SMSL PS200 Review (From CD Player)

[NTTY]

Hello Everyone,

This is a review and detailed measurements of the SMSL PS200, used as an external DAC with a CD Player as the source (transport).

SMSL PS200 - Presentation

The SMSL PS200 is a low cost modern DAC with USB and coax+optical inputs and RCA outputs. It features an ES9039Q2M, 3rd gen XMOS XU-316 with PCM support up to 32bit/768kHz, and DSD up to DSD512. You also get MQA support.

I know some of you will be disappointed, as I will be testing it with a CD Player as a source, that means at 16bits/44.1kHz only. Why is that? Well, I'm a lot into the good old Audio CD which I love and I've been reviewing here several CD players. I wanted to do the same type of review using an external "reference" DAC for the comparison.

Note that, if the source is a CD Player, the limitations will show only on a noise perspective. Harmonic, intermodulation and other types of distortion would be the same with higher bit depth. So the below is still relevant on a distorsion, correlated noise and other artifacts perspective.

As I understood, quite a number of you still like to spin the silver disc, and own old/new CD Players. So if you're in search of a cheap decent solution to upgrade the internal DAC of your CD player, follow me.


SMSL PS200 - Measurements (From CD Player - Optical)

For this review, I will be consistent with my measurements as I described them in the post “More than we hear”, and as I reported them for the Onkyo C-733 review. Over time, this will help comparing the devices I reviewed and how their internal DACs compete with this external cheap one.

I plugged the Denon DCD-900NE to the SMSL using a basic optical cable (3m long) for all the measurements below. EDIT: I checked with the Denon DCD-SA1 and Onkyo C-733, and I got the same results.

The SMSL PS200 outputs a precise 2Vrms from its RCA. The two channels match perfectly (0.00dB as I can measure, excellent!). The unbalanced outputs are noninverting.

Here you go with the standard 999.91Hz sine @0dBFS (without dither because that frequency has the property to “self-dither”) from the test CD:

Both channels are represented but only one gets evaluated in the dashboard. Left channel does a little better (THD improves by 3dB).
THD sits at -116dB. SINAD is at 97dB which is the limit of the Audio CD, and is the best I measured so far from a CD Player.

I add a view of a 999.91Hz @-6dBFS as I now like (without dither):

The digital level goes down and the distorsion does not increase, impressive. It bests the Denon DCD-900NE which was my reference so far.

You probably already noticed that this is a very quiet DAC, without power supply–related spuriae in its output:

Bandwidth (now measured from a long term average of periodic white noise) showed a little roll off:

The trace is not neat because it's deviated from long term averages of periodic white noise at 192kHz input.
You see -0.2dB at 20Hz and -0.3dB at 20kHz. The two channels are perfectly matched. No concern here.

Let's have a look at the oversampling filter behavior (from periodic white noise) and together with dual tones 18kHz+20kHz (AES17):

The attenuation is above 90dB which is standard and is good. The filter is relatively sharp and fully active at 24kHz (it could have been before). No high frequency noise shaping technique shows here, I'm very happy.

Multitone (1/10 decade) shows the DAC has no issue to clear 16bits of data, as expected:

It can't be better with Audio CD and that is a beautiful trace.

Onto the Jitter test:

This is an overlay of the original WAV file (red) and the SMSL (blue). There's nothing above the digital signal. Finger in the nose, I'd say, easy one for the SMSL.

On your request and support (more information here), I am adding an "intersample-overs" test. It intends to identify if the oversampling filter has sufficient headroom to process near clipping signals. Indeed, and because of the oversampling, there might be interpolated data that go above 0dBFS (see the values in the table) and would saturate (clip) the interpolator and therefore the output. This effect is highlighted with the measurements below, and revealed through THD+N measurements up to 96kHz:

Intersample-overs tests Bandwidth of the THD+N measurements is 20Hz - 96kHz	5512.5 Hz sine, Peak = +0.69dBFS	7350 Hz sine, Peak = +1.25dBFS	11025 Hz sine, Peak = +3.0dBFS
Teac VRDS-20	-30.7dB	-26.6dB	-17.6dB
Yamaha CD-1	-84.6dB	-84.9dB	-78.1dB
Denon DCD-900NE	-34.2dB	-27.1dB	-19.1dB
Denon DCD-SA1	-33.6dB	-27.6dB	-18.3dB
Onkyo C-733	-88.3dB	-40.4dB	-21.2dB
Denon DCD-3560	-30.2dB	-24.7dB	-17.4dB
SMSL PS200 (16bits/44.1kHz)	-92.8dB	-35.5dB	-21.0dB

I left several other references for you to compare with. The oversampling filter of the SMSL PS200 has a 1dB headroom to process Inter-sample overs, and it's better than so many others. The Yamaha CD-1 shines in that test because it does not use an oversampling filter.

