AOSHIDA SMSL C200 Review (DAC & Amp)

[unfit327]

I'm contemplating sending the C-200 back. The audio just randomly stopping is getting very annoying. I'd say about 50% of the time I walk up to the C-200 it just stops playing music. And then I have to power off the unit and "sometimes" it will auto connect with my phone. The other times, I have to turn the C-200 on and off about 80-90 times before it will even manually connect. Look at all the wear and tear on the capacitor. I just spent 15 minutes trying to get it to re-connect and finally about the 10852th time of turning the C-200 on and off over and over again, Im starting to think that this C-200 is a total POS. You get what you pay for. I will be looking for a device where I don't have to deal with issues like this.

Maybe go with Fiio, they will have better quality control. I will start researching again what DACs are better for quality. I will pay more to not have to deal with BS issues like this. It takes all the fun out of owning the device.

I mean good chance this unit craps out anyways, so why bother. May as well get my money back. Maybe I get another Topping DX3 Pro+.

Has anyone ever found a fix for this. I also have this issue and have decided to use the C200 as a DAC only hooked to a Schiit Heretic for my headphones in fear that the C200 would blow my headphones. Whenever I wear headphones with the C200 it will play audio as long as I want until I take off my headphones that come back and no sound until I power cycle. The worrisome part was I had IEM's in one time and it cut out while pulling out my IEM's and I felt a little zap in my right ear. This is what made me never plug another set of headphones into the C200 which is dissapointing since I had to go from a one piece setup to three for the same convenience.

 

[Mickeylickey]

I have been having issues with the connection it seems. I have a HD 560s and if I use the 6.35mm adapter that came with it I get hissing noises like there is not enough contact being made. I had similar issues with a pc38x I had and bought a 3.5mm to 4.4mm adapter and that fixed the issue but with the 560s it does not. Anyone know of a good connector to get or is it my device has this fault?

 

[Joffy1780]

I have been having issues with the connection it seems. I have a HD 560s and if I use the 6.35mm adapter that came with it I get hissing noises like there is not enough contact being made. I had similar issues with a pc38x I had and bought a 3.5mm to 4.4mm adapter and that fixed the issue but with the 560s it does not. Anyone know of a good connector to get or is it my device has this fault?

I use one of these with my HD560S and C200 and it works perfectly.
Double check you are inserting the jack all the way in!! VCE Headphone Jack Adapter 6.35mm... https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01EJ5UV3C?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

 

[Mickeylickey]

I use one of these with my HD560S and C200 and it works perfectly.
Double check you are inserting the jack all the way in!! VCE Headphone Jack Adapter 6.35mm... https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01EJ5UV3C?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

I will try this one. Yes I do send it all the way in. Thanks. Will update you.

 

[AudioBozo]

Audio newb here, is the coil whine/hum/buzz in an 'off' state standard for power switching units like the C200? I am familiar with coil whine in GPU's however this is typically during operation not a standby state. I would guess anyone could hear it but I do get peeved off by those cat alarms and stuff which not everyone hears. I think I can deal with it provided its normal, subtle in nature just curious if its standard

 

[Bleib]

Audio newb here, is the coil whine/hum/buzz in an 'off' state standard for power switching units like the C200? I am familiar with coil whine in GPU's however this is typically during operation not a standby state. I would guess anyone could hear it but I do get peeved off by those cat alarms and stuff which not everyone hears. I think I can deal with it provided its normal, subtle in nature just curious if its standard

I had a C200 with coil whining when it was off, not very loud but I just let it be on.
A previous unit seemed to be silent though, although I'm not sure I sat close enough it to notice

 

[AudioBozo]

I had a C200 with coil whining when it was off, not very loud but I just let it be on.
A previous unit seemed to be silent though, although I'm not sure I sat close enough it to notice

Is this pretty standard for all in one units? Or due to quality of capacitors or something?

 

[Bleib]

Is this pretty standard for all in one units? Or due to quality of capacitors or something?

I have no idea how common it is, just personal experience I haven't heard most DACs at all.
Just like some computer mice makes noise I think it's down to design

 

[delta76]

Sad to say that after a bit more than 1y, my C200 has become very unstable. it "crashes" every so often and no sound to the headphone unless I restarted it. the only fix is to power reset it (turn off/on again). Had a almost good run with it (it was unstable for a month or so in the past and then works again), but I will need to seriously consider buying from a SMSL or other Chinese brands again...

