SMSL DL200 the best ever value DAC/AMP?

[Deleted member 15767]

Hi StaticV3,

Thank you for your answer.

My use is 70% music on my headphone and 30% youtube. So i need the headphone amp.

But with all "low cost" DAC/AMP, this DL200 is really good ? Will i see a real difference with my ODAC O² ?

All I can add to this is that I've just bought the DL200 myself to add into my office system and it's absolutely superb

Replaced the Focusrite Scarlett Solo USB interface and the DL200 offers a much better sound with more detail and tauter/punchier bass

But that's through my JBLs...

I've got a set of Grado 125 headphones to borrow this week; so I'll be interested to see how they sound via the SMSL

 

[NOD33]

I'd advise you to buy new DACs and Amps only if they solve a particular issue that you're having.

If you have money left over, and the current DAC and Amp are doing their job fine, then you're much better off spending that money on some new music or headphones.

I don't any issues with my ODAC, but i want to change this one by one more recent, one with USB-C where i can plug anything on it. And in the same time why not upgrade with a better sound.

 

[MbphotoX]

claiming that it somehow affects the sound is not "adding" anything... since it's not supposed to affect the sound at all..
If you hear punchier bass, you're imagining things..

Unless your previous headphone amplifier is running out of power and cannot provide the voltage required.
If you're listening on active speakers, then the DL200 should not have any effect whatsoever on the sound.

(except if you're dealing with the same issue I had, namely a ground/noise loop with the computer.. by adding the balanced TRS connection to my studio monitors, I was able to isolate that noise and the annoying always audible ground noise is gone now)

 

[MbphotoX]

I don't any issues with my ODAC, but i want to change this one by one more recent, one with USB-C where i can plug anything on it. And in the same time why not upgrade with a better sound.

you won't get a better sound.
If you want a better sound, replace the DT990 with the DT1990 Pro.. (and use the EQ to kill that 7kHz peak)

But you might get issues with USB.. because USB is a bi*ch!

 

[Leefer55]

I've got a set of Grado 125 headphones to borrow this week; so I'll be interested to see how they sound via the SMSL

Looking forward to your impressions with the 125.

 

[josiah]

Is this technically better than the DX3 Pro+? My DX3 Pro+ seems to be working fine; however, if this is an upgrade, I'm interested. This seems to have the same DAC chip; however, people are saying it sounds better. Does anyone have a technical comparison? I basically have Hifi-Man SE XS, Sundara, 5xx, and X2HR. I daily drive the Series XS, would be a noticeable upgrade for me?

I appreciate that the DX3 Pro+ allows seperate volumes for my stereo speakers and heaphones. I am able to witch between the output, and it plays the appropriate sounds set for the defive. Does the DL200 remember the volume when switching between outputs?

 

[JIW]

Is this technically better than the DX3 Pro+? My DX3 Pro+ seems to be working fine; however, if this is an upgrade, I'm interested. This seems to have the same DAC chip; however, people are saying it sounds better. Does anyone have a technical comparison? I basically have Hifi-Man SE XS, Sundara, 5xx, and X2HR. I daily drive the Series XS, would be a noticeable upgrade for me?

I appreciate that the DX3 Pro+ allows seperate volumes for my stereo speakers and heaphones. I am able to witch between the output, and it plays the appropriate sounds set for the defive. Does the DL200 remember the volume when switching between outputs?

It uses a newer chip the ES9039Q2M compared to the ES9038Q2M.

It remembers the volume for each output.

 

[MbphotoX]

Is this technically better than the DX3 Pro+? My DX3 Pro+ seems to be working fine; however, if this is an upgrade, I'm interested. This seems to have the same DAC chip; however, people are saying it sounds better. Does anyone have a technical comparison? I basically have Hifi-Man SE XS, Sundara, 5xx, and X2HR. I daily drive the Series XS, would be a noticeable upgrade for me?

I appreciate that the DX3 Pro+ allows seperate volumes for my stereo speakers and heaphones. I am able to witch between the output, and it plays the appropriate sounds set for the defive. Does the DL200 remember the volume when switching between outputs?

It will not be an upgrade and won't "sound better"...
why do people insist on spending money where it least matters?!?
You're not even coming from a ****** computer soundchip...

by all means, send those 200 bucks to me and do so knowing that I shall invest them where it actually helps to gain some improvement.
(I really want to try a pair of planars, closed back DCA Aeon RT for example...)

 

[Bleib]

why do people insist on spending money where it least matters?!?

Because it's a fun hobby? And suppose one changes to DL200 from DX3pro+, it's not a huge cost if the old one is sold..

 

[Yersinia Bestmate]

All I can add to this is that I've just bought the DL200 myself to add into my office system and it's absolutely superb

Replaced the Focusrite Scarlett Solo USB interface and the DL200 offers a much better sound with more detail and tauter/punchier bass

But that's through my JBLs...

I've got a set of Grado 125 headphones to borrow this week; so I'll be interested to see how they sound via the SMSL

Good choise!

