SMSL PS100 *$30.00* DAC (some limitations apply)

[ajzach]

May or may not help: On your Sony TV, check if you have an option under Settings -> Channels & Inputs -> External Inputs -> Bravia Sync Settings -> Device Auto Power off

Well, it turns out you've solved my issue! I followed your advice and the DAC stays on irrespective of the TV. It looks like what I thought was an auto power-off feature built into the PS100 was actually the Sony TV playing tricks on me. Thanks El Cheapo. Let's see how it goes from now.

 

[ajzach]

I have found a new problem with PS100, but maybe knowledgeable ASR users will help me to solve it as well.

I control the volume through my TV's remote, but I noticed that each volume step is very high. I have no way of telling how many dBs they have but consider this: my TV sends a signal at 100% volume to the DAC, and with those settings, I listen just 3 steps away from 0 volume (I listen rather quietly as I live in an apartment).

This is quite bad because, in the end, I can't precisely adjust the volume so it matches the music I am playing. Usually, 3 steps away from zero is slightly too quiet, but 4 steps becomes uncomfortable. 3 steps is 18% and 4 steps is 25% of the maximum volume according to the TV. Once again, such an issue does not occur with cheap HDMI extractors from Amazon, which are much more precise in volume adjustments.

Any thoughts on whether this is a feature of PS100 or something I could fix? Has anybody else experienced this?

 

[staticV3]

I listen just 3 steps away from 0 volume (I listen rather quietly as I live in an apartment)

Do you have another volume control downstream of the PS100?

Maybe an integrated Amp or an additional volume knob on the back of your monitors?

 

[ajzach]

Yep, I am considering spending on Wiim Pro plus given that Android Tidal app on my TV has some problems too.

What did the trick with the volume control was reducing the volume of the PCM signal in the TV's settings in case anybody is wondering.

 

[Esprit]

Can it be connected to a laptop and used as a DAC?

 

[staticV3]

Can it be connected to a laptop and used as a DAC?

Yes.

 

[Rja4000]

Well the quoted specs are as economical as the price:
View attachment 304490
85dB SINAD, 98dB SNR, at least it does 2.0Vrms.

Curious how DR is 2dB worse than SNR. I guess even at -60dBFS, there's still significant harmonic distortion?

I wonder why they didn't just put a CS43131 in this. That would've given them ~115dB SINAD and 130dB DR for about the same price I imagine.

The most interesting part of the PS100 to me is the eARC input.
That might signal eARC becoming commonplace on DACs from SMSL, Sabaj, Topping, etc. soon.

That's a 14 bits DAC device

Here the oscilloscope for a -78.27dBFS signal (13th bit on and off)
We (kind of) see the characteristic stairs profile of least significant bits being toggled on and off.
(NB: The first generation of CD players from Philips were also using 14 bits DAC)

Linearity is completely off-track below -66dB
I measured 4.8dB delta at -72dBFS !!!
So linearity is on 11 bits or so.


I measured SINAD at 84.2dB
(Don't worry about the black plot: I'm testing AP-like notch)

Dynamic range (AES 17 - CCIR-2k)

And Jitter on Optical input ?
well...
(The reference orange plot is for 16 bits)

I don't know where this -7dB comes from at high frequencies...

Also, frequencies are not stable

And, finaly, I hear the sine tone from the device itself when I push the volume close to 0dBFS.



The main question is: is that any better than your TV analog output?

 

[staticV3]

That's a 14 bits DAC device

Here the oscilloscope for a -78.27dBFS signal (13th bit on and off)
We (kind of) see the characteristic stairs profile of least significant bits being toggled on and off.
(NB: The first generation of CD players from Philips were also using 14 bits DAC)

View attachment 364058

Linearity is completely off-track below -66dB
I measured 4.8dB delta at -72dBFS !!!
So linearity is on 11 bits or so.


I measured SINAD at 84.2dB
(Don't worry about the black plot: I'm testing AP-like notch)

View attachment 364060


Dynamic range (AES 17 - CCIR-2k)

View attachment 364065

And Jitter on Optical input ?
well...
(The reference orange plot is for 16 bits)

View attachment 364059

I don't know where this -7dB comes from at high frequencies...

View attachment 364061

Also, frequencies are not stable

And, finaly, I hear the sine tone from the device itself when I push the volume close to 0dBFS.



The main question is: is that any better than your TV analog output?

Aww man

Thanks a bunch for testing!

 

[Rja4000]

Aww man

Thanks a bunch for testing!

Welcome
I was also very curious to see how a 30€ DAC could be doing.
I was expecting better, though.

 

[V.b.]

Thank you a lot.

It looked tempting, but analog audio out off the tv may be of similar quality.

 

[poppy]

I have found a new problem with PS100, but maybe knowledgeable ASR users will help me to solve it as well.

