I got my 400se. Playing it off single ended on my hip dac. Loving it.. Waiting for balanced cu cable.. Like you suggested.. Will reach me in a month most likely.. ☺ Thanks for the 400se review..
Your depiction sounds very appealing. I do consider that SMSL has disoriented just a bit its prospective customers by issuing products (that actually seem quite similar) with a high rate of churn. Once they have attained this level perhaps they should allow things to stabilize a little and allow time for product image and reputation to build up. Good review. Cheers!
I definitely agree. The release cycles from Topping and SMSL are way too fast. The Chinese IEM market is the same. Perhaps us consumers need to stop buying every new thing and feeding the trend?
My perspective is different. SMSL and Topping are not big name production line manufacturers. They do have very active audio engineers that are constantly developing and working at improving their product performance. With smaller production runs, why make people wait a year for a new model? I've learned with ChiFi that progress is fast and to always check for the latest gear before ordering. The current level of audio quality took a great leap forward in 2021 with Topping Gustard and SMSL, and the new gear can out-perform flagship gear of just a year or 2 ago, for a fraction of the price. Great (not just good) audio has never been more affordable . Regards.
There's some truth to that, Ashley, but I think the problem some people have (and definitely what I was referring to) is that some of the products ARE better, but many of them are either a sideways step or are worse (Topping EX5 for example). I just remembered that the AKM factory fire may have made the issue worse because they had to replace all the AK DACs with ESS or Cirrus models so maybe 2021 was an anomaly - we'll see. I just hope 2022 sees an easier set of options for consumers to decipher without potentially wasting their money on new products that aren't guaranteed upgrades.
Got the DO200 2 weeks ago, to go with my AO200, and I am very happy with this stack . I'm using XLR cables. The DO200 out of the box sounded better than a month old Topping E50 (burned in). This is the sound I've been after, where any deficiencies in the system are waaay beyond audible and this is now my setup for the future. Sound path is Foobar2000 (flac) on Win 11 - DO200 - XLR to AO200 - Richter 4ohm Dragon V floorstanders and sometimes QAcoustics 3020i bookshelves. Extremely happy with the accuracy, detail and clarity of the sound. SMSL, Topping and Gustard have made a big leap in performance in their latest equipment, surpassing measurements of even their top line gear prior to this. and for very reasonable prices.
@@KitaristChannel Hi. Sorry I can't tell you with any authority or measurements - it is just what I noticed at the time. It was immediately different - more full with the DO200. I now use the E50 in my other listening room and do find it faultless. Possibly it could be explained with an increase in volume - louder always sounds better. Anyway, I have both DO200 - AO200 - Richter Dragon V floorstanders, and also E50 - PA3s - QAcoustic 3030i in different rooms, and both sound incredible. Not making any more changes as I've found my audio nirvana :)
I think maybe it's the volume. You have to level match, and also blind ! It's amazing what the human mind can create. When you change something in your system, you go from listening to becoming a analyser.
I can not wait to hear your review of the SMSL D300 DAC and the D200. Your review of the D0200 was spot on and straight forward. I have been weighing going for an RME AD-2 FS DAC which is the swiss army knife for features but in the end they are all DACS. I want to understand if both the D0200 and D300 will do not only acoustic but also electronic music that has a good deal of base drive. Otherwise Schiitt r2R mulitbit may also come in near this same price point.
I always tend to favour Schiit Multibit if you can get it for a similar price to a delta sigma alternative. I'm not sure if I'll get to those other SMSL DACs for you - it all depends on what loan products I can arrange. 🙂
@@PassionforSound I auditioned the Do200. A great piece. My partner could not take the incredible aggressive manner higher frequencies and sibilants come across. I found it highly revealing and as long as speakers played in an entertaining manner, and revealed a lot about the source. Sadly the intensity does make listening for longer a challenge. If one is sensitive to how their system responds, they may enjoy it. I decided it was not for us.
If you're finding the DO200 too aggressive, the Ares II might actually be a good option for you. I didn't think of this in our last email, but the DO200 is fairly smooth as far as ESS DACs go so the fact that it's still too much makes me think your system and/or preferences would likely benefit from the Ares.
Sorry for the long distance plea. Checked it with in internal dac, plays fine. I am getting the DO200 this month. I HAVE a mid-fi end game system, [you know what I mean]. I just have to through a little bit more money at it. Best, D. from Stl, USA.
No problems. I'm happy to help if I can. I'm unclear on what you're asking. Are you asking if the CD player will work with the DO200 when you get it? I see no reason why it won't
Nice review Lachlan. IMHO, the SMSL / Aoshida Audio collaboration range is marginally superior to SMSLs' own standard range, in terms of design implementation, functionality and performance.
@@PassionforSound Have not heard the HO200 but from what I've read thus far it does the job, but is nothing special. To me it seems like SMSL and Topping push a heap of gerar on to thew market that look, sound, perform and function almost exactly the same with little or no variation between models. And to me at least, that's a sure way to turn potential customers off. Anyways, I digress. Wonderinf if you would take a gander at the Gustard H16 headphone amp - it seems to be a product that is grossly underrated and is given a miss by reviewers - I don't know why. Cheers.
I think you're right about Topping, SMSL, etc. They're creating a sense of buyer fatigue because every product gets superseded just after you buy one and then there's the feeling that you might need to upgrade (which you probably don't, but it creates disappointment and doubt). I've tried to get some Gustard gear for review in the past, but so far have been unsuccessful. I'll keep trying though
Just received this last month's SMSL DAC. It replaced a Topping E50 in my living room since this DAC supports full MQA decoding over TOSLINK. I have to say it's not worth the premium over the E50 in my eyes except for the looks and the build. Soundwise it's not much of an upgrade. Both DACs are sounding very similar. As far as I can tell the sound from the DO200 comes from the speakers, I don't get an impression of a stage like with the E50. Maybe this stage impression varies from model to model. I don't know. Both DACs sound very digital to me. Maybe the D300 would have been the better option, but I only heard about the D300 after ordering the DO200 from China.
I agree that there won't be a huge difference between the DO200 and E50. Sorry to hear you're not enjoying the "upgrade". I haven't tried the D300 yet to see how it compares, but I hope to
The SMSL SU-10 is intriguing....16 channels from dual "pro" ESS chips with a lot of work on the input stage...hi fi components etc Exists in a different financial tier to this though
Would you be reviewing the smsl vmv d1se? Heard that the filters it has are pretty good and compares well with similarly priced DACs like the ares ii. Currently thinking of these 2 dacs
SMSL is adding harmonics to change the color. I personally don't like the overall effect (more distortion) of the sound colors. Standard sounds the best for me on my VMV D1 DAC, feeding JC1 mono blocks and Kef R900s. I can hear a distinct difference in the sound colors and the tube setting does roll off some of the sharper edges on lesser recordings, but at a price I don't want to pay.
