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SMSL DL200 the best ever value DAC/AMP?

nick_l44.1 said:
My DT770 250 are sounds with DL200 really good. But I wouldn't call "Hey You" a track with a lot of attack. I tried some percussion test records. All is sharp, clean and bright. Anyway e1da 9038d6k + usb iso overperform this smsl. For example, in "Nobody Home" there is a bass that periodically plays in different channels in a heartbeat rhythm. The DL200 noticeably loses its synthetic timbre.
Click to expand...
Could you please tell me what test records you are using?
 
Hi all,

My new SMSL DL200 arrived today.

So far all good, no issues or clicks that others have experienced.
I connected it to foobar2000 on Windows11, and set the foobar output to "Headphones (SMSL USB Audio) [exclusive]"

In USB1.1 mode lower bitrates are played up to 96, and some test 192 record fails - as expected for USB 1.1
In USB2 mode all bitrates are played - 44.1, 48, 96, 192 and the number is displayed on DL200 screen correctly.
This works without the driver from SMSL, and without any extra foobar components such as ASIO or WASAPI, and I am very happy about this :)

To my question.
I liked the idea to use a raspberry pi 4 with some dedicated OS for playing music. I tried LibreELEC (with kodi interface) but from it USB S/PDIF output I always see bitrate on DL200 screen as 44.1 or 48, even if a higher bitrate audio is played. What can be the issue and how to fix it?
I see no any further settings in libreelec other than selection of output interface. I even tried this USB Analog instead of USB S/PDIF [which i do not understand how this USB can be "analog" , but nevermind] - the same 44.1 or 48 bitrate is displayed and not higher. I realize this is probably not the issue of the SMSL but of the LibreELEC itself, hope my question is still relevant in this thread.


[ Solved ]
Kodi web interface was limited to "Standard" settings what didn't have important settings.
I have witched to "Expert" and a new set of settings appeared which made the resolution simple - there was a setting "Limit sample rate" that by default was set to 48Khz. Switched to 384 and all worked!

P.S. This is my first post here, but I've been reading ASR for quite some time, thanks guys for so much valuable info here! :)
 

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Solved!
I realised that Kodi web interface was limited to "Standard" settings.
I have witched to "Expert" and a new set of settings appeared which made the resolution simple - there was a setting "Limit sample rate" that by default was set to 48Khz. Switched to 384 and all worked!
 
Just wanted to share my experience after having the DAC for only 2 months - it's already broken. After I've tried connecting my phone via bluetooth it made "clicks" while browsing through the settings and now... not sound, not via bluetooth, not via USB-C cable. And I realized I am not the only one having such kind of an issue.

EDIT: Turns out I somehow change the setting on the output from Ho to Lo, which is why I didn't get any sound. Well, now I've learned. Thanks @jozhix
 
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AudioNoob404 said:
Just wanted to share my experience after having the DAC for only 2 months - it's already broken. After I've tried connecting my phone via bluetooth it made "clicks" while browsing through the settings and now... not sound, not via bluetooth, not via USB-C cable. And I realized I am not the only one having such kind of an issue.
Click to expand...

Sorry to hear you got one of the units with the BT issue, keep us informed how your warranty claim goes.

Just so others are not afraid to use the BT, I use it almost everyday so my granddaughter can watch YouTube on my desk set up, its worked flawlessly. I have a Samsung smart monitor that sends the BT signal to my DL200. I do this so she can control everything with the monitors remote and not have to fire up my laptop. I personally only use USB so far, but no problems switching between LO to my active speakers, or HO for my headphones.
 
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AudioNoob404 said:
After I've tried connecting my phone via bluetooth it made "clicks" while browsing through the settings and now... not sound, not via bluetooth, not via USB-C cable.
Click to expand...

Device is visible over bluetooth and detected on usb, but no sound? Did you tried both HO an LO outputs?
 
jozhix said:
Device is visible over bluetooth and detected on usb, but no sound? Did you tried both HO an LO outputs?
Click to expand...
Exactly, no sound - no matter what kind of earphones I am using. If you mean the 6,35 and 4,4 outputs (sorry, I am a noob :) ) - yes, tried out both. I can see the device both in my bluetooth connection and also when connected via cable. But no sound. Was fine before using bluetooth.
 
