Hello everyone,
This is a review and measurements of the SMSL PS200 PRO.
I got it for roughly $90 which is reasonable even if the feature are on the low side (DAC function only).
SMSL PS200 PRO – Presentation
It is the revised version of the SMSL PS200 and features the same ESS ES9039M2Q DAC. It loses the Bluetooth input but gets in exchange a metallic case instead of plastic. During my tests, it was much more resistant to being dragged by the RCA cables
SMSL shows the difference between the two DACs that way:
Note the small but tangible improvements in THD+N (-120.5dB vs -118dB), and the DR/SNR that improve by 2dB.
The ESS DAC being the same, the main difference is with the OPA1656 and OPA1612. From the respective datasheets of these, the below comparison graphs tells us more about their respective performances:
Pay attention to the y-axis, it goes 20dB (10x) lower on the 1612, and that’s a statement alone We certainly don’t need that level of performance. That said, and since the ESS 9039M2Q can easily go below -120dB of THD+N (as just demonstrated again by @Rja4000), it might indeed be limited by the OPA1656. I guess SMSL wanted to unleash the beast. Let’s see how it turns out on the bench.
If the ESS 9039M2Q offers a selection of filters, only one is available in the PS200 PRO and it simply is the first in the list of ESS, the Minimum phase (same with the PS200 by the way), as shown below (extracted from ESS datasheet):
The back of the unit is very simple, USB, coax, Toslink inputs and RCA outputs:
Like with the previous PS200, there is a switch to select UAC1 or UAC2 USB compatibility.
User Experience
Not much to say besides fact I had to install a driver on my Windows 11 PC, I’m not sure why. There’s only one button to select the input, and the words/acronyms under the led indicators are way to small for oldies like me. The "DSDS led indicates the input sampling rate and that's we get since there's no displa.
Of course I like the fact it can be powered from my PC as I happen to make some measurements in nomad mode and that is quite practical to a mini high-end low frequency generator with me. I used the PS200 that way so many times (no, not to listen to music, I admit).
I like the fact that SMSL chases so many different business cases, and if it appears like an overflow of DAC offering, it's also an opportunity to find the one that matches your unique needs at reasonable cost.
SMSL PS200 PRO - Measurements
All measurements performed with an E1DA Cosmos ADCiso (grade 0) in mono mode, the Cosmos Scaler (100kohms from unbalanced input) and APU (when required) for analog outputs. I used a Windows 11 PC to connect via USB and had to install a driver. I also alternatively used the SMSL PO100 Pro to feed it with Coax and Toslink SPDIF for some complementary tests.
From RCA outputs, I measured 2.083Vrms from left channel and 2.087Vrms from the right one, i.e. 0.01dB channel imbalance, which is very good.
----
I aligned this review with the one I made of the SMSL DO400, so not all measurements are aligned with those of Amir, as I explained in that review of that SMSL.
However, I make an exception for this review. Indeed, since I still own the PS200, I thought it would be nice to compare them directly. I therefore doubled all measurements for the PS200 and will overlay the two results. You get to reviews for the price of one
And since the two channels behave really exactly the same on the two devices, I'll show only one each, not to make the graphs too complicated to decipher.
Here we start with the standard 1kHz @0dBFS test tone, meaning output volume set to 2Vrms (48kHz SR, FFT 32k, 4 averages):
Note that the SMSL PS200 has a little more output voltage (2.1Vrms) giving a small advantage. But the SMSL PS200 PRO is still the only one to go over 120dB SINAD (the opposite of THD+N).
We see the PS200 doing better than specs here, meaning I might have got a "golden" sample at the time. The SNR, in the presence of that full scale test tone is 1dB better with the PS200 PRO. It is also very close to the results I got from the Topping DX1 II from its RCA outputs. The small spike at 50Hz (green trace from the PS200 PRO), is my fault. I realized after recording the measurement that leaving my hands on the keyboard of my laptop was the root cause
By the way, let me show you the same but with optical input instead of the USB:
Wow the SINAD improved to reach 120.8dB. Good news that we don't lose anything using the other inputs.
