An all-in-one on the bleeding edge

The third generation of the SMSL M500 Bluetooth DAC/Amp sees bleeding-edge improvements up and down the specs sheet. It includes a 3rd gen XMOS XU316 USB controller, an 8-channel ESS DAC chip, and triple the number of op amp chips over the previous model. It’s an all-in-one desktop solution that will be many audiophiles’ endgame. 

Built-in hi-fi amplifier

The M500’s PLFC headphone amplifier circuit makes it possible to obtain more than 2W of power with less than -120dB of distortion in a 16Ω load. Additionally, the gain is adjustable, making it easy to accommodate many  different types of headphones.

Third generation XMOS USB solution

The M500 MkIII uses the latest third-generation XMOS XU-316, a true 32-bit USB solution with customized drivers for the transmission of various high-definition audio, DoP, and native DSD.

24-bit Bluetooth

Qualcomm’s latest Bluetooth chip supports LDAC 24-bit/96kHz, aptX, aptX HD, SBC, and AAC.

8-channel flagship DAC chip

The M500 MKIII uses the ESS ES9038PRO DAC chip. This flagship 8-channel chip uses the critically acclaimed Hyperstream II architecture and Time Domain Jitter Eliminator for unprecedented performance.

7 digital filters

Customize the sound signature to your tastes with seven digital filters, like Fast Roll-Off, Slow Roll-Off, and Brick Wall.

Product highlights

• JAS hi-res certification 
• MQA certification
• MQA-CD certification
• ESS ES9038PRO D/A chip
• 0.00006% THD+N
• PLFC headphone amplifier circuit
• XMOS XU316
• DSD512
• PCM 32-bit/768kHz
• Bluetooth 5.0
• 7 digital filters
• Full-function remote control
• Aluminum alloy CNC precision machined housing

Specs

• • Inputs: USB, optical, coaxial, Bluetooth 
  • Outputs: 6.35mm headphone jack. 4.4mm headphone jack, RCA, XLR
  • Line output amplitude
    • XLR: 4.1Vrms
    • RCA: 2Vrms
  • THD+N: 0.00006% (-123.5dB)
  • HPA THD+N: 0.0001% (-120dB)
  • HPA power: 2W x 2 (16Ω), 1W x2 (32Ω)
  • HPA gain: 0dB (low), +9dB (high)
  • Dynamic range
    • XLR: 133dB
    • RCA: 126dB
  • SNR
    • XLR: 133dB
    • RCA: 126dB
  • USB spec: 2.0 asynchronization 
  • USB compatibility: Windows 7/8/8.1/10/11 (needs driver, Mac OSX 10.6 or later, Linux (Driverless)
  • MQA decoder: USB, optical, coaxial
  • MQA-CD decoder: Optical, coaxial 
  • DoP decoder: USB, optical, coaxial 
  • Sampling rate and bit version
    • USB: PCM 44.1-768kHz (32bit)
    • DSD 2.8224 – 22.5792MHz (1bit)
    • Optical/coaxial: 44.1-192kHz (24bit)
    • DoP: DoP256 (USB), DoP64 (optical/coaxial)
  • Bluetooth: 5.0
  • LDAC: 24bit/96kHz (990kbps/660kbps/330kbps)
  • aptX-HD: 24bit/48kHz_576kbps
  • aptX: 16bit/44.1kHz_352kbps
  • SBC: 16bit/44.1kHz_328kbps
  • AAC: 16bit/44.1 kHz_320kbps
  • Power consumption: 5W
  • Standby power: <0.5W
  • Size: 3.3” x 3.4” x 7.7” (85x88x197mm)
  • Weight 1.98lb (0.9kg)