For ARC HDMI DAC I would suggest trying out Fosi ZD-3 that just came out. Upgrade op-amps and add 12V linear power supply and enjoy a very capable setup for your viewing pleasure. 👍🏻😉
I just got my "fake"/ parallel export AQ Dragon high current power cable in the mail today. I took off the "lid" It looks like it was super professionally assembled. Crisp screen printing as well. Don't see any markings on the inside, but it seems to be pretty legit. Thanks!
Yeah. Jennifer Warnes is one of my favourites too. "It goes like it goes" is particularly beautiful -- as are two others: "Lights of Louisianne" and "The Hunter". Like you say, she has a very pleasing vibrato.
Famous bluecoat la .. listen to Jennifer warnes version and then listen to Leonard Cohen version .. good feeling for both versions .. Jennifer good for all audio gears then feel my baby at the shelf is not too bad ...Leonard Cohen version even good on TV through TH-cam ..
@@richardlui8914 I like both artists in different ways. I prefer her take on Famous Blue Raincoat, though. As Leonard Cohen got older, I feel his voice and particularly the sound engineering on his recordings got better and more involving. IMHO, there's no doubt he was a master songwriter and latterly a master recording artist.
@@johncallaghan3097 Leonard 's voice is attractive mature male voice .. feel like talking instead of singing and tell you a story .. try Sia... Dynamic of her voice is good ..another kind of female voice .. special "Sia California Dreamin'..
Hello dear friend. Please advise whether you find this SMSL DO200 Pro DAC sounds better than your previous favourite, the Semibreve Opoint DA50 DAC. Thanks!
No it does not, thats why I placed the Semibreve link in the description too. I think I will do a revisit video on Semibreve at some poit in time as so far its unbeatable value. HOWEVER, DO200 Pro wins if you need to use HDMI ARC connection as Semibreve (and all other DACs) do not have that functionality at all.
My television a modern LG works well, very well with Toslink optical, so that's the standard I think today? Also my dedicated tv tuner works totally perfect with Toslink optical, it's the only choice here and tested heavily: Leave your tv just as a screen and the rest comes from a tv tuner directly and not from a tv: the sound is superior coming directly via optical toslink from the tv tuner. So have you tested this, did you not forget this in all these tests you did? 🙂 Great tests by the way. 🙂 Greatings again.
Toslink has a few problems mostly with format limitations. Using ARC you can get higher bitrates (regardless of the fact that you may not use them). I am also not sure what happens if your output is optical toslink, but your input is HDMI, does the TV do format/bitrate conversions? I think it may be easier with hdmis. But good point.
@@k4syx Ah you are right I wasn't precise enough. 🙂 Toslink optical I do use only for sound. HDMI for the screen. Isn't that normal? It's on my system by far the best sounding. so one cable to my Dac and one hdmi cable to my screen both from the tv tuner. Ah and my input of course is ethernet cable from my modem.
@@k4syx I did explane everything here but it was erased here. SHIT half an hour gone. I am furious now. 😞 but you must see it as an extra lube which is of course worse for the sound. Tv tuner provider has two sound places hdmi yes and toslink optical. soooo frustrating, you must make your texts in Word not here directly!!!!!!!! 🙂
@@onnonugteren2935 What happened? Browser crash? As for hdmi vs toslink, in general, the toslink provides full isolation as its pure optic, but this has caveat that you're always adding two additional conversion stages for electric to laser and then from laser to electric, so in most cases spdif via rca sounds a tiny little better than via optical. But thats a side note only.
Yes me too, thats why I got that one. Dongles based on this chipset are unexpectedly good and I hoped this will translate to this DAC being way better too :)
If i connect my television (Samsung S95C) with a HDMI cable from the HDMI ARC output to the HDMI IIS on my dac (SMSL D400ES) .... nothing happens. Am i doing something wrong?
1. Yes - its a simple ASIO driver only and its standard XMOS driver 2. Its not a streamer, its pure DAC, and as a DAC its better than WiiM DAC section. No streaming functionality though! This is something that you would connect _to_ Wiim to have better sound quality.
@@toorop111 I would higly doubt that as in my experience all DACs that are included in streamers internally are inferior to dedicated external stuff. Especially in the price rande we are talking here. They are convenient as you get 2 devices in one box, but as usual in life its not a free lunch you're getting here.
@@toorop111 Honestly, little chance for that, as thats streamer and I have little interest in these as I use my own dedicated HTPCs as sources. As I buy all of the equipement I test with my own money I rather buy stuff that I will use later :)
I don't see the point of the 12 dac chips. It doesn't matter if it measures and sounds virtually the same as the ones that incorporate double AKM or Sabre chips like in SMSL own Raw series. It lacks a headphone amplifier. Making it less useful for many gamers. It also lacks a sub woofer output, a no go for 2.1 cinema setups. The hdmi-in is useful, however most TV's also have a cinch and/or a optical digital out. For me, this is just another 13 in a dozen DAC that's to expensive for what it offers, even if I look at SMSL own offerings.