Other measurements (not shown):

• IMD AES-17 DFD "Analog" (18kHz & 20kHz 1:1) : -101.1dB​
• IMD AES-17 DFD "Digital" (17'987Hz & 19'997Hz 1:1) : -95.2dB
• IMD AES-17 MD (41Hz & 7993Hz 4:1): -101.5dB
• IMD CCIF (19kHz & 20kHz 1:1) : -94.9dB
• IMD DIN (250Hz & 8kHz 4:1) : -97.4dB
• IMD TDFD (13'58Hz & 19841Hz 1:1) : -118.8dB
• IMD TDFD Bass (41Hz & 89Hz 1:1) : -118.3dB
• IMD SMPTE (60Hz & 7kHz 1:4) : -98.5dB
• Dynamic Range : 97.6dB (1kHz @-60dBFS no dither)
• Crosstalk: not measurable (below -140dB)
• Pitch Error : 19'997.02Hz (19'997Hz requested) ie 1ppm

These are the best I measured from a CD Player. In particular, the pitch error is minimum and so few DACs achieve that. I Think it's actually the pitch error of the Denon, but not the DAC itself. Have a look at the reviews of Amir, you'll see that the DACs rarely show the exact 1000Hz he's sending to them. Here I always got the precise 999.91Hz that I'm asking for. No deviation that is, and that is too rare I think.

Last but not least, I like to have a look a the THD vs Frequency when using a -12dBFS signal. This has proven to me to be a key differentiator, especially when I'm reviewing an old CD Player using R2R conversion. Here are the results with the SMSL (Left and Right channels shown):

It's the best I measured (again).


Conclusions

What a little jewel!

If you have an older CD player, or even a new one, you can extract everything from any disc using this little DAC attached to it, in case you wouldn't be sure of the internal DAC. That could be an interesting comparison too.

I was not expecting this level of performance for the price, and I think it's really cool to know that you have an easy to implement solution, at a very decent price, to make sure your CD Player will make your ears very happy.

I hope you likeed this review.

Enjoy the end of the year with your family and friends!

 

[19lexicon78]

as a cd-player specialist. perhaps a suggestion, please measure professional denon or tascam 2000's cd-player with aes-out, i don't know if a cheap or more expensive pro-denon cd-players are worse/better in aes digital-output . i prefer aes instead of toslink. my studer d730 is almost 30 years old, just in case i need a back-up...

 

[NTTY]

By AES, do you mean the XLR digital output type of connector?

My Motu interface has only Toslink (ADAT compatible) and Coax digital type of inputs.

I could review one of the pro players you mentioned, they've been in my radar for some time.

 

[19lexicon78]

yes, the xlr digital-out. i prefer to use pro-cdp's and denon/tascam pro-cdp's aren't that expensive. if a denon/tascam has a good transport, a good option instead of buying a far too expensive studer.

 

[sailor2005]

yes, the xlr digital-out. i prefer to use pro-cdp's and denon/tascam pro-cdp's aren't that expensive. if a denon/tascam has a good transport, a good option instead of buying a far too expensive studer.

The Shanling ET3 CD transport has AES/EBU output.

 

[NTTY]

Hello everyone, since I got myself a Cosmos E1DA, I measured the SMSL sending a 24bits 999.91Hz sine (undithered) via USB input (Windows driver), and here is the result:

This a SINAD of nearly 118dB, which is crazy good for the price, I think.

Cheers

EDIT: Good news, Amir reviewed the PS200 and found same good results which means the performance is consistent between different devices across the globe.

 

[Bleib]

Great, a shame frequency response is not completely flat

 

[NTTY]

Because of the sampling rate and the oversampling filter. Nothing of concern.

 

[Tres]

Hello !

First post...
I read a lot the last month here and finally found prove...

Please help me with my next question / upgrade. I like to play CD's on my Marantz UD7007 and would like to know if an dac like a D50III would improve sound quality over the internal dac. I also own the Wiim Pro + but there's only an optical in while a coax in is needed.

I tried a SMSL SU-1 but AB testing is difficult because the volume isn't the same

Any thoughts ?

 

[NTTY]

This is a “high-end” multi-format player that you have. I doubt that, from an audio CD, you can expect better from an external DAC. I suppose the internal one is already above and beyond CDA requirements for excellence. Only measurements would confirm though, because I measured some too early roll-off in frequency with a Marantz 6007 and one of its oversampling filters.

On top, note that, for video players having an hdmi output, it is mandatory to output max 48kHz digital signal via “non-copy protected” digital connectors, and that applies to SPDIF connectors. It means there’s a high chance that outputting CDA content via Coax output will result in a modified digital data stream, one that went through an Asynchronous Sample Rate Converter (ASRC) by default. That means the digital output is no longer “bit perfect”. Most of the times, it will make no difference, but we’ve seen some issues with these digital manipulations in the past (eg: an ASRC is likely to suffer intersample overs distortion). Again only measurements would tell us more.