I control the volume through my TV's remote, but I noticed that each volume step is very high. I have no way of telling how many dBs they have but consider this: my TV sends a signal at 100% volume to the DAC, and with those settings, I listen just 3 steps away from 0 volume (I listen rather quietly as I live in an apartment).

This is quite bad because, in the end, I can't precisely adjust the volume so it matches the music I am playing. Usually, 3 steps away from zero is slightly too quiet, but 4 steps becomes uncomfortable. 3 steps is 18% and 4 steps is 25% of the maximum volume according to the TV. Once again, such an issue does not occur with cheap HDMI extractors from Amazon, which are much more precise in volume adjustments.

Any thoughts on whether this is a feature of PS100 or something I could fix? Has anybody else experienced this?

How many steps does the volume go on the Sony Bravia? I have a cheap HDMI arc DAC and each vol up or down changes the volume by 5 steps which I find too big.

 

[Keerati]

RightMark Audio Analyzer test report​

Testing device	[MME] Speakers (SMSL PS100)
Sampling mode	24-bit, 48 kHz
Interface	MME
Testing chain	External loopback (line-out - line-in)
RMAA Version	6.4.5
20 Hz - 20 kHz filter	ON
Normalize amplitude	ON
Level change	-0.4 dB / -0.4 dB
Mono mode	OFF
Calibration singal, Hz	1000
Polarity	correct/correct

Summary​

Frequency response (from 40 Hz to 15 kHz), dB	+0.04, -0.10​	Excellent​
Noise level, dB (A)	-79.3​	Average​
Dynamic range, dB (A)	78.5​	Average​
THD, %	0.019​	Good​
THD + Noise, dB (A)	-67.5​	Average​
IMD + Noise, %	0.062​	Good​
Stereo crosstalk, dB	-67.7​	Good​
IMD at 10 kHz, %	0.057​	Good​
General performance	​	Good​

Frequency response​

	Left​	Right​
From 20 Hz to 20 kHz, dB	-2.30, +0.04​	-2.28, +0.06​
From 40 Hz to 15 kHz, dB	-0.10, +0.04​	-0.08, +0.06​

Noise level​

	Left​	Right​
RMS power, dB	-76.5​	-76.5​
RMS power (A-weighted), dB	-79.4​	-79.3​
Peak level, dB FS	-65.5​	-66.3​
DC offset, %	-0.0​	-0.0​

Dynamic range​

	Left​	Right​
Dynamic range, dB	+75.7​	+75.6​
Dynamic range (A-weighted), dB	+78.5​	+78.4​
DC offset, %	+0.00​	+0.00​

THD + Noise (at -3 dB FS)​

	Left​	Right​
THD, %	0.01928​	0.01916​
THD + Noise, %	0.04417​	0.04398​
THD + Noise (A-weighted), %	0.04244​	0.04209​

Intermodulation distortion​

	Left​	Right​
IMD + Noise, %	0.06174​	0.06179​
IMD + Noise (A-weighted), %	0.06415​	0.06423​

Stereo crosstalk​

	Left​	Right​
Crosstalk at 100 Hz, dB	-72​	-74​
Crosstalk at 1000 Hz, dB	-67​	-66​
Crosstalk at 10000 Hz, dB	-73​	-74​

IMD (swept tones)​

	Left​	Right​
IMD + Noise at 5000 Hz,	0.04492​	0.04448​
IMD + Noise at 10000 Hz,	0.04428​	0.04393​
IMD + Noise at 15000 Hz,	0.08293​	0.08290​

 

[Keerati]

I own SMSL PS100, and I didn't feel that it sound that bad. So, just perform a simple RMAA measurements and post the result here.

I think its performance is good for the price.

 

[cubanmetalguy]

PS200 is out now with better specs but without the HDMI input and 3 times the price:

SMSL PS200 ES9039Q2M USB DAC
DNR: 123dB
SNR: 123dB
THD+N: 0.0001%

 

[TonyJZX]

SMSL PS200 Multifunctional Audio Decoder ES9039Q2M UAC1/2 Built-in Bluetooth PS5 32bit/768kHz DSD512

SMSL PS200 Multifunctional Audio Decoder ES9039Q2M UAC1/2 Built-in Bluetooth PS5 32bit/768kHz DSD512

aoshida-audio.com

i feel funny about this

the 9039 is an expensive processor

and this is probably the cheapest dac with it but the plastic box and everything - can you live with it

the smsl dl200 is the cheapest dac that actually has a lot of useful amenitites


should be something between $90 and $200

 

[mc.god]

It's basically a SU-1 with ESS chip.

 

[TonyJZX]

su1 has a steel body

the new ps200 inherits the crummy plastic shell of the ps100

my ps100 gets dragged around by the cables