I've got 2nd or 3rd gen (cannot remember which one it was right now) Scarlett 2i4 and the hp amp is really nothing to be proud of - lacks power to drive even basic AKG K701's...

The dac is decent though and has balanced out, so I have used it paired to a couple of active monitors. But as a hp amp the dl200 is on another level.

 

[josiah]

It will not be an upgrade and won't "sound better"...
why do people insist on spending money where it least matters?!?
You're not even coming from a ****** computer soundchip...

by all means, send those 200 bucks to me and do so knowing that I shall invest them where it actually helps to gain some improvement.
(I really want to try a pair of planars, closed back DCA Aeon RT for example...)

I had two thoughts. I use my DX3 Pro+ to connect to active speakers. I assume Balance TRS would be better than RCA? At the very least, it would remove any concerns for ground loop? I also wondered if the headphone AMP was an improvement. Specifically les noise with the same power or greater for low gain mode.

 

[MbphotoX]

I had two thoughts. I use my DX3 Pro+ to connect to active speakers. I assume Balance TRS would be better than RCA? At the very least, it would remove any concerns for ground loop? I also wondered if the headphone AMP was an improvement. Specifically les noise with the same power or greater for low gain mode.

TRS removes the ground loop issues, yes.

To further improve on this, I use an optical cable from my computer to the DL200, bc USB causes so many issues.


I don't think the headAMP is that big of a deal. It feels more like an afterthought, since it has a 4,4mm outlet for balanced headphones, but doesn't provide a balanced headphone output.. it's probably a pretty cheap hedphone amp, and the 4,4mm jack was just laying around in the warehouses anyways..

 

[josiah]

Thank you! Maybe i will get a DX5 or the DO400 then. Decisions.

 

[Yersinia Bestmate]

TRS removes the ground loop issues, yes.

To further improve on this, I use an optical cable from my computer to the DL200, bc USB causes so many issues.


I don't think the headAMP is that big of a deal. It feels more like an afterthought, since it has a 4,4mm outlet for balanced headphones, but doesn't provide a balanced headphone output.. it's probably a pretty cheap hedphone amp, and the 4,4mm jack was just laying around in the warehouses anyways..

Good morning/afternoon/evening/night!

Are you speaking of DL200 when you say that the 4,4mm outlet is not really a balanced one?

 

[nick_l44.1]

Good morning/afternoon/evening/night!

Are you speaking of DL200 when you say that the 4,4mm outlet is not really a balanced one?

Correct, it's the same as 6.35 just a different connector.

 

[MbphotoX]

Exactly. The TRS outputs on the back are balanced outputs (where you need them) and the headphone output does not, despite having the same jack as a balanced output.

 

[josiah]

My First Impressions:
I ended up buying and trying the DL200. I still have a Topping DX3 Pro+ to compare. These do have a subtle difference in sound. I daily driver my HifiMan Series XS. With the DX3 Pro, I had to had the volume to 80–90%. in low gain mode. I believe I was hearing occassional clipping in low gain mode for my preferred volume. High gain mode wouldn't have the clipping issue; however, it added noise. With the SMSL DL200, I have it in low gain and around 48% to achieve the same volume. This seems to result in a little more natural sound. One of the songs I listen to 4minute - Crazy, has a new sound I don't like. I'm not sure if this is an imperfection in the original audio, or something the DAC is doing is doing I do not like. I have been doing AB testing on my 10 favorite songs. I was suprised by the difference this one song has. I have the DL200 set to the 6th filter option. Every other song I listen to sounds as good or slightly better (somehow more naturel). I think it has more to do with the amp having more power and being a better pair for my headphones than the DAC itself; however, I could be wrong.

The balance stereo out removes the ground loop with my Kali IN-5. As expected, going to a balance out was an upgrade. I was originally considering the DX5 or DO400; however, it looks like these do what I need, and I saved some money in the process.

I need to do more A/B testing to fully understand what is going on.

 

[StefanR]

Hi all, my first post after years of reading... I am considering buying the DL200 (sale going on at e.g. Hifi-Express), but it says in its specs that it does not have pre-out mode? I would interpret that as the gain on the RCA and TRS outputs being fixed and not adjustable? If so, a bit of a show stopper...

 

[nick_l44.1]

Hi all, my first post after years of reading... I am considering buying the DL200 (sale going on at e.g. Hifi-Express), but it says in its specs that it does not have pre-out mode? I would interpret that as the gain on the RCA and TRS outputs being fixed and not adjustable? If so, a bit of a show stopper...

These outputs are not affected by gain switch but may be adjusted by volume control.

 

[StefanR]

Vague thoughts about the DL200's integrated HP amp: can one realistically even expect to not hear a difference between that and a dedicated stand-alone HP amp like e.g. the SMSL SP200 with its elaborate THX-AAA-888 electronics? (I got that after it was tested here some years ago). I realize that there may be a clear difference with unusually insensitive headphones, but what about otherwise? Have electronics simply become generally "transparent"?