SMSL DL200 the best ever value DAC/AMP?

[josiah]

I thought the Topping had slightly more headphone power? Not that headphone volume is really an issue with the DL200 (headphones are ZMF Auteur Classics).

I don't think the Topping DX3 Pro+ is good for low impedance headphones. For my Hifiman Series XS, I had to have the Topping DX3 Pro+ at like 70%+ on low; however, this caused clipping. I could switch to high gain; however, then I could hear distortion.

The same volume for my SMSL DL200 is low gain mode 42. Things are a bit clearer and sound a bit more natural. If I switch to the Sennheiser 6XX or Philips XHR2, I do not notice any clipping or distortion and I could easily recommend the DX3 Pro+ for those. I still have both units. My fiancé has the DX3 Pro+ setup now.

 

[icy20]

I fixed the problem with the usb 1.1. I have to have the dac already open when I turn on the pc. otherwise the usb is not recognized correctly. it goes to 1.1. If the dac is on when i turn on the pc it goes to 2.0. weird. Now i have another problem. The knob doesnt change the volume. Yesterday it did. If i reset the settings, its working again... wtf

 

[dtan]

Considering the DL100 and DL200 is almost the same price, what should I choose?

 

[Bleib]

Considering the DL100 and DL200 is almost the same price, what should I choose?

100 if you need arc. DL200 is on a deal right now

SMSL DL200 AUDIO DAC & Headphone Amplifier MQA-CD ES9039Q2M

SMSL DL200 AUDIO DAC features MQA-CD ES9039Q2M, Bluetooth APTX HD, OPA1612 XU-316, and DSD512 compatibility, plus 6.35mm & 4.4mm headphone outputs and a handy remote control. Support MQA decoding, support MQA-CD; ESS new generation high-end digital-to-analog chip ES9039Q2M; Qualcomm latest...

hifi-express.com

If you don't mind it coming from China

Edit: MANDYCODE gives additional 5 USD off the price
A steal really

 

[dtan]

100 if you need arc. DL200 is on a deal right now

SMSL DL200 AUDIO DAC & Headphone Amplifier MQA-CD ES9039Q2M

SMSL DL200 AUDIO DAC features MQA-CD ES9039Q2M, Bluetooth APTX HD, OPA1612 XU-316, and DSD512 compatibility, plus 6.35mm & 4.4mm headphone outputs and a handy remote control. Support MQA decoding, support MQA-CD; ESS new generation high-end digital-to-analog chip ES9039Q2M; Qualcomm latest...

hifi-express.com

If you don't mind it coming from China

Thanks so much.
Seems that the difference is XLR vs TRS output.

 

[Bleib]

Thanks so much.
Seems that the difference is XLR vs TRS output.

MANDYCODE gives additional 5 USD off the price

 

[josiah]

100 if you need arc. DL200 is on a deal right now

SMSL DL200 AUDIO DAC & Headphone Amplifier MQA-CD ES9039Q2M

SMSL DL200 AUDIO DAC features MQA-CD ES9039Q2M, Bluetooth APTX HD, OPA1612 XU-316, and DSD512 compatibility, plus 6.35mm & 4.4mm headphone outputs and a handy remote control. Support MQA decoding, support MQA-CD; ESS new generation high-end digital-to-analog chip ES9039Q2M; Qualcomm latest...

hifi-express.com

If you don't mind it coming from China

The DL200 is also on sale at Amazon right now for cheaper 161.49 for Prime days.

Amazon.com

 

[ext23]

I'm just learning of the DL100. I can still exchange my DL200, the cost difference is negligible.

Speaking only of the DAC and headphone amp performance, is there any reason I should switch over to the DL100? It has higher voltage (7.5 volts compared to 5.0 on the DL200) but no high gain setting. The DL100 uses four CS43131 DAC chips where the DL200 uses one ES9039Q2M.

 

[JIW]

I'm just learning of the DL100. I can still exchange my DL200, the cost difference is negligible.

Speaking only of the DAC and headphone amp performance, is there any reason I should switch over to the DL100? It has higher voltage (7.5 volts compared to 5.0 on the DL200) but no high gain setting. The DL100 uses four CS43131 DAC chips where the DL200 uses one ES9039Q2M.

The DL200 headphone output is 2.5 V RMS at low gain and 11 dB higher in high gain which is 8.87 V RMS. The power at 16 Ohm and 32 Ohm for both is 2x3 W and 2x1.5 W, respectively. The DL200's power at 300 Ohm is 2*200 mW which corresponds to a voltage of (200*300/1000)^.5 = 7.75 V. Thus, it has marginally higher power than the DL100 at high impedance loads.

However, the noise floor of the DL100's headphone output is around 20*log10(7.5) - 126 = -108.5 dBV, i.e. SNR at 50 mV is only around 20*log10(.05) - (20*log10(7.5)-126) = 82.5 dB, but the noise floor of the DL200 in low gain is 20*log10(2.5) - 125 = -117.0 dBV, i.e. SNR at 50 mV is around 20*log10(.05) - (20*log10(2.5)-125) = 91.0 dB.

 

[ext23]

The DL200 headphone output is 2.5 V RMS at low gain and 11 dB higher in high gain which is 8.87 V RMS. The power at 16 Ohm and 32 Ohm for both is 2x3 W and 2x1.5 W, respectively. The DL200's power at 300 Ohm is 2*200 mW which corresponds to a voltage of (200*300/1000)^.5 = 7.75 V. Thus, it has marginally higher power than the DL100 at high impedance loads.

