Chord Mojo 2 vs SMSL SU-1
106 facts in comparison
Based on 479 Reddit opinions. SMSL SU-1SMSL SU-1 leads by 6 points.
479 opinions
SMSL SU-1 leads by 6pts
VS
89%
A-
Based on
467 Redditors
Chord Mojo 2
~$609
276 opinions
tldr; Portable legend. FPGA magic, distinctive sound. The portable reference.
Check pricesVS
Reddit's Pick
95%
A+
Based on
390 Redditors
Winner
SMSL SU-1
~$84.99
203 opinions
tldr; Compact DAC. USB source, clean output. Basic but effective.
Check prices🎵SOU
⭐FEA
⚡AMP
🔇NOI
🔧BUI
94
Points
100
Points
Score by Category
Sound Quality
94%98%
Features & Connectivity
100%100%
Amp Performance
94%0%
Noise & Interference
100%100%
Build Quality
100%100%
Why is SMSL SU-1 better than Chord Mojo 2?
- Higher Reddit score (95% vs 89%)
- Better value (100% vs 73%)
- Compact
- Budget
- Clean output
Based on 857 Reddit opinions
Slight Edge
Reddit prefers the SMSL SU-1SMSL SU-1
Winning by 6 points (95% vs 89%)
Better value
Compact
Budget
High confidence (857 mentions)
💬Reddit Sentiment
Based on 857 Reddit mentionsOverall Rating
Mojo 2
8.9/10
467 mentions
SMSL SU-1
9.5/10
390 mentions
SOUND QUALITY
Mojo 29.4/10
SMSL SU-19.8/10
AMP SECTION
Mojo 29.4/10
SMSL SU-10.0/10
VALUE
Mojo 27.3/10
SMSL SU-110.0/10
FEATURES
Mojo 210.0/10
SMSL SU-110.0/10
BUILD QUALITY
Mojo 210.0/10
SMSL SU-110.0/10
NOISE
Mojo 210.0/10
SMSL SU-110.0/10
⚔️
Head to Head
| Topic | Mojo 2 | SMSL SU-1 |
|---|---|---|
Sound Quality | 94% | 98% |
Amp Section | 94% | 0% |
Value | 73% | 100% |
Features | 100% | 100% |
Build Quality | 100% | 100% |
Noise | 100% | 100% |
Category Wins
Mojo 2: 1|SMSL SU-1: 2
Head to Head
Mojo 2: 1|SMSL SU-1: 2
Sound QualitySMSL SU-1
Mojo 294%
SMSL SU-198%
Amp SectionMojo 2
Mojo 294%
SMSL SU-10%
ValueSMSL SU-1
Mojo 273%
SMSL SU-1100%
Features
Mojo 2100%
SMSL SU-1100%
Build Quality
Mojo 2100%
SMSL SU-1100%
Noise
Mojo 2100%
SMSL SU-1100%
Mojo 2
89%
95%
SMSL SU-1
Mojo 289%
SMSL SU-195%
SMSL SU-1 wins by 6 points
Key Specs
| Spec | Chord Mojo 2 | SMSL SU-1 |
|---|---|---|
| Dac Type | Chord proprietary FPGA-based DAC | — |
| Dynamic Range | 125 dB A wt. | — |
| Thd N | 0.0003% at 2.5 V 300 ohms | — |
| Output Power | 90 mW 300 ohms | 600 mW 30 ohms | — |
| Inputs | Coaxial, dual-data coax, optical, Micro-USB and USB-C | USB Type-C, Optical, Coaxial |
Key Highlights
Chord Mojo 2Winner
👑 Portable king
🔊 FPGA DAC
🔋 Portable power
💰 Premium price
SMSL SU-1
📏 Compact
💰 Budget
🔊 Clean output
🔧 Needs amp
Topic Battles
Mojo 2: 1|Tied: 3|SMSL SU-1: 1
🎵Sound Quality
SMSL SU-1 winsMojo 2
94%
SMSL SU-1
98%
⭐Features & Connectivity
Mojo 2
100%
SMSL SU-1
100%
⚡Amp Performance
Mojo 2 winsMojo 2
94%
SMSL SU-1
0%
🔇Noise & Interference
Mojo 2
100%
SMSL SU-1
100%
🔧Build Quality
Mojo 2
100%
SMSL SU-1
100%
Based on Reddit sentiment across 5 categories
📈Where They Rank
💬What Redditors Actually Say
What Redditors Say
Best praise vs top criticism for SMSL SU-1
Best Praise
+14 pts“Thrift store DVD player with a good DAC like SMSL SU-1 will sound like a £1000 CD player. For £100.”
