I've been searching, and waiting for a while to a set-up like this one, since 2019 with Topping DX7, almost got it. But I'm not to kin of ESS DAC house sound, and then the blaze at AKM... well roll 4 years and! receive it almost at launch, with a discount :) Glad to hear you like it. There starting to talk, and review it, and so far I've not found nor heard any negatives... it must have some. But for my headphone setup works and sounds amazing. Cheers
I'd love to hear your review of the companion AO-300, which seems to be the best of the AL-200, the A-300, and AO-200 in terms of chipsets and feature sets. Same chassis as this one.
So ive just brought this dac. Im coming from a topping e50. It was a toss up between this and the e70velvet but the built in headphone amp sold it for me. I was seriously looking at the geshelli j2 ak4499 version but it was out of my pricerange after importing to the uk and no volume control which in my system was a must!
I appreciate your careful wording. I bought it and agree. What menu settings did you try for your testing? Do you know if the op amps are socketed so they can be changed? Thanks again!
Good morning from Toronto☕️ Great review as always but I am curious 🧐 I just picked up the Topping E 50 DAC it’s very nice especially with the IFI power supply. It makes the background extremely for lack of a better term black. That being said I was wondering what do you use as your reference DAC in your headphone/IEM’s Stack 🤔 Take care .
It changes quite often because I still don't have anything super high-end for reference but recently I guess the Topping E70 Velvet for desktop DAC (but that doesn't have headphone amp stage).
@@PrimeAudioReviewsI went with separates …😵💫 I just rebuilt my headphone stack from pretty well top to bottom for my 60th birthday 🥳 New headphone: AUDEZE LCDX 2021 Creators Edition to start…. Have a great weekend.
I recently grabbed up the AO300 off Amazon and have to say I'm pretty impressed so far. I had previously used the SMSL AD18 and Fosi Audio BT30D Pro - I bought the AO300 because of the front headphone jacks, the USB C, BT and HDMI connections each sound quite different - I'm looking forward to seeing and hearing more experiences with this gear as there is no mention of it any where on youtube yet. Thnx
I have had the SMSL AO300 amplifier at my place for 2 days now. I have mixed feelings about this device. I had quite high expectations looking at the specifications, but I guess it's not a fully refined product yet. I was most curious about the HDMI-ARC connection feature. I was a bit disappointed with the SMSL implementation. The inability to turn the device on and off using the TV remote control is quite problematic (maybe no HDMI-CEC in AO300?) Fortunately, the volume control is a bit awkward, but it works. This does not directly control the amplifier's volume level (the volume level values do not change on the amplifier's display), but the sound becomes quieter and louder within a certain range. I tested the headphone amplifier using Sennheiser 560S headphones and for me it's great. In my opinion, it sounds better and stronger than, for example, Topping DX3 Pro+, with which I directly compared it. Bluetooth on the Samsung S23+ works seamlessly with the LDAC codec. The optical Toslink connector works very well, I tested with Google Chromecast Audio and the sound was more resolved and clear than via the HDMI connector. I connected the amplifier to the ELAC Debut 6.2 speakers and was a bit disappointed. When it comes to TV and HDMI, it may be. Quality doesn't matter. However, when listening to music, you can hear that the amplifier is playing in class D. For comparison, the Primare I15 in class D sounds several levels better. SMSL has a sound that is a bit unrefined and not very smooth. For comparison, I also connected the Sabaj A3 amplifier and with the Elac Debut 6.2 the Sabaj sounded better. Its sound was more light, airy and clear. The SMSL was a bit muddy in the midrange. It certainly performed better at higher volume levels than the Sabaj, but the amplifier itself sounds so-so in my opinion. I will probably give my device back, because the Sabaj A3 I have is not inferior to SMSL in terms of sound quality at the volume levels I listen to. The headphone amplifier is of a similar class as in the Topping DX3 Pro +. However, if I did not have a headphone amplifier for my desk and needed an amplifier for loudspeakers at the level of the Elac Debut 6.2 or similar, this would be a good option. What I miss most about this device: - Turning on the device and switching to the selected amplifier input after detecting a signal on a given input. - Automatic switching to standby mode after a specified period of signal loss. - Ability to set an independent volume for each input (also setting a constant value for the analog input) - Possibility to set the cut-off frequency for the subwoofer output.
