SMSL PL200T Review (CD Transport)

[NTTY]

Thank you @NTTY for your work!

Thank you!

So, to the point. It is evident that D200 and PL200T already have well-implemented clocks, and the question is whether G1 brings any measurable improvement in this area.
Could you please compare the clocks of PL200T and D200 with and without G1?

Yes I will, in a dedicated review of the SMSL G1 I hope I can get ready to release it Friday night.

 

[CosmicDancer]

I’ve been waiting for this product review — thank you so much!


I have one question.


Here’s the diagram I have in mind. Will it work as I intend?

1. PC - USB - PL200T (CD play & DDC) - AES - Genelec 8361A
   Purpose: To use the PL200T for CD playback and volume control.
2. PC - USB - PL200T (CD play & DDC) - Optical - RME ADI-2 DAC - XLR - Genelec 8361A
   Purpose: To use the PL200T for CD playback, and the RME ADI-2 DAC for volume control, EQ, and personalization.

Will both setups work? If not, is there a way to make them work?

 

[Roland68]

I’ve been waiting for this product review — thank you so much!


I have one question.


Here’s the diagram I have in mind. Will it work as I intend?

1. PC - USB - PL200T (CD play & DDC) - AES - Genelec 8361A
   Purpose: To use the PL200T for CD playback and volume control.
2. PC - USB - PL200T (CD play & DDC) - Optical - RME ADI-2 DAC - XLR - Genelec 8361A
   Purpose: To use the PL200T for CD playback, and the RME ADI-2 DAC for volume control, EQ, and personalization.

Will both setups work? If not, is there a way to make them work?

I could be wrong, but as far as I know, the PL200T does not have volume control; it simply outputs the digital signal.

 

[CosmicDancer]

I could be wrong, but as far as I know, the PL200T does not have volume control; it simply outputs the digital signal.

I’m currently using an RME ADI-2 DAC and Genelec 8361A monitors.


If option 1 works, I’ll be able to integrate both CD and PC streaming sources at the PL200T stage, and control the volume from a single device. Room acoustics can be handled easily using Genelec’s GLM, so the whole system becomes quite simple.


Option 2 should work without any issues, as long as there’s no audible signal degradation. (An RME representative mentioned clicking and dropout sounds on the previous page, which worries me a bit.)


From what I understand, the PL200 allows volume control both from the device itself and the remote, and the PL200T uses the same format and remote as the PL200. So, I think volume control should work.


I’m just wondering if anyone here knows for sure.

 

[Roland68]

I’m currently using an RME ADI-2 DAC and Genelec 8361A monitors.


If option 1 works, I’ll be able to integrate both CD and PC streaming sources at the PL200T stage, and control the volume from a single device. Room acoustics can be handled easily using Genelec’s GLM, so the whole system becomes quite simple.


Option 2 should work without any issues, as long as there’s no audible signal degradation. (An RME representative mentioned clicking and dropout sounds on the previous page, which worries me a bit.)


From what I understand, the PL200 allows volume control both from the device itself and the remote, and the PL200T uses the same format and remote as the PL200. So, I think volume control should work.


I’m just wondering if anyone here knows for sure.

The PL200's volume control is handled by the DAC chip and only on the analog side.

Since the PL200T doesn't have a DAC or DSP chip, I assume there's no digital volume control. This is probably why the volume buttons on the PL200T's remote are labeled "No Function."

Perhaps @NTTY or another user could quickly test this.

 

[CosmicDancer]

The PL200's volume control is handled by the DAC chip and only on the analog side.

Since the PL200T doesn't have a DAC or DSP chip, I assume there's no digital volume control. This is probably why the volume buttons on the PL200T's remote are labeled "No Function."

Perhaps @NTTY or another user could quickly test this.

I didn't know that the remote control of the PL200T labeled 'No Function'.
Thank you for your answer.

That's right. I'll wait a @NTTY and other people's answers.

 

[NTTY]

No volume control on the PL200T indeed.

