SMSL DL200 the best ever value DAC/AMP?

[olds1959special]

I don’t like using it as a headphone amp because it doesn’t have an analog volume control and it freaks me out I might be throwing away bits if I don’t listen at 100%. However, it sounds quite good as a headphone amp listening at around 50%.

 

[staticV3]

I don’t like using it as a headphone amp because it doesn’t have an analog volume control and it freaks me out I might be throwing away bits if I don’t listen at 100%.

Can you hear hiss when you pause the music, or play silence?

Yes -> You're throwing away audible bits that you could've kept, had you used an analog volume control.

No -> All potentially lost bits are inaudible and imperceptible. You're getting the full experience despite using digital volume attenuation.

 

[josiah]

Second Impression: I did find out that the new sound I was hearing, was suppose to be there. A good friend with higher-fi than I am willing to do showed me that. I decided to keep the S.M.S.L DL200.

There are a couple things that I don't like about the unit.
1.) It's big. It is easily twice the size of the DX3 Pro.
2.) The clicking noise when you change outputs. I like that the DX3 can change outputs without the clicking noise.

I feel good about my purchase. I was about to spend more money; however, I feel happy with this unit.

 

[olds1959special]

Can you hear hiss when you pause the music, or play silence?

Yes -> You're throwing away audible bits that you could've kept, had you used an analog volume control.

No -> All potentially lost bits are inaudible and imperceptible. You're getting the full experience despite using digital volume attenuation.

I turned it up to 70 with my Beyerdynamic DT990-600 and it sounds great! I've never heard a more detailed setup before, although I can hear a bit of sibilance. Turning up the volume from 50 made it sound better, but of course that could just be because it's louder. Interestingly though, when using the dac as a pre-amp with my power amp for speakers set at a fixed level, the higher levels (70 or higher) on the dac sounded better. So that's why I think I can hear the lost bits when the level is around 60 or less.

 

[MbphotoX]

Second Impression: I did find out that the new sound I was hearing, was suppose to be there. A good friend with higher-fi than I am willing to do showed me that. I decided to keep the S.M.S.L DL200.

There are a couple things that I don't like about the unit.
1.) It's big. It is easily twice the size of the DX3 Pro.
2.) The clicking noise when you change outputs. I like that the DX3 can change outputs without the clicking noise.

I feel good about my purchase. I was about to spend more money; however, I feel happy with this unit.

clicking noise is usually relay switching.. not sure if that's how the DL200 handles outputs, but it could be that. Nothing to worry about.

I find the size quite nice.
What I don't like is the display and the volume knob that doubles as a button.

I would very much prefer an interface like on my Pro-Ject phono stage, with buttons to click through input, output, gain, filters, etc.:

(and add a big metal volume knob, of course )

 

[JIW]

I turned it up to 70 with my Beyerdynamic DT990-600 and it sounds great! I've never heard a more detailed setup before, although I can hear a bit of sibilance. Turning up the volume from 50 made it sound better, but of course that could just be because it's louder. Interestingly though, when using the dac as a pre-amp with my power amp for speakers set at a fixed level, the higher levels (70 or higher) on the dac sounded better. So that's why I think I can hear the lost bits when the level is around 60 or less.

The ESS DAC uses a 32 bit data stream internally even if it receives 16 or 24 bit data. Thus, for 24 bits an attenuation of over around 8*6 = 48 dB is required for the original bits to be lost. For 16 bits, it is 96 dB.

Volume 50 is an attenuation of 24 dB. This leaves a signal to noise ratio of around 32*6 - 24 = 192 - 24 = 168 dB. Thus, the signal to noise ration of the DAC's headphone output being around 125 - 24 = 101 dB is so far in excess that the noise from the volume control cannot be heard.

The maximum attenuation at volume 1 - since 0 is mute - is 68 dB leaving still a 124 dB signal to noise ratio of the volume control while the signal to noise ratio of the output is likely around 125 - 68 = 57 dB.

 

[Qu@rk]

Perfect! Thank you!

 

[Bleib]

Can anyone check whether choosing low gain makes a change to the XLR/RCA out? Is the output 4v rather than 5v:ish?
According to this post it doesn't just change headphone out

When is a lower voltage DAC better?

I've noticed DAC's have varying output levels. My SMSL DL200 is way louder at max volume than my SMSL SU-1 or Qdelix 5K.

www.audiosciencereview.com

 

[olds1959special]

Can anyone check whether choosing low gain makes a change to the XLR/RCA out? Is the output 4v rather than 5v:ish?
According to this post it doesn't just change headphone out

When is a lower voltage DAC better?

I've noticed DAC's have varying output levels. My SMSL DL200 is way louder at max volume than my SMSL SU-1 or Qdelix 5K.

www.audiosciencereview.com

sorry, I was mistaken. You were right, the gain is only for headphones.

 

[Bleib]

sorry, I was mistaken. You were right, the gain is only for headphones.

Thanks for verifying! If it had 4v out I'd instantly buy one..

 

[JIW]

Thanks for verifying! If it had 4v out I'd instantly buy one..

Just set the volume to 95 which is -2 dBr and it's output is 12 dBV or 4 V.

 

[Bleib]

Just set the volume to 95 which is -2 dBr and it's output is 12 dBV or 4 V.

That's not ideal. I don't think most households have only one person operating electronics.

 

[JIW]

That's not ideal. I don't think most households have only one person operating electronics.

What is the issue? Is 5 V going to overload something? Of course one has to check it but it is also displayed when the unit is turned on.

It would be nice it the volume setting could be locked in the menu so it cannot easily be changed or if the maximum volume could be lowered from 99 to 95 for example.

 

[Bleib]

What is the issue? Is 5 V going to overload something? Of course one has to check it but it is also displayed when the unit is turned on.

It would be nice it the volume setting could be locked in the menu so it cannot easily be changed or if the maximum volume could be lowered from 99 to 95 for example.

As it's has been said, not all electronics are happy to receive a higher voltage.
Many Toppings DACs have a 4v or 5v mode in the settings, my hope has been that SMSL starts with this as well.
Obviously, who wants to risk clipping?

 

[JIW]

As it's has been said, not all electronics are happy to receive a higher voltage.
Many Toppings DACs have a 4v or 5v mode in the settings, my hope has been that SMSL starts with this as well.

Yeah. That would be nice.

 

[Qu@rk]

Are these modes realized in Topping DACs as discrete output stages or is it just a digital volume offset?

 

[staticV3]

Are these modes realized in Topping DACs as discrete output stages or is it just a digital volume offset?

It's a volume offset.

 

[hifime]

How come a sub $100 little dongle like the Fiio KA13 can offer true balanced 4.4mm out but not the DL200? How much money are they saving? (I know it makes little difference sound wise but it could ensure you'll never need more power unless you go electrostat.)

 

[staticV3]

How come a sub $100 little dongle like the Fiio KA13 can offer true balanced 4.4mm out but not the DL200? How much money are they saving? (I know it makes little difference sound wise but it could ensure you'll never need more power unless you go electrostat.)

Differential headphone output neither improves sound quality, nor does it ensure a certain amount of output power.

 

[hifime]

Differential headphone output neither improves sound quality, nor does it ensure a certain amount of output power.

I said as much about sound quality. I said it COULD give additional power. My question is what's the cost?

The $200 Fiio K7 desktop dac/amp has true balanced headphone out, for example.