SMSL D12 DAC & Headphone Amp Review

[staticV3]

Is it a good pair with Hifiman HE400se? Thinking of gettings those headset and a dac+headphone amp for 300€ combined.

The D12 can drive the HE400se to a very loud 113dB SPL Peak, however, 300€ seems way too much for the combo.

The HE400se usually costs about 100€.

A 90€ Topping DX1 can play just as loud as the D12, so 190€ in total.

 

[Anox]

The D12 can drive the HE400se to a very loud 113dB SPL Peak, however, 300€ seems way too much for the combo.

The HE400se usually costs about 100€.

A 90€ Topping DX1 can play just as loud as the D12, so 190€ in total.

300€ is my overall budged, D12 is 99€ and HE400se is 115€ but they both get very good reviews.

 

[staticV3]

300€ is my overall budged, D12 is 99€ and HE400se is 115€ but they both get very good reviews.

Ahh, that makes sense!

 

[kaiba]

?: do these smsl/topping/? bluetooth amps, D12/DL200/etc, allow output to bluetooth headphones? The DL200's description says bluetooth input; so, assuming that amp has no bt output? amazon's description for this D12 is too vague; "High-end Bluetooth 5.0 chip", and the D12 manual on smsl-audio.com website has Input....USB/BT, in specifications, but no matching specification for outputs, like; Output....6.35mm/BT. why!?. why is it soo hard for manufacturers to describe what is right in front of them; if your specifications section in the manual clearly lists inputs, then why not also clearly list outputs!? Looking at a couple of bluetooth Topping amps; the product description of one says "Bluetooth Headphone amp / Bluetooth DAC", which seems to indicate bt output via "Bluetooth DAC"?..; but the other amp just talks about bluetooth w/out really explaining, anything ~ like "High-end Bluetooth 5.0 chip" for the smsl D12... how hard is it to just describe things explicitly; bt input = yes/no, bt output = yes/no!? -end rant- Thanks in advance to anyone who answers!

 

[AdamG]

?: do these smsl/topping/? bluetooth amps, D12/DL200/etc, allow output to bluetooth headphones? The DL200's description says bluetooth input; so, assuming that amp has no bt output? amazon's description for this D12 is too vague; "High-end Bluetooth 5.0 chip", and the D12 manual on smsl-audio.com website has Input....USB/BT, in specifications, but no matching specification for outputs, like; Output....6.35mm/BT. why!?. why is it soo hard for manufacturers to describe what is right in front of them; if your specifications section in the manual clearly lists inputs, then why not also clearly list outputs!? Looking at a couple of bluetooth Topping amps; the product description of one says "Bluetooth Headphone amp / Bluetooth DAC", which seems to indicate bt output via "Bluetooth DAC"?..; but the other amp just talks about bluetooth w/out really explaining, anything ~ like "High-end Bluetooth 5.0 chip" for the smsl D12... how hard is it to just describe things explicitly; bt input = yes/no, bt output = yes/no!? -end rant- Thanks in advance to anyone who answers!

Here is the Manual:

https://www.smsl-audio.com/upload/portal/download/D12Manual.pdf

 

[staticV3]

?: do these smsl/topping/? bluetooth amps, D12/DL200/etc, allow output to bluetooth headphones?

Virtually none of them do.

Unless BT Output is explicitly listed as a feature on the product page or the User Manual, assume the DAC does not have it.

 

[kaiba]

Thanks, @staticV3. the dl200 seems likely the same, & the topping (dx3 pro+)'s manual has a really weirdly made table of outputs; where the "DAC" row only has a check in the "RCA-output" column, & an x in the 3.5mm output column's cell (makes it look like the 3.5mm output has has no dac processing!?)... & no column for bluetooth; so, -likely- no bt output (though, with all the weird mistakes in all these manuals ~ who knows; except, for anons/owners like you, @staticV3, on forums like this!..) ~ saying "bluetooth dac application" in their description just extra confusifies it ~ unless an input/output bypasses dac processing, then surely "dac" doesn't need to be inserted after...

Having BT out feels like it would be a heavily used, common use-case that every dac amp should have?!
(non bt device: cassette/record/cd player, non bt computer, etc.) -> [inputs; rca/usb/fiber/xlr/...] - dac amp -> [outputs; bt headphones ~ when you're not sitting down!!! 3.5/4.4/6.35/xlr/... wired headphones when near the dac amp]. Having a little device, like the D12, be able to do that would be great ~ vs avr, computer with bt, etc.. Looking through the vaguery of smlsl/topping/... manuals is a pain; guess i'll need to start a new thread to ask for suggestions ~ unless someone here possibly knows of a dac headphone amp with bluetooth output; greatly appreciated.

 

[dl00gi]

Hi, my first post on this respectable forum. I bought SMSL D12 dac recently. Sounds great, dynami, spacious, the dac itself look great, I'm very satisfied. I use it with connection to Macbook Pro M3. But, when I plug it into the android phone it becomes very quiet. No matter the gain setting, even when I plug the second usb cable with extra DC power. The DC in port works (I checked if DAC runs using only this cable attached, no music of course, but the screen is lit). It is like the DC in would be ignored when phone is connected. Any ideas?

 

[staticV3]

Hi, my first post on this respectable forum. I bought SMSL D12 dac recently. Sounds great, dynami, spacious, the dac itself look great, I'm very satisfied. I use it with connection to Macbook Pro M3. But, when I plug it into the android phone it becomes very quiet. No matter the gain setting, even when I plug the second usb cable with extra DC power. The DC in port works (I checked if DAC runs using only this cable attached, no music of course, but the screen is lit). It is like the DC in would be ignored when phone is connected. Any ideas?

Hi @dl00gi! Welcome to ASR.

Try a music player with bit-exact playback support, e.g USB Audio Player Pro, Neutron Player, Hiby Music, FiiO Music.

Note that you'll have to enable bit-exact playback in the settings first.

If playback with that is still quiet, then you likely have a power related issue.

If the volume returns to normal, then it's likely an Android software issue.

That reminds me, Apple's headphone adapters have an annoying issue where they'll default to -20dB UAC2 Hardware volume control and since Android doesn't natively support UAC2 Hardware volume control, it's just stuck at -20dB (=25%) volume.

The fix is to install one of the above Apps which enable UAC2 Hardware volume control, so you can set the dongle from -20 to full volume.

You can even quit the App and the dongle will stay at full volume for all other Apps, until you cut power to it (=plug it out).

https://issuetracker.google.com/issues/242221770
https://www.audiosciencereview.com/...luetooth-dac-headphone-amp.17386/post-1302123

Maybe the same is happening here? Worth testing.

 

[dl00gi]

Yes, that was the problem. I had the same issue with the apple dongle. That's why I sent it back. Despite Fiio played very distorted flacs in the usb exclusive mode it changed gain setting system-wide. Now I don't even need extra power, what comes from phone's usb is enough. Thank you for your help