----
As I like to do, let's have a look at the same dashboard but at -6dBFS (1Vrms output) instead of sull scale, and back to USB input:
Again the PS200 PRO does a little better than the former PS200. As you can see from the plots, this is mainly due to a lower noise floor from 20Hz to 1kHz.
----
And since I just mentioned noise at low frequencies, and as I always run the Stereophile style analyzis from 20Hz to 1kHz with a 1kHz sine at 0dBFS, let's go for it (no hands, no hands):
With this linear view, we can clearly see that the PS200 PRO achieves to better manage lower noise floor. And by the way, no trace of power supply related leakages. Note that I had to have the y-axis down to -170dBr. I'm always impressed when I have to do that!
----
There is no selection of oversampling filters, and the two SMSLs run the same minimum phase filter, as the below overlay of the two show:
For once I smoothed (1/48) the traces, and I might continue in the future. In both cases the out of band attenuation reaches -110dB with no trace of delta-sigma modulation up to 80kHz.
----
Let's go back to good news with the Jitter Test (48kHz, 512k FFT. 32 averages):
Wow, in both cases, this is a very nice trace, but we can see that one more time the PS200 PRO improves the noise floor that is lower. There's also absolutely no trace of Jitter with PS200 PRO.
----
Of course, I won't forget the Multitone test (48kHz SR, 256k FFT, 16 averages):
Again the orange trace is the new PS200 PRO. And we can see again the benefit of the lower noise floor at low frequencies. We get an easy 22bits of distortion-free range with the PS200 PRO all the way through, this is very nice.
----
Next is the THD+N vs Frequency (192kHz, 512k FFT 4 averages, 3PPO (20Hz to 20kHz), 2Vrms output):
Yeah, nearly the same as this test includes noise up to 90kHz, proving one more time that there's no trace of delta-sigma modulator noise generated up to that point. Small increase of distortion at the highest frequencies because of my analyzer, not necessaraly the SMSLs. I recently reviewed the Loxjie D40 Pro which was not doing as good from balanced outputs.
----
Next is the IMD SMPTE vs output level sweep, which can't be compared to the one of Amir because this measurement is based on FFT analysis of IMD distortion only (192kHz, 128k FFT 4 averages, 1dB step, scaler in auto mode):
We get a little more significant improvements here, below -10dBFS, which is nice even though the PS200 was already doing very good. Intermodulation distortion is easier to hear than the harmonic one, so I take it! Note the two lines rejoin at -7dBFS.
----
Dynamic range is extremely good, be it CCIR-2K weighted or A-Weighted (0dBFS = 2Vrms):
These two show 3dB advantage for the SMSL PS200 PRO, all from its lower noise floor.
----
And now let's have a look at other less usual measurements. The one that I like is the resistance to intersample-overs.
This test is performed with dedicated test tones with a specific phase shift to generate digital overs. If anything in the digital path (oversampling filter / DSP / ASRC) does not have enough headroom for digital overs, it will generate clipping within the interpolator.
For that, I'm using a test tone of 11'025Hz with a phase shift of 45° that goes up to +3.01dB over, by 1dB steps. This allows me to process what's the headroom of the digital interpolator of the DAC. Here are the results (THD+N measurement up to 90kHz):
Without surprise, the results are identical since we get the same ESS DAC.
The above means that at full output power, the interpolator of the two SMSL (Minimum Phase) have a similar headroom of a little less than 1dB. I can't say I'm disappointed, this is so common. But I know the ESS 9039M2Q offers a very good digital volume pre-interpolator which makes it fully resistant to ISOs at only -2.5dB. Since we are at so high level SINAD, and because we can't adjust the volume with these DACs, I have a personal request to SMSL: please make one that has more headroom out of the box. It won't be showing off with a super high SINAD or SNR, etc..., but if would bring a tangible benefit since so many master are too hot.
----
Other measurements (not shown).
