• WANTED: Happy members who like to discuss audio and other topics related to our interest. Desire to learn and share knowledge of science required. There are many reviews of audio hardware and expert members to help answer your questions. Click here to have your audio equipment measured for free!

S.M.S.L PO100, PO100 PRO & PO100 AK - Measurements (Digital Interfaces & DAC)

Yes, mainly iTunes.

Thank you very much for pointing that out. I had zero idea that it contained that feature. I really wish I knew that! Does the Toslink adapter maintain full audio quality?
Yes, of course. Only the outer part of the plug is changed, the light guide remains the same.
 
Yes, mainly iTunes.

Thank you very much for pointing that out. I had zero idea that it contained that feature. I really wish I knew that! Does the Toslink adapter maintain full audio quality?

Yes, 3.5mm to TOSLINK is just a physical adapter - it's an optical signal all the way, unaltered.

I wish I had an answer to your PO100 problem. I can only say that I use a PO100 Pro (purchased only because the PO100 was discontinued/unavailable at the time) to connect my 2012 Mac mini running MacOS Catalina (OS 10.15, the most recent it can run officially) to the rest of my system. It converts USB to SPDIF coax, but it works fine doing USB to TOSLINK as well. I would guess that @Roland68 has the most likely answer: just upgrade the operating system.
 
According to your statement, you are also using a very old version of macOS, 10.9.5 is from 2014.
Your MacBook is running the latest version of macOS 11 Big Sur, 11.7.10 from September 2023.
You might want to update, but make a backup with TimeMachine first. According to Apple, you can update directly to 11 Big Sur from 10.9.
macOS 11 Big Sur
I bought this Macbook to use for DJ’ing. I had a terrible incident one night after upgrading the system, the program I use called Serato, didn’t like the update and kept crashing and glitching during a big gig that caused me great embarrassment and financial loss. I developed a fear of system updating and vowed never to risk that happening again. Here I am 10 years later with a laptop that’s never once been updated. I tried to do it a few years ago but didn’t have enough memory. Will look into backing it all up and giving it a long overdue update.

Thank you very much for taking the time to help. Will certainly be buying a Toslink to 3.5mm adapter.
 
I bought this Macbook to use for DJ’ing. I had a terrible incident one night after upgrading the system, the program I use called Serato, didn’t like the update and kept crashing and glitching during a big gig that caused me great embarrassment and financial loss. I developed a fear of system updating and vowed never to risk that happening again. Here I am 10 years later with a laptop that’s never once been updated. I tried to do it a few years ago but didn’t have enough memory. Will look into backing it all up and giving it a long overdue update.

Thank you very much for taking the time to help. Will certainly be buying a Toslink to 3.5mm adapter.
Unfortunately, Serato is known for such problems and it has happened a few times, but it was always a problem on Serato's side.

On my old MacBook Pro mid 2012 with macOS 10.15.7, the PO100 AK and Pro work perfectly over USB.
The XMOS XU chipsets for USB have been supported since 10.6.4 (without drivers), so the PO100 should actually work for you.
If you have selected the PO100 on your MacBook, does the Toslink output light up red?

If you want to update your MacBook, I would recommend a clean install on such an old productive device. Please remember to back up your data.
 
Unfortunately, Serato is known for such problems and it has happened a few times, but it was always a problem on Serato's side.

On my old MacBook Pro mid 2012 with macOS 10.15.7, the PO100 AK and Pro work perfectly over USB.
The XMOS XU chipsets for USB have been supported since 10.6.4 (without drivers), so the PO100 should actually work for you.
If you have selected the PO100 on your MacBook, does the Toslink output light up red?

If you want to update your MacBook, I would recommend a clean install on such an old productive device. Please remember to back up your data.
Roland, I can tell you are a great problem solver!

I checked and the Toslink lights up red when only partially pushed in but when I push it in enough for the MacBook to read it, the light goes out. I did the same with the iMac and the light stays lit. What do you deduce from the evidence?

May I pick your brains on backing up the MacBook? Is there a way to back up iTunes so that it would extrapolate to a new laptop as currently is with all playlists as I have arranged them? Please forgive my lack of knowledge on the subject, I’m still surprised by the optical 3.5mm jack! So many occasions over the years I could have utilised it. I just bought a plug for £2.60 lol.
 
Newbie (at least to this type of tech) question. I have an S.M.S.L. Su-10 DAC hooked up via USB from my laptop to play FLAC files. What will inserting a po100 pro do to the sound? I'm sorry what does this device do?
 
Newbie (at least to this type of tech) question. I have an S.M.S.L. Su-10 DAC hooked up via USB from my laptop to play FLAC files. What will inserting a po100 pro do to the sound? I'm sorry what does this device do?
The PO100 Pro is the same XMOS XU316 USB interface that is built into your SU-10.
It wouldn't change anything, not even in the sound.
 
My optical to 3.5mm plug arrived today and I’m delighted to report it worked successfully. Great thanks to @tmtomh @Roland68 for your help.

I will be keeping the PO100 as it seems like a great little piece of kit that will serve me in the future.
 
Hi,

I got my SMSL PO100 Pro. Using it with Topping D90(MQA).
The Coaxial works great.
I2S (IIS) is working but Pin16 needs to be covered by tape. DSD set to Pin14. DSD is NOT working. I could not get it to work.
I can play DSD files ONLY if I convert them to PCM (via Roon).

If there is anyone out there who was succesful in getting the IIS to work with Native DSD please let me (us) know.

BTW. D90(MQA) is working great. If I were to upgrade which way should I go Gustard X30, Gustard R26, Topping D90 Discrete or...?
 
Came to say I’m feeding the PO100Pro USB from my PC and outputting i2s to my Pontus II. The sound is more defined then feeding the Pontus USB directly from the PC so I’m very happy with this unit!
 
Back
Top Bottom