In the meantime, I think you can safely rely on the internal DAC of your Marantz, and its complex HDAM output stage since it is a big selling point for them. In case of doubts, this SMSL would tell you where you stand on a pure listening experience perspective. Worst case no change and you can easily resell it, that is minimum money to invest.

Cheers

 

[staticV3]

I also own the Wiim Pro + but there's only an optical in while a coax in is needed.

For about $10, you can buy Optical to Coax converters online.

Since with the Pro Plus you have a fully transparent DAC already, it'd be a shame not to use it.

 

[Tres]

This is a “high-end” multi-format player that you have. I doubt that, from an audio CD, you can expect better from an external DAC. I suppose the internal one is already above and beyond CDA requirements for excellence. Only measurements would confirm though, because I measured some too early roll-off in frequency with a Marantz 6007 and one of its oversampling filters.

On top, note that, for video players having an hdmi output, it is mandatory to output max 48kHz digital signal via “non-copy protected” digital connectors, and that applies to SPDIF connectors. It means there’s a high chance that outputting CDA content via Coax output will result in a modified digital data stream, one that went through an Asynchronous Sample Rate Converter (ASRC) by default. That means the digital output is no longer “bit perfect”. Most of the times, it will make no difference, but we’ve seen some issues with these digital manipulations in the past (eg: an ASRC is likely to suffer intersample overs distortion). Again only measurements would tell us more.

In the meantime, I think you can safely rely on the internal DAC of your Marantz, and its complex HDAM output stage since it is a big selling point for them. In case of doubts, this SMSL would tell you where you stand on a pure listening experience perspective. Worst case no change and you can easily resell it, that is minimum money to invest.

Cheers

Thank you. I'm glad I asked.

With the SMSL SU-1 there is not much difference. According to measurements the SU-1 is also quite good. I think I won't try an external dac then.

I better watch out for my FOMO on something and keep the money.

 

[Tres]

For about $10, you can buy Optical to Coax converters online.

Since with the Pro Plus you have a fully transparent DAC already, it'd be a shame not to use it.

I never looked into that...

From EQ and roomcorrection standpoint that would be interesting. There are a few base frequencies to attend to, due to speaker placement. I'll dive into that.

Thanks

 

[Tres]

For about $10, you can buy Optical to Coax converters online.

Since with the Pro Plus you have a fully transparent DAC already, it'd be a shame not to use it.

Hi,

I checked for converters but they are working with PCM (mostly). My Marantz (UD7007) is set to bitstream but PCM is also an option. With PCM, is there a dac neccessary to convert the signal to analog or is it just passing through ?

 

[staticV3]

With PCM, is there a dac neccessary to convert the signal to analog or is it just passing through ?

A DAC is necessary to convert a digital audio signal into analog.

If you set your Marantz to PCM, then the built-in DAC will not be used for PCM output because PCM is digital and DACs cannot output digital.

The same is true for bitstream output.

 

[Tres]

Thank you.

By searching the internet, I found the attached article with explanation and got confused. But by using an coaxial output, the signal is of course digital and you need a dac to unravel it.

If I understand correctly… A converter doing the coaxial to toslink trick will work with PCM format and that’s fine.

 

[staticV3]

If I understand correctly… A converter doing the coaxial to toslink trick will work with PCM format and that’s fine.

Afaik these adapters should support bitstream just as well.

Thing is, even if they do, you cannot use bitstream to the WiiM since it can only convert PCM.

So with the Marantz set to bitstream, any time you listened to Dolby/AC3/etc content, the WiiM would stay silent.

 

[Tres]

So, in case of using the Wiim, the output has to be set to PCM. Good to know, I didn't know that.

In this moment a smsl su-1 does the converting and it uses bitstream but accepts pcm as well.

I already noticed that the sacd format doesn't work over the coaxial output but ofcourse there is also a rca output for the stereo mix. Hdmi is used in my systeem for playing movies in surround.

I will order a toslink converter and try the Wiim as an dac with room correction.

Thanks for your help and patience

 

[staticV3]

So, in case of using the Wiim, the output has to be set to PCM. Good to know, I didn't know that.

If the Marantz is set to Bitstream and you're watching/listening to PCM content, then both the SU-1 and WiiM will do fine.

If the Marantz is set to Bitstream and you're watching/listening to Dolby/AC3/etc content, then neither the SU-1 nor the WiiM will output sound since they can't decode those formats.

Setting the Marantz to PCM will effectively bitstream PCM content and decode anything else to PCM internally, so that devices like the SU-1 and WiiM will play regardless of format.

 

[Tres]

Thanks again