Nice Review! My personal interest would lie in the comparison between the SMSL DO200 and Gustard X16. They both are sporting two of the ES9068 DAC-Chips and the same input and output connections. The power supply section seems to be completely different. but does that make an audible difference in sounding too?
It will definitely influence the sound if the power supplies are different. I don't know if I can get the Gustard, but we'll see. I'm keeping the DO200 around as a reference
@@cisco150 the D40 is a bit dodfferent in that regard that this is not only a DAC but a DAC/HPA combo. Would be nice to see a review of this beauty though
@@PassionforSound Would you say this is less harsh or warmer? sound. I think I would like a warmer sound. I'm looking at this DAC the SU-9 and the SU-8S, DO200, LOXJIE D50, LOXJIE D40, M500 MK2, and the VMV D1SE or the SU-9N. I stream music with Tidal and never heard MQA but would like to have. I have the Ananda with the sp200 amp no dac atm.
I've just bought the A0200 to connect to my Dynaudio Emit 10's. Sounds very good already and just waiting on delivery of the DO200. Sounds like you're happy with this combo?
@@denissweeney497 The AO200 is an absolute bargain - even moreso than DO200. I'm super happy with mine. I'm another one that has paired it with the DO200
I decided to purchase the SMSL DO200. So far so good! Better than the SMSL M200 and the Loxjie D30. I was trying to decide between the Loxjie D50, Loxjie D40 or this SMSL. Having the convenience of BT LDAC was important. In the end, I went with the SMSL DO200. Have you tried the two Loxjie units?
Thinking of pairing this to the Singxer SA-1, will be using the Arya (or perhaps Ananda Stealth) or Clears with them. I feel that maybe it would limit the Arya's performance, but otherwise would this pairing work?
great review, at the right time since I was thinking of buying Topping D90Se, thanks for pointing me, I think I will buy SMSL DO200 DAC, it is high on the scale, I will run it with Flux FA-12 Balanced Class-A Head-Amplifier, what do you say on amp / dac combination? do you have any experience with Flux? thanks for the review
How does this DAC compare to the same priced point SMSL SU-9 ? Theres only like a $20 difference and the main differences I can see is that they have different chip sets and different Bluetooth technology would love to have your insight
That's a great question! I don't have the DO200 here anymore to compare, but I expect they'd be similar and the M500 might even be a little better. I've recently received the DO200 V2 for review so I'll likely compare that with the M500 in the video
I just got my poor man's DO200 the Loxjie D40.. I must say, I'm shocked at how good it sounds.. I thought the D30 was amazing but D40 is definitely chunkier in the body and lower mids. Not sure I need it over the D30 thought.. d30 wasn't thin by any means, just more neutral I think.
Thank you for the review. As an older listener fairly new to digital audio and not particularly computer interested so helpful someone like yourself can demystify it I use a laptop to stream Spotify to the BF2 I’ll upgrade usb cable soon. My question is can the computer or it’s output be improved.it seems a logical place to start thanks
Glad you found the review helpful! There are definitely ways to improve the computer output. You can go WAY down the rabbit hole with things like motherboard, power supply, etc. but I've chosen to keep things a bit simpler by using a quality network card and USB card for my audio. I went with the JCat cards and I've reviewed them here on the channel. Using an external power supply for those cards helps to remove the pollution of the internal power supply, but also adds further cost.
You could add "#ASMR" to your video tags and you'll quickly gain an audience who would enjoy your reviews and pleasant voice for different reasons than your target audience 😄 And it would by no means be deceptive, you're easily the #1 ASMR Audiophile Reviewer on RUclips 😴😄
Considering that these are all in the same price range, how would you rank the D90, Gustard X16 and this SMSL? Are there genuine differences and is there one that stands out from the crowd?
Sadly, I haven't yet been able to try the Gustard. To me, the DO200 stands out from the D90 for its sound at the price. That means it would come down to the DO200 or X16, but I can't help there.
Hey man I got the thx 887 and the Arya headphones do you recommend it the smsl200? At this point I’m listening withouta Dac and I need to get the volume at the maximum to hear well . If I buy a Dac does the volume also improve?
You're probably getting low volume because your source is low voltage so a DAC should fix this. I'd recommend the SMSL DO200 if that's within budget - it's a great DAC
@@PassionforSound it's really something else how smsl just continues to make dacs with a slight difference they mest have extra parts at the factory or something 🤔
I think they're cashing in on consumerism - creating a bunch of different products so that people will buy multiple versions to see what they like, etc. Just a theory...
L, ln this 5 months my Soncoz la1, has had its problems. The la1 won't play my CD player. Do you know about CD players and the DO200 compatibility? Clock problems? I have no one to turn to HifiGo does not care for my dac problems. D.
Sorry to hear you're having issues. I don't use a CD player these days so might not be much help either, but can you clarify the issue? Is the CD player running, but the DAC not picking up the output? Have you tried connecting the CD player to a different DAC?
Subscribed!!! Will this compete with the older SMSL M400 as far as sound quality? I have the Loxjie D30 but I’m planning to upgrade. I’m looking on four DACs namely the SMSL M400, Topping D70s, Gustard X16 or 18, and this? Which one can you recommend? Thanks. Happy New Year.
I bought D30 almost a year ago and now had SU-9. Especially having more defined, punchy low end and more dynamics, SU-9 is just in a different league. See the review by soundnews.
Very fair review. But more and more I think about the following - dear Passion for Sound I have the Mytek Liberty DAC and the SMSL SU-9 but I want also to buy an R2R dac. Meanwhile I am streaming mostly from Tidal and mostly MQAs. Is there an R2R dac that can unfold the MQA and do ladder converting to analog? Or is there a MQA streamer that can only unfold and output digital to R2R dac? I may sound crazy but a set-up advice will be highly appreciated.
MQA wont allow anyone to output an unfolded digital signal. I dumped using MQA so I can use a R2R DAC. I have two and love them. They sound better than MQA IMO.
@@myu4039 Thank you for prompt reply. I think it can be done from SMSL DP5 via l2S HDMI to Denafrips Pontus but that is too expensive for me. Do you think Qobuz to R2R dac is decent solution?
@@nikolaygramchev I use Tidal through ROON into a Blusound NODE then into an Audio-GD R2R-1 DAC and it sounds excellent. Even better than my Denefrips Ares II DAC which is also very good.
