SMSL PL200 Review (CD Player)

[Roland301]

At this level of performance, I see a missed opportunity for it to be a quality ADC/CD ripper too

A $30 generic desktop DVD drive and secure ripping program with Accurip support makes a better ripper because it can read discs much faster, plus you have the checksum and error correction verifying bit exact data. Players are designed to run silently at ~1-2x reading speed so ripping on one would probably take forever, or compromise playing experience to achieve the higher speeds.

 

[solderdude]

1W in 32ohm with low distortion also isn't bad (bottom plot).

In E.U. this PL200 costs € 740.-

 

[NTTY]

I would need a load to test headphones output. Maybe something to consider in the future.

I already commented rest of the measurements above. They unfortunately deviate from @amirm’s standards, so are not comparable.

 

[Vintage02]

Hello Florent,

Another excellent review that is further enriched by the DAC section test. Regarding the CD player performances, it seems we are reaching a sort of maximum. For the DAC, personally I find the formatting options superfluous, but there has to be something for everyone's taste, and ultimately adding distortion fits well with our habits; it's not certain that we would prefer the 'without distortion'...

In conclusion, even if prices are rising, we can see that products from the Middle Kingdom no longer have anything to envy from European's (if any remain!!) or American's productions... Should we be happy about that??!!... I couldn't say.

 

[paschulke2]

Nice Floyd copy looks like a 1984 Japanese repress by CBS/Sony.

… and it is encoded with pre-emphasis (50/15µs), which is part of the red book specs.

Does the SMSL PL200 decode it properly on the analog outputs (frequency response) and on the digital outputs (flag)?

This CD (the first EMI Pink Floyd release on CD—in Japan because EMI did not believe in CD at that time. I bought my copy in october 1984) is an excellent example for the fact that you can't ignore pre-emphasis if you have older CDs. I write this in expectation of "who needs de-emphasis in 2025?" replies …

 

[daniboun]

@NTTY
You seem to have a certain notoriety. Would you have the opportunity to test the SMSL Tabebuia speakers?

 

[Guerilla]

I do not have an Aptx HD compatible device, unfortunately.

Too bad. Maybe you could make a seperate review of that at some point. That would be even better. We know that the now old original Aptx cause distortion, but I don't know of tests that show the same with their newer versions.
Cheers!

 

[NTTY]

… and it is encoded with pre-emphasis (50/15µs), which is part of the red book specs.

Does the SMSL PL200 decode it properly on the analog outputs (frequency response) and on the digital outputs (flag)?

This CD (the first EMI Pink Floyd release on CD—in Japan because EMI did not believe in CD at that time. I bought my copy in october 1984) is an excellent example for the fact that you can't ignore pre-emphasis if you have older CDs. I write this in expectation of "who needs de-emphasis in 2025?" replies …

You got me

Here you go with the de-emphasis test as I can (will) perform it:

These two curves are the same, one has the pre-emphasis flag "ON", on the the test CD. So if the CD player does not decode, the two curves will overlap. If the player decodes the Pre-emphasis flag and applies the correction curve, I can verify the compliance with the expected one.

So I'll include that test in my future reviews, and I might just say that it decodes and the measured deviation at 11kHz, I suppose it would be enough. I'll update the initial post with that.

For fun, this is the same with an overlay of the OPPO BFP-105 results, of which review is cooking hot:

And so for the OPPO and the SMSL, I can summarize by:

• De-emphasis compliance (deviation at 11khz) : Yes (0.0dB)

 

[Herbert]

And by the way, yes, I still love to spin a good old low-res record, I have so many. The SMSL makes me enjoy a similar pleasure and it's small enough to fit besides my turn table.

For this reason, CDs have lost out to digital files, and LPs have made a comeback. With the first generation of players from Philips, Marantz, Technics, Toshiba and Hitachi, you could see the CD spinning, often even illuminated. What about the housing? Is it really made entirely of aluminium, as advertised? Touch it with your lips when the device is switched off and has cooled down, by this you can easily tell the difference between plastic and aluminium.

 

[Toku]

There are no problems with the electrical characteristics, but the thing I worry about most with a CD player is the mechanical movement of the laser pickup and tray. I have handled many CD players, and most of the breakdowns were due to mechanical malfunctions. I won't be able to really evaluate the SMLS PL200 until three years have passed.

 

[NTTY]

There are no problems with the electrical characteristics, but the thing I worry about most with a CD player is the mechanical movement of the laser pickup and tray. I have handled many CD players, and most of the breakdowns were due to mechanical malfunctions. I won't be able to really evaluate the SMLS PL200 until three years have passed.

Only one year to go since it came out in October 2023

 

[NTTY]

What about the housing? Is it really made entirely of aluminium, as advertised?

Yes, it is

 

[xanalog]

To add to all of this, it will be a pretty close visual match to the Wiim Ultra streamer as well.

They do look nice together... but only if...

...you cover up that MQA decal; because it really clashes with your beautiful ...

OT: I hope @Sal1950 does not chance upon this post; he may have a conniption about that 3-letter acronym.

 

[5onderling]

If this would have an OLED or even a simple 7 segment display I would buy it, but with that glowing screen it's just too ugly for me. Hopefully they will release a upgraded version sometime.

 

[aagstn]

I keep saying I don't need CD players anymore and then you do another great review. Showing there are some solid modern players still out there.

 

[NTTY]

Do you mean the transport is quiet mechanically?

It is. The only noise comes from the laser head moving when you jump multiple tracks at once.

 

[NTTY]

@NTTY
You seem to have a certain notoriety. Would you have the opportunity to test the SMSL Tabebuia speakers?

Thanks for your request, but unfortunately I don’t have what’s required to test loudspeakers.

 

[JaccoW]

If this would have an OLED or even a simple 7 segment display I would buy it, but with that glowing screen it's just too ugly for me. Hopefully they will release a upgraded version sometime.

I still love the look of the classic VFD but an LED alternative as used on the Topping E50 or E70 is pretty nice as well.

 

[babadono]

It is. The only noise comes from the laser head moving when you jump multiple tracks at once.

TY @NTTY

 

[PristineSound]

Too bad no SACD support and only USB input to use as a standalone DAC.

If not for the above, I would have already purchased this unit.