SMSL PL150 Review (CD Player)

[anonyless]

He can be entertaining but it's almost never scientific... the default CD-player is better than his ears and his speakers

this is beyond being anything close to scientific - i don't see any logic in his opinion/argument regarding the PS. almost feels like he got tons of comments on his PL100 review video saying 'it doesn't work properly because i didn't get a PS with my CD player" and now he's trying to please his hardcore followers with this BS

 

[Bleib]

this is beyond being anything close to scientific - i don't see any logic in his opinion/argument regarding the PS. almost feels like he got tons of comments on his PL100 review video saying 'it doesn't work properly because i didn't get a PS with my CD player" and now he's trying to please his hardcore followers with this BS

I don't mean just this clip but overall..it's not all subjective all the time
To me the main value with these kinds of videos is how easy they are to use for instance...

 

[Mookalafalas]

He can be entertaining but it's almost never scientific... the default CD-player is better than his ears and his speakers

I agree. I was surprised in one of his videos where he admitted directly that the company was paying him for a positive review. He has a sort of disarming charm, but I don't consider him reliable--at any level.

 

[anonyless]

I agree. I was surprised in one of his videos where he admitted directly that the company was paying him for a positive review. He has a sort of disarming charm, but I don't consider him reliable--at any level.

do you remember in which video that happened?

 

[Mookalafalas]

do you remember in which video that happened?

No, I don't. He churns them out and I only watch occasionally.

 

[ChenHui]

Could someone please explain to me this none sense power supply argument (cheap audio man on the PL150 from yesterday's video on CD players):

"Could you get the SMSL to sound better? Yes, with an external DAC and figuring out what type of power supply to buy, because you have to buy your own 5V 2 amp plus power supply. And most of those are just crappy wall warts that people use to charge their cell phones or their iPads. And that's not it. The music does not get enough respect when you have some garbage power supply and that does impact the sound. So, I would skip it."

video is set to the exact moment of the above quote

Regarding the power adapter, I'm not sure why so many people are confused. The iPhone 17 Pro Max doesn't come with an original charger either.
I recommend these two chargers that I've personally tested and confirmed to work:

• For home use: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C8HHV9DK
• For car use: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BPH6S4DN

Please use the original power cord.

 

[Mookalafalas]

I got mine, but I'm sorry to say the first impression is very bad. First, it makes a slightly rattling noise while playing, especially when lying flat. It isn't loud, but sitting next to the unit listening through headphones, I can hear it even with HiFiMan over-ear headphones on. Second, it won't recognize quite a few disks (well, two out of the first 6 I tried). Third, it will load disks when it is on its side, but fails to read them or play them (although if load the disk while its flat and then stand it up, it's fine). Sound seems really good and build quality appears to be nice, these are real bummers. Hopefully it just needs some "break in" time...
Actually, the first disk I put it, the loader drive didn't seem to engage, and it got stuck. First it said "Read" in the window, and then "Err." It wouldn't eject. I had to open the unit and fiddle with it a little bit (but didn't take anything apart). When I put it back together, it started working OK.
Anyway, I love the look and size. I pray it shapes up quickly. I bought it through Amazon Japan and it shipped from Beijing. I suspect it will be very tough to return.

 

[anonyless]

I got mine, but I'm sorry to say the first impression is very bad. First, it makes a slightly rattling noise while playing, especially when lying flat. It isn't loud, but sitting next to the unit listening through headphones, I can hear it even with HiFiMan over-ear headphones on. Second, it won't recognize quite a few disks (well, two out of the first 6 I tried). Third, it will load disks when it is on its side, but fails to read them or play them (although if load the disk while its flat and then stand it up, it's fine). Sound seems really good and build quality appears to be nice, these are real bummers. Hopefully it just needs some "break in" time...
Actually, the first disk I put it, the loader drive didn't seem to engage, and it got stuck. First it said "Read" in the window, and then "Err." It wouldn't eject. I had to open the unit and fiddle with it a little bit (but didn't take anything apart). When I put it back together, it started working OK.
Anyway, I love the look and size. I pray it shapes up quickly. I bought it through Amazon Japan and it shipped from Beijing. I suspect it will be very tough to return.

it shouldn't be making any noise when playing. i think your unit is faulty. what power supply are you using?

 

[Mookalafalas]

5V 2A. It's an adapter I got with an android pad. Power seems steady. When I opened it up, though, the main unit inside looked slightly off-kilter. It was also surprisingly loose. I saw what looked like screw holes with no screws in them...

 

[anonyless]

i would try with a different PS (3A ) and if that changes nothing , ask for a refund from Amazon

 

[VientoB]

Could someone please explain to me this none sense power supply argument (cheap audio man on the PL150 from yesterday's video on CD players):

"Could you get the SMSL to sound better? Yes, with an external DAC and figuring out what type of power supply to buy, because you have to buy your own 5V 2 amp plus power supply. And most of those are just crappy wall warts that people use to charge their cell phones or their iPads. And that's not it. The music does not get enough respect when you have some garbage power supply and that does impact the sound. So, I would skip it."

video is set to the exact moment of the above quote

Cheap Audio Man has gone downhill recently.