 

[Bleib]

Sad to say that after a bit more than 1y, my C200 has become very unstable. it "crashes" every so often and no sound to the headphone unless I restarted it. the only fix is to power reset it (turn off/on again). Had a almost good run with it (it was unstable for a month or so in the past and then works again), but I will need to seriously consider buying from a SMSL or other Chinese brands again...

You tried a different cable?

 

[delta76]

You tried a different cable?

I did not (did not think of it). but well, I can try

 

[Count Dacula]

Mine's kicking butt after over a year.

Pushing thru the passive pre/sub controller. That's partly why I got something with a headphone section.

 

[SergeiF]

I did not (did not think of it). but well, I can try

did it help you? My device also keeps falling off

 

[frgmnt]

Audio newb here, is the coil whine/hum/buzz in an 'off' state standard for power switching units like the C200? I am familiar with coil whine in GPU's however this is typically during operation not a standby state. I would guess anyone could hear it but I do get peeved off by those cat alarms and stuff which not everyone hears. I think I can deal with it provided its normal, subtle in nature just curious if its standard

I'm not an expert in audio, but I'm pretty sure an USB isolator like the Topping HS02 could help with this. They're a bit expensive, but you can use it with any DAC/amp in the future. You can first get one and see if it solves your issue. If it doesn't, just return it.

Has anyone ever found a fix for this. I also have this issue and have decided to use the C200 as a DAC only hooked to a Schiit Heretic for my headphones in fear that the C200 would blow my headphones. Whenever I wear headphones with the C200 it will play audio as long as I want until I take off my headphones that come back and no sound until I power cycle. The worrisome part was I had IEM's in one time and it cut out while pulling out my IEM's and I felt a little zap in my right ear. This is what made me never plug another set of headphones into the C200 which is dissapointing since I had to go from a one piece setup to three for the same convenience.

Sad to say that after a bit more than 1y, my C200 has become very unstable. it "crashes" every so often and no sound to the headphone unless I restarted it. the only fix is to power reset it (turn off/on again). Had a almost good run with it (it was unstable for a month or so in the past and then works again), but I will need to seriously consider buying from a SMSL or other Chinese brands again...

I recently purchased the SMSL RAW-MDA1 and I ran into similar issues. More than half of the times I put down my headphones and I get up to leave my desk, my right side or both sides of the headphones stop playing. When both sides lose connection, my PC did not detect my DAC until I restarted the DAC/amp's power on top of restarting any audio app that was playing audio.

There were a few times I caught when the audio cut off when I got up, and I would hear a little bit of static coming from my headphones. Due to this, I am guessing that a lot of SMSL products that are experiencing similar issues is having problems dealing with static discharge. I only had my unit and the replacement unit for less than two weeks before I finally decided to return it.

If it is due to static discharge, it could explain why it was stable for a bit before "crashing" so much. Should be humid enough during the warm seasons that the problem doesn't show up as much, but during the cold seasons, the air is much drier and easier for static to build up. My desktop's floor is carpet, so it is even easier to build up static when my wheeled chair moved around. If returning is not an option, you can try to use a humidifier in the room. If you have carpet, or cloth seats, you can also try using anti-static spray on those surfaces.

 

[delta76]

did it help you? My device also keeps falling off

It started working again right after the post. I did not do anything, not even changing the usb cable.

Weird

 

[tim5]

Don't worry about it, they both transmit the same way. D6 has AKM chip, C200 has ESS chip and better specs. Also C200 has a headphone amp.
Balance TRS output of these DACs goes to balanced XLR or TRS input on the amp and/or powered speaker.
RCA output goes to RCA input.
Balanced is better on several levels, including interference.

Can you saw me a cable 4.4mm trs to xlr please?I cant find it.I am interesting to connect b200 topping

 

[staticV3]

Can you saw me a cable 4.4mm trs to xlr please?I cant find it.I am interesting to connect b200 topping

For SMSL C200->Topping B200, use 1/4" TRS cables:

 

[obsessive9119]

I think the important point here is that you should be using the balanced TRS outputs from the rear of the C200 to go to your amp; not to balanced TRRS 4.4mm from the front (which is for headphones).

 

[tim5]

For SMSL C200->Topping B200, use 1/4" TRS cables:
View attachment 419994

I suppose ,C200 has 4.4mm trs out and not 6.35mm(1/4)....,corect?

 

[obsessive9119]

I suppose ,b200 has 6.35mmTRS input,and not 1/4 TRS

6.35mm is 1/4"