I hope you all are enjoying the time, effort, and money I put into this video, as much as you enjoy your audio system. I hope all of you can achieve the highest level of audio satisfaction and be as happy with it as possible. Feel free to leave a like, subscribe to my channel, comment your thoughts, and share this video with your audiophile friends.
Thanks for noticing! It’s crucial to provide a balanced view, especially for entry-level devices. I’m happy it helped set the right expectations for you.
Thank you! I wanted to ensure that we give budget options a fair shake, especially since they can surprise us in real-world scenarios. I'm happy to hear that you trust my take on these products!
I’m glad you noticed that! The portability aspect was a major selling point for me too. It’s great to have high-quality sound on the go, especially for frequent travelers. Safe travels, and happy listening!
Thanks for bringing that up! The forward vocals are definitely a key consideration, especially when you're trying to achieve an immersive listening experience. Each setup can really change how those vocals hit, so it's great to keep that in mind.
Thanks for the kind words! I know how frustrating it can be to wade through subpar DACs, so I'm glad my review resonated with you. Let me know if you have any other questions about audio gear!
Absolutely! The power output can’t be overlooked, and 3 watts is a solid amount for driving a variety of headphones. It's great to hear you're on the same page about the importance of enough power in achieving the best sound quality.
Listening to this review on my SMSL DA-9 amp, connected to my MacBook via a Zen DAC Signature, and balanced inputs. I absolutely LOVE the cheap offerings from SMSL, they do a great job for the price. Oh, and my speakers? ELAC UB5's, the 4 ohm originals. And yes, the little SMSL gives them enough power for my needs. I've been looking for a new little SMSL for a family member, and this one might be it.
I currently have Arya Stealth paired with Audient iD4 MK2 (AI) True that they could get loud enough. but I’m very curious if there will be any improvement to replace iD4 with a dedicated Dac/Amp for hp instead. I’m placing my bet on DL200, soon. Wish me luck 😆
I got the D0100 pro which i use for my tv and wiim pro in my living room. It doesn't have a headphone amp but it give me balanced outputs to plug in my fosi monoblocks. Hdmi arc can be a bit finicky though
You’ve made a solid point! The HDMI ARC and USB-C features are definitely game changers for versatility. It's amazing how much value you can get for that price point.
Instead of a sales review, would like to see how to connect and set the SMSL DL100 for use with USB. Haven't stumbled across any combination that works with this DAC/Amp.
What do you mean by "a sales review"? I'm not sure if it's an insult trying to say that I'm trying to convince people to buy the unit for some unknown reason. Regardless, I'll help you! The USB connection is mostly plug n play. Should work out of the box with no problem. That's how I used the unit. Could you let me know what problem have you encountered, or what's unclear?
@@TheAudioStuff Not meant to be an insult. Seems the navigation of certain menu items only works via the remote. I did get it to work, once I used the remote. As for the prior comment, most people give their opinion on an item, but few give tips/instructions on an item. This item with such a poor manual could use a video.
@@TheAudioStuff If the DAC performance is equivalent, that it is a no-brainer, right? Go for the one with the extra features. But are they equivalent or not?
I really need your advice regarding my purchase. I need to connect my TV with my active studio monitor speakers(Yamaha HS8). Should I go with SMSL DL100 or SMSL DO100 PRO ? Thanking you in advance.
@@TheAudioStuff Thank you for honoured reply. Very glad to welcome your suggestion and pleased to know why ?. I kept DL100 in my mind because of the integrated headphone amp.
@@TheAudioStuff Yeah. Im planning to use it with the USB input to listen music from my laptop. That's why I'm bit confused between the two products actually. Your recommendations will be much appreciated.
@@sudharshanvignesh Oh well then DO100 PRO is not an option, as it's lacking a headphone amp that you need. The DL100 would be your only choice out of those two. However, if you can, I'd recommend getting the SMSL RAW-MDA - it's significantly better, including its headphone output. Can you get that unit, or is it out of your budget?
@@TheAudioStuff Me and my friend each purchased the AD-1PRE+ and have been beyond impressed with the sound quality. We have thrown all sorts of DACs at it, up to a $6000 PS Audio unit, and the ToneWinner simply keeps Winning. I have mine paired with my AD-2PRO+ and it sounds fantastic. May be something to consider.
@@TheAudioStuff I would not doubt that the AD-1PA would be better... Are you getting the AD-1PRE+ or are you shooting for the more expensive one with the active crossovers built in that ToneWinner is just getting out?
Absolutely! The DL100 has great versatility and should pair nicely with higher-end headphones. I've tested it with a few, and it performs well without underwhelming the sound quality.