First, I now regroup all IMD tests as below, sourced from REW's results (IMD distortion and Total Distortion+Noise shown for each). This is the PS200 PRO only:
The results are only 1dB appart between the two DACs, at these near full scale tests, and as I showed previously with the sweep of IMD SMPTE vs level. Every time the PS200 PRO achieves one dB lower in terms of TD+N and that's because of its slightly lower noise floor. The pure IMD results are identical to the point of run to run measurement differences.
The pitch error is at the limit of what I can measure in both cases, -0.5ppm for the PS200 PRO and -1ppm for the PS200. This is what I'd like to see every time. These results are obtained from a 19'997Hz test tone and measuring their respective deviations out the DACs (19'997.01Hz and 19'997.02Hz) that are GPSDO corrected since my ADC has more deviation than that. I use the Leo Bodnar LBE-1421 to calibrate the results (tuning it to output a the same 19'997Hz test tone and measuring the deviation of the ADC only).
----
Last and not least, I wanted to take the opportunity to revisit the linearity test, since these latest DACs are so good. Here we go:
If we agree that linearity is lost at 0.2dB deviation from the requested output voltage, then the SMSL PS200 PRO (plain line) achieves a better linearity at -125dB when compared with the SMSL PS200 (-123dB, dashed line). This concurs with the other results, probably only a consequence of the little lower noise floor of the PRO version.
Conclusion
In both case, these are two high performing DACs for little money. I am really amazed by the level of linearity achieved by these low-cost DACs.
As promised, SMSL managed to increase the performances, with the PRO version, to reach top level from unbalanced output of a DAC. Provided you don't need Bluetooth input, then you get high-end performances in a refined metallic case.
I hope you enjoyed this review and have a nice Weekend!
Flo
This is a review and measurements of the SMSL PS200 PRO.
I got it for roughly $90 which is reasonable even if the feature are on the low side (DAC function only).
SMSL PS200 PRO – Presentation
It is the revised version of the SMSL PS200 and features the same ESS ES9039M2Q DAC. It loses the Bluetooth input but gets in exchange a metallic case instead of plastic. During my tests, it was much more resistant to being dragged by the RCA cables
SMSL shows the difference between the two DACs that way:
Note the small but tangible improvements in THD+N (-120.5dB vs -118dB), and the DR/SNR that improve by 2dB.
The ESS DAC being the same, the main difference is with the OPA1656 and OPA1612. From the respective datasheets of these, the below comparison graphs tells us more about their respective performances:
Pay attention to the y-axis, it goes 20dB (10x) lower on the 1612, and that’s a statement alone We certainly don’t need that level of performance. That said, and since the ESS 9039M2Q can easily go below -120dB of THD+N (as just demonstrated again by @Rja4000), it might indeed be limited by the OPA1656. I guess SMSL wanted to unleash the beast. Let’s see how it turns out on the bench.
If the ESS 9039M2Q offers a selection of filters, only one is available in the PS200 PRO and it simply is the first in the list of ESS, the Minimum phase (same with the PS200 by the way), as shown below (extracted from ESS datasheet):
The back of the unit is very simple, USB, coax, Toslink inputs and RCA outputs:
Like with the previous PS200, there is a switch to select UAC1 or UAC2 USB compatibility.
User Experience
Not much to say besides fact I had to install a driver on my Windows 11 PC, I’m not sure why. There’s only one button to select the input, and the words/acronyms under the led indicators are way to small for oldies like me. The "DSDS led indicates the input sampling rate and that's we get since there's no displa.
Of course I like the fact it can be powered from my PC as I happen to make some measurements in nomad mode and that is quite practical to a mini high-end low frequency generator with me. I used the PS200 that way so many times (no, not to listen to music, I admit).
I like the fact that SMSL chases so many different business cases, and if it appears like an overflow of DAC offering, it's also an opportunity to find the one that matches your unique needs at reasonable cost.
