SMSL Aoshida Hi-Fi DO200

[Snoopy]

U won't get native DSD if you go with usb from the Mac into the DAC.

DSD over pcm just puts the DSD signal into a pcm container. But if you want to upsample to more than DSD128 you will need a raspberry pi4 for roon. Install roopiee on it and U will be able output up to DSD512 with it. And native DSD needs fixed volume mode.

(Roopiee is using Linux , Mac os can't do native DSD)

Smsl D300 + Raspberry pi 4
I just upsample everything to DSD512. (DSD and pcm)

 

[AudioScience Enthusiast]

Install roopiee on it and U will be able output up to DSD512 with it.

RoPieee roon bridge does seem like a great solution.

May I know which HAT module did you use with it? Maybe Pi4's USB port itself is good enough? There are so many available on RoPieee's list. It seems HifiBerry is a popular brand.

I just upsample everything to DSD512. (DSD and pcm)

What is the advantage to upsample everything to DSD512? Wouldn't bit-perfect better?

 

[Repdetect]

Can any PCM or DSD file be input via the 12S (HDMI) port and output via spdif and/or analog outs?

 

[AudioScience Enthusiast]

Is there another way to get native DSD playback to SMSL DO200 via Roon?

Since Raspberry Pi4 is widely unavailable, so using Ropiee or anything similar may involve a long wait. Are there USB/Thunderbolt devices that anyone is aware of that can be plugged into my Mac to serve as "Roon Endpoint" for direct DSD playback to DO200?

 

[AudioScience Enthusiast]

I have a few questions for the experienced audiophiles:

1. I notice in SMSL DO200 spec sheet, its PCM support goes up to 768kHz, which seems quite amazing. For example, even the NAD M10 V2 that I am eyeing only support up to 192kHz. Is the DO200 vastly superior?

2. Also, DO200 has 3 PCM filters that extend far beyond 20k. Does this contribute to better control of high frequency roll-off?

The M10 (not V1) on the other hand, according to @amirm, it doesn't seem like a good fit for someone like me who craves the high frequencies -- but I wonder some kind of EQ compensation in Roon might help with this?

 

[Snoopy]

RoPieee roon bridge does seem like a great solution.

May I know which HAT module did you use with it? Maybe Pi4's USB port itself is good enough? There are so many available on RoPieee's list. It seems HifiBerry is a popular brand.

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What is the advantage to upsample everything to DSD512? Wouldn't bit-perfect better?

No need for a hat. All U need is a raspberry pi 4 and usb. Upsampling is never bit perfect

 

[AudioScience Enthusiast]

I know this SMSL DO200 especially the new MKII is not a popular DAC so not many people may have it. But I have a question about this DAC that maybe other DAC owners can answer too (since this is my first DAC ever).

As DO200 MKII has only 2 outputs, ie. XLR and RCA, if I feed from its RCA OUT into an Analog IN (RCA) on an AVR (with its processing all turned off), is it correct that this setup would yield the highest quality of sound (by taking advantage the DAC's full MQA decoding and rendering, DSD512 decoding etc)?

In comparison, I suspect that using an "endpoint" like Wiim Pro that is only capable of 192/24 may not yield the best sound possible when playing files higher than 192/24?

 

[Toku]

Following the DO200, the release of the DO300 was announced.
The content of the product is almost the same as SMSL D400 ES, and I think it will be the Aoshida version of E400 ES.

 

[Snoopy]

I know this SMSL DO200 especially the new MKII is not a popular DAC so not many people may have it. But I have a question about this DAC that maybe other DAC owners can answer too (since this is my first DAC ever).

As DO200 MKII has only 2 outputs, ie. XLR and RCA, if I feed from its RCA OUT into an Analog IN (RCA) on an AVR (with its processing all turned off), is it correct that this setup would yield the highest quality of sound (by taking advantage the DAC's full MQA decoding and rendering, DSD512 decoding etc)?

In comparison, I suspect that using an "endpoint" like Wiim Pro that is only capable of 192/24 may not yield the best sound possible when playing files higher than 192/24?

If the endpoint is only capable of 192/24khz you can't even do DSD128 if I'm not wrong because you need pcm 384khz for Dop128.

DSD64 should work over DoP

 

[AudioScience Enthusiast]

If the endpoint is only capable of 192/24khz you can't even do DSD128 if I'm not wrong because you need pcm 384khz for Dop128.

DSD64 should work over DoP

So the advantage definitely remains with DO200 to feed into my AVR.

 

[AudioScience Enthusiast]

Following the DO200, the release of the DO300 was announced.
The content of the product is almost the same as SMSL D400 ES, and I think it will be the Aoshida version of E400 ES.

Interesting, just curious how much better is DO300's XMOS XU-316 chip over the XU-216 on the DO200.

I don't see any differences in terms of input/output, sampling rate etc, so the differences are more internal?

 

[xeizo]

Interesting, just curious how much better is DO300's XMOS XU-316 chip over the XU-216 on the DO200.

I don't see any differences in terms of input/output, sampling rate etc, so the differences are more internal?

Another DAC chip, ES9039MS Pro. DO200 has 9068AS chip. Not that I think anyone could hear a difference.

 

[Snoopy]

Another DAC chip, ES9039MS Pro. DO200 has 9068AS chip. Not that I think anyone could hear a difference.

Maybe the new usb interface has benefits. Didn't look into it really.

I can't even see the advantage that any of these new DACs would have to my SMSL D300 .. or that new akm SMSL D-6 that sometimes is available for 180€.

 

[AudioScience Enthusiast]

@Toku may I ask where you got the information about DO300?

I would like to get more technical details but can't find a press release or news on SMSL site.

A link will be appreciated.

 

[Steamrolly]

@Toku may I ask where you got the information about DO300?

I would like to get more technical details but can't find a press release or news on SMSL site.

A link will be appreciated.

Aoshida site

SMSL site

 

[AudioScience Enthusiast]

Aoshida site

SMSL site

Finally they uploaded the pages, thanks for the links. The rate at which Aoshida/SMSL release new versions is astounding.

Anyone notices any big differences to DO200 aside from what's already mentioned? I wonder if there is any point in returning my DO200 and upgrading to this DO300 without actual measurements?

 

[Valis]

Interesting, just curious how much better is DO300's XMOS XU-316 chip over the XU-216 on the DO200.

Anyone notices any big differences to DO200 aside from what's already mentioned? I wonder if there is any point in returning my DO200 and upgrading to this DO300 without actual measurements?

I find your question confusing, as you said earlier in this thread you purchased the DO200 MKII, which uses the XMOS XU-316 chipset.

 

[AudioScience Enthusiast]

Just stumbled on another site with glowing reviews for the "DO200 MKII"

"It is the kind of DAC with natural soundstage... much closer to what you'd expect from an R2R DAC..."

After listening to it for a few weeks, I agree with the "naturalness" but not sure about R2R since I haven't heard an R2R DAC before.

 

[AudioScience Enthusiast]

Also, SMSL just released firmware v1.1 for DO200 MKII.

Since there is no change log, not sure what the improvements are, if any.