AudioNoob404 said:
Ok, that IS embarrassing - you are totally right! Somehow the setting changed to Lo and I didn't get any sound - it works! Also bluetooth works fine. Thank you so much - that saves me so much trouble.
Click to expand...
:) you must have pressed Fn on the remote. Usability is lacking for sure.
 
Hi all,

I'm looking for a DAC/Headphone-Amp and thanks to this thread I think I narrowed my search to the S.M.S.L DL200. But I have one big question asking myself (and you): do I even need a DAC/AMP (especially the DL200) at all?

Currently I am using a Presonus Studio 1810c audio interface driving my Beyerdynamik DT 990 Pro 250 Ohm. The Presonus has two headphone outputs, according to specs it delivers 150mW/Channel @ 60 Ohm. I think it's loud enough, my listening level is about 10-12 o'clock. Would going to the DL200 be a noticeable step up in audio quality? Or is it wasted money that should rather be invested in better headphones? I'm planing to upgrade the headphones to something like the Sennheiser HD490 Pro or Hifiman Edition XS in the not so far future...

Thanks for your thoughts ;)
 
Hafnix said:
Presonus Studio 1810c audio interface
Click to expand...
If it is similar to Presonus Studio 24c (reviewed by Julius Krause), and you get loud enough with your 250ohm headphones, I doubt you will hear difference.
I have few audio interfaces, and I would say they can drive my Senn HD600 louder (but with more noise) than DL200. On moderate listening levels they sound the same.
 
Hafnix said:
Hi all,

I'm looking for a DAC/Headphone-Amp and thanks to this thread I think I narrowed my search to the S.M.S.L DL200. But I have one big question asking myself (and you): do I even need a DAC/AMP (especially the DL200) at all?

Currently I am using a Presonus Studio 1810c audio interface driving my Beyerdynamik DT 990 Pro 250 Ohm. The Presonus has two headphone outputs, according to specs it delivers 150mW/Channel @ 60 Ohm. I think it's loud enough, my listening level is about 10-12 o'clock. Would going to the DL200 be a noticeable step up in audio quality? Or is it wasted money that should rather be invested in better headphones? I'm planing to upgrade the headphones to something like the Sennheiser HD490 Pro or Hifiman Edition XS in the not so far future...

Thanks for your thoughts ;)
Click to expand...
150 mW at 60 Ohm is (150/1000*60)^.5 = (9000/1000)^.5 = 9^.5 = 3 V. The HD490 Pro have an impedance of 130 Ohm and should be loud enough having a sensitivity of about 110 dB at 1 V. However, noise may be audible. The Edition XS have an impedance of 18 Ohm and the output may be as low as 3*18/60 = 3/2.5 = 6/5 = 1.2 V. The Edition have a sensitivity of about 110 dB SPL at 1 V (92 dB at 1 mW) and may not get loud enough before the amplifier distorts and noise may also be audible.

Amir measured the sensitivity of the DT990 Pro as 97 dB at 1 V. Thus, for the same listening level for the HD490 and the Edition XS as with the DT990 Pro, the volume control will have to be quite low where it may have significant channel imbalance.

According to Julian Krause's measurements the Presonus Headphone amplifiers tend to have a rather high output impedance of 22-25 Ohm. Taking this into account, the maximum voltage across the Edition XS may only be 18/40*1.2 = 0.405 V which would only be enough for 101.6 dB SPL. This is probably to quiet for dynamic content.

It is a rule of thumb that the amplifier's output impedance should not be greater than 1/8 of the headphones' impedance. For an output impedance of 22 Ohm, headphones should have an impedance of at least 176 Ohm to be a good match.

Overall it seems Presonus designed the headphone amplifier to work well only for high impedance loads. The DL200 will work well with any headphones except maybe extremely insensitive ones.
 
jozhix said:
If it is similar to Presonus Studio 24c (reviewed by Julius Krause), and you get loud enough with your 250ohm headphones, I doubt you will hear difference.
I have few audio interfaces, and I would say they can drive my Senn HD600 louder (but with more noise) than DL200. On moderate listening levels they sound the same.
Click to expand...
Did you set the DL200 to high gain for maximum volume comparison?
 
JIW said:
Overall it seems Presonus designed the headphone amplifier to work well only for high impedance loads. The DL200 will work well with any headphones except maybe extremely insensitive ones.
Click to expand...

Thank you very much for your detailed answer! Note to myself: order a DL200, it won't hurt, especially not if thinking about future headphone upgrades... ;)
 
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