Well you usually connect sub to one pair of analog outputs, RCA ox XLR via adapters so thats not a problem. As for DAC number (internally, these 12 ICs) thats what made me interested. In theory averaging output should help with DNR and SNR. But these do have headphone amps built in, so, would that work too? and would sheer number give good results? I guess its no and no for the second question. Now that I know that, I may sell it ;)
Please don’t go down the road of DAC’s. I know its a good filler for vlogs as they come out at a rate of one a week but there so many others already doing it its getting tedious. No offence to you, great channel otherwise.
I'm reviewing these I have bought anyway, as I am not a regular youtube reviewer :) From time to time some DAC will catch my attention and I buy it. Once I have it here I need to decide if I want to have it, or if I will sell it. And since I have it here I may do videos as well :) I'm hoping these may help someone with right decisions, as I've noticed that the last SMSL DACs that I bought had stellar reviews from leading "professional yt reviewers". And I think everything SMSL lately gets those.
I got the smsl PS100 for $29.99 ..with some coupons .. it has HDMI .. I like to use it to listen some of the TH-cam music ..may be better using HDMI through tv than Bluetooth and I do not need to use USB at my phone .. just a test. if this set up is valid .. then a cheap low end fihi is ready .. DVD or Blu-ray play..existing ..tv existing .. add $30 p100 Dac..+fosi 3 $50? Or a07 max $70? + Speakers $100( several in this level) or ...total $200 ( low end fihi) ... No extra running cost .. Acceptable sound and enjoy the music .. Good for newbie ..good for garage .. good people has vintage audio gears and budget players or music lover in developing countries. .
Yes it seems so, but on the other hand each of these I got for really good price, either on sale, or with coupons, or sale with coupons. So I will be selling some of these soon. The amps and preamps will stay till comparisions but stuff like DACs and headphones will be 4 sale soon.
For ARC HDMI DAC I would suggest trying out Fosi ZD-3 that just came out. Upgrade op-amps and add 12V linear power supply and enjoy a very capable setup for your viewing pleasure. 👍🏻😉
Yes ZD-3 is better than this one for both sound quality and price!
I just got my "fake"/ parallel export AQ Dragon high current power cable in the mail today. I took off the "lid" It looks like it was super professionally assembled. Crisp screen printing as well. Don't see any markings on the inside, but it seems to be pretty legit. Thanks!
Pls share what you think about it, ok? Thanks!
Yeah. Jennifer Warnes is one of my favourites too. "It goes like it goes" is particularly beautiful -- as are two others: "Lights of Louisianne" and "The Hunter". Like you say, she has a very pleasing vibrato.
Famous bluecoat la .. listen to Jennifer warnes version and then listen to Leonard Cohen version .. good feeling for both versions .. Jennifer good for all audio gears then feel my baby at the shelf is not too bad ...Leonard Cohen version even good on TV through TH-cam ..
@@richardlui8914 I like both artists in different ways. I prefer her take on Famous Blue Raincoat, though. As Leonard Cohen got older, I feel his voice and particularly the sound engineering on his recordings got better and more involving. IMHO, there's no doubt he was a master songwriter and latterly a master recording artist.
@@johncallaghan3097 Leonard 's voice is attractive mature male voice .. feel like talking instead of singing and tell you a story .. try Sia... Dynamic of her voice is good ..another kind of female voice .. special "Sia California Dreamin'..
Thank you for a great video
That's great thank you. Hdmi will be handy.
Did you try the SMSL DO100 pro? It has two ES9039Q2M processor and half the price of the 200 pro.
I was thinking about it because I liked DO200Mk2 but I got burned by both Do200 Pro and SU9 Ultra so for a while I will stay away from SMSL ;)
@@k4syx I think it worth a try, I am satisfied with my DO 100 pro. Cheap and fine. :)
Hello dear friend. Please advise whether you find this SMSL DO200 Pro DAC sounds better than your previous favourite, the Semibreve Opoint DA50 DAC. Thanks!
No it does not, thats why I placed the Semibreve link in the description too. I think I will do a revisit video on Semibreve at some poit in time as so far its unbeatable value. HOWEVER, DO200 Pro wins if you need to use HDMI ARC connection as Semibreve (and all other DACs) do not have that functionality at all.
Thanks for your honest confirmation.
My television a modern LG works well, very well with Toslink optical, so that's the standard I think today?
Also my dedicated tv tuner works totally perfect with Toslink optical, it's the only choice here and tested heavily:
Leave your tv just as a screen and the rest comes from a tv tuner directly and not from a tv: the sound is superior coming directly via optical toslink from the tv tuner.
So have you tested this, did you not forget this in all these tests you did? 🙂
Great tests by the way. 🙂
Greatings again.
Toslink has a few problems mostly with format limitations. Using ARC you can get higher bitrates (regardless of the fact that you may not use them). I am also not sure what happens if your output is optical toslink, but your input is HDMI, does the TV do format/bitrate conversions? I think it may be easier with hdmis. But good point.
