• 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!

SMSL DL100 DAC and Headphone Amp Review

Rate this DAC & HP Amp

  • 1. Poor (headless panther)

    Votes: 3 1.3%
  • 2. Not terrible (postman panther)

    Votes: 5 2.1%
  • 3. Fine (happy panther)

    Votes: 50 21.4%
  • 4. Great (golfing panther)

    Votes: 176 75.2%

  • Total voters
    234
I ordered the DL100 as AIO for the TV. Maybe you can help. Two questions:

- Is there a sound difference as a DAC between DL100 and DO200Pro in combination with a planar headphone?
- Will the new Aune S17 Pro Evo improve the sound quality with a hek stealth in comparison with the DL100 as a headphone amp?

A few months ago I wanted to buy Do200Pro + H400. But now I bought DL100 alone and maybe in future the S17 Pro Evo. But maybe a DL200Pro would have made more sense with the S17Pro Evo.
 
Hello,

Just finalized first audio setup with Adam T5V monitors + SMSL DL100 connected via XLR cables. I use HDMI eARC from Sony bravia TV. Everything works fine sound is superb quality.

I have one small issue-glitch DL100. When i turn off TV or leave on standby DL100 disconects eARC and i need manualy to reselect ARC source on DL100. It a bit anoying to get sound from TV speakers instead Adams.

Maybe someone knows how to solve this issue. Checked all power saving settings on sony!

Also does these smsl devices get firmware updates after sometime?
 
Last edited:
I have similar issues with DL100 and TV HDMI. Once it loses a connection it takes annoyingly long to get it working again for me. And this happens almost everyday. Trying to tell other people in the house to start TV and DAC is a specific order is just a no go. So I ended up just doing Bluetooth out from the TV to the DL100 which is more stable. Now likely looking into something like the bluesound node icon to take it's place. Was considering wiim too but there are reports of HDMI arc issues with that also per other folks.
 
Ok, just for me it looks like TV is turning off HDMI port after some time.

I ussualy just press source button on DL100 till i make look to ARC and it picks up eARC from TV
 
Few questions about this device (sorry, have not read the full 12 pages).
Is the output power from the 1/4" HP output the same as from the 4.4mm?
Does it switch off the line outputs when a HP is plugged in?
 
Few questions about this device (sorry, have not read the full 12 pages).
Is the output power from the 1/4" HP output the same as from the 4.4mm?
Does it switch off the line outputs when a HP is plugged in?
The HP output is the same for both connectors. Output has to be selected manually. If the line out is selected, it is not switched off if headphones are connected and is not switched on if headphones are disconnected with HP output selected.
 
The HP output is the same for both connectors. Output has to be selected manually. If the line out is selected, it is not switched off if headphones are connected and is not switched on if headphones are disconnected with HP output selected.
Thanks. Looks like the same behavior as most/all other DAC+HPamp devices I have looked at.
 
Performance is there, so it shouldn't matter if it's SE or balanced/symmetrical.
 
But the xlr output on the back is balanced? I thought the front is also balanced. The problem is there is no alternative with a dimmable display, hdmi and remote.
 
I would be very, very surprised if they weren't.
 
Really impressive current output for an amp at this price let alone a combo unit like this one. I hope SMSL continues this trend to match all the low impedance, low sensitivity planars that have been coming out in the last couple years.
 
I got my DL100 today.

Sadly using USB the XLR balanced connection to my active speakers doesn't complety remove the noise it only makes it quiter (but a lot).

To completely remove the noise I still have to use the optical output from my motherboard.
 
So, the only solution to completely remove the noise while using the USB input would be an USB Isolator?

Or is there something more I can do (for example trying different DACs with balanced connection)?
 
Last edited:
I apologize for my third post in row but that's an interisting observation and I'm not really getting why is it so:

That's my actual setup:

PC->USB->SMSL DL100->XLR->Presonus EX7 XT

Turntable ->rca->phono repamplifier->rca->Fiio E9k->rca->Presonus E7T

The noise/hum disappears when I disconnect the USB cable from the SMSL DL100 OR one of rca channels (one is enogh) from the Fiio EK9. Witch them both connected (USB + both RCA channels) I get the noise issues (even if I disconnect the power supply of the Fiio E9K). The other rca channel alone can stay connected to the Fiio EK9.

I would be very thankful if some one has a solution how to get rid of this noise/hum problem with both devices connected.

Now it's seems that the USB and than balanced connections don't cause the noise/hum problem alone.
 
I would think a USB isolator should solve the problem.
Do you have all devices plugged into the same power strip?
 
No.

1. The turntable, phono preaplifier (and a lamp) and 2. the PC, SMSL DL100, Fiio E09k, 2 x Presonus Eris E7XT (and a Monitor and an external PC Blu Ray writer/player) are connected to two different power strips.
 
Then I would certainly try a USB isolator.
 
I apologize for my third post in row but that's an interisting observation and I'm not really getting why is it so:

That's my actual setup:

PC->USB->SMSL DL100->XLR->Presonus EX7 XT

Turntable ->rca->phono repamplifier->rca->Fiio E9k->rca->Presonus E7T

The noise/hum disappears when I disconnect the USB cable from the SMSL DL100 OR one of rca channels (one is enogh) from the Fiio EK9. Witch them both connected (USB + both RCA channels) I get the noise issues (even if I disconnect the power supply of the Fiio E9K). The other rca channel alone can stay connected to the Fiio EK9.

I would be very thankful if some one has a solution how to get rid of this noise/hum problem with both devices connected.

Now it's seems that the USB and than balanced connections don't cause the noise/hum problem alone.
The most simple way to get rid of the issue if you must use USB is to buy an isolator. If you wanted to go the sketchy route, you could buy a cheater plug which removes the ground pin from the power cable. Even if you were to plug all the devices into the same outlet I doubt the issue would go away because the DL100 and EK9 are sharing the same ground when connected using any analog interconnects (even balanced) regardless of where you plug them in.
 
Back
Top Bottom