Let me also test the SMSL SD-9 for you to see if it outputs the unfolded signal. The other option of course is to explore Qobuz if it's available where you are so you can move away from MQA.
@@PassionforSound Thanks for the reply! I really like the format of this review. It gets to the point, short ot the point explaination of the differences between Delta sigma DACs, great insight into what a higher end DAC can provide over this. Especially the comparison with a more high profile DAC like D90SE is appreciated. The info on the different inputs and how we can expect all the outputs to sound the same quality is appreciated as well! Subbed and liked!
@@PassionforSound I'm eager to know your thoughts about it. I'm a retired musician and music teacher who has little patience for audiophile jargon, and a lot of interest in what hi-fi once meant when more people listened to live, un-amplified music and hoped to reproduce it at home: fidelity to the real thing. I scratch my head when someone in the same breath says a hi-fi component sounds "natural" and "lacking in detail." Do they want to hear more detail listening to their kit at home than they would actually hear in a concert hall or cafe? In any case, I look forward to more of your excellent reviews.
How do you compare this with Schiit Modius? Do you think it is worthwhile spending extra $200 plus money for smsl do 200? Thanks for the always excellent review.
That's a really interesting question! I don't have the Modius here anymore to compare them directly. I expect the DO200 would perform a little better than the Modius and it does have more features, but if you just want a simple DAC without Bluetooth, volume control, etc. the Modius is probably the better value for money (depending on where you love as Schiit can be expensive in some countries)
@@PassionforSound I actually have a follow-up question and I promise would be my final question on this subject. You mentioned both Modius (although being a chip based DAC) and Bifrost 2 are able to take away the digital glare while maintaining the details. You also stated that Do200 sounds smoother on top end than Su8s and even D90SE. That leads to two questions I have. First, is Do200 able to also take away the "digital glare" as Modius/Bifrost 2 and performs as well on the top end? Second, how does the lower end (tightness/speed) of Do200 compared to Modius/Bifrost 2? Thx again.
I do think the DO200 removes a fair bit of the glare from the top-end - it's one of the reasons I like it and I think it's doing a similar job in that regard to the Modius. As for a direct comparison with the Modius or Bifrost, I can't arrange that right now, but based on extended listening to both I'd say the Bifrost 2 is still my preference out of the two by a decent margin. The DO200 is very good and much cheaper, but the Bifrost 2 is still my favourite DAC under $1000
Tried this dac and returned it in favor of the Topping E50, which was half the cost and sounded equal or better to me subjectively. I think spending more than 200-250ish USD on a regular delta sigma dac is ill-advised. By regular delta sigma, I mean a non-FPGA delta sigma. However, I would certainly recommend spending more on a DAC if it's multibit or R2R or FPGA or is fully hardware balanced or has features you need, etc. The DO200 is close enough in price to the Bifrost 2, that you should simply go for the Bifrost 2.
Hi Lachlan. I am trying to find an amp for my Anandas to connect it to my R5 Saber but, I am lost. Can you suggest anything to me or tell me where I can get that information?. My plan is to put it by my bedside table. Something with a good balance between price/quality Thanks so much for your help
Hi Jose, the R5 should have plenty of power, but if you want more, are you wanting a portable amp like a Topping NX7 (tinyurl.com/AposNX7) or a compact desktop unit?
Cool. Very hard to go past the Schiit Asgard 3 or Geshelli Labs E2 IMO. If accessing those products is tricky, the Topping L30 is very good and the SMSL SH-8s is solid too.
When I looked it up, it seemed to me that this is driven by a switch-mode power supply. From your extensive experience, what are the implications of switch-mode power in a DAC?
You're right. A lot of DACs are using internal SMPS so you attach a mains plug, but it goes through a switch mode conversion. There are a few implications from that - good and bad. It helps keep the DACs affordable and compact and may reduce magnetic interference from a coil transformer, but I believe it also introduces some additional high frequency noise that may not be audible, but seems to affect the sound. I'm actually working on an SMPS vs linear power supply video right now so I'll discuss it more in that video. 🙂
Smps have lower noise these days, but linear power supplies is said to have 100times faster transient response, almost no ripple and longevity. I think transient response is what gives Linear power supplies the edge... Ofc some things cant be shown in measurements and thus a lot of manufacturers opt for smps. Smps drastically reduce overall product price and show good measurements whitout much effort required to isolate power supply. In my eyes Linear power supply with a lot quality caps + High end analog wolume control is a way to go.
I have aan smsl da9 and love it. Looking for another dac & amp for another setup and am very interested in the DO200. Really cool to see i2s over HDMI, and all of the MQA support across multiple inputs. Given all of that, anything else in or near the price rage that compares to the DO200?
The D90SE is still a good option and very comparable to the DO200 in lots of ways (not sure about MQA functions). Other than that, if you're looking for MQA capabilities specifically, there's nothing else I can think of.
@@PassionforSound I have a lot of services, but certainly wouldn't hate it if Tidal was the only one. MQA is great, especially for on-the-go listening, because I can listen to audio greater than CD quality with file sizes no bigger than CD quality. Tidal does have a "hi-fi" tier that provides lossless flac without MQA.
I agree Rob - my message was intended for Dave who wrote "MQA 👎" above. I wonder if all music is available on the lower level service given that some albums are only available in Master formats?
I could drive my car to JDS Labs, outside of St.Louis. Don't own any of their gear. You tube is my only connection I have to the headphone market. You and 'Z' l trust listening to.
Lachlan, which of the Denafrips Ares ii or SMSL D0200 would you say you prefer please ? I have heard that the bass of the Ares ii is a bit slow and therefore that Dac may not be suited to all types of music. Would you agree ?
Personally and (importantly) for headphone setups only, the DO200 would be my choice (I can't comment on the D1SE). The Ares 2 is just a bit too soft sounding (not enough attack) and that carries through to the bass as well being not as tight as I'd like
I can't say for floorstanding speakers because I don't use any to test with (or any passives for that matter). For the timbre question, the Ares 2 is a smoother sounding DAC, but overall I'd say that both produce natural timbre - things sound right. It's just that the DO200 maintains (for me) a better sense of energy and attack at the expense of soundstage depth where the Ares 2 is able to produce a larger and much deeper soundstage
I wish I could answer that exactly for you, but I've just sold the DO200 ☹️ Based on other comparisons of the two DACs, I'd say the DO200 will be slightly smoother sounding, but also will be a little more resolving of fine details on the music - it's a higher-priced DAC with performance that matches our exceeds its price. I love the J2, but I'd personally choose the DO200 over it even having not directly compared them
@@PassionforSound thank you for the reply...which would give better resolution, slam, bigger soundstage, musicality, etc - Topping E50 or SMSL SU9N/SMSL SU8s...thank you
I haven't tried the SU9N so I can't comment on that, but I think I'd choose the E50 over the SU8S on pure sound quality (i.e. ignoring the use of TRS connectors for the balanced output)
I had my first experience with high end headphones. I heard the hifiman sundara, ananda and arya. I even heard the focal clear mg. It is a huge jump from the koss kph30i. Never would I have imagined that audio can sound so good. The aryas were glorious, the sound stage, the extended bass, the instrument separation! Its soo good! I know what I MUST buy.
