SMSL DS20 Portable DAC & HP Amp Review

[shuppatsu]

Hi Amir thanks for the review. Did I just see you say it jumps 0.7V in one volume increment . That sounds somewhat unusable , it the same massive jumps all the way through the volume range?

Thanks and yes.

3.8->4.5 is a 1.5dB step or +10% perceived loudness.

Hardly what one would call massive.

I guess we need some clarification on how Amir understood @Vini darko’s question. If it’s a 1.5dB step through the range, that’s probably fine. If it’s a 0.7V step through the range, that’s a problem!

 

[amirm]

If it’s a 0.7V step through the range, that’s a problem!

It is definitely not through the range.

 

[staticV3]

If it’s a 0.7V step through the range, that’s a problem!

No digital volume control works in voltage steps.
They're basically always in dB.

 

[JSmith]

It was sent to me by Aoshida Audio and costs US $190.

The clear case is interesting, thanks for testing.

A closer look;

JSmith

 

[JakeK]

I mean how many headphones actually exist that can benefit from the increased power of the SMSL vs the Fosi DS2 - there's probably one that I can think of (the HE6 is it?), and maybe there's some others, but aren't we just talking a handful of headphones that would benefit.

I was wondering the same myself. Is there a type of headphone that this unit is designed for? To anyone that is buying this, what headphones will you be using with it?

Is bluetooth or usb out to a dac/amp better for phone battery drain?

I would think that depends somewhat on the DAC/Amp/Headphone combo but I know from experience that playing music over bluetooth hardly drains the phone battery at all as long as the phone screen is off.

By the way, does this thing take it's charge from the same USB socket? Do you have to switch out of charging mode to prevent it taking current from the phone? The logical way would be it only takes charge when turned off but then you would have to be sure to unplug from your phone before turning it off or it would drain your phone.

Nightmare scenario, you play music for a while then turn off the DAC/Amp but leave it plugged in and later find your phone is drained to zero battery by the DAC/Amp and you can't even make a phone call!

 

[DualTriode]

SMSL DS20 Measurements
As noted, the volume control is rather coarse, jumping from 3.8 to 4.5 volts. I like to see 4 volts but gave the benefit of doubt and tested at 4.5 volts:

Seems that 4.5 volts is a odd output voltage to teat this thing.

Shown in the graphs, SINAD increases with output voltage.

4.5 volts output is a unfair advantage.

 

[yo!]

The DS20 has a huge battery but is chunky like a brick.
I would miss a PEQ when comparing to the Qudelix T71 (smaller battery, 8V output, but PEQ and display, way smaller / still on the big side for mobile use)

 

[amirm]

Shown in the graphs, SINAD increases with output voltage.

4.5 volts output is a unfair advantage.

A lot of devices output 4.2 volt to take advantage of maximum dynamic range of AP in that range. I let that go through so thought was not fair to go below for this device. The advantage likely is 1 or so dB in SINAD so not a big deal in grand scheme of things.

 

[PJR918BMW]

So a key technical point...

damn! It looks cool!

 

[jayapple]

Finally, someone's getting into mobile devices. Back when Sony ruled the MP3 player world, there were lots of brands making mobile Hi-Fi players around me.

They were so heavy that people made fun of them and called them "bricks". This little thing only weighs 200 grams. But it doesn't have a screen and doesn't support SD cards. That's kind of a bummer.

You know, around 2016, those "bricks" could go for 500 bucks. Treat people as fools. Nowadays, it seems that these bricks are rarely seen.

 

[AudioSceptic]

If you added 1 TB and some controls would you have a really great stand-alone Ipod? How was the DAC on the original Apple Ipod?

Then it's a DAP, not just a DAC + HP amp, and you would need a screen, etc. The original iPod sounded pretty good and I'd guess the DAC was about CD quality.

 

[AudioSceptic]

It boils down to whether you want to drain your phone battery or not. If you are on the go and don't have access to power, then products like this make sense.

Note also that they can be used as a desktop DAC that you can take with you on the road.

This depends so much on what HPs you use. If you use actual headphones (which IMO look ridiculous outdoors), then maybe, but IEMs use so little power that a phone's battery doesn't really get much of a hit.

 

[AudioSceptic]

Performance is good, but I'm struggling with a use case, same as some other folks. I have a great desktop dac, I have a decent mobile dongle. I don't see where this fits in.

It seems more an engineering exercise than a product designed for a specific market.

 

[peniku8]

Makes me wonder why DAPs are still a thing...

Aside from the audiophool marketing I suppose some people just like not having a phone with them for some time, so they can relax better. Especially the self-employed crowd typically

 

[JakeK]

This depends so much on what HPs you use. If you use actual headphones (which IMO look ridiculous outdoors), then maybe, but IEMs use so little power that a phone's battery doesn't really get much of a hit.

If I had some Dan Clark Noire headphones then maybe I would consider this for listening to music while relaxing in the garden or on holiday by the pool and it could be used on the desktop as well. Doesn't seem that practical for on the plane or train but maybe these could be taken abroad instead of bluetooth ones if I wasn't too worried about losing something so expensive.

Can anyone say if this DS20 is good enough for the Noire X or XO? Is there a cheaper equivalent that will be as good or better with them?

@amirm Did you try the DS20 with your Dan Clark headphones?

 

[SoySalsaPicante]

I used do the whole DAP thing with nice IEMs, the whole nine yards, but in the end I just gave up and went back to my AirPods Pro because my commute is by train and I value the active noise cancellation more than difference in sound quality of the, “audiophile,” setup. Sure, Thieaudio Hype 4s with a, “proper,” lossless high-res setup does sound better, but it’s moot if I can’t hear it over the noise floor of the train etc. In the end, wireless convenience and, more importantly, active noise cancellation win out. In fact, in the winter when ears get cold, I actually listen to music on my AirPods Pro with ANC on while wearing my AirPods Max on top of them with ANC turned on for double-isolation and I tell you it’s almost like riding to work in an anechoic chamber once the music is playing because that covers up the minimal remaining noise floor! I have used the AirPods Max on top of the audiophile setup for ANC during the winter and yes, that does overall sound the best, but then we get back to just how clunky it is to carry the separate DAP, have the wired IEMs running under the AirPods Max, etc.

 

[microfast]

It is very similar to the SMSL M20 that look slight different and has also selectable line out beyond that the two Headphone out ...

 

[Robbo99999]

It boils down to whether you want to drain your phone battery or not. If you are on the go and don't have access to power, then products like this make sense.

Note also that they can be used as a desktop DAC that you can take with you on the road.

That's the one good thing isn't it in comparison, does it also charge your phone at same time? I'm thinking the answer is no because otherwise the DAC/amp could potentially run out juice when you don't want it to.

 

[xanalog]

That's what I'm saying : Why buying a (assuming big/heavy high end) DAP when you can pair your phone to such portable DACs.

::

But I do want an independent DAP.

You two stop fighting:
It's not a binary split... Yes, you can have one of each, as well as only one of them.
I am in the latter category, especially now that @amirm made me disgusted with my bad-purchase of a bad-performer Xduoo X5
If this SMSL had a 2TB microSD slot and a decent touch-display, I may consider buying it...

 

[IAmAlwaysSerious]

If you added 1 TB and some controls would you have a really great stand-alone Ipod? How was the DAC on the original Apple Ipod?

Somewhere around a volt of max output, at "good enough" SINAD. Great two decades ago, but nothing comparable to the modern good stuff.

Graph of an Ipod 5.5 for fun: