SMSL DL200 the best ever value DAC/AMP?

[asrUser]

Linux. Thanks for the advice, I guess But there's no way I'm going to jump into that swamp and start changing my whole OS and start learning how to use a new one just because of a faint pop/click when switching tracks (and which are not there in my no.1 set which runs on Win10, as I wrote).

There's no harm in developing neuron connections.

 

[Deleted member 68540]

FiiO BTR7's ASIO driver version number: 5.58.0
SMSL DL200's ASIO driver version number? ... 5.58.0
HiBy does not update "their" ASIO driver (4.86.2), common to all their players, since 2020. I doubt you would guess its version number if they did!

Now, common to all the three DACs (mine from HiBy is the FC4), besides the clicks, is the ASIO drivers' developer -- i.e. Thesycon. But don't the DACs *also* click in WASAPI Exclusive? They do. And who developed Windows 10/11's own USB 2.0 Audio driver? https://bit.ly/3O6qIpu

My old Creative Sound Blaster X3, though its buggy software had other problems (fixable through the occasional repair), didn't click. It had its own native ASIO driver.

 

[Yersinia Bestmate]

There's no harm in developing neuron connections.

And there's no harm in not writing a comment if there's nothing useful to say in the first place.

But anyway, I'm going to pass Linux. I rather develop and sustain neural connections by playing the piano and listening to music, for example. Much more fun and rewarding.

Have a nice morning/day/afternoon/evening/night!

 

[nick_l44.1]

I got DL200 HPA THD+N under different loads.
Low gain

High gain

I should note that due to the high UHF noise, clipping occurred in my notch filter, and not in the DL200. And my measurement does not refute the official data on maximum power output.
And finally IMD SMPTE vs Level at Low/High gain

That's all for now

 

[JIW]

I got DL200 HPA THD+N under different loads.
Low gain
View attachment 343053View attachment 343055View attachment 343057
High gain
View attachment 343052View attachment 343054View attachment 343056
I should note that due to the high UHF noise, clipping occurred in my notch filter, and not in the DL200. And my measurement does not refute the official data on maximum power output.
And finally IMD SMPTE vs Level at Low/High gain
View attachment 343059View attachment 343058
That's all for now

Thanks. Those look good apart from IMD having the ESS mid-level hump between -45 dBFS and -20 dBFS. Compared to Amir's measurements of the SMSL D-6s using the same DA-chip, it seems to be worse.

However, noting the level he measures at -45 dBFS about -78 dB, at -40 dBFS about -81 dB, at -35 dBFS,about -87 dB, at -30 dBFS about -91 dB, at -25 dBFS about 97 dB and at -20 dBFS about -101 dB. Assuming this is only due to noise gives a one-to-one decrease in log-log units. Thus, the slope between -55 dBFS and -20 dBFS is about (-101-(-68))/(-55-(-20)) = -33/35 which is close enough to -1. The predicted values for a linear decrease are: at -45 dBFS, -68-33/35*10 = -77.4 dB, at -40 dBFS, -68-33/35*15 = 82.1 dB, at - 35 dBFS, -68-33/35*20 = -86.9 dB, at - 30 dBFS, -68-33/35*25 = -91.6 dB and at - 25 dBFS, -68-33/35*30 = -96.3 dB.

Thus, the measured value at -40 dBFS is about 1 dB higher than predicted. If you look closely at the measurement, you can make out the flattening between -45 dBFS and -40 dBFS.

Your measurement shows the hump peaking at -82 dB at about -43 dBFS and all your measured values are lower than Amir's.

Thus, the D-6s measured by Amir likely behaves the same as your DL200, it is just masked by higher noise in his measurements.

 

[nick_l44.1]

SMSL D-6s

The D-6s does not have a HPA and the DL200 balanced output shows less distortion.
DR=130.6/130.7dB(A)

THD+N=124.5/123.7dB

 

[JIW]

The D-6s does not have a HPA and the DL200 balanced output shows less distortion.
DR=130.6/130.7dB(A)
View attachment 343079
THD+N=124.5/123.7dB
View attachment 343080

Since the hump is at the same digital level for low and high gain, it is part of the signal before it reaches the HPA. Thus, the comparison with D-6s as it is the same chip and by the same company. You could also measure IMD SMPTE vs level through the balanced line-out for even better comparison with Amir's measurement.