Having started with sennheiser series 6, DT1990, and Sundaras, I was blown away by what the cheap Kph30i could do lol. Of course nowhere near the level of the others, but very very capable for the price, especially with geekria g pads.
I actually need to draw that this week. I've been super busy getting my paid work done before Christmas, but haven't forgotten, just lacking the time to collate the entries and generate the random number
I have no idea. I just use one of the many websites out there and set the parameters for the number of entries. 🙂 Sorry you didn't get lucky on this one!
Hmm this is a tricky one, something about icecream topping... better to be a topping than a bottoming... are you deliberately making puns difficult now? How did I get here.
The Sabaj A20d is IMO smoother and more refined than the DO200. Sabaj makes fewer dacs but I've found them to have a better handle on getting the best out of ESS chips than SMSL, Loxjie and Topping. Not sure why their dacs get consistently overlooked. SMSL has improved on taming the top end fatigue on their DACs but not completely. The DO200, however, is a step in the right direction. Same with the Topping E50.
I'm yet to try the Sabaj. I think they're not so much overlooked (at least by me) so much as not readily available to reviewers. SMSL and the others are good at providing review units so they get the exposure and publicity (for better or worse)
I do agree. Technically, these are a sideways step in their range as they don't replace anything so much as offer an alternative that's only available from certain retailers like Aoshida and HiFiGo (I think). There are way too many choices though - you're right about that.
@@PassionforSound I wanted the incremental improvement over the SU-9. Main difference is a much better shielded and located power supply, helping make the signal quieter. The rest is much the same. That's why it is wider than the SU-9.
begging for a solid 3 minutes for more subscriptions? I barely made it past the begging and after a couple more minutes, realized I was wasting my time here.
It's a great time to be a Patreon with so many amazing reviews coming up ;)
So glad you're enjoying it now that we're doing the early release schedule, Q&As, etc.
@@PassionforSound I mean I’ve always enjoyed supporting but the recent perks are extra nice 👍🏻
That's fantastic to hear that the new additions are adding value. It's been a journey to find the right balance, but I feel like we're getting there
This review os spot on. I love the SMSL DO200. I consider it my best audio investment in a long while.
That's great to hear. Thanks for sharing your experiences!
great review! great to hear from someone who clearly knows their stuff
So glad you liked it!
Just recently discovered your channel when I was searching for op amp reviews.
Great job! Subscribed.
So glad you're liking it! Thanks for the sub!
You do deserve a higher number of subscribers Lachlan! I hope you hit the 20K mark very soon.
Thanks so much WV!
I got my 400se. Playing it off single ended on my hip dac. Loving it.. Waiting for balanced cu cable.. Like you suggested.. Will reach me in a month most likely.. ☺ Thanks for the 400se review..
My pleasure. Glad you're enjoying it!
I've shared your Hifiman Sundara video to my friends and family social media as it's a universal headphone and the best place to start :)
Thanks so much, Josh. I agree!
Another great review! I like that you're willing to suggest an option that isn't the more expensive item. 👍
Glad you liked it. For me it's always about the product that sounds best (subjectively)
As always great review. Excited to get hold of my DO200 & HO200.
It's a great kit. Glad you liked the review
Awesome review, loving the new content!
Glad you're liking it. Lots of fun content coming now that I'm being more selective
Good review bro, thanks!
My pleasure
Your depiction sounds very appealing. I do consider that SMSL has disoriented just a bit its prospective customers by issuing products (that actually seem quite similar) with a high rate of churn. Once they have attained this level perhaps they should allow things to stabilize a little and allow time for product image and reputation to build up.
Good review. Cheers!
I definitely agree. The release cycles from Topping and SMSL are way too fast. The Chinese IEM market is the same.
Perhaps us consumers need to stop buying every new thing and feeding the trend?
My perspective is different.
SMSL and Topping are not big name production line manufacturers. They do have very active audio engineers that are constantly developing and working at improving their product performance.
With smaller production runs, why make people wait a year for a new model?
I've learned with ChiFi that progress is fast and to always check for the latest gear before ordering.
The current level of audio quality took a great leap forward in 2021 with Topping Gustard and SMSL, and the new gear can out-perform flagship gear of just a year or 2 ago, for a fraction of the price. Great (not just good) audio has never been more affordable .
Regards.
There's some truth to that, Ashley, but I think the problem some people have (and definitely what I was referring to) is that some of the products ARE better, but many of them are either a sideways step or are worse (Topping EX5 for example). I just remembered that the AKM factory fire may have made the issue worse because they had to replace all the AK DACs with ESS or Cirrus models so maybe 2021 was an anomaly - we'll see. I just hope 2022 sees an easier set of options for consumers to decipher without potentially wasting their money on new products that aren't guaranteed upgrades.
Got the DO200 2 weeks ago, to go with my AO200, and I am very happy with this stack . I'm using XLR cables.
The DO200 out of the box sounded better than a month old Topping E50 (burned in).
This is the sound I've been after, where any deficiencies in the system are waaay beyond audible and this is now my setup for the future.
Sound path is Foobar2000 (flac) on Win 11 - DO200 - XLR to AO200 - Richter 4ohm Dragon V floorstanders and sometimes QAcoustics 3020i bookshelves. Extremely happy with the accuracy, detail and clarity of the sound.
SMSL, Topping and Gustard have made a big leap in performance in their latest equipment, surpassing measurements of even their top line gear prior to this. and for very reasonable prices.
So glad you're enjoying the DO200. Thanks for sharing your experiences and setup!
Why did the DO200 sound better? It does sound fuller but comparing it to others it has a little less dynamics. Did you notice that?
@@KitaristChannel Hi. Sorry I can't tell you with any authority or measurements - it is just what I noticed at the time. It was immediately different - more full with the DO200.
I now use the E50 in my other listening room and do find it faultless.
Possibly it could be explained with an increase in volume - louder always sounds better.
Anyway, I have both DO200 - AO200 - Richter Dragon V floorstanders, and also E50 - PA3s - QAcoustic 3030i in different rooms, and both sound incredible. Not making any more changes as I've found my audio nirvana :)
There will always be an element of system synergy and personal preference with things like this too.
