SMSL D200 DAC Review

[Pictus]

The clock input was one of the interesting features of this dac. Do not have one. Expected it was not a function that was beneficial just plugged into a dac.
Without needing to synch multiple units it has no to little impact. But still want a D200.
Thank you for all the testing on the D200!

In this video, the reviewer says that the external clock made a BIG difference to the SMSL D200.

 

[Panelhead]

I would like to see the results of the 32 tone test run with and without a 100Mhz clock input. That test sees issues that single tone tests do not expose.

 

[NTTY]

In this video, the reviewer says that the external clock made a BIG difference to the SMSL D200.

Random statement if only based on uncontrolled listening tests. Knowing the D200 achieved 0.4ppm and that 70ppm is good enough for audio, you know...
I'd still be interested to (tangibly) test that clock though.

 

[Pictus]

Random statement if only based on uncontrolled listening tests. Knowing the D200 achieved 0.4ppm and that 70ppm is good enough for audio, you know...
I'd still be interested to (tangibly) test that clock though.

You're right, but that's because the reviewer mentioned a BIG difference, I'm intrigued.

 

[Roland68]

You're right, but that's because the reviewer mentioned a BIG difference, I'm intrigued.

These guys have to generate clicks and views somehow, so everything always makes a huge difference.
But the moment you put them through a real, externally controlled blind test, everything falls apart.
If you recorded and published all the excuses that come up, you'd have a new view record in the audio industry.

Imagine if you were to pack all these huge differences with op amps, clocks, cables, feet, etc., into a single system. That would be absolutely amazing, a difference like night and day.

 

[Music1969]

From what I can measure, the IMD performance is good:

Is this what @amirm does for IMD vs level? I thought his is CCIF vs level, not SMPTE vs level

 

[stemag]

Is there a way to check the version of the firmware currently installed?

 

[Toku]

You're right, but that's because the reviewer mentioned a BIG difference, I'm intrigued.

YouTubers who review audio equipment receive products free of charge from manufacturers, so their reviews inevitably praise the products. Otherwise, they won't be sent the product again. You need to keep this in mind when watching videos.

 

[ArtduSon]

Please, is anyone aware, which Qualcom Bluetooth chip they used? I had the chance to test the previous generation of QCC5125 against some QCC30xx and the QCC5125 was different. So I hope for the QCC5181 to be used somewhere in a high quality DAC. I know that with better DAC’s the Qualcom chips are only used for receiving the signal and will pass it onto the DAC Chipset. Still I miss that SMSL doesn’t state the Qualcom chip.

 

[LumiAudioNut]

New subjective review of the SMSL D200 by Tharbamar.

The main take away that I got was that the D200 has excellent bass performance and works well with the matching DDC declocker, though I would be a bit surprised if the differences with and without a DDC were perceivable by a person.

-Lumi

 

[Roland68]

New subjective review of the SMSL D200 by Tharbamar.

The main take away that I got was that the D200 has excellent bass performance and works well with the matching DDC declocker, though I would be a bit surprised if the differences with and without a DDC were perceivable by a person.

-Lumi

I'm sure the D200 will work with any 10 MHz clock, just as well as without one.
By the way, the SMSL G1 is just a regular 10 MHz clock, not a declocker or DDC.

 

[LumiAudioNut]

I'm sure the D200 will work with any 10 MHz clock, just as well as without one.
By the way, the SMSL G1 is just a regular 10 MHz clock, not a declocker or DDC.

Interesting. Thank you for he clarification.

 

[Panelhead]

Please, is anyone aware, which Qualcom Bluetooth chip they used? I had the chance to test the previous generation of QCC5125 against some QCC30xx and the QCC5125 was different. So I hope for the QCC5181 to be used somewhere in a high quality DAC. I know that with better DAC’s the Qualcom chips are only used for receiving the signal and will pass it onto the DAC Chipset. Still I miss that SMSL doesn’t state the Qualcom chip.

Many dacs seem to be BT 5.1. My tablet has BT 5.4. Assume the 2025 tablet has a newer version Qualcomm chip. It came with Android 16. Latest version.
As far as bypassing the Qualcomm dac chip, all the dacs using the volume controller built in the dac chip are bypassing. Which is ESS and AKM. The ROHM based dacs should be also. They use a separate analog volume controller since the ROHM chips do not include digital volume control.

 

[Progronom]

Hi! I found a bug in the D200.
There's a PCM Filter setting in the menu. It has three values:
- Slow roll-off
- Sharp roll-off
- Filter Off
So, when you turn "Filter Off", the volume gets quieter, about two to three times.
Firmware 1.01.

 

[Progronom]

Please, is anyone aware, which Qualcom Bluetooth chip they used? ...

QCC3084 BT5.4

 

[NTTY]

Hi! I found a bug in the D200.
There's a PCM Filter setting in the menu. It has three values:
- Slow roll-off
- Sharp roll-off
- Filter Off
So, when you turn "Filter Off", the volume gets quieter, about two to three times.
Firmware 1.01.

Indeed, I saw the same, as I wrote in the review. Since the DAC does not offer that filter, I suspect a bypass of the oversampling function or something, but the output is attenuated and I saw lots of distortion.

 

[jmc06]

QCC3084 BT5.4

How great it would be if it were QCC3095, which supports aptx lossless 24bit and 3084 only supports 16bit, almost perfect

 

[VientoB]

In this video, the reviewer says that the external clock made a BIG difference to the SMSL D200.

That reviewer claims to hear differences with almost everything including cables.

 

[NTTY]

That reviewer claims to hear differences with almost everything including cables.

 

[VientoB]

How great it would be if it were QCC3095, which supports aptx lossless 24bit and 3084 only supports 16bit, almost perfect

Would it really make any audible difference? No.