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DAC Recommendation: SMSL C200 vs Topping D50 III for M3si & Q Acoustics 3050i

Ema82

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Hi everyone,
I'm Emanuele from Rome, Italy. This is my first post here, so please bear with me :)

I'm seeking some advice on a potential DAC change/upgrade. My current setup is as follows:
For context, the 3050i are well-balanced speakers, known for their detail, imaging, and slightly forward presentation. Bass is ample but lacks some control.
The M3si amplifier is powerful and refined, offering a detailed, dynamic, and slightly warm sound with excellent control and musicality.

I've been happily using the Topping D50 III with my M3si, powered by the Weiliang LPS. My digital sources are a Sony TV connected via optical cable and a Raspberry Pi 3b+ (with Allo DigiOne and running Volumio) connected via coaxial cable. I'm therefore not using the USB input of the Topping.

Recently, I've encountered an issue with the coaxial input on my Topping D50 III, and Amazon has approved a return and refund. Now I'm torn between simply getting another D50 III or considering other options.
After doing some digging, I'm thinking the SMSL C200 might be a good fit. Plus, it has a headphone jack, which is something neither the D50 III nor my amp offers.

I'm aware that if I switch to the C200, I won't be able to use the Weiliang power supply and will need to plug it directly into a wall socket. It's a minor inconvenience, but I'm okay with that.

To be honest, I've generally been happy with the Topping's performance, but I sometimes find it a bit too analytical, though I can't rule out that it might be my own bias. So, in addition to the headphone output, I'm wondering if the C200 might offer a more musical presentation and perhaps integrate even better with my system.

I'd love to get your recommendations.
What would you choose considering my current system and needs?
Additionally, are there other DACs within a 300 euro budget that you think I should consider?

Thanks in advance for your help! I hope I haven't broken any rules and that this post is in the correct section.
 
If you want the additional headphone output, the C200 looks like a good choice. You won't get any audible benefits by selecting a "better" DAC than the D50 III, as that performs already way past the limits of audibility. Anything you may believe to hear will be placebo / bias. The linear PSU will also do absolutely nothing, as long as you didn't have very specific problems with HF interference or ground loops before installing it. You might want to consider opting for a DAC with XLR ("balanced") outputs. Those may come in handy in the future. Something like the SMSL RAW-MDA1 comes to mind.

The parts with by far the most influence on sound in any reasonable HiFi setup (mostly everything modern without tubes) will be the speakers and the room. After those two components, there's nothing for a long time. Then, maybe the source material/mastering and the amp. In your case, the amp appears to offer an SNR of 85.4 dB and a THD of -90.4 dB (test by stereo.de), which is actually slightly worse than what audio CDs can achieve theoretically. You're still unlikely to gain anything substantial by switching amps, though. You will gain far, far more in performance by setting up room correction and/or dialing in the EQ in Volumio.
 
Just to back up.

Nearly all modern DACs perform beyond the limits of human hearing. This means from a sound quality point of view there is literally nothing to choose between them.

Choose a DAC based on features, cost, build quality, brand - and don't worry about sound quality.
 
I've generally been happy with the Topping's performance, but I sometimes find it a bit too analytical, though I can't rule out that it might be my own bias. So, in addition to the headphone output, I'm wondering if the C200 might offer a more musical presentation and perhaps integrate even better with my system.

That's illusion.

The D50 III measurable performance is just great- as are most recent DACs in the same price range .

I don't know the C200, but I don't think it's "broken" enough that you could hear any difference.

Fortunately.
 
Thanks, everyone! This was exactly what I needed: rational answers without bias or misconceptions
I think I'll go for the C200 to take advantage of the headphone output. Thanks again!
 
In the end, I think I’ll go for the RAW-MDA 1 because, for just a few extra euros, it offers XLR outputs that could be useful in the future (as recommended by @RandomEar ) and gives me two optical and two coaxial inputs too.
 
I finally got the RAW MDA-1, and I’m really happy with it. While I don’t think there’s any noticeable difference in sound quality compared to the Topping D50 III (at least with my setup), it’s a definite upgrade for other reasons:

- Thanks to the dual optical output, I’ve been able to connect both my TV and my Xbox One S. Now I can use the console as a CD player without needing to keep the TV on.

- The larger size and the bigger display fit much better in a setup with an amp and tower speakers, especially with a listening position about 2.5 meters away. The Topping felt more like a desktop DAC in comparison.

- I love the option to completely turn off the display after a set amount of time.

- The remote is far more responsive than the one that came with the Topping.

- I can now connect my headphones directly to the DAC.


Overall, I’m really pleased with the SMSL, thanks again for your advice!
 
Last edited:
I also made the same choice, chose the SMSL, I absolutely loathe the D50 III remote
 
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