SMSL DL200 the best ever value DAC/AMP?

[nick_l44.1]

I did this using VMWare Fusion on my Mac, but having the same problem, and I have no idea how to do anything in the app.

Same problem. I just used the buttons as instructed, ignoring the unreadable text. The only thing that is not very clear is that after pressing the “Start” button you have to connect the device to the mains very quickly, in a few seconds.

 

[olds1959special]

Same problem. I just used the buttons as instructed, ignoring the unreadable text. The only thing that is not very clear is that after pressing the “Start” button you have to connect the device to the mains very quickly, in a few seconds.

I did that, but it doesn't work because I'm on a virtual machine on Mac.

 

[th2j]

if you have the problem with "unreadable text" in the exe for update,
you have to change the "Language for non-Unicode programs" in windows to chinese
and then use google traduction for chinese

 

[olds1959special]

I will get a cheap pc to do the update. Anybody know what the update actually does?

I just plugged in my HD650's directly into the DL200 and was pleasantly surprised by the good sound quality even at low volumes around 30 at high gain or 60 at low gain. I'm using low gain at 65 now and it sounds really good. Going direct is giving me a bit cleaner and more upfront sound that works well with these headphones. It is a little lifeless and sterile compared to the OTL tube amp, but very sufficient. I feel like power is enough and I'm hearing a lot of details, more than with the tube amp, although it is presented differently.

 

[JIW]

I will get a cheap pc to do the update. Anybody know what the update actually does?

I just plugged in my HD650's directly into the DL200 and was pleasantly surprised by the good sound quality even at low volumes around 30 at high gain or 60 at low gain. I'm using low gain at 65 now and it sounds really good. Going direct is giving me a bit cleaner and more upfront sound that works well with these headphones. It is a little lifeless and sterile compared to the OTL tube amp, but very sufficient. I feel like power is enough and I'm hearing a lot of details, more than with the tube amp, although it is presented differently.

It changes the selection and labeling of reconstruction filters to make it more correct. It might do more though.

 

[Loekie]

Some dacs (like f.e. the Aune X8 XVIII) offer the option of interchangeable op-amps. The DL200 does not have this option. Nevertheless, in the case of the Aune many have praised the sound with discrete opamps (mostly Sparkos types). With the use of soic to dip adapters in the DL200, the OPA1612 could be swapped for a discrete op-amp as well. I don't know yet what's the function of the opamps in the DL200, i guess some of you can tell me first.

 

[MasterBaits]

I don't know if this is of any help:
It happened to me a couple of times until I learned what was causing the reset.

In one of my setups I am using a switchable power strip.
If I turn the power strip on and immediately press the encoder to turn on the DL200 , the settings are reset to defaults, also volume settings. I have to wait a few seconds before I press the encoder to prevent the reset.

I noticed the changed settings because I usually use the auto-display-off feature and suddenly the display stayed on.

Just change a setting, for example select filter FL7 and try my procedure or your procedure by holding the encoder and turn the DL200 on. The filter FL2 should be the default.

Another procedure might work to initiate a factory reset:
Turn the DL200 on by pressing the encoder.
Disconnect the power cord.
Hold the encoder and connect the power cord again.

If the DL200 was on when disconnected from power it automatically turns on as soon as it gets power again. By holding the encoder it might initiate a factory reset.

Please let us know what works.

Just wanna say thanks for this method and it works. (you are a genius!!! how did you figure it out???) I was trying to play a game, but their kernel-level anticheat somehow viewed SMSL DL200 USB/driver a threat. It messed with the device, and 44.1 khz on the interface wasn't showing up, even though the device was turned on and working perfectly.

Have you guys experienced this weird issue where even though your device is turned on, the interface goes into "sleep mode"?? - so it was really hard to know if my device was turned on or not because there's nothing on the interface.

Thanks

 

[serzik68]

Please tell me how to play MQA files via USB interface on this device. Sometimes the device skips a few seconds at the beginning of the first file, then the whole album plays correctly. I play the files via foobar player on Windows 10 with XMOS driver installed. MQA file is recognized correctly. Does anyone else have this problem?

 

[staticV3]

Please tell me how to play MQA files via USB interface on this device. Sometimes the device skips a few seconds at the beginning of the first file, then the whole album plays correctly. I play the files via foobar player on Windows 10 with XMOS driver installed. MQA file is recognized correctly. Does anyone else have this problem?

See here:

XMOS driver settings for no cutoff/delay

I was contemplating on creating a "tutorial" of sorts for all XMOS drivers on devices that have a cutoff -- latency between the start of a sound and the dac "reacting" and actually playing said sound... So here it is: XMOS drivers use a control panel not unlike this: Usually the "Options"...

www.audiosciencereview.com

 

[Blevee]

Well I ordered my DL200 last sat from Amazon.com (I am in Canada but they were not listed on Amazon.ca). Anxiously awaiting delivery this coming Saturday according to tracking.

I'm in Canada as well. Been waiting on the DL200 to show up in amazon .ca for months. Why would Amazon not have this listed for Canada for so long?

The only thing that I can think of is that the power supply has NOT been approved to a required Canadian CSA standard (though imho, that does not seem to stop Amazon for many other items).