SMSL PS200 PRO - Measurements
All measurements performed with an E1DA Cosmos ADCiso (grade 0) in mono mode, the Cosmos Scaler (100kohms from unbalanced input) and APU (when required) for analog outputs. I used a Windows 11 PC to connect via USB and had to install a driver. I also alternatively used the SMSL PO100 Pro to feed it with Coax and Toslink SPDIF for some complementary tests.
From RCA outputs, I measured 2.083Vrms from left channel and 2.087Vrms from the right one, i.e. 0.01dB channel imbalance, which is very good.
----
I aligned this review with the one I made of the SMSL DO400, so not all measurements are aligned with those of Amir, as I explained in that review of that SMSL.
However, I make an exception for this review. Indeed, since I still own the PS200, I thought it would be nice to compare them directly. I therefore doubled all measurements for the PS200 and will overlay the two results. You get to reviews for the price of one
And since the two channels behave really exactly the same on the two devices, I'll show only one each, not to make the graphs too complicated to decipher.Here we start with the standard 1kHz @0dBFS test tone, meaning output volume set to 2Vrms (48kHz SR, FFT 32k, 4 averages):
Note that the SMSL PS200 has a little more output voltage (2.1Vrms) giving a small advantage. But the SMSL PS200 PRO is still the only one to go over 120dB SINAD (the opposite of THD+N).
We see the PS200 doing better than specs here, meaning I might have got a "golden" sample at the time. The SNR, in the presence of that full scale test tone is 1dB better with the PS200 PRO. It is also very close to the results I got from the Topping DX1 II from its RCA outputs. The small spike at 50Hz (green trace from the PS200 PRO), is my fault. I realized after recording the measurement that leaving my hands on the keyboard of my laptop was the root cause
By the way, let me show you the same but with optical input instead of the USB:
Wow the SINAD improved to reach 120.8dB. Good news that we don't lose anything using the other inputs.
----
As I like to do, let's have a look at the same dashboard but at -6dBFS (1Vrms output) instead of sull scale, and back to USB input:
Again the PS200 PRO does a little better than the former PS200. As you can see from the plots, this is mainly due to a lower noise floor from 20Hz to 1kHz.
----
And since I just mentioned noise at low frequencies, and as I always run the Stereophile style analyzis from 20Hz to 1kHz with a 1kHz sine at 0dBFS, let's go for it (no hands, no hands):
With this linear view, we can clearly see that the PS200 PRO achieves to better manage lower noise floor. And by the way, no trace of power supply related leakages. Note that I had to have the y-axis down to -170dBr. I'm always impressed when I have to do that!
----
There is no selection of oversampling filters, and the two SMSLs run the same minimum phase filter, as the below overlay of the two show:
For once I smoothed (1/48) the traces, and I might continue in the future. In both cases the out of band attenuation reaches -110dB with no trace of delta-sigma modulation up to 80kHz.
----
Let's go back to good news with the Jitter Test (48kHz, 512k FFT. 32 averages):
Wow, in both cases, this is a very nice trace, but we can see that one more time the PS200 PRO improves the noise floor that is lower. There's also absolutely no trace of Jitter with PS200 PRO.
----
Of course, I won't forget the Multitone test (48kHz SR, 256k FFT, 16 averages):
Again the orange trace is the new PS200 PRO. And we can see again the benefit of the lower noise floor at low frequencies. We get an easy 22bits of distortion-free range with the PS200 PRO all the way through, this is very nice.
----
Next is the THD+N vs Frequency (192kHz, 512k FFT 4 averages, 3PPO (20Hz to 20kHz), 2Vrms output):
Yeah, nearly the same as this test includes noise up to 90kHz, proving one more time that there's no trace of delta-sigma modulator noise generated up to that point. Small increase of distortion at the highest frequencies because of my analyzer, not necessaraly the SMSLs. I recently reviewed the Loxjie D40 Pro which was not doing as good from balanced outputs.