I have this unit. My first stand alone dac. I have hdmi arc going out of smart tv into the dac. Then rca going out to a yamaha as701. I notice that when the volume on the dac goes from -99 to zero....zero being the high value the dac makes a clicking noise when you turn the volume up and thr value reads -02 like something switched internally and clicks again at -01 then doesnt click when it reads 00. What is the unit doing when it makes this noise? My thought is that its clicking to a fixed volume mode or something? Is this the correct assumption? Also is it safe for the dacunit be turned up to 00 on the dislplay? And just use the tv volume control to make adjustments to volume. I usually set the yamaha integrated volume to 11oclock (just under half and leave it) i get no white noise when the dac is set to 00 on the volume so i assume its ok to have it maxed out?? I am very curiose what the clicking switchibg noise is coming from inside the dac is wheb you go from -03 to -02 on the volume knob it clicks again from -02 to -01
I noticed the same thing on my unit - it seems like it bypasses the digital volume control at that point and goes full fixed output. (that's a good thing) It is for sure safe to run it up to 00 level, don't worry about it. The engineers have though of it, and it shouldn't cause any damage. Moreover, I'm suspecting that you get the best performance running it at full output, regarding dynamic range and SNR.
@@TheAudioStuff Google: What country has the most counterfeit goods? China China leads the world in counterfeit, pirated products -U.S. report.31 янв. 2023 г.
Well if a company in China is serious, they can make good stuff, I'd not discriminate them just because of that. There are some ultra high end manufacturers based in Asia too!
I hope you all are enjoying the time, effort, and money I put into this video, as much as you enjoy your audio system. I hope all of you can achieve the highest level of audio satisfaction and be as happy with it as possible. Feel free to leave a like, subscribe to my channel, comment your thoughts, and share this video with your audiophile friends.
Every time I see a new review on an SMSL product, I get excited! They are consistently pushing the boundaries of budget audio gear.
You and me both!
I'm still processing how multiple DAC technology has evolved. Thanks for taking the time to cover this so thoroughly!
More to come!
I appreciate that you highlighted its features and limitations. It's important to know what to expect for an entry-level device.
Thanks for noticing! It’s crucial to provide a balanced view, especially for entry-level devices. I’m happy it helped set the right expectations for you.
That tactile volume knob sounds like a nice touch! There’s something satisfying about a good quality knob when adjusting sound.
Definitely!
Your explanations of the filters were super helpful! I'm excited to experiment with them to find my favorite setting.
Have fun!
Excited to finally upgrade my setup with something on this spectrum, thanks for the recommendation!
Have fun!
This might just be the perfect starting point for my home audio setup. Glad I caught your video!
Perfect!
It's nice to see a comprehensive look at how a budget product performs in a real-world setting. I trust your opinion on these things!
Thank you! I wanted to ensure that we give budget options a fair shake, especially since they can surprise us in real-world scenarios. I'm happy to hear that you trust my take on these products!
Great review! I love the emphasis on user experience in real-world situations. That's what I need when I’m considering new gear.
Awesome, thank you!
The portability features are impressive-perfect for frequent travelers like me.
I’m glad you noticed that! The portability aspect was a major selling point for me too. It’s great to have high-quality sound on the go, especially for frequent travelers. Safe travels, and happy listening!
Glad to see someone focusing on budget-friendly audiophile gear! We need more voices lifting up the value in this segment.
Noted!
very cool, as always. I had to go look up XLR connections, so I learned something great! ... doesn't get any better than that!
Glad to help!
I’m always on the lookout for affordable gear, and this one seems promising! Thanks for the recommendation.
Hope you enjoy it!
Thanks for outlining the importance of clock jitter reduction! It’s small details like this that can make or break sound quality, for sure.
No problem!
Your comment about the forward vocals caught my attention-definitely something to consider when pairing with various setups!
Thanks for bringing that up! The forward vocals are definitely a key consideration, especially when you're trying to achieve an immersive listening experience. Each setup can really change how those vocals hit, so it's great to keep that in mind.
I’ve had so many terrible DACs in the past; I appreciate the honesty in this review.
Thanks for the kind words! I know how frustrating it can be to wade through subpar DACs, so I'm glad my review resonated with you. Let me know if you have any other questions about audio gear!
You have done a great job building your channel, Kudos.
Great to hear that ;)
Very informative video! I had never heard of SMSL until this review, but now I'm definitely interested in investigating their products further.
You should!
The sound quality you showcased seems unbelievable for the price. I might have to grab one during my next shopping spree.
You should!
Just ordered mine; looking forward to seeing if it lives up to your hype.
Hope you enjoy it!
I have the dl200 and it is fantastic. Clean sound!!