r/BudgetAudiophile
ViewTop Criticism
+1 pts“With a good $1000 DAC, sure, there will be imorovements. With SMSL SU-1, no I don't think so.”
r/BudgetAudiophile
View3 more quotes available below
What Redditors Say
Best praise vs top criticism for Chord Mojo 2
Best Praise
+62 pts“Great price! On the other hand, I find it difficult to spend a lot of money on a product with a micro USB 😂. Afterwards the rest is super quality”
r/headphones
ViewTop Criticism
+7 pts“Ah, the Mojo ear blast of deafness and destruction. It’s honestly probably the thing that’s making me lean towards Q5K and Qutest over Mojo2.”
r/headphones
View3 more quotes available below
Sentiment Over Time
Chord Mojo 2
SMSL SU-1
📈Historical Price Data
Chord Mojo 2
SMSL SU-1
Chord Mojo 2
All-time low: $560(2024-08)
$0 below 90-day avg
SMSL SU-1
All-time low: $67.99(2023-06)
Which is Better?
SMSL SU-1 Wins
95%
SU-1
vs
89%
2
SMSL SU-1 leads by 6 points based on 857 Reddit opinions.
Why SMSL SU-1Winner
- Better Value for Money (100% vs 73%)
Why Mojo 2
- 👑 Portable king
- 🔊 FPGA DAC
❤️The Love/Hate Breakdown
Sentiment Breakdown
51%Positive
Positive
51%Neutral
48%Negative
1%Based on 390 Reddit opinions
Sentiment Breakdown
54%Positive
Positive
54%Neutral
40%Negative
6%Based on 467 Reddit opinions
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is better, SMSL SU-1 or Chord Mojo 2?
Based on 857 Reddit comments, SMSL SU-1 is the preferred choice with 95% positive sentiment vs Chord Mojo 2's 89%. SMSL SU-1 leads by 6 percentage points.
Should I buy SMSL SU-1 or Chord Mojo 2?
If you want the safer choice based on community sentiment, SMSL SU-1 has stronger approval ratings (95% vs 89%). However, Chord Mojo 2 may still be better depending on your specific needs, budget, or use case.
What do Redditors love about SMSL SU-1?
Reddit users highlight: Compact. Budget. Clean output. With 390 mentions and 95% approval, it's a well-regarded choice in the community.
What do Redditors say about Chord Mojo 2?
Reddit users highlight: Portable king. FPGA DAC. Portable power. With 467 mentions and 89% approval, it remains a popular alternative.
How many Reddit reviews were analyzed?
This comparison analyzed 857 Reddit comments: 390 about SMSL SU-1 and 467 about Chord Mojo 2. Data was sourced from DACs community discussions.
How accurate are these ratings?
Our sentiment analysis is approximately 80-85% accurate compared to manual review. Well-discussed products with many mentions tend to have more reliable scores than niche items with fewer data points.
Why trust Reddit over professional reviews?
Reddit users bought products with their own money and have no incentive to mislead. You're seeing hundreds of real opinions across different use cases, not just one reviewer's take. This crowdsourced approach surfaces both common praise and recurring complaints.
479 Reddit opinions analyzed · Last updated 7/15/2026