@@k4syx Ah you are right I wasn't precise enough. 🙂 Toslink optical I do use only for sound. HDMI for the screen. Isn't that normal? It's on my system by far the best sounding. so one cable to my Dac and one hdmi cable to my screen both from the tv tuner.
Ah and my input of course is ethernet cable from my modem.
@@onnonugteren2935 HDMI ARC allows you to send audio "backwards" the chain, from tv (set to any input) to your DAC or AVR
@@k4syx I did explane everything here but it was erased here. SHIT half an hour gone. I am furious now. 😞
but you must see it as an extra lube which is of course worse for the sound.
Tv tuner provider has two sound places hdmi yes and toslink optical.
soooo frustrating, you must make your texts in Word not here directly!!!!!!!! 🙂
@@onnonugteren2935 What happened? Browser crash?
As for hdmi vs toslink, in general, the toslink provides full isolation as its pure optic, but this has caveat that you're always adding two additional conversion stages for electric to laser and then from laser to electric, so in most cases spdif via rca sounds a tiny little better than via optical. But thats a side note only.
I had a bit higher hopes for this one after my experience with Cyrus Logic dongles.
Yes me too, thats why I got that one. Dongles based on this chipset are unexpectedly good and I hoped this will translate to this DAC being way better too :)
@@k4syx then again there are no ak4499ex dongles ;)
If i connect my television (Samsung S95C) with a HDMI cable from the HDMI ARC output to the HDMI IIS on my dac (SMSL D400ES) .... nothing happens. Am i doing something wrong?
Arc is not I2S, they just use the same cable
@@stefanthuering6456
So those two use hdmi but cannot communicate with each other. Confusing
Question
1:Is the software good also important
2:Is this better than the WIIM ultra
1. Yes - its a simple ASIO driver only and its standard XMOS driver
2. Its not a streamer, its pure DAC, and as a DAC its better than WiiM DAC section. No streaming functionality though!
This is something that you would connect _to_ Wiim to have better sound quality.
Is the node icon superior to both WiiM ultra and this product that you’re reviewing?
@@toorop111 I would higly doubt that as in my experience all DACs that are included in streamers internally are inferior to dedicated external stuff. Especially in the price rande we are talking here.
They are convenient as you get 2 devices in one box, but as usual in life its not a free lunch you're getting here.
@@k4syx will you be doing a review on the node icon?
Sincerely
@@toorop111 Honestly, little chance for that, as thats streamer and I have little interest in these as I use my own dedicated HTPCs as sources. As I buy all of the equipement I test with my own money I rather buy stuff that I will use later :)
I don't see the point of the 12 dac chips. It doesn't matter if it measures and sounds virtually the same as the ones that incorporate double AKM or Sabre chips like in SMSL own Raw series. It lacks a headphone amplifier. Making it less useful for many gamers. It also lacks a sub woofer output, a no go for 2.1 cinema setups. The hdmi-in is useful, however most TV's also have a cinch and/or a optical digital out. For me, this is just another 13 in a dozen DAC that's to expensive for what it offers, even if I look at SMSL own offerings.
Well you usually connect sub to one pair of analog outputs, RCA ox XLR via adapters so thats not a problem.
As for DAC number (internally, these 12 ICs) thats what made me interested. In theory averaging output should help with DNR and SNR. But these do have headphone amps built in, so, would that work too? and would sheer number give good results?
I guess its no and no for the second question. Now that I know that, I may sell it ;)
Please don’t go down the road of DAC’s. I know its a good filler for vlogs as they come out at a rate of one a week but there so many others already doing it its getting tedious. No offence to you, great channel otherwise.
I'm reviewing these I have bought anyway, as I am not a regular youtube reviewer :) From time to time some DAC will catch my attention and I buy it. Once I have it here I need to decide if I want to have it, or if I will sell it. And since I have it here I may do videos as well :)
I'm hoping these may help someone with right decisions, as I've noticed that the last SMSL DACs that I bought had stellar reviews from leading "professional yt reviewers". And I think everything SMSL lately gets those.
I got the smsl PS100 for $29.99 ..with some coupons .. it has HDMI .. I like to use it to listen some of the TH-cam music ..may be better using HDMI through tv than Bluetooth and I do not need to use USB at my phone .. just a test. if this set up is valid .. then a cheap low end fihi is ready .. DVD or Blu-ray play..existing ..tv existing .. add $30 p100 Dac..+fosi 3 $50? Or a07 max $70? + Speakers $100( several in this level) or ...total $200 ( low end fihi) ... No extra running cost ..
Acceptable sound and enjoy the music ..
Good for newbie ..good for garage .. good people has vintage audio gears and budget players or music lover in developing countries. .
Yes thats a good entry level system, I was wondering about getting that cheap DAC fro SMSL but I need to get back to my amp reviews :)
You bought yourself to much. 🙂
Yes it seems so, but on the other hand each of these I got for really good price, either on sale, or with coupons, or sale with coupons. So I will be selling some of these soon. The amps and preamps will stay till comparisions but stuff like DACs and headphones will be 4 sale soon.
Junk