However, the noise floor of the DL100's headphone output is around 20*log10(7.5) - 126 = -108.5 dBV, i.e. SNR at 50 mV is only around 20*log10(.05) - (20*log10(7.5)-126) = 82.5 dB, but the noise floor of the DL200 in low gain is 20*log10(2.5) - 125 = -117.0 dBV, i.e. SNR at 50 mV is around 20*log10(.05) - (20*log10(2.5)-125) = 91.0 dB.

My headphones are 300 ohm Auteur ZMFs. So far I've only been using the DL200 in low gain (I try to avoid high gain settings where possible). I'm assuming that these numbers are negligible and I should just go with whatever model has the features I want...?

 

[JIW]

My headphones are 300 ohm Auteur ZMFs. So far I've only been using the DL200 in low gain (I try to avoid high gain settings where possible). I'm assuming that these numbers are negligible and I should just go with whatever model has the features I want...?

The DL200 is better for highly sensitive headphones due to its lower noise floor. Apart from that, power is almost the same so unless you need other inputs or outputs, there is no reason to switch.

 

[ext23]

The DL200 is better for highly sensitive headphones due to its lower noise floor. Apart from that, power is almost the same so unless you need other inputs or outputs, there is no reason to switch.

Thank you for quelling my FOMO lol. I have the DL200 all nicely wired up so I guess I'll just stick with that.

 

[Yersinia Bestmate]

I have so far been using my DL200 solely as a dac in my primary audio set and have been very pleased with it. The only minus is the lack of signal sensing auto on/off function, which is a shame.

Anyway. I'm now planning to take advantage of the HP amp of my DL200, and after searching the web (mainly ASR), I've decided to buy Hifiman HE400SE or Hifiman Sundara headphones. However, I have little knowledge of HP amps. Would my DL200's HP amp be sufficient to drive HE400SE or Sundaras properly, assuming that I'd need to EQ them?

Edit: to add, I occasionally listen to music at moderately loud volumes.

 

[FreakyKiwi]

I have so far been using my DL200 solely as a dac in my primary audio set and have been very pleased with it. The only minus is the lack of signal sensing auto on/off function, which is a shame.

Anyway. I'm now planning to take advantage of the HP amp of my DL200, and after searching the web (mainly ASR), I've decided to buy Hifiman HE400SE or Hifiman Sundara headphones. However, I have little knowledge of HP amps. Would my DL200's HP amp be sufficient to drive HE400SE or Sundaras properly, assuming that I'd need to EQ them?

Edit: to add, I occasionally listen to music at moderately loud volumes.

You'll have no problem at all. I haven't listened to my 400s since I got my Edition XS but just plugged them in to test for you.
On low gain I found 50/99 volume to be a good listening level to my 50 year old ears, turning up to over 90 was very loud.

The HE400SE is rated at 91dB at 25ohms.
According to the headphonesty power calculator they would require 80mw to reach 110db
The DL200 provides up to 1500mW at 32 ohms so probably around 2000mW at 25 ohm.

Headphones Power Calculator

Calculate the power needed to drive your headphone based on sensitivity (db/mw or db/V), impedance (ohms) and loudness (dbSPL)

www.headphonesty.com

 

[Yersinia Bestmate]

You'll have no problem at all. I haven't listened to my 400s since I got my Edition XS but just plugged them in to test for you.
On low gain I found 50/99 volume to be a good listening level to my 50 year old ears, turning up to over 90 was very loud.

The HE400SE is rated at 91dB at 25ohms.
According to the headphonesty power calculator they would require 80mw to reach 110db
The DL200 provides up to 1500mW at 32 ohms so probably around 2000mW at 25 ohm.

Headphones Power Calculator

Calculate the power needed to drive your headphone based on sensitivity (db/mw or db/V), impedance (ohms) and loudness (dbSPL)

www.headphonesty.com

Thank you very much!

 

[josiah]

As someone who has had the 400s and Sundara. I can only recommend the Edition XS right now while it's on sale:

Amazon.com

$269. While I loved my Sundara, I never user them anymore. This AMP pairs great with my Series XS.

 

[Yersinia Bestmate]

As someone who has had the 400s and Sundara. I can only recommend the Edition XS right now while it's on sale:

Amazon.com

$269. While I loved my Sundara, I never user them anymore. This AMP pairs great with my Series XS.

Unfortunately "this item cannot be shipped to your selected delivery location". So Sundara or HE400SE it is.

 

[staticV3]

Unfortunately "this item cannot be shipped to your selected delivery location". So Sundara or HE400SE it is.

Afaik, Hifiman ship globally from their own website:
http://store.hifiman.com/index.php/edition-xs.html
http://store.hifiman.com/index.php/edition-xs-open-box.html
http://store.hifiman.com/index.php/edition-xs-refurbished.html

 

[zonk]

Afaik, Hifiman ship globally from their own website:
http://store.hifiman.com/index.php/edition-xs.html
http://store.hifiman.com/index.php/edition-xs-open-box.html
http://store.hifiman.com/index.php/edition-xs-refurbished.html

the price reduction is amazing

but shipping costs are quite high.. approx 50$

 

[Yersinia Bestmate]

the price reduction is amazing

but shipping costs are quite high.. approx 50$

Indeed. Not to mention the potential problems with warranty and shipping costs in case something goes wrong (broken unit f.exmp).

I live in EU and only buy from European resellers because of warranty issues.