There would not be any problems when using the RME as the DAC. The discussion was about not syncing the digital the output of the PL200T with the input of the digital interface, for the only purpose of testing, so no worries.

 

[Bleib]

On sale @ hifigo currently, a bit more humane price

SMSL PL200T MQA-CD Transport

Buy SMSL PL200T MQA-CD Transport with Free shipping on HiFiGo, you can enjoy a year warranty and the best after-sales service.

hifigo.com

 

[BeeKay]

On sale @ hifigo currently, a bit more humane price

SMSL PL200T MQA-CD Transport

Buy SMSL PL200T MQA-CD Transport with Free shipping on HiFiGo, you can enjoy a year warranty and the best after-sales service.

hifigo.com

Does it cook pasta too?

 

[NTTY]

On sale @ hifigo currently, a bit more humane price

SMSL PL200T MQA-CD Transport

Buy SMSL PL200T MQA-CD Transport with Free shipping on HiFiGo, you can enjoy a year warranty and the best after-sales service.

hifigo.com

Here too, obviously: Aoshidaudio.com

 

[EJ3]

Here too, obviously: Aoshidaudio.com

I am almost never an early adopter but this (with @NTTY's testing [thank you so much]) was impossible to resist (and with no mechanical loading mechanism). So I ordered it within days of reading @NTTY's review.

And very much like the manual loading feature. I have been looking for a quality one with that particular feature (at a reasonable price) for a long time.

 

[Rick63]

I am almost never an early adopter but this (with @NTTY's testing [thank you so much]) was impossible to resist (and with no mechanical loading mechanism). So I ordered it within days of reading @NTTY's review.

I was already tempted and with this sale it's going to be hard to resist.

 

[tokyo_blues]

I really like the design and the performance looks good, though i dont know why would i need a CD transport in 2025.

I'm the opposite. I don't know why I wasted so many years ripping all my CDs via EAC to the NAS.

I just prefer the simplicity of popping a CD in and enjoying it from beginning to end. It just works. Nothing to boot, connect, no bloody Raspberry Pi, no ugly boxes and tiny cables, no silly Volumio or Moode or Roon booting and updating or crashing.

Just music.

I am so happy I never sold my CDs.

 

[Superspeeder]

I’m not familiar with the testing method used for determining the DDC performance of the PL200T. How does it compare with other DDCs? I’m using the new Douk U2 Pro in between my PC and DAC, USB in to coax out. Makes for a nice improvement over USB straight to my Fosi ZD3.

Thanks for your thorough review of the PL200T!

 

[amper42]

I'm the opposite. I don't know why I wasted so many years ripping all my CDs via EAC to the NAS.

I just prefer the simplicity of popping a CD in and enjoying it from beginning to end. It just works. Nothing to boot, connect, no bloody Raspberry Pi, no ugly boxes and tiny cables, no silly Volumio or Moode or Roon booting and updating or crashing.

Just music.

I am so happy I never sold my CDs.

Yes, it's so easy to instantly find that one CD you want out of a 1,000 cases.
And they never get scratched and cases never break.
And CD players don't fail.
Plus, it's good exercise to get up every time the music stops and find a new CD and manually start it.
Besides, you don't want access to playlists with just your favorite tracks on it. That too nice and personal.

Turning on the RPi4 with Moode and letting it play my favorite music on startup is just too easy. I need to go through 50 CD's each time to pick the music I want to play.

 

[DavidM1]

I need to go through 50 CD's each time to pick the music I want to play.

Lol. That is not CD life as I know it.

I, too, have around 1,000 CDs but I’m not likely to pick through them looking for something, not when I could simply search for its download on our network or stream. A much better idea is a little CD stack near the player with just the ones I’m listening to at the moment. It’s worth playing a CD over a few days or longer and getting to know it.

Top of the pile lately is a compilation of C20th piano music, before that a Ligeti boxed set, before that a pair of Haydn symphonies (“London” and “Drum roll”), before that alternating between Lester Young and Coleman Hawkins because I’d just picked up the Hawkins, before that Bill Frisell “Is that you?” And so it goes. I still stream but most of that is less memorable.