@@polop566 I don't know about you, I bought mine off Amazon and I contact Aoshida and they were pretty quick to offer and provide a 30% refund, when I expressed my reservations about the device.
Hey. Just wondering how do you like this DAC compared to the AD18? I have the AD18 and it’s been good to me Just wondering about how good it is Sound wise I like the AD18, zero complaints Thanks
Question - does it support UAC2 hardware control? In other words, volume adjustments from the operating system. Have noticed Topping DACs tend to have this feature, Fiio usually don't. No experience with SMSL yet, personally.
Well it's a review so you should go through the entire menu, silly. I was really interested in some of the settings but now I have to go find the manual :/
Both are very close but I think SU9 Ultra is a little better. Having said that, if you don't already have a headphone amp the DO300EX is an amazing all-in-one.
PCM = Pulse Code Modulation which is a digital representation of an analog signal used in digital audio applications. Quality is determined by the sampling rate and the bit depth.
One other item that I found odd. This unit has a USB C input. Yet, the SMSL factory recommends using USB 2.0 (NOT 3.0) by getting a USB-A to USB C cable. Has anyone had any experience using and comparing using USB 2.0 vs. USB 3.0 with any of the SMSL DAC's? Seems contradictory to what one might expect in transporting digital data (FLAC files) from a streaming source to an external DAC??? Comments???
I've been searching, and waiting for a while to a set-up like this one, since 2019 with Topping DX7, almost got it. But I'm not to kin of ESS DAC house sound, and then the blaze at AKM... well roll 4 years and! receive it almost at launch, with a discount :) Glad to hear you like it. There starting to talk, and review it, and so far I've not found nor heard any negatives... it must have some. But for my headphone setup works and sounds amazing. Cheers
I'd love to hear your review of the companion AO-300, which seems to be the best of the AL-200, the A-300, and AO-200 in terms of chipsets and feature sets. Same chassis as this one.
A review about AO-300 would be great :)
how it would compare to the do400?.
So ive just brought this dac. Im coming from a topping e50. It was a toss up between this and the e70velvet but the built in headphone amp sold it for me. I was seriously looking at the geshelli j2 ak4499 version but it was out of my pricerange after importing to the uk and no volume control which in my system was a must!
I think you will fall in love with this one.
I appreciate your careful wording. I bought it and agree. What menu settings did you try for your testing? Do you know if the op amps are socketed so they can be changed? Thanks again!
I had the HP output gain on low most of the time and set the filter to fast. As far as I know, you can't roll opamps with this one.
Many thanks, to your ears do the sound color settings do much?@@PrimeAudioReviews
I use WIIM PRO to my smsl 300 xe to my yamaha Av-A2A
Great video ……. This DAC decode MQA from Optical ?
Yes, it does.
Thanks 🙏
Good morning from Toronto☕️
Great review as always but I am curious 🧐
I just picked up the Topping E 50 DAC it’s very nice especially with the IFI power supply.
It makes the background extremely for lack of a better term black.
That being said I was wondering what do you use as your reference DAC in your headphone/IEM’s Stack 🤔
Take care .
It changes quite often because I still don't have anything super high-end for reference but recently I guess the Topping E70 Velvet for desktop DAC (but that doesn't have headphone amp stage).
@@PrimeAudioReviewsI went with separates …😵💫
I just rebuilt my headphone stack from pretty well top to bottom for my 60th birthday 🥳
New headphone: AUDEZE LCDX 2021 Creators Edition to start….
Have a great weekend.
I recently grabbed up the AO300 off Amazon and have to say I'm pretty impressed so far. I had previously used the SMSL AD18 and Fosi Audio BT30D Pro - I bought the AO300 because of the front headphone jacks, the USB C, BT and HDMI connections each sound quite different - I'm looking forward to seeing and hearing more experiences with this gear as there is no mention of it any where on youtube yet. Thnx
I have had the SMSL AO300 amplifier at my place for 2 days now.