 

[silver-matter]

Can anyone else comment on how this SMSL DL200 compares to the Topping DX3 Pro+?

I'm currently testing a DX3 Pro+ and I'm enjoying it, but I'm not really blown away and there's still a week or two left before I have to decide whether or not to keep it. My favorite thing about the DX3 Pro+ is weirdly just the convenience of being able to connect my chromecast to the bluetooth input for headphone playback. My current headphones are the DT770 80 ohm and HD6XX. I'm happy with this pairing, but might try the Aeon Closed X or HiFiMAN Edition XS at some point - so not looking to drive anything crazy.

 

[Lambo1985]

Can anyone else comment on how this SMSL DL200 compares to the Topping DX3 Pro+?

I'm currently testing a DX3 Pro+ and I'm enjoying it, but I'm not really blown away and there's still a week or two left before I have to decide whether or not to keep it. My favorite thing about the DX3 Pro+ is weirdly just the convenience of being able to connect my chromecast to the bluetooth input for headphone playback. My current headphones are the DT770 80 ohm and HD6XX. I'm happy with this pairing, but might try the Aeon Closed X or HiFiMAN Edition XS at some point - so not looking to drive anything crazy.

The 6XX synergizes really good with DX3 Pro+ (gives 6XX clarity and space). I don't know if you are going to hear that much difference between DX3 Pro+ and DL200 with those headphones. The Topping has the characteristic punchy quick transients and fast decay. DL200 is slightly more relaxed and will reveal more detail, which will be most noticeable in reverb tails and sound decay. It definitely sounds more organic and fluid than DX3 Pro+ (which sounds more hi-fi and juiced up). The DT770 80 & Edition XS may benefit with DL200, but it depends on taste.

 

[JIW]

Can anyone else comment on how this SMSL DL200 compares to the Topping DX3 Pro+?

I'm currently testing a DX3 Pro+ and I'm enjoying it, but I'm not really blown away and there's still a week or two left before I have to decide whether or not to keep it. My favorite thing about the DX3 Pro+ is weirdly just the convenience of being able to connect my chromecast to the bluetooth input for headphone playback. My current headphones are the DT770 80 ohm and HD6XX. I'm happy with this pairing, but might try the Aeon Closed X or HiFiMAN Edition XS at some point - so not looking to drive anything crazy.

The DX3 Pro+ has more than enough power for either DT770/80 and HD6XX. However, its amplifier is not so good for low impedance loads like the Aeon Closed X (12.5 Ohm) or Edition XS (18 Ohm).

The DAC measures slightly worse than the DL200 should but the differences are almost certainly inaudible. Consider just getting a dedicated amplifier better suited for low impedance loads. However, since the DX3 Pro+ only has unbalanced RCAs for the line outs, noise from ground loop cannot be ruled out. Getting a DAC with balanced line outs to connect to the amplifier with balanced inputs would most likely eliminate that. Thus, you could consider the DL200 for that alone. However, the DL200 should perform about the same as the C200 and is thus much better suited for low impedance loads while still having enough voltage available for high impedance loads though less than the DX3 Pro+. Even, if you want an all-in-one unit, the DL200 may be better for you than the DX3 Pro+.

 

[staticV3]

The DX3 Pro+ has more than enough power for either DT770/80 and HD6XX. However, its amplifier is not so good for low impedance loads like the Aeon Closed X (12.5 Ohm) or Edition XS (18 Ohm).

Probably a measurement error. The DX3 Pro+ handles low impedance loads just fine:

https://cdn.l7audiolab.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/THDN-Ratio-vs-Measured-Level.jpg

 

[JIW]

Probably a measurement error. The DX3 Pro+ handles low impedance loads just fine:

https://cdn.l7audiolab.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/THDN-Ratio-vs-Measured-Level.jpg

Could also be unit variation or an error in the protection circuit of the unit tested by Amir.

