Wow I'm slowly getting into audiophile gear and have been debating getting the do200 past weeks. Perfect timing for the mk2 to drop. Thanks for the great review
Excellent! 👍 I'm still running the original DO200 due to your initial review 😊It is my very first DAC in over 40 years of being analog ONLY. I'm glad that you said that you still really like the sound of these. I would GUESS that you probably like the R2R DACs better, like your recent review of the LADDER DAC, right? Of course they cost 3 times as much 😁 The Denafrips Ares II though is still around $850 or so, how do you feel it compares to the DO200? Thank you!
I have also noticed that DSP volume controls on DACs collapse the soundstage and give a thin and lifeless presentation…compared to using my Schiit Sys passive pre.
I think the old version sounds better, more open, brighter, more musical and more detailed. In the MKII, I hear a lot of dirt on the top. I'm so sorry to hear this, I wanted to buy MKII and after that I don't want it, they ruined the sound of SMSL 🤬 I will have to buy LOXJIE D40 Thank you so much for this review, you saved my nerves and money
Heh... I'm glad to hear you say that since I've had the original one due to the excellent review this fine fellow gave about it 😊 I am still REALLY liking the sound of it!
Is Your opinion based on a recording of DAC>amplifier>speaker>room acoustics>microphone>ADC>UA-cam compression>Your DAC>speaker (where I mostly hear floor and walls), or did You AB tested it in real life?
Based on your comments, it seems like you are after a much more forward and brighter type of DAC. That would be the SU-9 Pro. The D200 MK II is a bit more relaxed. I like it because I find the SU-9 Pro a bit shouty thus fatiguing for extended audiophile listening sessions.
Hi Tharbamar. What do you think about pairing this DAC with a pair of professional active studio monitors? Would the sound stage still suffer and require a pre-amp?
Hi, It will be totally fine with active monitors but be sure where you want to use gain control, on DAC or the Monitors which ever sound better for you but in theory if you sit close with your monitor speakers shouldn’t matter.
Do you have a recommendation for an affordable pre? I just paired this with a Rotel power amp and it does sound thin as you mentioned. I can’t afford the big Rotel pre yet so I need something until then
Greetings. I would like to know if the USB input of the DAC SMSL DO200 MKII works to receive digital data when connected to an android device. Thank you very much in advance.
Could you please advise if the balanced output and SE output of DO200 (original or MKII) sound the same? My pre-amp got only SE input so I am wondering if I need a new pre-amp with balanced input.
it's probably good to note here that SMSL customer support is apparently non-existent. Warranty therefore also of little use. (Me, I have an SMSL M500 Mkii which appears to be fine -- it's my first DAC so I can't really compare it to anything else...)
I’m thinking of getting a dac but In new Zealand hard to listen before buying.. I have the hapz1es is there any dac u can recommend that will better the hapz1es?
You will not find significantly better sounding DAC than Z1ES under 5K USD, most new DAC just play louder and most of them don’t have advanced features like DSD upsampling like Sony can, I would recommend you spend money on something else.
@@Tharbamar I'm running a now 10 years old Asus Xonar Essence One, which made me happy. Do you think something like this DO200 would be a noticeable upgrade?
SU-10 has Dual Chip Full balanced design, Dual power supply, i2s support and better clock, more polished refined sound quality with better precision in all frequency range.
The JBL are quite nice. One can listen to them. Do you think this new dac would work with the KLH model 5 or would either the Gustard R26 or the Ladder Schumann be a better choice? I have a great respect for how the 100s 75th Edition sound compared to the previous versions. Thanks for bringing them forward for people to appreciate.
@@Tharbamar I was rather taken with the Rohm DAC. If they did the same kind of release of that DAC but with these types of changes, it might be interesting. The Rohm DAC seemed to have a different timbre than the Sabre. I rather agree generally that the Schumann and Gustard R26 add a new twist. Have you had a chance to hear either vs. your Musician DACs?
@Clarice Carter, Yes I can't wait to hear the better version D300, I would love to have it on DAC only function without other features like volume control.
@@Tharbamar Interested in connecting via HDMI (I2S). Output digital signal from SONY TV via HDMI to this DAC. Is it possible? Or I do not understand correctly what this I2S is for?