I think maybe it's the volume. You have to level match, and also blind ! It's amazing what the human mind can create. When you change something in your system, you go from listening to becoming a analyser.
Has anyone had an issue with the optical port on any SMSL dac/amp? I had to return a few because it kept cutting in and out through optical.
I haven't had a problem with any I've reviewed.
I can not wait to hear your review of the SMSL D300 DAC and the D200. Your review of the D0200 was spot on and straight forward. I have been weighing going for an RME AD-2 FS DAC which is the swiss army knife for features but in the end they are all DACS. I want to understand if both the D0200 and D300 will do not only acoustic but also electronic music that has a good deal of base drive. Otherwise Schiitt r2R mulitbit may also come in near this same price point.
I always tend to favour Schiit Multibit if you can get it for a similar price to a delta sigma alternative. I'm not sure if I'll get to those other SMSL DACs for you - it all depends on what loan products I can arrange. 🙂
What is your wish list now smsl d300 or do200?
I'm hoping to get my hands on the D300 sometime this year, but no solid news on that one yet
@@PassionforSound I auditioned the Do200. A great piece. My partner could not take the incredible aggressive manner higher frequencies and sibilants come across. I found it highly revealing and as long as speakers played in an entertaining manner, and revealed a lot about the source. Sadly the intensity does make listening for longer a challenge. If one is sensitive to how their system responds, they may enjoy it. I decided it was not for us.
If you're finding the DO200 too aggressive, the Ares II might actually be a good option for you. I didn't think of this in our last email, but the DO200 is fairly smooth as far as ESS DACs go so the fact that it's still too much makes me think your system and/or preferences would likely benefit from the Ares.
Sorry for the long distance plea. Checked it with in internal dac, plays fine. I am getting the DO200 this month. I HAVE a mid-fi end game system, [you know what I mean]. I just have to through a little bit more money at it. Best, D. from Stl, USA.
No problems. I'm happy to help if I can. I'm unclear on what you're asking. Are you asking if the CD player will work with the DO200 when you get it? I see no reason why it won't
@@PassionforSound Yes, Thank you.👍👍
I think you'll be absolutely fine then. Enjoy!
Nice review Lachlan.
IMHO, the SMSL / Aoshida Audio collaboration range is marginally superior to SMSLs' own standard range, in terms of design implementation, functionality and performance.
I really like it too. The HO200 was ok, but the DO200 is outstanding for the price.
@@PassionforSound Have not heard the HO200 but from what I've read thus far it does the job, but is nothing special.
To me it seems like SMSL and Topping push a heap of gerar on to thew market that look, sound, perform and function almost exactly the same with little or no variation between models. And to me at least, that's a sure way to turn potential customers off.
Anyways, I digress.
Wonderinf if you would take a gander at the Gustard H16 headphone amp - it seems to be a product that is grossly underrated and is given a miss by reviewers - I don't know why.
Cheers.
I think you're right about Topping, SMSL, etc. They're creating a sense of buyer fatigue because every product gets superseded just after you buy one and then there's the feeling that you might need to upgrade (which you probably don't, but it creates disappointment and doubt).
I've tried to get some Gustard gear for review in the past, but so far have been unsuccessful. I'll keep trying though
@@PassionforSound Have a good weekend - don't forget the Aerogard....lol
Lol. There's a throwback reference. Nice one!
Just received this last month's SMSL DAC. It replaced a Topping E50 in my living room since this DAC supports full MQA decoding over TOSLINK. I have to say it's not worth the premium over the E50 in my eyes except for the looks and the build. Soundwise it's not much of an upgrade. Both DACs are sounding very similar. As far as I can tell the sound from the DO200 comes from the speakers, I don't get an impression of a stage like with the E50. Maybe this stage impression varies from model to model. I don't know. Both DACs sound very digital to me. Maybe the D300 would have been the better option, but I only heard about the D300 after ordering the DO200 from China.
I agree that there won't be a huge difference between the DO200 and E50. Sorry to hear you're not enjoying the "upgrade". I haven't tried the D300 yet to see how it compares, but I hope to
The D90SE is nice, but I didn't feel like if was clearly better than the DO200 so much as different. I haven't tried the D70S
The SMSL SU-10 is intriguing....16 channels from dual "pro" ESS chips with a lot of work on the input stage...hi fi components etc
Exists in a different financial tier to this though
Yes. I haven't tried that one yet, but it seems like it should be a next-level type delta sigma DAC
Some people are already invested in Tidal with playlists, favourites, etc. and that's when MQA can potentially make sense despite its shortcomings
can i use SMSL DO200 + A90 ?
For sure. Just choose your preferred interconnects and away you go
Would you be reviewing the smsl vmv d1se? Heard that the filters it has are pretty good and compares well with similarly priced DACs like the ares ii. Currently thinking of these 2 dacs
I'm hoping to try the D1SE, but need to find somewhere I can get it on loan
Come on everyone, subscribe and share this channel. Lachlan is always spot on with his reviews.
Thanks Billy! 🙂🙂
Excelent Review. Im looking for this ir smsl vmv d1 se for 720!! Thanks!!!!!!! Greetings from Argentina!
Thanks for watching and commenting! I'm yet to try the VMV D1
@@PassionforSound thx so much for the reply!!!!!!!!!!! Best wishes!!
SMSL is adding harmonics to change the color. I personally don't like the overall effect (more distortion) of the sound colors. Standard sounds the best for me on my VMV D1 DAC, feeding JC1 mono blocks and Kef R900s. I can hear a distinct difference in the sound colors and the tube setting does roll off some of the sharper edges on lesser recordings, but at a price I don't want to pay.
I'm generally with you and leave it on standard. Nice to have the choice for people though I guess
Nice Review! My personal interest would lie in the comparison between the SMSL DO200 and Gustard X16. They both are sporting two of the ES9068 DAC-Chips and the same input and output connections. The power supply section seems to be completely different. but does that make an audible difference in sounding too?
It will definitely influence the sound if the power supplies are different. I don't know if I can get the Gustard, but we'll see. I'm keeping the DO200 around as a reference
@@PassionforSound how would this compare to the LOXJIE D40
@@cisco150 the D40 is a bit dodfferent in that regard that this is not only a DAC but a DAC/HPA combo. Would be nice to see a review of this beauty though
I haven't tried the D40 (or any of the current Loxjie models)
@@PassionforSound Would you say this is less harsh or warmer? sound. I think I would like a warmer sound. I'm looking at this DAC the SU-9 and the SU-8S, DO200, LOXJIE D50, LOXJIE D40, M500 MK2, and the VMV D1SE or the SU-9N. I stream music with Tidal and never heard MQA but would like to have. I have the Ananda with the sp200 amp no dac atm.
