SMSL PS200 Budget DAC Review

[somebodyelse]

Unlikely that a low cost DAC like the PS200 would be copied and sold as a fake. There's just not enough money in it for counterfeits.

The Topping D10 was a similar price and that got copied - near identical exterior and listings designed to confuse, but without the performance.

 

[Doodski]

The Topping D10 was a similar price and that got copied - near identical exterior and listings designed to confuse, but without the performance.

That's mind blowing... The W5 come to mind. Who, why, etc...

 

[bolo_nz]

I could hear subtle differences between all three, couldn't say which was better or worse but I agree that it could be mic placement, level matching plus a million other variables.

But the fact that I had to sit through that "song" is the most regrettable part.

 

[somebodyelse]

That's mind blowing... The W5 come to mind. Who, why, etc...

Same reason people fake 5532s - there's money to be made from low value fakes if you can shift sufficient volume.

 

[Jimbob54]

Now that science has demonstrated the plausibility that DACs color sound based on choices about how their op-amps shape harmonic distortion, what possible differences do the DAC chips themselves make?

OK- enough now - this has all been discussed many many times before on here . This is a review of a specific device so lets keep the discussion to this device please.

You can review and contribute your thoughts/ findings on dac differences here https://www.audiosciencereview.com/...arent-are-that-many-confused.9245/post-240069 all you like.

Further off topic posts here will incur thread bans and or warnings.

Thanks

 

[donrleonard]

OK- enough now - this has all been discussed many many times before on here . This is a review of a specific device so lets keep the discussion to this device please.

You can review and contribute your thoughts/ findings on dac differences here https://www.audiosciencereview.com/...arent-are-that-many-confused.9245/post-240069 all you like.

Further off topic posts here will incur thread bans and or warnings.

Thanks

Throughout my posts I referenced the audible differences I was hearing between the PS200 DAC that Amir reviews in this thread. When I was challenged for being in error, a fruitful conversation about how I might be able to identify potential biases in my impressions about the PS200 emerged.

Has that conversation been moved somewhere else, or has it been deleted?

 

[Jimbob54]

Throughout my posts I referenced the audible differences I was hearing between the PS200 DAC that Amir reviews in this thread. When I was challenged for being in error, a fruitful conversation about how I might be able to identify potential biases in my impressions about the PS200 emerged.

Has that conversation been moved somewhere else, or has it been deleted?

A colleague moved it to the thread I referenced .

 

[Winner]

Hello chaps, just received this DAC from aoshida and I have it plugged into my laptop going to my tag mclaren f3 series pre & power amps.
It's louder then if I send audio from the headphone output to my amps.
Anyway do I want to select "Digital Output (S/-PDIF) SMSL USB AUDIO or Analogue Output SMSL USB Audio" setting on my laptop?
Also, will I be able to tell the difference between using this DAC and not using it with a computer? I did check with my motherboard manufacturer that stated that the mobo DAC is not audiophile quality which is why I embedded up buying it after reading Amur's review.

 

[thehague]

Re your first question (spdif vs analogue): it depends on how you have connected your DAC to your amp. If you have connected with spdif then you should select digital. If connected with RCA you should select analogue.
Your second question: you will definitely hear the difference. Of course you should bypass your pc onboard soundcard and select your DAC to output. Btw, I suggest you install the latest Xmos driver on your pc (see https://www.smsl-audio.com/portal/product/downlist/id/11.html). This enables you to use the Xmos control panel to see what your DAC is actually outputting. These lights on the front are pretty useless imho.

 

[vrobec]

Today during music playback the DAC became very quiet and got crackling sound with distortion. I tried to change the music source but the fault is still here. The DAC is a few months old. Any advice what to try?

 

[Bleib]

Today during music playback the DAC became very quiet and got crackling sound with distortion. I tried to change the music source but the fault is still here. The DAC is a few months old. Any advice what to try?

Change cable. Try BT if the sound problems remains.

 

[vrobec]

Change cable. Try BT if the sound problems remains.

I tried, nothing worked.

 

[Bleib]

I tried, nothing worked.

If not even BT works then it's probably broken

 

[zelenuchka]

I tried, nothing worked.

Crimp the USB connector as I advised in a related thread. This is especially true for non-original SMSL cables.
This applies to many devices of this brand. I want to make sure of it by changing the corresponding connector (it's connector is still on the road).

 

[Jimster480]

What happened to the linearity test here? Is it in the replies somewhere or did @amirm forget it?

This looks to be a replacement for the SU-1

 

[Count Dacula]

It seems despite the measurements and the price, there is still some people asking for something else.

Maybe we should prepare a list in advance :
- metal box
- no mqa or advertise mqa
- remote control
- big screen
- internal eq of course
- roon ready
- 8 channels
- a good ADC
- XLR output
- 12V trigger
- please add your points here...

Ha, was forgetting: the RME is better in term on functions but marginally more expansive.

How about a multi-chip DAC "core" that can handle 2ch brilliantly, like the the 12 chip Sirius Logic DAC, but can also run 4 channel mode on the same core...?

 

[Count Dacula]

If it is still like when Amir reviewed it, not really due to it doing terribly with 48kHz signals and truncating its digital output to 16 bit. See the review here.

I'm wondering how many consumer grade DACs are so weak at 48kHz, or how I can avoid them. Most of my listening is YouTube (ducks for cover)

Maybe some tech people have a better grasp of this...

 

[JIW]

I'm wondering how many consumer grade DACs are so weak at 48kHz, or how I can avoid them. Most of my listening is YouTube (ducks for cover)

Maybe some tech people have a better grasp of this...

You can always check Amir's Jitter test since that is 48 kHz. So is his THD+N vs. frequency. His multi-tone test is at 192 kHz so would likely be problematic if 48 kHz is. Generally, DACs that do well on the dashboard at 44.1 kHz also do well in the other tests. There is no reason to suspect poor performance at 48 kHz if 44.1 kHz performance is fine.

 

[Steel Squirrel]

This is all you need.
SU-1 is virtually the same though with a metal case and 10$ less.
EDIT: But of course PS200 has the clear advantage of "Bluetooth Specification: 5.0(SBC) [!]" if that is what you are after.

IIRC, the SU-1 does not support UAC1.

 

[vrobec]

I tried, nothing worked.

I purchased new PS200 and got it last week. I hope this one will serve me better.