• Welcome to ASR. There are many reviews of audio hardware and expert members to help answer your questions. Click here to have your audio equipment measured for free!

SMSL PL150 Review (CD Player)

Rate this CD Player

  • Terrible (*)

    Votes: 5 5.1%

  • Mediocre (**)

    Votes: 6 6.1%

  • Good (***)

    Votes: 40 40.4%

  • Excellent (****)

    Votes: 48 48.5%
  • Total voters
    99
Daniele CL said:
All SPDIF outputs, from any CD player, are DIGITAL, have no volume, have no voltage, and are not linked to the volume control. The PL150's RCA output is linked to the volume; its voltage, as far as I'm concerned, is the same (1dB less?) as that of the other player and the DAC output. The RCA output has an annoying click (like an electrical discharge) at the beginning of each track, but the coaxial output doesn't!!!
Click to expand...
Thanks for the reply. Everything is sounding very good with the optical output. No clicks. I’m really liking this player.
 
Hi All, I am deciding between the PL150 and FIIO's DM13 to use as a desktop player. I plan to use with my Denon X3800H AVR. With the PL150 there's RCA outputs. Am I right in thinking that the audio coming from RCA will be processed by PL150 internal DAC rather than my Denon AVR? Though i've never been able to figure out how to keep my subwoofer on whilst in pure direct mode anyway. Does anyone know if there is an audible difference playing in stereo mode using digital output vs pure direct mode with RCA outputs?
 
Yes, if RCA out, dac would be internal to the player. You need a player with usb or optical or coax out ti use an external dac. Other players of compact size also may be available fairly soon from other brands…I’m sure these guys won’t be the only one to mine the category…
 
wgh52 said:
Hello everyone,

I'm considering to buy the P150 as a CD transport to Toslink-feed my digital chain driving DSP speakers.
A perceived contradiction bugs me regarding its power consumption:

- The back of the unit sais "5V/2A" meaning 10 Watts consumption
- The spec. states 4 Watts power consumption

My linear power supply has specified 5V/1A output, so would (only) suffice IF the 4 Watts P150 spec. is realistic.
I hope somebody can shed light or resolve this contradiction.

Thanks a lot!
Winfried
Click to expand...
I had the same problems and returned it, nice sound but too many problems.
 
My sense is that most of these units are going to be specified for 5v/2a power plugs as a threshold.
 
Just wanted to revisit the gapless topic regarding this player. I've had this now for about 6 months and I use it extremely sparingly since I rip my CDs with an external computer drive. With this, I never really paid attention the the gapless factor, nor did I really even play anything that would have tested it.

I finally went through a few tests today with a live concert CD and have determined that it IS gapless and you CAN skip around tracks and it still remains gapless. The problem comes in when you FF or REW - this breaks the gapless feature until you stop and restart the CD playing again.

I've read various things from different sources on what exactly breaks the gapless feature and nothing seems to be consistent. Even AI has got it wrong saying that you can only play from the beginning to end with NO interruptions to keep the gapless feature working. Apparently the playing CAN be interrupted but it just depends on how you do it. I should also say the gap with this unit is VERY short when there is one.

I'm not sure what the most recent releases do regarding this feature but from what I understand it doesn't exist anymore with them. I guess my point was just to set the story strait on what breaks the feature with units that do in fact support it.
 
VinylMechE said:
Hi All, I am deciding between the PL150 and FIIO's DM13 to use as a desktop player. I plan to use with my Denon X3800H AVR. With the PL150 there's RCA outputs. Am I right in thinking that the audio coming from RCA will be processed by PL150 internal DAC rather than my Denon AVR? Though i've never been able to figure out how to keep my subwoofer on whilst in pure direct mode anyway. Does anyone know if there is an audible difference playing in stereo mode using digital output vs pure direct mode with RCA outputs?
Click to expand...
I've got both of these players but I've only used them as a transport. They are both fine as players but the reason I now have the PL150 is because the DM13 does not support a remote control. This difference became sort of a big deal to me actually over time.
 
Should I take a chance on one of these as a transport? Little concerned about the reliability issues many have highlighted but hard to know if it's selection bias.

Could be tempted to get the PL200 and sell off my old Mytek DAQ, but given I eventually want a system based around one of MiniDSP's products it seems a little excessive...
 
I can't say anything much...sworn to secrecy...but you might want to wait for a new compact player/transport to hit the market pretty soon.
 
Joe Smith said:
I can't say anything much...sworn to secrecy...but you might want to wait for a new compact player/transport to hit the market pretty soon.
Click to expand...
From SMSL or someone else? Can definitely wait a bit but more in the order of weeks vs months. And I'd prefer to see independent measurements...
 
LukeD said:
From SMSL or someone else? Can definitely wait a bit but more in the order of weeks vs months. And I'd prefer to see independent measurements...
Click to expand...
I alas don't have any details about the exact rollout of this (not from SMSL). But if you are wanting something compact/attractive, it is. Maybe use a legacy DVD type player for a while?
 
In the SMSL range, I believe...that was anecdotal, from 3rd parties...but I think this maker knows they would need to stay in that zone to be competitive.
 
Joe Smith said:
In the SMSL range, I believe...that was anecdotal, from 3rd parties...but I think this maker knows they would need to stay in that zone to be competitive.
Click to expand...
Is it portable or only for desktop? In the line of their stackable units? HP amp, DAC, CD..?
 
Sworn to secrecy on any details! But I think they are getting close to promoting.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

NTTY
  • Poll Poll
SMSL PL20 Review (CD Player)
4 5 6
Replies
100
Views
22K
Daniele CL
D
NTTY
  • Poll Poll
Orpheus Zero Review (CD Player)
2
Replies
23
Views
7K
Linnie
Linnie
NTTY
  • Poll Poll
SMSL PL100 Review (CD Player)
12 13 14
Replies
263
Views
53K
Joe Smith
J
NTTY
  • Poll Poll
Fiio DM15 Review (Portable CD Player)
2 3 4
Replies
67
Views
14K
tccalvin
T
NTTY
  • Poll Poll
SMSL PL200 Review (CD Player)
7 8 9
Replies
170
Views
51K
EJ3
E
Back
Top Bottom