Have the A0200 and D0200 the set out performs my Yamaha R-N803.
That's great to hear. Thanks for sharing!
I've just bought the A0200 to connect to my Dynaudio Emit 10's. Sounds very good already and just waiting on delivery of the DO200. Sounds like you're happy with this combo?
@@denissweeney497 The AO200 is an absolute bargain - even moreso than DO200. I'm super happy with mine. I'm another one that has paired it with the DO200
I decided to purchase the SMSL DO200. So far so good! Better than the SMSL M200 and the Loxjie D30. I was trying to decide between the Loxjie D50, Loxjie D40 or this SMSL. Having the convenience of BT LDAC was important. In the end, I went with the SMSL DO200. Have you tried the two Loxjie units?
I haven't yet. I reviewed and loved the original Loxjie D30, but that was ages ago now
@@PassionforSound… I did not have the original Loxjie D30 which had the AKM chip. I had the new Saber DAC version. It was a decent unit for $260.
Thinking of pairing this to the Singxer SA-1, will be using the Arya (or perhaps Ananda Stealth) or Clears with them. I feel that maybe it would limit the Arya's performance, but otherwise would this pairing work?
That will work nicely. You're right that there's still going to be more performance available from the Aryas, but they'll sound great regardless
great review, at the right time since I was thinking of buying Topping D90Se, thanks for pointing me, I think I will buy SMSL DO200 DAC, it is high on the scale, I will run it with Flux FA-12 Balanced Class-A Head-Amplifier, what do you say on amp / dac combination? do you have any experience with Flux?
thanks for the review
No experience with Flux amps yet, but there's no reason that combo should be anything but excellent.
How does this DAC compare to the same priced point SMSL SU-9 ? Theres only like a $20 difference and the main differences I can see is that they have different chip sets and different Bluetooth technology would love to have your insight
I've still not had a chance to try the SU-9 so I can't say - sorry!
@@PassionforSound Ah ok well hopefully you will be able to review it in the future 😄
Hopefully 🙂
How do think this dac compares to the m500 mkiii dac only I know the m500 has a headphone amp.
That's a great question! I don't have the DO200 here anymore to compare, but I expect they'd be similar and the M500 might even be a little better.
I've recently received the DO200 V2 for review so I'll likely compare that with the M500 in the video
@@PassionforSound oh, would be intereseted in knowing this too!
The DO200 Mk2 video goes live this weekend 🙂
I just got my poor man's DO200 the Loxjie D40.. I must say, I'm shocked at how good it sounds.. I thought the D30 was amazing but D40 is definitely chunkier in the body and lower mids. Not sure I need it over the D30 thought.. d30 wasn't thin by any means, just more neutral I think.
I'll have to see if I can try one. I loved the old D30.
Loxjie products are made by SMSL.
Thank you for the review. As an older listener fairly new to digital audio and not particularly computer interested so helpful someone like yourself can demystify it I use a laptop to stream Spotify to the BF2 I’ll upgrade usb cable soon. My question is can the computer or it’s output be improved.it seems a logical place to start thanks
Glad you found the review helpful! There are definitely ways to improve the computer output. You can go WAY down the rabbit hole with things like motherboard, power supply, etc. but I've chosen to keep things a bit simpler by using a quality network card and USB card for my audio. I went with the JCat cards and I've reviewed them here on the channel. Using an external power supply for those cards helps to remove the pollution of the internal power supply, but also adds further cost.
You could add "#ASMR" to your video tags and you'll quickly gain an audience who would enjoy your reviews and pleasant voice for different reasons than your target audience 😄 And it would by no means be deceptive, you're easily the #1 ASMR Audiophile Reviewer on RUclips 😴😄
I love it! Great idea 😁
The French Whisperer has ASMR on lock!
I better check that out
Considering that these are all in the same price range, how would you rank the D90, Gustard X16 and this SMSL? Are there genuine differences and is there one that stands out from the crowd?
Sadly, I haven't yet been able to try the Gustard. To me, the DO200 stands out from the D90 for its sound at the price. That means it would come down to the DO200 or X16, but I can't help there.
@@PassionforSound no problem that clears things up a bit
Hey man I got the thx 887 and the Arya headphones do you recommend it the smsl200? At this point I’m listening withouta Dac and I need to get the volume at the maximum to hear well . If I buy a Dac does the volume also improve?
You're probably getting low volume because your source is low voltage so a DAC should fix this. I'd recommend the SMSL DO200 if that's within budget - it's a great DAC
I am interested in Spring 3 DAC
It's coming up in my very next release...
How does this compare to the smsl su9 they’re the same price
I'm yet to try the SU9. I'm guessing they're pretty similar but that's just a hunch
@@PassionforSound it's really something else how smsl just continues to make dacs with a slight difference they mest have extra parts at the factory or something 🤔
I think they're cashing in on consumerism - creating a bunch of different products so that people will buy multiple versions to see what they like, etc. Just a theory...
L, ln this 5 months my Soncoz la1, has had its problems. The la1 won't play my CD player. Do you know about CD players and the DO200 compatibility? Clock problems? I have no one to turn to HifiGo does not care for my dac problems. D.
Sorry to hear you're having issues. I don't use a CD player these days so might not be much help either, but can you clarify the issue? Is the CD player running, but the DAC not picking up the output? Have you tried connecting the CD player to a different DAC?
Subscribed!!! Will this compete with the older SMSL M400 as far as sound quality? I have the Loxjie D30 but I’m planning to upgrade. I’m looking on four DACs namely the SMSL M400, Topping D70s, Gustard X16 or 18, and this? Which one can you recommend? Thanks. Happy New Year.
Thanks for the sub!
The DO200 should definitely compete with the M400, but I can't comment on the others as I'm yet to hear them - sorry!
Do you feel this would be a waste of money paired with the SMSL A0200 into a pair of Polk R200? Thanks 👍🏻🔈
I don't know either the AO200 or Polk R200 so I really can't say. Sorry!
please review the new loxjie d30, the old one since to really like you!
I'll see if someone can lend me one 🙂
I bought D30 almost a year ago and now had SU-9. Especially having more defined, punchy low end and more dynamics, SU-9 is just in a different league. See the review by soundnews.
Very fair review. But more and more I think about the following - dear Passion for Sound I have the Mytek Liberty DAC and the SMSL SU-9 but I want also to buy an R2R dac. Meanwhile I am streaming mostly from Tidal and mostly MQAs. Is there an R2R dac that can unfold the MQA and do ladder converting to analog? Or is there a MQA streamer that can only unfold and output digital to R2R dac? I may sound crazy but a set-up advice will be highly appreciated.