 

[silver-matter]

The DX3 Pro+ has more than enough power for either DT770/80 and HD6XX. However, its amplifier is not so good for low impedance loads like the Aeon Closed X (12.5 Ohm) or Edition XS (18 Ohm).

The DAC measures slightly worse than the DL200 should but the differences are almost certainly inaudible. Consider just getting a dedicated amplifier better suited for low impedance loads. However, since the DX3 Pro+ only has unbalanced RCAs for the line outs, noise from ground loop cannot be ruled out. Getting a DAC with balanced line outs to connect to the amplifier with balanced inputs would most likely eliminate that. Thus, you could consider the DL200 for that alone. However, the DL200 should perform about the same as the C200 and is thus much better suited for low impedance loads while still having enough voltage available for high impedance loads though less than the DX3 Pro+. Even, if you want an all-in-one unit, the DL200 may be better for you than the DX3 Pro+.

IIRC the DX5 had much better performance for low impedance loads which seemed to be one of the primary benefits of the DX5 over the DX3 Pro+? So the DL200 might perform closer to the DX5 when used with the Aeon Closed X (12.5 Ohm) or Edition XS (18 Ohm) than to the DX3 Pro+?

 

[staticV3]

IIRC the DX5 had much better performance for low impedance loads which seemed to be one of the primary benefits of the DX5 over the DX3 Pro+? So the DL200 might perform closer to the DX5 when used with the Aeon Closed X (12.5 Ohm) or Edition XS (18 Ohm) than to the DX3 Pro+?

Here are all Topping AIOs (except DX9):


The data is from WolfX-700 who uses the same APx555B as Amir. The only difference is that his load swep data has always been reliable, unlike Amir's.

 

[JIW]

IIRC the DX5 had much better performance for low impedance loads which seemed to be one of the primary benefits of the DX5 over the DX3 Pro+? So the DL200 might perform closer to the DX5 when used with the Aeon Closed X (12.5 Ohm) or Edition XS (18 Ohm) than to the DX3 Pro+?

This is what Amir measured. It is better at 16 Ohm and higher but 12 Ohm is barely better. Anyways, Amir's measurements are odd in that the available current for 32 Ohm is more than at lower impedances.

 

[JIW]

Here are all Topping AIOs (except DX9):
View attachment 343584

The data is from WolfX-700 who uses the same APx555B as Amir. The only difference is that his load swep data has always been reliable, unlike Amir's.

1.6 W at 12 Ohm is 4.38 V RMS and 365 mA RMS, for comparison.

Note, that the 12 Ohm point on the graph is log2(12/10) = 0.26, i.e. 26 %, of the way between 10 and 20 Ohm because of the logarithmic axis. Thus, power at 12 Ohm is much closer to 1.6 W than 1.5 W.

 

[silver-matter]

Here are all Topping AIOs (except DX9):
View attachment 343584

The data is from WolfX-700 who uses the same APx555B as Amir. The only difference is that his load swep data has always been reliable, unlike Amir's.

Confused by this graph. Am I reading it correctly that the DX3 Pro+ actually has more power for headphones with an impedance of < 35 ohm when compared to the other Topping AIOs on the graph? The benefit of the DX5 Pro vs the DX3 Pro+ according to Amir seemed to be lower distortion at high loads, not necessarily more power at any given load.

 

[staticV3]

Confused by this graph. Am I reading it correctly that the DX3 Pro+ actually has more power for headphones with an impedance of < 35 ohm when compared to the other Topping AIOs on the graph?

Correct.

 

[audioje]

So far, my only complaint has been dl200's larger footprint. While some may like its internal power supplier, it is a bit too big to put on a small desk unlike similar products such as dx3 pro+ or k7.

 

[silver-matter]

So far, my only complaint has been dl200's larger footprint. While some may like its internal power supplier, it is a bit too big to put on a small desk unlike similar products such as dx3 pro+ or k7.

Yeah, the DX3 Pro+ has an amazing footprint for desk use. One of the biggest reasons I bought one to test, biggest reasons holding me back from trying something else like the DL200.