SMSL SU-1 vs WiiM Ultra
99 facts in comparison
Based on 753 Reddit opinions. Close race—SMSL SU-1SMSL SU-1 edges ahead.
753 opinions
SMSL SU-1 leads by 4pts
VS
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 pricesVS
91%
A
Based on
1,276 Redditors
WiiM Ultra
~$329
550 opinions
tldr; Reddit overwhelmingly recommends the WiiM Ultra. With 92% positive sentiment across 1,278 mentions, this is a clear community favorite.
Check prices🎵SOU
⭐FEA
⚡AMP
🔇NOI
🔧BUI
100
Points
81
Points
Score by Category
Sound Quality
98%83%
Features & Connectivity
100%87%
Amp Performance
0%75%
Noise & Interference
100%100%
Build Quality
100%57%
Why is WiiM Ultra better than SMSL SU-1?
Both products have similar ratings. Check the detailed comparison below.
Based on 1,666 Reddit opinions
Too Close to Call
Reddit prefers the SMSL SU-1SMSL SU-1
Winning by 4 points (95% vs 91%)
Better sound quality
Better value
Better features
High confidence (1,666 mentions)
💬Reddit Sentiment
Based on 1,666 Reddit mentionsOverall Rating
SMSL SU-1
9.5/10
390 mentions
WiiM Ultra
9.1/10
1,276 mentions
SOUND QUALITY
SMSL SU-19.8/10
WiiM Ultra8.3/10
VALUE
SMSL SU-110.0/10
WiiM Ultra8.1/10
AMP SECTION
SMSL SU-10.0/10
WiiM Ultra7.5/10
FEATURES
SMSL SU-110.0/10
WiiM Ultra8.7/10
BUILD QUALITY
SMSL SU-110.0/10
WiiM Ultra5.7/10
NOISE
SMSL SU-110.0/10
WiiM Ultra10.0/10
⚔️
Head to Head
| Topic | SMSL SU-1 | WiiM Ultra |
|---|---|---|
Sound Quality | 98% | 83% |
Value | 100% | 81% |
Amp Section | 0% | 75% |
Features | 100% | 87% |
Build Quality | 100% | 57% |
Noise | 100% | 100% |
Category Wins
SMSL SU-1: 4|WiiM Ultra: 1
Head to Head
SMSL SU-1: 4|WiiM Ultra: 1
Sound QualitySMSL SU-1
SMSL SU-198%
WiiM Ultra83%
ValueSMSL SU-1
SMSL SU-1100%
WiiM Ultra81%
Amp SectionWiiM Ultra
SMSL SU-10%
WiiM Ultra75%
FeaturesSMSL SU-1
SMSL SU-1100%
WiiM Ultra87%
Build QualitySMSL SU-1
SMSL SU-1100%
WiiM Ultra57%
Noise
SMSL SU-1100%
WiiM Ultra100%
SMSL SU-1
95%
91%
WiiM Ultra
SMSL SU-195%
WiiM Ultra91%
Close race - SMSL SU-1 edges ahead by 4 points
Key Specs
| Spec | SMSL SU-1 | WiiM Ultra |
|---|---|---|
| DAC Chip | AKM AK4493S | — |
| THD+N | 0.00013% (-117dB) | — |
| PCM Support | 32bit/768kHz (USB) | — |
| DSD Support | DSD512 (USB) | — |
| Inputs | USB Type-C, Optical, Coaxial | — |
Key Highlights
SMSL SU-1
📏 Compact
💰 Budget
🔊 Clean output
🔧 Needs amp
WiiM UltraWinner
Solid community reputation
Frequently recommended
Topic Battles
SMSL SU-1: 3|Tied: 1|WiiM Ultra: 1
🎵Sound Quality
SMSL SU-1 winsSMSL SU-1
98%
WiiM Ultra
83%
⭐Features & Connectivity
SMSL SU-1 winsSMSL SU-1
100%
WiiM Ultra
87%
⚡Amp Performance
WiiM Ultra winsSMSL SU-1
0%
WiiM Ultra
75%
🔇Noise & Interference
SMSL SU-1
100%
WiiM Ultra
100%
🔧Build Quality
SMSL SU-1 winsSMSL SU-1
100%
WiiM Ultra
57%
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 WiiM Ultra
Best Praise
+28 pts“Really hoping WiiM comes out with some deals for the Ultra. Really want to get it but don’t want to pay full price.”
r/BudgetAudiophile
ViewTop Criticism
+21 pts“I've had the Wiim Pro Plus and the Ultra. I found that the only thing the Ultra added was a screen. The screen has limited functionality. Everything the screen does and more is on their home application. The screen is also too small to be used as an artwork display, it is also slow. It looks cool but not worth the extra money. Also, the Ultra does not work with AirPlay or Siri. I don't use Siri and AirPlay is limited to 48kbs, but at least it's there. I went withe the Ultra Pro Plus, and have not regretted it one bit.”
r/BudgetAudiophile
View3 more quotes available below
Sentiment Over Time
SMSL SU-1
WiiM Ultra
📈Historical Price Data
SMSL SU-1
WiiM Ultra
SMSL SU-1
All-time low: $67.99(2023-06)
WiiM Ultra
All-time low: $263.2(2024-11)
Which is Better?
SMSL SU-1 Wins
95%
SU-1
vs
91%
Ultra
Close race, but SMSL SU-1 edges ahead by 4 points based on 1,666 Reddit opinions.
Why SMSL SU-1Winner
- Better Value for Money (100% vs 81%)
- Better Features (100% vs 87%)
Why WiiM Ultra
- More discussed (1,276 vs 390)
❤️The Love/Hate Breakdown
Sentiment Breakdown
51%Positive
Positive
51%Neutral
48%Negative
1%Based on 390 Reddit opinions
Sentiment Breakdown
40%Positive
Positive
40%Neutral
57%Negative
3%Based on 1,276 Reddit opinions
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is better, SMSL SU-1 or WiiM Ultra?
Based on 1,666 Reddit comments, SMSL SU-1 has a slight edge with 95% positive sentiment vs WiiM Ultra's 91%. The difference is small, so both are solid choices.
Should I buy SMSL SU-1 or WiiM Ultra?
Both have similar approval ratings (95% vs 91%), so focus on specific features, pricing, and what matters most to you.
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 WiiM Ultra?
WiiM Ultra has 1,276 mentions on Reddit with 91% positive sentiment. It's frequently discussed as a solid option.
How many Reddit reviews were analyzed?
This comparison analyzed 1,666 Reddit comments: 390 about SMSL SU-1 and 1,276 about WiiM Ultra. 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.
753 Reddit opinions analyzed · Last updated 7/17/2026