 

[amper42]

Options make everything easier.
It's so easy to audition CD's now with streaming widely available. It's created a music renaissance.

If I fall in love with a CD, I will buy the CD and rip it or get it from Bandcamp (if available)
I have several quality Denon CD players but honestly 95% of the time I simply load my favorite CD's on the RPi4/Moode and can move between albums with a simple click of computer/phone.

Moode plays hi-res music extremely well, even recordings over 192kHz and works great with my RME ADI-2 DAC FS.
CD's are fun too but there are physical loading limitations that require extra time and CD's stay in better condition longer when mainly treated as a master source.

It's also nice to have custom play list options, not possible with an original CD.

Everyone will have a favorite playback method. Maybe it's based on nostalgia or memories. But, I can't hear any difference between my local rips and playing the same disk on a CD. So why not pick the easiest method for playback? For some that will be a CD player but for large collections it's hard to beat a USB flash drive with Moode or Audirvana.

 

[EJ3]

Yes, it's so easy to instantly find that one CD you want out of a 1,000 cases.
And they never get scratched and cases never break.
And CD players don't fail.
Plus, it's good exercise to get up every time the music stops and find a new CD and manually start it.
Besides, you don't want access to playlists with just your favorite tracks on it. That too nice and personal.

Turning on the RPi4 with Moode and letting it play my favorite music on startup is just too easy. I need to go through 50 CD's each time to pick the music I want to play.

I"ve never had a CD player fail (I had one that I just did not like). I also do preventive maintenance every couple of years (very thorough cleaning, lubing, belts after 6 years or so). The only one that ever had a laser go out was in my destop unit. Also I do not know anyone that has ever had a CD player or CDR go out (I know that if you record enough CDR's, that they will go out but they are rebuildable.
My CD's (in their 'JEWEL'cases) are on simple racks that makes it easy to see the side edge of the CD with the title of the album on it, just like my record collection.
Has a CD case ever broke? Yep. Replaced it from my very short stack (10 or so) of new cases.
One of my CD players (actually a CDR) can handle 5 CD's in the record from side & a single CD in the record to side, so you can listen to 6 any track order you please.
Another can handle 7 CD's through the main slot, again, any track, in any order you please.
And both these units have remote controls, should you desire to use them.
I pretty much know what I'm going to play before I turn the system on. But, if I don't, it's quite easy to glance through the collection & pull out the ones I want to hear.
Most of what I have is a theme from beggining to end, so it's rare that I would want to play individual tracks (unless it's Christmas music or something like that).
Or the tracks might be ballads for the first 6 & dance music for the next 6 on the same CD. Very easy to select or not.
Such problems created by all this, OH MY!
I NEED a solution that involves more gear!
NOT!!

 

[Mart68]

Yes, it's so easy to instantly find that one CD you want out of a 1,000 cases.

Might take me 30 seconds, collection is organised.

And they never get scratched and cases never break.

Never scratched one in 30 years - yes some cases are crap but I have a box of new ones, when one does break it's easy to replace.

And CD players don't fail.

Everything fails eventually. Happily CD players are very inexpensive.

Plus, it's good exercise to get up every time the music stops and find a new CD and manually start it.

Having to get up around every 50 minutes, my god how do we cope?

Besides, you don't want access to playlists with just your favorite tracks on it. That too nice and personal.

No, I don't. I like to listen to the whole album, as it was originally intended. Playing favourite tunes all the time is a good way to go off them.

My entire music collection is personally selected and I own it, it can't really get more personal than that.

 

[Roland68]

I really like the design and the performance looks good, though i dont know why would i need a CD transport in 2025.

That may be true for you, but not for many others.
CDs and vinyl records have been among the biggest growth markets in the audio sector for years.
The increasing number of newly developed high-quality CD players is also a clear indication of this, because no manufacturer develops and produces products if there is no market.
In addition, prices for high-quality audio CDs and CD players on the used market are constantly rising. Some prices have now doubled or tripled.

So there must be a lot of people who see things differently.