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

[Bytatto]

Hello

I recently bought a smsl ps100. Since the PS 100 does not have bluetooth AAC, I want to buy a Wiim Mini. I don't know if there is a noticeable difference in the sound. Should I buy a Wiim Mini?

If yes, how do I connect it?
Now it is connected as smsl d100 + tv optical + active speaker.
Also, if I connect the ps100 to the TV with HDMI, there is a low sound from the speakers. When I do not use HDMI, there is no low sound.
What do you say?

Thanks

 

[Bytatto]

Here's the relevant section in the manual:
View attachment 415763

You need to connect the PS100 via HDMI for this to work.

Unfortunately when HDMI is connected to TV there is very high background noise. Therefore I cannot apply the article you sent. I think there is no other way.

 

[antcollinet]

Unfortunately when HDMI is connected to TV there is very high background noise. Therefore I cannot apply the article you sent. I think there is no other way.

Which active speaker do you have? Does it have balanced inputs? If it does, then connect balanced from the DAC to the speaker, and there is a good chance the noise will be eliminated.

 

[Bytatto]

Which active speaker do you have? Does it have balanced inputs? If it does, then connect balanced from the DAC to the speaker, and there is a good chance the noise will be eliminated.

JBL 308p mk2 - xlr to rca dac - optical cable tv

Frankly, I am connected to the TV with an optical cable and I am happy with it. However, when I connect HDMI to ERC, I hear an unbearable sound from the speakers.

I want HDMI because I want to raise or lower the volume of the music she is listening to on the TV.

 

[antcollinet]

xlr to rca dac - optical cable tv

I thought you had balanced out on the DAC?

(EDIT - sorry that was the SMSL DS100 dac)

So RCA to XLR won't give any benefit unless you use a specially wired cable for "pseudo balanced". I'm guessing the cables you have are not wired that way.

However, when I connect HDMI to ERC, I hear an unbearable sound from the speakers.

What is the nature of the noise? Hum? Hiss? Crackles/pops.

I'm guessing you have a ground loop between the TV-DAC-Speakers (if hum/hiss). If this is the case the only way to elminate it is with a fully balanced connection to the speakers. A pseudo balanced connection might work, but then you'll have to source (or build) correctly made up cables.

 

[staticV3]

To check whether the noise is caused by a ground loop or is simply EMI bleeding from the TV's HDMI out into the PS100 Line out, try connecting a Bluetooth speaker with Aux in:


If the noise is still there, then the only solution would be to find another DAC with Arc input and better input isolation/filtering.

If the noise is gone, then you can keep the PS100, have a ground loop, and can look into appropriate fixes (e.g. pseudo-balanced cables).

 

[saberger0357]

I recently bought a Samsung GD80SD monitor, and the PS 100 works flawlessly through HDMI. Better then my Wiim Ultimate, which for some reason continues to have handshake problems, IE dropouts.

 

[saberger0357]

I wonder if it would be better in theory from a quality audio standpoint to connect to an extractor like this https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B074HHSJVN/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&th=1that connects to my monitor and my DAC(Denafrips Ares II) through Toslink? Would the better DAC help with improved audio quality, or is just using the PS100 directly from the monitors HDMI ARC probably just as good?

One thing I noticed is I can't control the external speakers with the tv remote. Not that big of a deal as I have a remote for my preamp.

 

[TonyJZX]

this pile of shit is now $35!

man those 10% tariffs are really kicking in!

 

[saberger0357]

this pile of shit is now $35!

man those 10% tariffs are really kicking in!

Works great for my needs. Simpler connections and way better consistency then other extractors that I've used. And sound wise, it helps me to extract HDMI ARC from my monitor and send it to my 2 speaker system which is all I need it to do. For the $30 I paid for it, can't ask much more.

 

[Esprit]

I wonder if it would be better in theory from a quality audio standpoint to connect to an extractor like this

Having a video projector, I have purchased and tried many, to connect the Apple TV via HDMI and extract the audio to send to the DAC.
They all had limitations in video resolution or encoding (e.g. Dolby Vision).
To avoid problems you have to pay a lot more.

 

[saberger0357]

Having a video projector, I have purchased and tried many, to connect the Apple TV via HDMI and extract the audio to send to the DAC.
They all had limitations in video resolution or encoding (e.g. Dolby Vision).
To avoid problems you have to pay a lot more.

I can of course connect to my external DAC via optical, but lose the tv remote capability. And frankly, I can't hear much, if any difference, between using the HDMI ARC and connecting via RCA's to my preamp, or using the external amp via optical.

I also just picked up a Yamaha TSR-5810 AVR for cheap that should be here in the next few days, so that will be my next experiment.

But as I said, for $30 this little box has served me well.

 

[wineaholic]

Can I use this device to connect an chromecast and extract audio, or will it just work with hdmi-arc outputs?

 

[formdissolve]

Unfortunately when HDMI is connected to TV there is very high background noise. Therefore I cannot apply the article you sent. I think there is no other way.

Make sure your TV is set to PCM output over optical and not Bitstream or anything else.

 

[antcollinet]

Can I use this device to connect an chromecast and extract audio, or will it just work with hdmi-arc outputs?

What outputs do you have on your chrome cast device? If optical (or coax) then you can connect those directly to the DAC.


But yes HDMI ARC will work as long as your TV is set to output stereo PCM.

 

[wineaholic]

What outputs do you have on your chrome cast device? If optical (or coax) then you can connect those directly to the DAC.

chromecast only have hdmi

 

[antcollinet]

chromecast only have hdmi

There are many devices with chrome cast built in, not only the Google "puck". There was also the chrome cast audio which had toslink output. You question didn't specify which device you are using.

So if you are talking about the standard chromecast device which only has HDMI into your AVR or TV, then you can connect this DAC to the ARC connector on your TV (Or the optical out if your TV has it) and it should get the sound from the chromecast.

 

[wineaholic]

here are many devices with chrome cast built in

I did not express myself clearly. I need a replacement for my Chromecast Audio and am wondering if I can plug a “normal” HDMI Chromecast directly into this device and thus have a device that I can use for music streaming.

 

[antcollinet]

I did not express myself clearly. I need a replacement for my Chromecast Audio and am wondering if I can plug a “normal” HDMI Chromecast directly into this device and thus have a device that I can use for music streaming.

No - HDMI ARC doesn't (normally) accept HDMI. It is intended for connecting to a TV.

However why do you need to change your chromecast audio? If you just want to use an external DAC, you could use the Toslink out of that into this DAC and get just as good quality as with the new chromecast.

 

[mc.god]

I did not express myself clearly. I need a replacement for my Chromecast Audio and am wondering if I can plug a “normal” HDMI Chromecast directly into this device and thus have a device that I can use for music streaming.

You need an extractor like this
https://www.audiosciencereview.com/...amazon-basics-4k-hdmi-extractor-review.39467/
(i'm using it with a "Chromecast with google TV HD" with no issues)
Then decide if its analog output performance can suffice or send digital audio to an external good dac via toslink.