SMSL DL100 DAC and Headphone Amp Review

[Cataudio]

not sure a pre-amp benefits the kali; others may offer clearer reasoning for that choice, but adding an unnecessary step in the speaker chain is superfluous i would think

wrt the headphones, a dedicated separate headphone amp would benefit, but in terms of controlling the hardware, the smsl can switch the output and if you use the rca out to the speakers, you have a balanced output on the xlr to go to a headphone amp, and gain maximal opportunity to this used matched output or simple stereo plug on any capable amp

so, a dedicated headphone amp with xlr in would be a capable choice for maximal headphone benefit using available smsl out options; can't really see how a preamp would help speakers given the smsl IS a pre-amp

hope that's food for thought

Thank you very much for your input!

I really need to plug the Kali's in a pre-amp (either the DL100 or a headphone amp/pre-amp) because I have no other way to control the volume except for Windows. Then I need to use XLR for the Kali's as I want to get the maximum out of my speakers.

So it's either:
- DL100 with XLR for the Kali's and RCA for the headphone amp, or:
- DL100 with XLR for the a headphone amp/pre-amp and XLR out again for the Kali's

I'm leaning to the first solution using the V222 with RCA as this amp looks very good and within my budget. For the second option I don't find a unit that suits me with an acceptable price...

 

[scruffy1]

yeah, i think that wins on my brief google re xlr and powered speakers, but rca for my klipsch seems fine

others may offer more experience - i'd recommend you start a specific new thread on this point, as traffic on this thread is minimal and the issue is now not really dl100 - it's your options as to what you need to add to chain that needs input

link it here by all means i think, but cut it free

 

[Njoy]

When * ALL* is selected as output, does it mean from BAL + SE + HPA or is it just BAL + SE?

 

[Jimster480]

When * ALL* is selected as output, does it mean from BAL + SE + HPA or is it just BAL + SE?

On my Topping EX5 if its set on "all" then it is indeed "all". On my SMSL SU-8S if it is on "all" then it is both XLR + RCA (it doesn't have an HPA); so I would ASSUME that it is the same on this product.

 

[aromig]

I hadn't seen this mentioned here, but recent 50mv s/n ratio charts in Amir's reviews include the DL100. The below is cropped from the recent Fosi DS3 review. A measurement of 87 dB isn't stellar, but it certainly isn't bad either, especially for the price. It does seem a missed opportunity though that SMSL did not include a low gain setting.

Apologies if this has been covered and I missed it.

 

[Ladipoe@98]

Pretty impressive performance for a $179 DAC/amp. The measurements look great, and having the balanced outputs plus a built in headphone amp makes it a pretty versatile little box.

 

[EJ3]

Pretty impressive performance for a $179 DAC/amp. The measurements look great, and having the balanced outputs plus a built in headphone amp makes it a pretty versatile little box.

I'm not in the market for one but I particularly like the slanted display. As many times I am physically at my stereo and have to lean down or be in a chair on wheels to see what it is that I am doing.