After Modius, this is now bad.It should be noted that I am not accusing M200
In fact at the corresponding price, it's not bad
After Modius, this is now bad.It should be noted that I am not accusing M200
In fact at the corresponding price, it's not bad
Bet you couldn't tell them apart in ABX.
It’s an okay product, but I don’t necessarily see the appeal vs something like the Topping E30. Nice for SP200 owners to have the option of a matching DAC though
Crickets from S.M.S.L.
Be nice if a rep could chime in ????
Why would anyone care about lobes at -130dB buried in noise? Can you also test jitter at 12khz? Multitone isn't the cleanest but okay at this price point and feature set. Seems like a decent device overall.
I don't know why spikes that are only visible due to very low noise at incredibly low distortion is considered "bad" jitter. Those look like exceptionally good results including multitone performance.Why would anyone care about lobes at -130dB buried in noise? Can you also test jitter at 12khz? Multitone isn't the cleanest but okay at this price point and feature set. Seems like a decent device overall.
I don't know why spikes that are only visible due to very low noise at incredibly low distortion is considered "bad" jitter. Those look like exceptionally good results including multitone performance.
If you were to get technical almost all modern DACs including your smartphone's dac should theoretically sound identical to the SMSL. Do they? I have no idea.I agree with you. @wolfx-370 has taken action and made comments, but he doesn't explain these comments to me, it gives a bad impression of the DAC (jitter????????????????????????).
I confirm it again, the sound of the SMSL M200 is excellent.
The Topping D70 (AK4497) has almost double the price does not do better in the measurement of the FFT.
Thanks!
But would still like an explanation of those ridiculous "Sound Color" modes. Out of the three is one of them "no coloration"? You have to select one of them with no option to turn off. Also, is Bluetooth always active? Be great to turn off an unwanted transmitter.
That's a great analogy Don't really agree on tube amps though don't really hear any "character" besides high output impedance and frankly, tube noise/microphonics.I think a premium DAC is like premium vodka. There're only two types of vodka: gut rot, decent vodka, and the same decent vodka with an absurd markup. I think in a truly blind test of DACs (where the volume levels are normalized using instrumentation) you'll find the same thing. There're DACs that produce noise and mess up the sound and DACs that produce a clean analog signal and then get out of the way. It either is clean and does the job or it's shit and shouldn't be in your home, just like vodka. Want to add character to your vodka? That's what a mixed drink is for. Want to add character to your music? That's where tube amps and different headphones / IEMs enter the equation.
I can’t say I understand from where the negative reaction to this device comes. It does seem to be a bit on the higher priced side considering what else is available, but is very feature rich. What is the competition providing better measured performance with balanced out and Bluetooth, a remote, volume control, and useable display?
The Dx3 pro has Bluetooth, volume control, a remote, and a good display. It also lacks a balanced out, and measures 10db worse on SINAD and has worse dynamic range. It is cheaper and has a serviceable headphone amp. I did not see a multi-tone in the measurements, and no test of the v2 (released because of real reliability problems).
The E30 is very close in SINAD, has lower dynamic range, but a much cleaner multi-tone. It also has a good display and remote, but lacks balanced out and Bluetooth. It wasn’t released without controversy, having inverse absolute polarity. It is also substantially less expensive at roughly half the cost!
The Schiit Modius matches the M200 in SINAD but has lower dynamic range, it also lacks a screen, remote, Bluetooth, and volume control, but comes in at $80 cheaper.
The Soncoz LA-QXD1 matches or beats it’s performance and price by $80, but lacks Bluetooth, a screen and a remote, although it does have volume control. It also lacks volume and source memory on power cycle.
There is also SMSL’s own SU-8, with remote, volume control, and balanced outs. It has lower measured performance, the ESS hump, and no Bluetooth. It has also had to have a revision due to a design flaw, is only $30 cheaper, and it’s display is a joke (this is the DAC I use in my living room, v1, and I am satisfied).
I could continue with the D50s, many others from SMSL, and a myriad of others I’m forgetting, but my point is that this seems to be well positioned in price, performance, and features. It’s incredible what is available for under $300 today in a DAC.
Jitter at -130db, and spurious tones at below -110db don’t pose audible concerns, and I doubt they even point to poor engineering. We have a glut of options now, it’s really amazing how much things have changed in just the last 2 years!