With the SU-2, SMSL continues its tradition of building compact, technically focused DACs aimed at listeners who value signal integrity over gimmicks. Designed for desktop audio systems, studio monitoring, and active speaker setups, the SU-2 is all about clean conversion, balanced architecture, and predictable performance in both home and semi-professional environments.
Housed in a solid metal chassis, the SU-2 is small enough to sit neatly on a desk yet robust enough to integrate into a rack alongside other source components. The design language is understated and functional, with no display or menus—just clear LED indicators that keep you informed without distracting from the listening experience.
Fully Balanced Signal Path from Input to Output
At the heart of the SU-2 is the latest ES9039Q2M DAC chip, a modern converter known for low distortion and high dynamic range. SMSL has paired it with a carefully designed analog stage using four OPA1612A operational amplifiers, arranged in a symmetrical layout for the left and right channels. This fully balanced design helps reduce crosstalk and ensures consistent performance across both channels—especially important when feeding active monitors or balanced amplifiers.
Both balanced XLR and unbalanced RCA outputs are provided, making the SU-2 easy to integrate into a wide range of systems, from compact desktop rigs to more ambitious hi-fi setups.
Flexible Digital Connectivity, Zero Fuss Operation
Despite its minimalist approach, the SU-2 offers a solid selection of digital inputs: AES/EBU, coaxial, and optical. This makes it suitable not only for home audio sources such as streamers and CD transports, but also for professional or studio-oriented equipment.
The front panel LEDs indicate the selected input, signal lock, channel activity, and sampling rate at a glance. Practical features like automatic input detection and power-status memory mean the SU-2 behaves predictably in daily use—turn it on, feed it a signal, and it simply works.
SMSL SU-2 Specifications
DAC chip: ES9039Q2M
Analog stage: 4 × OPA1612A op-amps (fully balanced)
Digital inputs: AES/EBU, coaxial, optical
Analog outputs: XLR (balanced), RCA (unbalanced)
PCM support: Up to 24-bit / 192 kHz
DSD support: DSD64 (DoP)
Power consumption: Up to 2.3 W
Standby power consumption: Up to 0.1 W
Dimensions: 150 × 42.5 × 133.1 mm
Weight: 532.6 g
Clean Conversion, No Distractions
The SMSL SU-2 doesn’t try to be an all-in-one solution. There’s no USB input, no Bluetooth, and no display—just a carefully implemented DAC with balanced outputs and professional-grade inputs. For users who already have a digital source and want a compact, transparent converter for active speakers or a clean desktop hi-fi system, the SU-2 makes a strong case through simplicity and solid engineering rather than feature overload.
