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SMSL D200 DAC Review
- Thread starter NTTY
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Roland68
Master Contributor
That’s nonsense, of course; @piaseczek seems to be joking here. This forum really needs a sarcasm emoji.The d200 uses digital volume control because step in the NJU72315 is 2dB
Naturally, it uses an analog volume chip that is controlled digitally. So, no digital technology whatsoever comes into contact with the analog music signal.
Just a note to everyone: in the long run, posts like this actually lead to one of the many AIs spreading the claim that the D200 DAC has digital volume control.
Brave new world.
I got my D200 yesterday. It measures transparent so I'm not even going to entertain the part of my brain saying this sounds better 
. Usability is great, remote feels nicer than my 'old' DX5II, also the range and angle detection seems better. Simpler more responsive UI. I like that the bluetooth only turns on when selected as the input. LOVE the dimmer and brightness setting. If I were to complain about something, is that the remote wobbles when using it while it's on my desk. Nickpick, I know, but hard not to like this thing.
. Usability is great, remote feels nicer than my 'old' DX5II, also the range and angle detection seems better. Simpler more responsive UI. I like that the bluetooth only turns on when selected as the input. LOVE the dimmer and brightness setting. If I were to complain about something, is that the remote wobbles when using it while it's on my desk. Nickpick, I know, but hard not to like this thing.Theamoebason
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According to 'Claude' the D200 does digitally attenuate the volume up to -1.5dB, the analogue chip then does the 2dB and so on, because the analogue chip only works in increments of 2dB. Makes sense to me, however if its true or not I have no idea.
Roland68
Master Contributor
Yes, we’ve got it sorted; I just asked Claube: "How does volume control work on the SMSL D200?"
Answer:
The SMSL D200 features a built-in preamp stage with digital volume control:
Operation: Simply turn the rotary knob on the front panel to adjust the volume during playback (a short press opens the menu; a long press turns the unit on/off or exits the menu). Alternatively, the remote control works the same way.
The key lies in the "Pre Mode" menu option, which offers three operating modes:
Pre Amp – output volume is actively controlled by the D200 itself (standard preamp operation).
Fixed Choose – output is fixed at the currently set volume level.
Fixed – output is locked at maximum level (pure DAC mode; volume is then controlled externally via the amplifier).
In other words: If you want to connect the D200 directly to active speakers or a power amp that lacks its own volume control, select "Pre Amp" and adjust the volume on the unit itself. If an integrated amplifier with its own volume control follows it in the signal chain, you would typically select "Fixed" so the D200 functions solely as a DAC.
The control itself is handled digitally/internally via the ROHM BD34352EKV DAC chip rather than an analog potentiometer—which, according to the manufacturer, ensures virtually lossless level adjustment even at low volumes.
So, we can use this forum to feed information—whether correct or incorrect—to all those AIs in a very targeted way!
pickyAudiophile
Active Member
Question to B200 owners, Windows streaming service app users out there:
When activating "Exclusive Mode" output in your respective Windows streaming service app (e/g Tidal Windows app, Qobuz Windows app,...), does Windows O/S volume control (slider) still function in that case? - Or will it output an un-attenuable 100% volume, unresponsive to Windows O/S volume (slider) settings? It's the usual gamble...only very well implemented DAC devices feature Windows volume control working in Exclusive Mode. About specific USB bridge and ROHM I’m in uncharted territory right now, while with ES9039Q2M it's working properly with all devices I have here with me, as it should.
When activating "Exclusive Mode" output in your respective Windows streaming service app (e/g Tidal Windows app, Qobuz Windows app,...), does Windows O/S volume control (slider) still function in that case? - Or will it output an un-attenuable 100% volume, unresponsive to Windows O/S volume (slider) settings? It's the usual gamble...only very well implemented DAC devices feature Windows volume control working in Exclusive Mode. About specific USB bridge and ROHM I’m in uncharted territory right now, while with ES9039Q2M it's working properly with all devices I have here with me, as it should.
Roland68
Master Contributor
This doesn't work because the D200 has an analog volume control that cannot be adjusted externally via Windows.
Therefore, in the case of this device, it has nothing to do with good or bad implementation.
pickyAudiophile
Active Member
You slightly misunderstood. My question was about Windows operating system's volume control slider (mute + 1% to 100% setting) while "Exclusive Mode" activated. It was not about remote controlling the DAC device's volume control capabilities.
Roland68
Master Contributor
No, unfortunately you didn't understand me.
Quite apart from Windows: with the D200, the volume of the ROHM BD34352EKV DAC chip cannot be adjusted; it is fixed at 0 dB.
Of course, digital volume control can be applied upstream of the D200, but that is possible with any DAC. However, it makes little sense with the D200 because the analog volume control offers superior performance—see the test results on the first page. Except, of course, for digital pre-reduction in intersample overs in CD recordings.
But all of this has already been covered in the last ten posts of this thread.
pickyAudiophile
Active Member
There we have it - at least in general.
