Unleashing Audiophile Bliss: S.M.S.L. M500 MkIII DAC and Headphone Amp Review

[@TheBoomerConsumer]

Please keep comments civil. Comments that add to the discussion are welcome. Comments with links will be deleted.

[@waynebarto3540]

Hi Bruce! I just bought the M500 MKiii unit a week before your video appeared! Like you, I am pretty happy with it. However, I may be having one issue I can't resolve and would like to ask you a question. When going through the menu options on my unit, I do not see an item for SPDIF Mode. Does your unit include this in the menu? The little user manual that came with the unit seems to indicate that it should be one of the menu options. I am baffled on how to access this option and select between "Normal Mode" and "Processor Mode". From what I can tell, you have to select "Processor Mode" to get the full decoding when playing MQA tracks. Or perhaps I am wrong? Bruce, your help would be greatly appreciated!

[@joaquinbarreto9398]

Excellent review. Thinking about using it for a HIFI set up hooked up to a Yamaha AS1200 and JBL 4309 Studio Monitors.

[@5060ijg]

Very informative! Other than the balanced inputs/outputs and bluetooth, are you able to comment on how this unit compare with the Pro-Ject Pre Box S2 Digital Edition 2023, specifically it's sound?

[@landonpraught9170]

Very cool I might check that out great video 👍

[@fredjohnson9856]

I had the S.M.S.L. M500 MkII connected to my stereo system. I found the soundstage to be huge, lots of air around instruments, but had a lack of low bass. It may have been a defective unit, idk. Comparing to Schiit Modi 3 & Sabja A20D 2022

[@luca_rr4660]

How is the soundstage of the Sabaj A20D?

[@fredjohnson9856]

@@luca_rr4660 much more realistic then the M500 MKII

[@luca_rr4660]

@@fredjohnson9856 Thank you. Do you think the M500 MKIII will have a better sound stage?

[@DJTHEFONZ]

Hi Bruce. What would you recommend for the Hifiman HE1000v2 Stealth ? The one above or the Hifiman EF 600 that you also reviewed. Which one do you prefer and why. Thanks by the way for your time and reviews

[@patricaomas8750]

Sorry never done this before would you connect the power amp via those XLR 3-pin socket things? To use as a preamp?

[@mcm934ify]

Can i use like a preamplifier with the RCA output, please ?

[@jaroslavletko2223]

Hi. I use an rpi4 with a Moode audio player connected via a USB cable to a dac SMSL M500 mk3. I have such a problem that after some time of playback via USB it stops playing with the message "MPD error Failed to open audio output" and I have to select the USB input again with the remote control and it works for a while and so on. Do you know where the error could be? Thank you.

[@banxa]

No balanced output on the front?

[@florin604]

No

[@carriestuart9921]

Sorry, but you lost me at $549 for a desktop application unit. I'm sticking to my vintage audio gear. Thank you very much. I'm not a streamer anyway. Vinyl and CDs here.

[@joaquinbarreto9398]

Okay so it’s not for your application but it’s a piece of hifi gear that’s versatile.

[@florin604]

Imagine all those peole not having one 😂