I have a Topping DX3 Pro+ and have been wanting to get something with a balanced output for headphones and switchable line outs (balanced and RCA) as a DAC only. Would move the DX3 PRO+ to a set of powered speakers that lack BT LDAC codec.

.

 

[SPCL9806]

I'm in Canada as well. Been waiting on the DL200 to show up in amazon .ca for months. Why would Amazon not have this listed for Canada for so long?

The only thing that I can think of is that the power supply has NOT been approved to a required Canadian CSA standard (though imho, that does not seem to stop Amazon for many other items).

I have a Topping DX3 Pro+ and have been wanting to get something with a balanced output for headphones and switchable line outs (balanced and RCA) as a DAC only. Would move the DX3 PRO+ to a set of powered speakers that lack BT LDAC codec.

.

The DL200 came out in Jul 2023 and it's been at least 5 months since I last saw it on Amazon.ca.

My first SMSL DAC was a DL200 that I purchased through Amazon.ca in Jun 2024. I thought it was ok sounding and I did not experience any of the issues that have been covered in this thread but I decided to return it for the twice as expensive DO300EX and quite frankly, have never looked back.

SMSL's DO100 PRO appears to be very similar to the DL200 in terms of capability but at $315 CAD looks to be about $50 CAD more than what I paid for the DL200. If you are steadfast on getting the DL200, order it from Amazon's US site as they appear to be available at $190 USD or about $$275 CAD, plus shipping.

 

[nick_l44.1]

I have a Topping DX3 Pro+ and have been wanting to get something with a balanced output for headphones

The DL200 HPA is very good but it's not balanced.

 

[Qu@rk]

I am using two DL200 for over a year and both are working great.

An alternative would be the new SMSL RAW-MDA 1 DAC. Practically a DL200 with XLR outputs instead of TRS, two digital inputs more, a fancier display in a smaller case.

And a very good review with excellent results published by @amirm .

SMSL RAW-MDA 1 DAC & Headphone Amp Review

This is a review and detailed measurements of the SMSL RAW-MDA 1 stereo DAC and headphone amplifier. It was sent to me by SMSL and it is a collaboration with Shenzehenaudio (available elsewhere as well) and is on sale for $246. The first thing I noticed was the much more polished display. It is...

www.audiosciencereview.com

 

[Blevee]

Thanks for the feedbacks!

 

[JIW]

I just measured the holes for the headphone outputs to 11 mm diameter and 5.5 mm depth at the bottom on the 4.4 mm and 15 mm diameter and 5.5 mm depth at the bottom on the 6.35 mm.

 

[JIW]

I did some testing regarding the popping. It occurs not only for sample rate changes but also bit depth changes.

The sample rate change pops also occur without any signal playing. It scales in volume with the volume setting and is even present with volume set to 00, i.e. mute, but not when mute is selected via remote control. The latter is the case because it does not enact the sample rate change until unmuted although it does pop at a lower level similar to that at 00 volume. That puts at least some part of it before the volume control.

For bit depth changes, there is no popping without any signal playing. When Qobuz is running but not playing anything preventing it from disconnecting, it pops slightly and the volume does not scale with the volume control setting as it is the same at 00 and 99.

 

[Piano]

I did this using VMWare Fusion on my Mac, but having the same problem, and I have no idea how to do anything in the app.

So I tried updating the firmware to get the more-accurate-but-still-apparently-not-totally-correct labels, and the firmware app itself just displayed in gibberish characters for me on Windows 11.

Hi,

this is the translation of the gibberish characters :

Notes:

1. Before downloading, make sure your computer has a serial port or a USB-to-serial cable
2. The highest/lowest baud rate of the serial port does not need to be set in general.
If the serial port speed does not match this program,
you can try to change the highest and lowest baud rates to 2400 or 4800
3. When updating the code, you need to click the programming button in the upper left corner of the interface first,
and then power on the machine

注意事项：

1、下载前需确保电脑有串口或者有USB转串口线
2、串口的最高/最低波特率一般情况下不需设置，
若出现串口的速度与本程序不匹配时，
可尝试将最高和最低波特率都修改为2400或者4800
3、更新代码时，需要先点击界面左上角的编程按钮，
再给机器上电

 

[funkyblue]

I've been using an SMSL AL200 amplifier paired with Q Acoustics 3010i Bookshelf speakers, connected to my PC via USB to access my extensive FLAC library. The sound quality is exceptional, striking the perfect balance between price and performance. It's the best audio experience I've ever had!

 

[csuti]

Hello everyone!

I'm new to this forum, and I registered because of the DL200 1.3 FW update. I'd like to ask if anyone has already updated their DAC with this? Does this update happen to bring hardware volume control? I use it with Volumio on a Pi3b, and unfortunately, I have a problem with software mixing, so it would be great to switch to hardware mixing.

 

[nick_l44.1]

Hello everyone!

I'm new to this forum, and I registered because of the DL200 1.3 FW update. I'd like to ask if anyone has already updated their DAC with this? Does this update happen to bring hardware volume control? I use it with Volumio on a Pi3b, and unfortunately, I have a problem with software mixing, so it would be great to switch to hardware mixing.

If you mean whether you can control the hardware volume from the USB host, no, that option has not appeared.