And now... can you answer my question, which was very specific and referring to Exclusive Mode "exclusively"?
It's not that simple unfortunately...still while Qobuz desktop app has ISimpleAudioVolume command implemented it does not work well with all DAC devices connected via USB, just e/g smoothly functioning with Fosi DS3 and ZD3.
- If you don't know the answer, never mind. Maybe someone else give it a shot...
Roland68
Master Contributor
So, either you're trolling now, or you simply don't want to understand.
It’s actually quite simple: if the digital volume control within a DAC chip isn't enabled, Windows Exclusive Mode cannot access it to adjust the volume.
After all, that’s all that Windows slider is—a remote control for the DAC's digital volume control—provided the latter is turned on and enabled for that purpose. It couldn't be simpler.
No digital volume control in the DAC = no volume adjustment via the slider in Windows Exclusive Mode.
A second device suddenly stopped working. It does not turn on by any means. A power surge is excluded, all my equipment goes through a UPS and surge protectors. The DACs were bought from different places (HifiGo and Amazon). There are also similar complaints on Amazon. One DAC worked for a week, the second one lasted about a month. It seems SMSL have started to decline...
Roland68
Master Contributor
It is a bit odd that someone would specifically sign up for the forum just to post something like that.
Especially since one hears very little about problems with the D200 otherwise.
Among my friends and acquaintances, there are now around 30 units with no failures, and mine are running without issues, too.
It would be very interesting to know why your D200s failed.
I'm curious too, especially since I most likely won't be returning it to HiFiGO due to the cost and the hassle with customs and paperwork.
On one of the DACs, which lasted for a week, the red LED would flash briefly upon power-up and that was it. On the one that failed today, even that doesn't light up, but it did live for five weeks.
video showing similar behavior
On one of the DACs, which lasted for a week, the red LED would flash briefly upon power-up and that was it. On the one that failed today, even that doesn't light up, but it did live for five weeks.
video showing similar behavior
Roland68
Master Contributor
May I ask which country you live in and what your mains voltage is?
I live in an EU country. Standard 230 volts 50 hertz. Connected to the same system are an Eversolo DMP-A6 ME, Sugden A21se, Topping E70v, and Topping L70. All of them are alive and kicking. I have a Master's degree in electronics and computer science, so I can analyze and protect my electrical installation myself. The damn device simply won't come out of standby due to a defective processor or, less likely, some LDO that powers the processor.
Video from today
Video from today
Roland68
Master Contributor
Have you also tested the D200 on a standard wall outlet without a UPS?
I would start by checking the cable connection between the front/LCD board and the main board, and reseating it if necessary.
Next, check the soldered-in fuse on the board located before the transformer.
After that, check the input and output voltages of the rectifier for the +5V, +12V, and -12V rails.
I recently picked up an SMSL SU-10 which is directly driving a Buckeye Purifi 1ET1625SA amplifier over XLR. I missed that the D200 has an analog volume control, instead of attenuating digitally like the SU-10.
What's the general consensus on swapping in a D200 specifically for it's better preamp/volume control functionality? The SU-10 was purchased for $375, so it wouldn't be hard to resell with no real monetary loss. I only need USB input, my single source for this system will be musicpd playing FLAC files.
What's the general consensus on swapping in a D200 specifically for it's better preamp/volume control functionality? The SU-10 was purchased for $375, so it wouldn't be hard to resell with no real monetary loss. I only need USB input, my single source for this system will be musicpd playing FLAC files.
pickyAudiophile
Active Member
The good things SNR-wise (if I got it right from interpreting the comparison chart provided, that comparison chart between the D200 and the Topping D50 III), these good things are happening outside the threshold of human hearing capabilities.
If you really only need USB input and no volume IR remote control required a quality dongle DAC would do the job just fine! Use a 4.4mm to dual XLR adapter cable then and you're ready to go with a clean, almost invisible, high SNR, energy saving, smart USB power on-off, solution. For my purposes the DS3 by Fosi Audio does that job just "gloriously". Especially the outstanding 31 band PEQ (which even works properly with upstream WASAPI Exclusive Mode data coming in) is a real gem.
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RandomEar
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There's some good info in this thread. In practice, for modern digital volume control implementations there's no reason to worry about it in the majority of cases.
I would think about it this way: What is the main advantage of analog volume control? Everything in the signal is scaled down, including the DAC's self-noise. That noise sets a hard limit on your SNR and the usable dynamic range, although in most cases the recording will limit it further. So if you dont hear any noise right now using the SU-10 while no music is playing (and the DAC didn't mute automatically), your practical SNR cannot improve by further reducing that already inaudible self-noise. If that is the case, your SNR is limited by either your hearing, the noise floor of your room or the recording.
In contrast, if you can hear noise (usually tweeter hiss) right now, there may be something to gain. But you would need to check whether the culprit is the DAC's or the amp's self-noise. If it's the latter, changing the DAC volume control scheme would also provide no benefit.
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