Need help with my SMSL SU-1 DAC

I went through this same issue a few months ago on a headphone-office system.  The computer USB port doesn’t have the power to run the SMSL DAC.  I discussed the issues I was having with Ai and it came up with a solution that works very well. 

You need two items, a USB hub and a higher wattage power source. I use a tablet as the streamer-music source.  The tablet(or your computer) plugs into the hub via a USB-(A or C) to USB-C cable. A 45W charger plugs into the hub. The hub connects to your SMSL DAC via a USB-C to USB-C cable. 

The hub is a Small Rig Hub on Amazon "SmallRig 4-in-1 USB-C Hub with a Cold Shoe Mount, Type- C Multiport Hub", about $28.   The charger, also on Amazon,  is "Samsung Super Fast Charger Type C 45W GaN Power USB C Charger PPS/PD Charging Block & 6.6FT Cable", about $13.  Search Amazon for the text inside the quotes and you’ll find them. 

Since installing these items, my issues went away. I run a Samsung tablet into the hub, the hub into the SMSL DAC, the DAC into a McIntosh MA6100 integrated amp, and the amp speaker taps into a Hifiman HE-Adapter, then the Adapter into a pair of HE6se headphones..sounds REALLY good.  I was surprised how well it works. Good solution for an office setup.  The HE6se phones can be had at a screaming price off the Hifiman open box website. They need lots of clean power, but they sound wonderful.

If you don’t care about the electric noise from computer usb port and want to connect it to SU-1 directly, fiio makes a high quality, well-shielded OTG usb A male to usb C cable like this.  I have the previous non-silver coated cable LA-TC1 and it sounds pretty good (but now sold out or discontinued).  As recalled, I used LA-TC1 to connect from my Mac to SU-1 before and it works.  No static noise and it sounds as well as my $300 DH Labs Mirage usb cable.

I run a $10 UBS-C splitter dual charger/headphone adapter on a very similar SMSL C100 (w/remote).  It's modified with a MuseS02 opamp and runs off a regulated linear power supply instead of a wallwart, so I'm not sure if it directly correlates, but I think it should.  One side of the splitter goes to the charger, the other side is fed directly from a laptop USB to USB-C connector to stream Spotify Premium, and it's worked great for more than a year.  

It looks like the experienced have chimed in with a solution. FWIW I did this dance about 10 years ago when I started streaming. Back then our first effort was a laptop to a DAC. The 5v issue was common and at the time we ran usb A & B connections. The product at that time was “ The USB Disruptor “ and sold for $99. My friend had an expensive tube DAC and it was a night and day difference. Schiit had come into existence and I purchased the early Uber Analog and the devise made zero sonic difference but I never had an issue. I think it comes down to your DAC’s incoming clock and filtering ability. I put the link on as apparently it’s still available. Probably not your solution but it’s an interesting idea. Thanks for reading my ramble, Mike B. https://usbdisruptor.com/store/

Op, 

The SU-1 requires 5 V and typically draws only around 0.3–0.5 A to operate. A standard USB-A port on a PC, laptop, or Mac can easily supply that much current, depending on the USB version—0.5 A for USB 2.0 and 0.9 A for USB 3.0. Therefore, for anyone using the SU-1, a compliant USB data cable (but aforementioned quality usb cable is recommended) connected to a computer will power the DAC without any issues. In fact, I’m listening to mine as I write this.

Older iPhones with a Lightning port are the exception. They typically supply only about 0.1–0.2 A to connected USB accessories, so you’ll usually need a powered Lightning-to-USB adapter (or a split cable with external power) to run the SU-1 while streaming music.

Newer iPhones with USB-C (iPhone 15 and later) can typically supply up to about 1.5 A at 5 V, which is sufficient to power the vast majority of USB-powered DACs, including the SU-1.