----
Next is the IMD SMPTE vs output level sweep, which can't be compared to the one of Amir because this measurement is based on FFT analysis of IMD distortion only (192kHz, 128k FFT 4 averages, 1dB step, scaler in auto mode):
We get a little more significant improvements here, below -10dBFS, which is nice even though the PS200 was already doing very good. Intermodulation distortion is easier to hear than the harmonic one, so I take it! Note the two lines rejoin at -7dBFS.
----
Dynamic range is extremely good, be it CCIR-2K weighted or A-Weighted (0dBFS = 2Vrms):
These two show 3dB advantage for the SMSL PS200 PRO, all from its lower noise floor.
----
And now let's have a look at other less usual measurements. The one that I like is the resistance to intersample-overs.
This test is performed with dedicated test tones with a specific phase shift to generate digital overs. If anything in the digital path (oversampling filter / DSP / ASRC) does not have enough headroom for digital overs, it will generate clipping within the interpolator.
For that, I'm using a test tone of 11'025Hz with a phase shift of 45° that goes up to +3.01dB over, by 1dB steps. This allows me to process what's the headroom of the digital interpolator of the DAC. Here are the results (THD+N measurement up to 90kHz):
| Intersample-overs tests THD+N 20Hz - 90kHz | Peak = -0.99dBFS | Peak = +0.01dBFS | Peak = +1.01dBFS | Peak = +2.01dBFS | Peak = +3.01dBFS |
| SMSL PS200 | -106.7dB | -106.6dB | -43.8dB | -26.1dB | -20.7dB |
| SMSL PS200 PRO | -107.5dB | -107.6dB | -43.6dB | -26.0dB | -20.7dB |
Without surprise, the results are identical since we get the same ESS DAC.
The above means that at full output power, the interpolator of the two SMSL (Minimum Phase) have a similar headroom of a little less than 1dB. I can't say I'm disappointed, this is so common. But I know the ESS 9039M2Q offers a very good digital volume pre-interpolator which makes it fully resistant to ISOs at only -2.5dB. Since we are at so high level SINAD, and because we can't adjust the volume with these DACs, I have a personal request to SMSL: please make one that has more headroom out of the box. It won't be showing off with a super high SINAD or SNR, etc..., but if would bring a tangible benefit since so many master are too hot.
----
Other measurements (not shown).
First, I now regroup all IMD tests as below, sourced from REW's results (IMD distortion and Total Distortion+Noise shown for each). This is the PS200 PRO only:
The results are only 1dB appart between the two DACs, at these near full scale tests, and as I showed previously with the sweep of IMD SMPTE vs level. Every time the PS200 PRO achieves one dB lower in terms of TD+N and that's because of its slightly lower noise floor. The pure IMD results are identical to the point of run to run measurement differences.
The pitch error is at the limit of what I can measure in both cases, -0.5ppm for the PS200 PRO and -1ppm for the PS200. This is what I'd like to see every time. These results are obtained from a 19'997Hz test tone and measuring their respective deviations out the DACs (19'997.01Hz and 19'997.02Hz) that are GPSDO corrected since my ADC has more deviation than that. I use the Leo Bodnar LBE-1421 to calibrate the results (tuning it to output a the same 19'997Hz test tone and measuring the deviation of the ADC only).
----
Last and not least, I wanted to take the opportunity to revisit the linearity test, since these latest DACs are so good. Here we go:
If we agree that linearity is lost at 0.2dB deviation from the requested output voltage, then the SMSL PS200 PRO (plain line) achieves a better linearity at -125dB when compared with the SMSL PS200 (-123dB, dashed line). This concurs with the other results, probably only a consequence of the little lower noise floor of the PRO version.
Conclusion
In both case, these are two high performing DACs for little money. I am really amazed by the level of linearity achieved by these low-cost DACs.
As promised, SMSL managed to increase the performances, with the PRO version, to reach top level from unbalanced output of a DAC. Provided you don't need Bluetooth input, then you get high-end performances in a refined metallic case.
I hope you enjoyed this review and have a nice Weekend!
Flo
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