[Sound Battle] S.M.S.L DA-9(Direct Mode) vs NAD C388 - High Volume Setting - with KEF R3 Bookshelf

The old timey jazz recordings have a flat canned quality to them on any system. Not great fidelity. Anyway, the NAD sounds like it's more polite and soft. I prefer the SMSL. I just bought one.

please dont decide on hifi equipment through such unreliabe tests, what you hear is the outcome of YOUR listening gear and not the ones tested.

I really appreciate your input and all the effort, time and money! Just would suggest to either change amps faster so we can listen to more less the same section, or, play the same section with both

i prefer da9 over c388 ( harsher but more lively and dynamic) , i am surprised that the massive price difference does not show up

When switching from the SMSL to the NAD during the Jazz it was like throwing a blanket over the speakers. The symbols almost disappeared completely. SMSL won the Jazz and classical tests quite comfortably. The NAD was less fatiguing with the heavy crash and burn song and more laid back for the time travel song which suited better. The SMSL obviously has better clarity and the NAD is smoother. Subjective taste will sway each listener. I'd probably hand the overall win to the SMSL.

DA-9 champagner, NAD prosecco in my ears.

For me C388 is better. It is so quiet and depth and detail. DA-9 is open and high. For fully joyful moment DA-9 will o.k. But for relax and heart touching C388 is better.

У Nad 388 задняя сцена есть и она читается, у Da 9 сцена торчит вперёд, а задняя смазана и почти не разборчева. У Nad есть масштаб , мощный бас и некая мягкость звука, Da9 от него голова быстро начинает болеть. Однозначно победа за NAD. 👍

I can't believe how good the SMSL is.

The smsl sounds a bit boosted in the highs and lows / mid cut compared to the NAD. It's hard to say which sounds better from this. Perhaps the da9 complements the KEFs flat / mid focused sound more than the NAD.

I guess it comes some to what speaker and dac you go with, DA-9 has a very honest and straightforward sound, while the Nad has more it’s own characteristics and tuning, and in some songs sound more musical, I think da9 would go very well with warmer system and Nad goes well with those system that you want to soften it a little

the da-9 in personal is dry sounding i had them

Smls for sure

How do you like youre class D sound? Regular or extra crispy?

David and Goliath . This is what we're here to discover. E, the revealer of the truth. The differences are pretty small compared to the price difference. My take is that the DA9 sounds a tad more open and dynamic. The C388 sounds a tad smoother and warmer and a little restrained/more refined depending on your POV. If you want even more power there's always the SMSL SA400 !!

Thanks alot for this! Would love to see comparison with loxjie a30 aswell if you have it.

For me the DA9 sounds 'like it is', just passing through signal. Some tracks feel more outlined and focussed, imo.
Against the NAD I liked the DA9 better for a more true representation of tracks and complementing charasteristics of the R3's.

NAD has the most natural, musical and refined sound. You can see this clearly on the Time Traveling, Crash And Burn, Magic Show and Fields tracks.

Timbres sound more natural, realistic, analog to NAD.

By the DA-9 everything is more metallic, digitized, artificial out of reality.

Even the voices sounded more natural for NAD.

I couldnt wait and grabbed my wife's in-ears... now this is just silly. The DA9 is up there with the 388 and fuller on some tracks. What..... I knew the DA9 was good but god damn, not this close. Even on Punkd, it was neck and neck with the 388, and the 388 was at -5db. Madness. I sense the 388 has more depth, but thats something I can easily achieve and even better with DACs below 500 bucks. Power isnt a problem here, for the R3s at least. The DA9 plays like a straight wire with gain, which is exactly what I look for in amps. You guys have seen rave reviews of the DA9, I can tell you for a fact that its greater than what you all can imagine, especially with a good DAC. Go get one, best 250 you will ever spend. The DA9 nearly made me sell my Rotels, when the PA5 came in it was a done deal. Thank you so much again E, you ma man!!!

Thank you so so so much E!!! I needed this! Ill have to go back and hear it, be back home in a few hours! Thank you so much E!!!