SMSL DL100 not working for Mac.

[TomLynas]

Hey everyone,

I recently bought the SMSL DL 100 dac because it was recommended to me as it measured so well. For a while now I have been trying to connect it to my MacBook Air M2 through a USBC cable and it has not worked. My Mac doesn't even know it is there. It works fine through bluetooth but not through USBC? The USBC does work by the way, I have checked it with other products like Airpods haha.

I downloaded the driver for it and that won't open either.

Should I send it back and get another one, or should I bin them off and go for another company.

Really appreciate any response as I can't find anything about this online.

Thank you so much guys.

 

[JIW]

Hey everyone,

I recently bought the SMSL DL 100 dac because it was recommended to me as it measured so well. For a while now I have been trying to connect it to my MacBook Air M2 through a USBC cable and it has not worked. My Mac doesn't even know it is there. It works fine through bluetooth but not through USBC? The USBC does work by the way, I have checked it with other products like Airpods haha.

I downloaded the driver for it and that won't open either.

Should I send it back and get another one, or should I bin them off and go for another company.

Really appreciate any response as I can't find anything about this online.

Thank you so much guys.

Did you select USB input when connecting to USB C?

It works without a driver on macOS.

My DL200 works fine with my MacBook Air (M1, 2020) connected through a multi-output hub using an USB A to USB C cable.

 

[TomLynas]

Did you select USB input when connecting to USB C?

It works without a driver on macOS.

My DL200 works fine with my MacBook Air (M1, 2020) connected through a multi-output hub using an USB A to USB C cable.

Hey,

Thanks for the reply.

Yes, usb input is selected. It is connected from the back with a usbc cable straight into my mac usbc port.

I have tried with different cables and different computers and still nothing.

Any ideas?

 

[staticV3]

Hey,

Thanks for the reply.

Yes, usb input is selected. It is connected from the back with a usbc cable straight into my mac usbc port.

I have tried with different cables and different computers and still nothing.

Any ideas?

It's not unlikely that the DL100's USB-C port lacks the pull-up resistors required for C-C connections.

That's a common issue with audio equipment from China.

Try using a USB hub with a USB-A to USB-C cable instead.

Edit:
Just FYI, C-C cables exist that can force a connection even with such faulty USB-C accessories.

Two of these I own and can confirm enable C-C operation even with faulty USB-C accessories: DDHiFi TC05 and Xduoo X-C12.

I believe FiiO also make some. They're usually directional with arrows on each plug.

How Xduoo managed to make such a cable bidirectional, I have no idea.

 

[Slash/]

Are you looking for the DAC in Settings->Sound?

For me, C to C works great with Macs, pretty much every time. I have more trouble adapting one side to A reliably. I'm using Anker Thunderbolt4 / USB3 cables fwiw.

 

[middlemarch]

It's not unlikely that the DL100's USB-C port lacks the pull-up resistors required for C-C connections.

That's a common issue with audio equipment from China.

Try using a USB hub with a USB-A to USB-C cable instead.

Edit:
Just FYI, C-C cables exist that can force a connection even with such faulty USB-C accessories.

Two of these I own and can confirm enable C-C operation even with faulty USB-C accessories: DDHiFi TC05 and Xduoo X-C12.

I believe FiiO also make some. They're usually directional with arrows on each plug.

How Xduoo managed to make such a cable bidirectional, I have no idea.

You are truly an amazing fount of technical information! This is for sure the first time I'd heard about the lack of pullup resistors.

I don't know how you manage your day job what with all the time you put in to helping folks, and it's amazing all the technical sources you seem to have at your finger tips, but you truly are a service to the community.

Thanks again!

 

[TomLynas]

It's not unlikely that the DL100's USB-C port lacks the pull-up resistors required for C-C connections.

That's a common issue with audio equipment from China.

Try using a USB hub with a USB-A to USB-C cable instead.

Edit:
Just FYI, C-C cables exist that can force a connection even with such faulty USB-C accessories.

Two of these I own and can confirm enable C-C operation even with faulty USB-C accessories: DDHiFi TC05 and Xduoo X-C12.

I believe FiiO also make some. They're usually directional with arrows on each plug.

How Xduoo managed to make such a cable bidirectional, I have no idea.

Middle March is right. You completely solved my problem. Thank you very much.

 

[hat28]

Ditto here too. Putting a hub in-between my Mac and DL100 solved the problem.