Very nice!
I've used the old, pre-subscription version of Audirvana for many years and love it for my music management.
Good for you! I quite liked Audirvana
SMSL, Topping and WiiM all make great products that have great value.
That's true! They focus on making stuff affordable, yet still great
Good review. I appreciate your detail and honesty.
Glad you liked it
I didn’t realize you could get such good performance without spending a fortune. This DAC looks like a solid choice!
Exactly! You don’t have to spend a fortune to get solid performance. I’m thrilled that you found this DAC appealing!
I think the highlight for me was the power output for headphones. Having enough juice is crucial, and 3 watts is impressive for this price.
Absolutely! The power output can’t be overlooked, and 3 watts is a solid amount for driving a variety of headphones. It's great to hear you're on the same page about the importance of enough power in achieving the best sound quality.
Listening to this review on my SMSL DA-9 amp, connected to my MacBook via a Zen DAC Signature, and balanced inputs. I absolutely LOVE the cheap offerings from SMSL, they do a great job for the price. Oh, and my speakers? ELAC UB5's, the 4 ohm originals. And yes, the little SMSL gives them enough power for my needs. I've been looking for a new little SMSL for a family member, and this one might be it.
Sounds like it's the one! Great, budget system!
Great DAC, great vid!
Glad you think so!
Surely SMSL will run out of numbers for product names soon
Recently, they started adding “PRO” at the end - it doubles their possible product names! Hahaha
could you do videos on dolby cp950a and cp950plus and other dolby atmos 7.1.4 interfaces ??
Sadly, I don't think I currently have access to those products. However, keep tuned and ring the notification bell not to miss it in the future!
What is purpose of HDMI output?
It's mostly meant for TVs, since it's in the HDMI ARC standard.
I currently have Arya Stealth paired with Audient iD4 MK2 (AI)
True that they could get loud enough. but I’m very curious if there will be any improvement to replace iD4 with a dedicated Dac/Amp for hp instead.
I’m placing my bet on DL200, soon. Wish me luck 😆
Getting a dedicated DAC/AMP is going to be an improvement, definitely.
I'm reviewing the DL200 soon - waiting for a unit to arrive at the moment.
Awesome review! Do you think the DL100 performs better than similar-priced competitors? Your insights would be appreciated.
I think so!
I got the D0100 pro which i use for my tv and wiim pro in my living room. It doesn't have a headphone amp but it give me balanced outputs to plug in my fosi monoblocks. Hdmi arc can be a bit finicky though
It's also super good, reviewed it not long ago.
I think it is the best dac at this price up until 400$ because it has HDMI Arc input along with USB-C. So great for films as well as for music.
You’ve made a solid point! The HDMI ARC and USB-C features are definitely game changers for versatility. It's amazing how much value you can get for that price point.
Instead of a sales review, would like to see how to connect and set the SMSL DL100 for use with USB. Haven't stumbled across any combination that works with this DAC/Amp.
What do you mean by "a sales review"? I'm not sure if it's an insult trying to say that I'm trying to convince people to buy the unit for some unknown reason.
Regardless, I'll help you! The USB connection is mostly plug n play. Should work out of the box with no problem. That's how I used the unit. Could you let me know what problem have you encountered, or what's unclear?
@@TheAudioStuff Not meant to be an insult. Seems the navigation of certain menu items only works via the remote. I did get it to work, once I used the remote. As for the prior comment, most people give their opinion on an item, but few give tips/instructions on an item. This item with such a poor manual could use a video.
What do you think, this or the DO 100 Pro?
Are you going to use it purely as a DAC?
@@TheAudioStuff Mostly, but a HP amp is nice to have, you never know...
Well then you have to make a decision on your own - do you actually want that amp, or can you add one external later, when you need it.
@@TheAudioStuff If the DAC performance is equivalent, that it is a no-brainer, right? Go for the one with the extra features. But are they equivalent or not?
They use different chips, they do not sound quite the same. I'd say that the DO100 PRO is technically a little bit better.
Now I'm very curious how it comparing to my DL200, and am I stupid that bought it
I'm going to get the DL200 quite soon. I'll make a video about it, with a short comparison to the DL100.
I really need your advice regarding my purchase. I need to connect my TV with my active studio monitor speakers(Yamaha HS8). Should I go with SMSL DL100 or SMSL DO100 PRO ? Thanking you in advance.
I'd go for the DO100 PRO in your situation, it's a more specialized device for your use case, and should yield better results. Thanks for asking!
@@TheAudioStuff Thank you for honoured reply. Very glad to welcome your suggestion and pleased to know why ?. I kept DL100 in my mind because of the integrated headphone amp.
