his hands off.) I for one don't trust the Brand.
I am disillusioned in general by the reliability of DACs in general, heard bad things about the reliability of Topping too It's writing off a lot of brands for me At this point, just hope for a good warranty and be prepared for ewaste at the end of that time.
I've got both and the H300 gets way hotter on the bottom because it doesn't have a standby mode like the H400. I've got the H400 out now and in medium gain running at a good clip it's not even warm. I also have the A70Pro and they're the same temperature under load. If you get a slotted metal 15 inch monitor riser with adjustable feet it works great for a stack to keep the H300 cooler. I also got some big square rubber feet on Aliexpress and they raise it up enough as well.
Thank so much for the good review.❤
Good to see the subs going up. I wish you great success on TH-cam and in life. My Tradutto is burnt-in, burnt down and on fire.
Your reviews helped me to decide on the Topping D70 Octo. Love it. Thanks so much.
Since then, I've found that the $59 Schiit Magni Heretic is an excellent partner for the Octo. Clean as a whistle, with staging, and power.
Every time I see your vids, my gear purchase mania sets in. But I'm sticking with the cheap little amp this time.
Me too for the Topping D70 Octo.
Thanks for an excellent review. I thought your discussion of the differences with regard to the Geshelli, decay of notes, spatial cues, etc. was outstanding.
Thank you once again for your comprehensive and in-depth review of this equipment. I would like to know if you may possibly be reviewing the FiiO R2R headphone DAC amp in the future? Stay well, Sir.
I tried to get it some time ago but it was out of stock. Not sure if I'm getting back to ordering it since I'm swamped right now.
@@iiWiReviews I totally understand. I was just interested to hear your opinion. Take care, Sir and all the best.
I just bought Fostex T60rp headphones and like your voice even better,you sound like a pro speaker from a radio station,deeper and raspy
Watching this review on my htpc feeding a SMSL DO400 dac/amp and thru the H400, and SJY Audio Horizon magnetic planars headphones!
Thanks for the presentation.
Thanks for the review, your opinion is always appreciated!
How would you say the amps in the video compare to the Aune S17 Pro?
S17 pro sounds a bit richer and more spacious. SH-X is more on par with it.
@@iiWiReviews Thanks for your response. Big fan of the channel!
I hope they will make AO400 in the future :p
It would be nice to watch the SMSL VMV P2 review. It's costs twice more, but how much better does it sound? And comparison of the VMV P2 with Geshelli Erish 3 Pro would be fascinating for plenty of fans of your channel IMHO.
Nicely Done.
You mentioned a better sound experience via balanced.
Maybe I missed this in the review but is the same
sound experience had via 4.4 as the xlr from the front jacks ?
Thanks
I used XLR while testing but 4.4mm has the exact same internal wiring and has to sound the same.
Balanced will sound better because such balanced devices will _always_ (9/10 times) have inferior single ended designs. A proper designed single ended device won't sound worse than a balanced one just because it is single ended. This is with home use and therefore short cable lengths of course.
(I don't think that you wanted to imply this but some could read it as such)
Hi all, I just bought the Schiit Magni/Modi stack and it arrived defective. It sounded louder but idk I felt like I really wanted more bass. What would be a good option for a Dac/Amp that's good for a metal/bass lover, I am looking to spend around 500 give or take. What would yall suggest? I am rocking Sennhesier HD 518 Headphones as well. I was looking at the xDuoo TA-22 DAC/Tube Amp what is everyone's thoughts in it in 2024?
Would something like this drive a susvara decently well? Ot would that headphone require a much more expensive amp to sound good?
2nd
I've got the 68 ohm (V2) and 50 ohm (V3) He6se and even with a -6.9db preamp reduction to equalize them, it's a walk in the park. The H400 can handle the Susvara no problem.
I’ve seen comments elsewhere from people saying they had issues with reliability with this brand. Any idea what that is like? Dealing with warranties with companies in China sounds complicated
I got this unit from Apos in the US and they should be responsable for any warranty claims. In Europe, Audiophonics should be very reliable. That said, I usually don't use most of these devices long enough to encounter issues. The nature of the job requires me to move on quickly.
Don't get scared from comments online. SMSL hasn't ever had problems out of the norm with new releases, every mass produced product can have issues and you need to buy from a store that can assist you with warranty without too many issues, because never say never. There are some good sellers in EU, UK and US...check if what you want is there before buying.
The H400 is not massively produced, I got mine this month and I had to wait for it because they don't make a ton of them, considering the cost of it. I think I saw it already on Amazon UK as well, so you have plenty of choice.
After my really bad experience with SMSL (first the Remote failed and next the Unit : The Local Seller merely washed his hands off.) I for one don't trust the Brand.
I am disillusioned in general by the reliability of DACs in general, heard bad things about the reliability of Topping too
It's writing off a lot of brands for me
At this point, just hope for a good warranty and be prepared for ewaste at the end of that time.
@@StephenMcGregor1986 'eWaste', you said it.
Does it have good build quality and does it get super hot though? My SMSL H300 feels like a can of sardines and gets very hot very fast.
It's a very good build quality as far as I can tell and it gets very hot. All powerfull amps I've tested lately do. They bias them high.
I've got both and the H300 gets way hotter on the bottom because it doesn't have a standby mode like the H400. I've got the H400 out now and in medium gain running at a good clip it's not even warm. I also have the A70Pro and they're the same temperature under load. If you get a slotted metal 15 inch monitor riser with adjustable feet it works great for a stack to keep the H300 cooler. I also got some big square rubber feet on Aliexpress and they raise it up enough as well.
This product is totally redundant isn't it when you have the do400