MQA wont allow anyone to output an unfolded digital signal. I dumped using MQA so I can use a R2R DAC. I have two and love them. They sound better than MQA IMO.
@@myu4039 Thank you for prompt reply. I think it can be done from SMSL DP5 via l2S HDMI to Denafrips Pontus but that is too expensive for me. Do you think Qobuz to R2R dac is decent solution?
@@nikolaygramchev I use Tidal through ROON into a Blusound NODE then into an Audio-GD R2R-1 DAC and it sounds excellent. Even better than my Denefrips Ares II DAC which is also very good.
@@myu4039 Highly appreciate you feedback.
Let me also test the SMSL SD-9 for you to see if it outputs the unfolded signal. The other option of course is to explore Qobuz if it's available where you are so you can move away from MQA.
Hi Lachlan! Can I check for your reviews, are they mostly heard thru headphones, not speakers? :)
All headphone-based - I'm not setup for speakers these days
@@PassionforSound Thanks for the reply!
I really like the format of this review. It gets to the point, short ot the point explaination of the differences between Delta sigma DACs, great insight into what a higher end DAC can provide over this.
Especially the comparison with a more high profile DAC like D90SE is appreciated. The info on the different inputs and how we can expect all the outputs to sound the same quality is appreciated as well!
Subbed and liked!
So glad it was helpful! Thanks for watching, commenting and subscribing 🙂🙂
I just bought an SMSL D300 with the new ROHM chip. Have your heard it? Compared it with other units?
I haven't yet. I was working on getting one, but it hasn't yet happened
@@PassionforSound I'm eager to know your thoughts about it. I'm a retired musician and music teacher who has little patience for audiophile jargon, and a lot of interest in what hi-fi once meant when more people listened to live, un-amplified music and hoped to reproduce it at home: fidelity to the real thing. I scratch my head when someone in the same breath says a hi-fi component sounds "natural" and "lacking in detail." Do they want to hear more detail listening to their kit at home than they would actually hear in a concert hall or cafe? In any case, I look forward to more of your excellent reviews.
I'll see if I can still make it happen. Glad you're enjoying the reviews!
How do you compare this with Schiit Modius? Do you think it is worthwhile spending extra $200 plus money for smsl do 200? Thanks for the always excellent review.
That's a really interesting question! I don't have the Modius here anymore to compare them directly. I expect the DO200 would perform a little better than the Modius and it does have more features, but if you just want a simple DAC without Bluetooth, volume control, etc. the Modius is probably the better value for money (depending on where you love as Schiit can be expensive in some countries)
@@PassionforSound Thank you for the advise.
My pleasure 🙂
@@PassionforSound I actually have a follow-up question and I promise would be my final question on this subject. You mentioned both Modius (although being a chip based DAC) and Bifrost 2 are able to take away the digital glare while maintaining the details. You also stated that Do200 sounds smoother on top end than Su8s and even D90SE. That leads to two questions I have. First, is Do200 able to also take away the "digital glare" as Modius/Bifrost 2 and performs as well on the top end? Second, how does the lower end (tightness/speed) of Do200 compared to Modius/Bifrost 2? Thx again.
I do think the DO200 removes a fair bit of the glare from the top-end - it's one of the reasons I like it and I think it's doing a similar job in that regard to the Modius.
As for a direct comparison with the Modius or Bifrost, I can't arrange that right now, but based on extended listening to both I'd say the Bifrost 2 is still my preference out of the two by a decent margin. The DO200 is very good and much cheaper, but the Bifrost 2 is still my favourite DAC under $1000
How would you compare this one to SMSL SU-9N?
I haven't tried the SU-9 yet - sorry!
Just a little tip if you would dole into amps and passive speakers your channel would grow Just my two cents
Thank you. I'm well aware and the only reason I haven't is the logistics of space
Tried this dac and returned it in favor of the Topping E50, which was half the cost and sounded equal or better to me subjectively. I think spending more than 200-250ish USD on a regular delta sigma dac is ill-advised. By regular delta sigma, I mean a non-FPGA delta sigma. However, I would certainly recommend spending more on a DAC if it's multibit or R2R or FPGA or is fully hardware balanced or has features you need, etc. The DO200 is close enough in price to the Bifrost 2, that you should simply go for the Bifrost 2.
l completely agree! There are some lovely delta sigma DACs around the $1000+ USD mark but by then you could have a Bifrost 2 🙂
If displays and volume control are important then the new DO200 Mk2 or DO300 are both excellent, as are the EverSolo DAC-Z8 and DAC-Z6
Hi Lachlan. I am trying to find an amp for my Anandas to connect it to my R5 Saber but, I am lost. Can you suggest anything to me or tell me where I can get that information?. My plan is to put it by my bedside table. Something with a good balance between price/quality
Thanks so much for your help
Hi Jose, the R5 should have plenty of power, but if you want more, are you wanting a portable amp like a Topping NX7 (tinyurl.com/AposNX7) or a compact desktop unit?
@@PassionforSound A compact desktop unit. Thanks Lachlan.
Cool. Very hard to go past the Schiit Asgard 3 or Geshelli Labs E2 IMO. If accessing those products is tricky, the Topping L30 is very good and the SMSL SH-8s is solid too.
@@PassionforSound Thanks Lachlan !!
When I looked it up, it seemed to me that this is driven by a switch-mode power supply. From your extensive experience, what are the implications of switch-mode power in a DAC?
You're right. A lot of DACs are using internal SMPS so you attach a mains plug, but it goes through a switch mode conversion.
There are a few implications from that - good and bad. It helps keep the DACs affordable and compact and may reduce magnetic interference from a coil transformer, but I believe it also introduces some additional high frequency noise that may not be audible, but seems to affect the sound. I'm actually working on an SMPS vs linear power supply video right now so I'll discuss it more in that video. 🙂
@@PassionforSound awesome! Thank you, and I hope you have a safe and productive 2022
Thank WWJ - you too!
Smps have lower noise these days, but linear power supplies is said to have 100times faster transient response, almost no ripple and longevity.
I think transient response is what gives Linear power supplies the edge...
Ofc some things cant be shown in measurements and thus a lot of manufacturers opt for smps.
Smps drastically reduce overall product price and show good measurements whitout much effort required to isolate power supply.
In my eyes Linear power supply with a lot quality caps + High end analog wolume control is a way to go.
