SMSL PL200T Review (CD Transport)

[DonDish]

Transports generally output the same digital signal. Only if they use an ASRC would they not.

I prospected an Arcam CDS50. A very versatile SACD-CD player with SONY playstation drive. It has samplerate conversion. Dont know how its implemented though, but it raises some suspicion. Engineers not necesarily worried about bitperfect digital output.

 

[babadono]

Sure wish they offered in black....oh well silver it is.

ordered Dec24th........ still waiting. Made it from China to within 40 miles of my house in 2 days, Christmas no less. Alas the last 40 miles cannot be overcome. How do these delivery companies stay in business?

 

[NTTY]

Can you please list all CD-Transports or small and decent CD-Players you have seen so far without ASRC? And how to recognise ASCR physically after opening? This would be very helpful.

Check out my signature with the list of CD Players that I reviewed.
So far I only identified an ASRC with the Teac VRDS 25x and the EMT 982. I documented their impact in the respective reviews.

 

[Roland68]

Thanks for your advices so far. The Pro-Ject is very interesting (Audio vs PC-drive), but as you said: too expensive. Does anybody know something of its predecessor the RS - especially the drive-unit? It's a bit cheaper than the PL200T in the used market.

Transports generally output the same digital signal. Only if they use an ASRC would they not. The ASRC can be tricky to identify when looking at the analog output, but opening the device or getting access to the block diagram would let us know. That said, the interpolator of an ASRC has the tendency to be overloaded with intersample overs tests, showing nasty distorsion and noise all over the place.
I recently had the case, seeing that typical distorsion, and additional tests from the digital outputs confirmed the presence of an ASRC.

You can spend decades working on something and still learn something new.
I had previously assumed (apparently incorrectly) that ASRC was only used in CD players, but not in CD transports.
However, the Pro-Ject CD Box RS can also output an upsampled signal at 88.2 kHz on its optical, coaxial, balanced digital output and at 176.4 kHz on I2S, which can be switched using the remote control.
Incidentally, I2S can only be activated and used with the Pro-Ject DAC Box RS or the Pro-Ject Pre Box RS Digital.

 

[babadono]

ordered Dec24th........ still waiting. Made it from China to within 40 miles of my house in 2 days, Christmas no less. Alas the last 40 miles cannot be overcome. How do these delivery companies stay in business?

Finally after 13 days..sat in my driveway today with the gate open so DHL could not claim I was not home. Unit seem intact and undamaged. Have not hook up yet.

 

[babadono]

Merry Christmas to me.

 

[Rick63]

Merry Christmas to me.

Merry belated Christmas to you!

I hope you love yours as much as I do mine. I couldn't be more tickled to death with the PL200T and Topping D70 Pro Sabre combo I got during the black Friday week sales.

What a wonderful time to be an audiophile with all the great and affordable gear on the market.

Enjoy the music!

 

[babadono]

Which I/O do you use? @Rick63

 

[babadono]

to be clear (to me) whichever digital output is used the data to ones DAC will be the same? For ease of trying this out the simplest for me is coax. Using a home spun RCA cable made with RG59. I think it was/is RG59, its been a while. Nevertheless it is some type of coax with a very low resistance shield.

 

[Rick63]

Which I/O do you use? @Rick63

I use AES/EBU for connecting the two pieces, as I use the coax input on the D70 for my Sony UBP-X800M2 and the optical for my TV sound. It's the first time I've ever had any gear with AES.

 

[DonDish]

use AES/EBU for connecting the two pieces, as I use the coax input on the D70 for my Sony UBP-X800M2 and the optical for my TV sound. It's the first time I've ever had any gear with AES.

AES is great! I use it whenever I can.

 

[babadono]

I use the AES input on my S.M.S.L. SU-10 DAC for the output of an Emotiva CD player (to bypass the internal DAC). Emotiva has coax out also, so I can switch back and forth.
Also question to anybody...this transport has I2S out and DAC has I2S in. Both made by S.M.S.L. So will that connection be plug n play? Or PITA?

 

[EJasonC]

I use the AES input on my S.M.S.L. SU-10 DAC for the output of an Emotiva CD player (to bypass the internal DAC). Emotiva has coax out also, so I can switch back and forth.
Also question to anybody...this transport has I2S out and DAC has I2S in. Both made by S.M.S.L. So will that connection be plug n play? Or PITA?

I have SMSL PL200T connected via I2S to SMSL D400 Pro and it works flawlessly & sounds World Class.
The D400 is configured as a preamp fed via balanced XLR directly to Active Subwoofers & Active Monitors in a 2.2 configuration.
In my system, it is end game; the Holy Grail of Redbook CD playback at least for me.
I don't even feel the need whatsoever to try DSD or MQA.

 

[babadono]

I have SMSL PL200T connected via I2S to SMSL D400 Pro and it works flawlessly & sounds World Class.
The D400 is configured as a preamp fed via balanced XLR directly to Active Subwoofers & Active Monitors in a 2.2 configuration.
In my system, it is end game; the Holy Grail of Redbook CD playback at least for me.
I don't even feel the need whatsoever to try DSD or MQA.

Thanks, so no fiddling with I2S settings on either piece? Just hook them up with a standard HDMI cable and go?

 

[EJasonC]

Thanks, so no fiddling with I2S settings on either piece? Just hook them up with a standard HDMI cable and go?

Correct

 

[Psylocyber]

That price already includes dealer margins, platform fees, etc. The player is sold worldwide through a dealer network.
Depending on the country, it might be offered at a lower price, for example, due to the absence of or lower sales tax.

It's on Amazon for $650, the PL-200T Transport is only $500.

 

[Psylocyber]

I am inclined to agree. About 6 months ago I managed (several months wait) to pick up a PL100, just for transport.

So now I'm seeking PL150. Just because. I have no need for all the extra bits.

edit - and now I read from the PL150 review - "Similar to the PL100, the traces are the same. Long story short: This is a "perfect" transport."

Cool. A PL150 is now ordered.

Hey,
So you believe the PL150 to be close to similar in sound quality but at that much lower price? Do you know which formats it can play from the CD and from the USB?
Does the PL150 also have a USB input? And is it USB-A, B, or C?
I was going to buy the Yamaha CD S-303 (also reviewed here) for $450 as a CD player and a USB player. After reading the PL200 review it makes more sense to spend the extra $200 for what sounds like a world class player. I know nothing about DSD, DTS or MQA recording formats however.
Thank You

 

[Psylocyber]

Hey,
Thank you so much for your reviews. I wish I knew more, so I could understand more of it I really appreciate real time measurements compared to company spec sheets.

I posted a lengthy, question filled post under the PL-200 review. If you get a chance and have the time to answer I'd appreciate it I know now this doesn't have a DAC so no need to answer that.. Is the USB input USB-A?
Thanks for all your work.

 

[Rick63]

Nevermind, wrong thread...

 

[Michal]

@NTTY If you still have the PL200T, could you measure the jitter as in the link?

https://i0.wp.com/goldensound.audio/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/44.1k-WM.png?w=1014&ssl=1