 

[petphi]

Hello everyone, "long-time reader, first-time poster", as they say...

I received my SMSL PL150 today, and can confirm that even with the advice to "insert CD and don't touch the device", the version I received is NOT gapless. There is a 0.5-1.0 second drop in volume between the end of one track and the beginning of the next, meaning that there is an audible gap between tracks. Curiously, the end of one song and the beginning of the next are slightly cut off, so this implementation is the worst of both worlds - you miss a bit of each song too. *I tested Daft Punk's "Alive 2007" and Pink Floyd's "Pulse".

Perhaps there are different versions of the player, but with no apparent way to update the firmware I feel I am left with a highly disappointing brick.

 

[Mookalafalas]

Sad to say, I returned mine. They made me pay my own return shipping, but my money was refunded today.

 

[Bleib]

Sad to say, I returned mine. They made me pay my own return shipping, but my money was refunded today.

Could have sold it used for the same price you paid for it

 

[Mookalafalas]

Could have sold it used for the same price you paid for it

Sell a broken player? Not me.

 

[Bleib]

Sell a broken player? Not me.

One man's treasure is another man's trash. I sold mine, because I don't use it often enough, but the buyer said it was much better and quieter than his much more expensive player. He sold his previous player for around 350 euro

 

[Daniele CL]

I'm Italian. I bought the PL150 from SMSLshop last month, and it arrived at the end of the year.
My player is NOT GAPLESS, even without pressing FFW FRW.
The volume also affects the RCA outputs.
It locks up with the Steven Wilson Hand Cannot Erase CD; you have to repeatedly press "eject" for a long time to eject the disc.
It locks up with a CD lens cleaner.
I've used four power supplies; one with a 1.5A won't start, while the others with 2A (a Samsung) and 2.1A behave the same way.
I read that it works with some unreadable CDs when powered from a PC, so I tried it today. The Steven Wilson CD locked up, and I had to disassemble the player to eject the disc.
The mechanism IS NOT PHILIPS; it appears to be a Fujitsu ten used in Toyotas.
There's probably an incompatibility between the firmware written for Philips and the one used in current production.
I also had contact with customer service, they were quick and kind but they didn't solve anything, they told me to report my problems to the designers and they offered me a refund.

 

[EJ3]

Hello everyone, "long-time reader, first-time poster", as they say...

I received my SMSL PL150 today, and can confirm that even with the advice to "insert CD and don't touch the device", the version I received is NOT gapless. There is a 0.5-1.0 second drop in volume between the end of one track and the beginning of the next, meaning that there is an audible gap between tracks. Curiously, the end of one song and the beginning of the next are slightly cut off, so this implementation is the worst of both worlds - you miss a bit of each song too. *I tested Daft Punk's "Alive 2007" and Pink Floyd's "Pulse".

Perhaps there are different versions of the player, but with no apparent way to update the firmware I feel I am left with a highly disappointing brick.

Gapless: I find annoying, I don't want run together songs (unless it is a medley). I want the .5 second gap (1.0 second is too long) if it is a different song.
But missing a bit of each song: THAT makes it a TOTAL FAILURE to me.

 

[jmwatte]

Got the first one. Popped in Simone Dinnerstein Goldberg variations. Got to track 2 .... missed the attack on the opening chord. What? tried again ... Indeed missing the start... Tried other cds. Songs with a sharp attack at the start ... missing. Send it back to the company where I ordered it. Nice folks, no complaint there. Got the second unit... Same stuff. So question, anyone else who has this machine notice that?

 

[petphi]

Got the first one. Popped in Simone Dinnerstein Goldberg variations. Got to track 2 .... missed the attack on the opening chord. What? tried again ... Indeed missing the start... Tried other cds. Songs with a sharp attack at the start ... missing. Send it back to the company where I ordered it. Nice folks, no complaint there. Got the second unit... Same stuff. So question, anyone else who has this machine notice that?

Yes, this is what I tried to describe in my comment #92 (above): the tracks might be “gapless” in being read by the device, but there is volume ducking (decrease) where the tracks change, resulting in disturbing cut-offs.

Thankfully I was able to return my unit after all.

Comment #97 (above) that indicates that SMSL might be using a different drive (Fujitsu) in this device and not the original Philips, but I did not open mine up to check. The commenter postulates that there may be a problem with firmware. While not confirmed, it means I wouldn't bother trying a second unit unless I could test one of my disks in a shop (unlikely as that may be). Huge pity, because the player looked nice and was otherwise ideal for my needs.