I have aan smsl da9 and love it. Looking for another dac & amp for another setup and am very interested in the DO200. Really cool to see i2s over HDMI, and all of the MQA support across multiple inputs. Given all of that, anything else in or near the price rage that compares to the DO200?
The D90SE is still a good option and very comparable to the DO200 in lots of ways (not sure about MQA functions). Other than that, if you're looking for MQA capabilities specifically, there's nothing else I can think of.
MQA, 👎
If you're stuck with Tidal as the only option, MQA can be beneficial, but I would prefer Tidal provided an option to access all albums without MQA.
@@PassionforSound I have a lot of services, but certainly wouldn't hate it if Tidal was the only one. MQA is great, especially for on-the-go listening, because I can listen to audio greater than CD quality with file sizes no bigger than CD quality. Tidal does have a "hi-fi" tier that provides lossless flac without MQA.
I agree Rob - my message was intended for Dave who wrote "MQA 👎" above. I wonder if all music is available on the lower level service given that some albums are only available in Master formats?
I could drive my car to JDS Labs, outside of St.Louis. Don't own any of their gear. You tube is my only connection I have to the headphone market. You and 'Z' l trust listening to.
It can be hard trying to make decisions without auditions. Glad I can help a bit
Lachlan, which of the Denafrips Ares ii or SMSL D0200 would you say you prefer please ? I have heard that the bass of the Ares ii is a bit slow and therefore that Dac may not be suited to all types of music. Would you agree ?
Curious about this as well, maybe ares ii compared with D1se would also be nice
Personally and (importantly) for headphone setups only, the DO200 would be my choice (I can't comment on the D1SE). The Ares 2 is just a bit too soft sounding (not enough attack) and that carries through to the bass as well being not as tight as I'd like
@@PassionforSound How does the soundstage and timbre compare?
@@PassionforSound What about for a setup which has floorstanding speakers (as is the case with mine ) please ?
I can't say for floorstanding speakers because I don't use any to test with (or any passives for that matter).
For the timbre question, the Ares 2 is a smoother sounding DAC, but overall I'd say that both produce natural timbre - things sound right. It's just that the DO200 maintains (for me) a better sense of energy and attack at the expense of soundstage depth where the Ares 2 is able to produce a larger and much deeper soundstage
Hello...how does the SMSL DO200 compare to the Geshelli J2...thanks
I wish I could answer that exactly for you, but I've just sold the DO200 ☹️
Based on other comparisons of the two DACs, I'd say the DO200 will be slightly smoother sounding, but also will be a little more resolving of fine details on the music - it's a higher-priced DAC with performance that matches our exceeds its price. I love the J2, but I'd personally choose the DO200 over it even having not directly compared them
@@PassionforSound thank you for the reply...which would give better resolution, slam, bigger soundstage, musicality, etc - Topping E50 or SMSL SU9N/SMSL SU8s...thank you
I haven't tried the SU9N so I can't comment on that, but I think I'd choose the E50 over the SU8S on pure sound quality (i.e. ignoring the use of TRS connectors for the balanced output)
@@PassionforSound thank you, really appreciate your input
My pleasure
I do my best ;-)
I had my first experience with high end headphones. I heard the hifiman sundara, ananda and arya. I even heard the focal clear mg. It is a huge jump from the koss kph30i. Never would I have imagined that audio can sound so good. The aryas were glorious, the sound stage, the extended bass, the instrument separation! Its soo good! I know what I MUST buy.
Having started with sennheiser series 6, DT1990, and Sundaras, I was blown away by what the cheap Kph30i could do lol. Of course nowhere near the level of the others, but very very capable for the price, especially with geekria g pads.
The Koss headphones are amazing for the price, but yes, the high end headphones can be very eye opening! So glad you got to try them Farhan!
Speaking of giveaways what happened to the Verum one?
I actually need to draw that this week. I've been super busy getting my paid work done before Christmas, but haven't forgotten, just lacking the time to collate the entries and generate the random number
Sure. Lots of people are busy this time of year. I don't think many people would complain if you did it after Christmas.
Just announced the winner (thanks to your reminder) - sorry that the RNG gods didn't smile on you on this occasion ☹️
@@PassionforSound Damn those RNG gods. Did you use a true RNG or a PRNG?
Oh well now I'll just have to save up my penies so I can buy one.
I have no idea. I just use one of the many websites out there and set the parameters for the number of entries. 🙂
Sorry you didn't get lucky on this one!
Hmm this is a tricky one, something about icecream topping... better to be a topping than a bottoming... are you deliberately making puns difficult now? How did I get here.
Lol. At least you didn't substitute SMSL for PMSL... 😂💩
@@PassionforSound Sounds more like BDSM
$200 Soncoz, plug it in, turn it up, done.
Still trying to get my hands on one to review
@@PassionforSound I don't pretend to be an expert. I fallow 'Z'. Have it XLR, (WBCables) to my Jotunheim 2. Love your vids.
Haha. All good. I've heard good things so I would like to try one out
Think i know how topping and smsl come up with their names for products, alphabet soup.......
Haha. Random number generator with alphanumeric options enabled 😉
The Sabaj A20d is IMO smoother and more refined than the DO200. Sabaj makes fewer dacs but I've found them to have a better handle on getting the best out of ESS chips than SMSL, Loxjie and Topping. Not sure why their dacs get consistently overlooked. SMSL has improved on taming the top end fatigue on their DACs but not completely. The DO200, however, is a step in the right direction. Same with the Topping E50.
I'm yet to try the Sabaj. I think they're not so much overlooked (at least by me) so much as not readily available to reviewers. SMSL and the others are good at providing review units so they get the exposure and publicity (for better or worse)
Disregaurd: atom stack, l though I was not in comments.
Atom amp
Smsl releases things too fast, too many models and values depreciate like crazy.
I do agree. Technically, these are a sideways step in their range as they don't replace anything so much as offer an alternative that's only available from certain retailers like Aoshida and HiFiGo (I think). There are way too many choices though - you're right about that.
@@PassionforSound I wanted the incremental improvement over the SU-9.
Main difference is a much better shielded and located power supply, helping make the signal quieter. The rest is much the same. That's why it is wider than the SU-9.
Cool. I hadn't looked into the SU-9 so I appreciate you sharing that info.
MUY MALA, PESIMA LOS SUBTITULOS
Sorry. That's auto subtitling from RUclips
you need to bring out more personality. you talk like there is a baby sleeping next door...
That's because there actually was a baby sleeping next door during this period of time. Later videos are a bit different 🙂
begging for a solid 3 minutes for more subscriptions? I barely made it past the begging and after a couple more minutes, realized I was wasting my time here.
Begging? Slight attention span problem? Your comment suggests tiktoc videos might suit you better.