I have mixed feelings about this device.
I had quite high expectations looking at the specifications, but I guess it's not a fully refined product yet.
I was most curious about the HDMI-ARC connection feature. I was a bit disappointed with the SMSL implementation.
The inability to turn the device on and off using the TV remote control is quite problematic (maybe no HDMI-CEC in AO300?)
Fortunately, the volume control is a bit awkward, but it works. This does not directly control the amplifier's volume level (the volume level values do not change on the amplifier's display), but the sound becomes quieter and louder within a certain range.
I tested the headphone amplifier using Sennheiser 560S headphones and for me it's great. In my opinion, it sounds better and stronger than, for example, Topping DX3 Pro+, with which I directly compared it.
Bluetooth on the Samsung S23+ works seamlessly with the LDAC codec.
The optical Toslink connector works very well, I tested with Google Chromecast Audio and the sound was more resolved and clear than via the HDMI connector.
I connected the amplifier to the ELAC Debut 6.2 speakers and was a bit disappointed. When it comes to TV and HDMI, it may be. Quality doesn't matter. However, when listening to music, you can hear that the amplifier is playing in class D. For comparison, the Primare I15 in class D sounds several levels better.
SMSL has a sound that is a bit unrefined and not very smooth. For comparison, I also connected the Sabaj A3 amplifier and with the Elac Debut 6.2 the Sabaj sounded better. Its sound was more light, airy and clear. The SMSL was a bit muddy in the midrange. It certainly performed better at higher volume levels than the Sabaj, but the amplifier itself sounds so-so in my opinion.
I will probably give my device back, because the Sabaj A3 I have is not inferior to SMSL in terms of sound quality at the volume levels I listen to.
The headphone amplifier is of a similar class as in the Topping DX3 Pro +.
However, if I did not have a headphone amplifier for my desk and needed an amplifier for loudspeakers at the level of the Elac Debut 6.2 or similar, this would be a good option.
What I miss most about this device:
- Turning on the device and switching to the selected amplifier input after detecting a signal on a given input.
- Automatic switching to standby mode after a specified period of signal loss.
- Ability to set an independent volume for each input (also setting a constant value for the analog input)
- Possibility to set the cut-off frequency for the subwoofer output.
@@polop566 I don't know about you, I bought mine off Amazon and I contact Aoshida and they were pretty quick to offer and provide a 30% refund, when I expressed my reservations about the device.
I also miss auto-standby!
Hey. Just wondering how do you like this DAC compared to the AD18?
I have the AD18 and it’s been good to me
Just wondering about how good it is
Sound wise
I like the AD18, zero complaints
Thanks
Question - does it support UAC2 hardware control? In other words, volume adjustments from the operating system. Have noticed Topping DACs tend to have this feature, Fiio usually don't. No experience with SMSL yet, personally.
Yes, you can adjust Windows volume.
Well it's a review so you should go through the entire menu, silly. I was really interested in some of the settings but now I have to go find the manual :/
It's better as dac only vs Su9 ultra?
Both are very close but I think SU9 Ultra is a little better. Having said that, if you don't already have a headphone amp the DO300EX is an amazing all-in-one.
Thanks for you replay, I planing to replace my gustard x16
What’s the difference between this ao300ex and the ao300?
I haven't tried those others.
@@PrimeAudioReviews will this power KEF q150?
Are either of the headphone jacks balanced?
Yes, the 4.4mm jack is balanced.
Thanks!
What is PCM?
PCM = Pulse Code Modulation which is a digital representation of an analog signal used in digital audio applications. Quality is determined by the sampling rate and the bit depth.
One other item that I found odd. This unit has a USB C input. Yet, the SMSL factory recommends using USB 2.0 (NOT 3.0) by getting a USB-A to USB C cable. Has anyone had any experience using and comparing using USB 2.0 vs. USB 3.0 with any of the SMSL DAC's? Seems contradictory to what one might expect in transporting digital data (FLAC files) from a streaming source to an external DAC??? Comments???
Comment for da algorithm
Streak count: 286