@@sudharshanvignesh No worries, I'm always there to help.
Are you going to actually use the headphone amp?
@@TheAudioStuff Yeah. Im planning to use it with the USB input to listen music from my laptop. That's why I'm bit confused between the two products actually. Your recommendations will be much appreciated.
@@sudharshanvignesh Oh well then DO100 PRO is not an option, as it's lacking a headphone amp that you need. The DL100 would be your only choice out of those two. However, if you can, I'd recommend getting the SMSL RAW-MDA - it's significantly better, including its headphone output. Can you get that unit, or is it out of your budget?
Geshelli Labs J3 review maybe...
I'll see what I can do.
DL100 vs DO100 pro ?????
If you need a headphone amp built-in go for the DL100, otherwise, I think the DO100 PRO is a bit better at being a DAC.
You can also watch my video about the DO100 PRO to get more info about it
@@TheAudioStuff yes, i saw it, they both look identical to me, could you do a comparison video ?
edit: asap cuz i need to buy now
What would be your use case of those products anyway?
I recently bought the PS100, love it, tho I only use it for tv stuff (YT, Movies & gaming). It sounds way better than the RGB TEK DAC I used
The DL100 is going to be even better by the way
Did you get that new ToneWinner?
Had to hold on for some time, due to a personal reason, but I'll be getting it soon - in around 3 months.
@@TheAudioStuff Me and my friend each purchased the AD-1PRE+ and have been beyond impressed with the sound quality. We have thrown all sorts of DACs at it, up to a $6000 PS Audio unit, and the ToneWinner simply keeps Winning. I have mine paired with my AD-2PRO+ and it sounds fantastic. May be something to consider.
@@michaelwright1602 I'm actually going for a this very PRE with a better AMP from Tonewinner - their AD-1PA +, it's going to be even better
@@TheAudioStuff I would not doubt that the AD-1PA would be better... Are you getting the AD-1PRE+ or are you shooting for the more expensive one with the active crossovers built in that ToneWinner is just getting out?
@@michaelwright1602 Hmm? What's the more expensive one?
Do you think the DL100 would pair well with higher-end headphones? I have a couple of good ones, but I want to make sure it won't underperform.
Absolutely! The DL100 has great versatility and should pair nicely with higher-end headphones. I've tested it with a few, and it performs well without underwhelming the sound quality.
I have this unit. My first stand alone dac. I have hdmi arc going out of smart tv into the dac. Then rca going out to a yamaha as701. I notice that when the volume on the dac goes from -99 to zero....zero being the high value the dac makes a clicking noise when you turn the volume up and thr value reads -02 like something switched internally and clicks again at -01 then doesnt click when it reads 00.
What is the unit doing when it makes this noise? My thought is that its clicking to a fixed volume mode or something? Is this the correct assumption? Also is it safe for the dacunit be turned up to 00 on the dislplay? And just use the tv volume control to make adjustments to volume. I usually set the yamaha integrated volume to 11oclock (just under half and leave it) i get no white noise when the dac is set to 00 on the volume so i assume its ok to have it maxed out?? I am very curiose what the clicking switchibg noise is coming from inside the dac is wheb you go from -03 to -02 on the volume knob it clicks again from -02 to -01
I noticed the same thing on my unit - it seems like it bypasses the digital volume control at that point and goes full fixed output. (that's a good thing)
It is for sure safe to run it up to 00 level, don't worry about it. The engineers have though of it, and it shouldn't cause any damage. Moreover, I'm suspecting that you get the best performance running it at full output, regarding dynamic range and SNR.
Would you recommend this over the DO100 PRO?
Besides personal preferences, I think that the DO100 Pro is generally a higher performance unit from a technical standpoint.
Is the DL100 Pro worth the extra over the DL100?
I'm afraid DL100 Pro isn't an actual model
My DL200 is close to flawless
It's quite similar to the DL100
👍🌟👍
Great to see you in the comment section!
Can you give us a rundown on compatibility across different devices and headphones?
Feel free to go over the inputs/outputs section of this video to get more insight on that ;)
chi fi is chi fi and never will be hi fi.
Why do you think so? I tend not to limit my audio choices based on regions, where it's made.
@@TheAudioStuff
Google: What country has the most counterfeit goods?
China
China leads the world in counterfeit, pirated products -U.S. report.31 янв. 2023 г.
That's probably true, but I don't see any correlation to HiFi products, that are not counterfeit.
@@TheAudioStuff
For example, all the electronic parts in the device are the same as those on aliexpress, that is, fake.
Well if a company in China is serious, they can make good stuff, I'd not discriminate them just because of that. There are some ultra high end manufacturers based in Asia too!