I own the cheap su-1 and i can hardly tell a differecne with the do200...really all this dac stuff is getting out of hand here.If you dont do this for a living then you wont notice a difference of all these dacs under $1,000...unless you have super ears.
Wow I'm slowly getting into audiophile gear and have been debating getting the do200 past weeks. Perfect timing for the mk2 to drop. Thanks for the great review
massive released form smsl waiting for you review both d400 series and su 9 pro. thank!
awesome video! i'm torn between this dac and the su-9. any recommendations are welcome and appreciated!
Can you do also a demo of the Aune X8 XVIII magic dac with sparkos dual opamps? I would like to see a comparison with the smsl d300 for example.
Thanks for another review.
Would be great if you could review the Dangerous Music Source (DAC/PRE)
SMSL dacs pair well with Yamaha amplifiers and Kef speakers.
Excellent! 👍 I'm still running the original DO200 due to your initial review 😊It is my very first DAC in over 40 years of being analog ONLY. I'm glad that you said that you still really like the sound of these. I would GUESS that you probably like the R2R DACs better, like your recent review of the LADDER DAC, right? Of course they cost 3 times as much 😁 The Denafrips Ares II though is still around $850 or so, how do you feel it compares to the DO200? Thank you!
solid pick for mid-high & highend phones, it has 'safe' signature that will satisfy most, if not all, casual listeners
Great video thanks …… how can I conect to my 7.2 receiver Yamaha
Please do review smsl vmv D2 or smsl D400EX (or new SU-9 Pro , on chip ess 9039Pro)
Thanks 😊
SU-9 Pro is waiting in the line, THANKS
Excelent review. Now, I use Cambridge Magic DAC, neutral, but too flat... hope the SMSL DO200 would be good choice and not very expensive
Hola ! Muy buena review.Sabes si vas hacer review Smsl Su 9 pro? Para cuándo ?
Gracias y saludos desde España
Hope you can review this with AO200 and HO200 for the complete stack. :)
I have also noticed that DSP volume controls on DACs collapse the soundstage and give a thin and lifeless presentation…compared to using my Schiit Sys passive pre.
Yes totally, proper preamplifier is a must if we want best quality music.
can this be disabled on that dac? (smsl do200)
@@marcosr2 yes use fixed output
Hello, excellent review, I wanted to ask you which one would you choose between the D300 or the DO200 MKII.
Greetings from Chile
I equally like DO200 Mark II and D300, I may prefer slightly more on D300, thanks
@@Tharbamar OK thank you very much.
Greetings.
El video no tiene subtitulos automáticos.¿ Le importa habilitarlos para poder disfrutar de su trabajo? Saludos desde Barcelona.
Subtitles are not ready yet but coming up as soon as youtube is ready, thanks
@David Simon , subtitles are ready.
@@Tharbamar thanks, gracias.
Nice review …What are those feet in that dac ? Thanks
I have the link and name in the video description, thanks
I think the old version sounds better, more open, brighter, more musical and more detailed. In the MKII, I hear a lot of dirt on the top. I'm so sorry to hear this, I wanted to buy MKII and after that I don't want it, they ruined the sound of SMSL 🤬
I will have to buy LOXJIE D40
Thank you so much for this review, you saved my nerves and money
Heh... I'm glad to hear you say that since I've had the original one due to the excellent review this fine fellow gave about it 😊 I am still REALLY liking the sound of it!
Is Your opinion based on a recording of DAC>amplifier>speaker>room acoustics>microphone>ADC>UA-cam compression>Your DAC>speaker (where I mostly hear floor and walls), or did You AB tested it in real life?
Based on your comments, it seems like you are after a much more forward and brighter type of DAC. That would be the SU-9 Pro. The D200 MK II is a bit more relaxed. I like it because I find the SU-9 Pro a bit shouty thus fatiguing for extended audiophile listening sessions.
0:00 about Mark 2 1:28 Setting Menu 2:39 Review & Comparisons 12:57 My Advice 12:52 Sound Sample
Hi Tharbamar. What do you think about pairing this DAC with a pair of professional active studio monitors? Would the sound stage still suffer and require a pre-amp?
Hi, It will be totally fine with active monitors but be sure where you want to use gain control, on DAC or the Monitors which ever sound better for you but in theory if you sit close with your monitor speakers shouldn’t matter.
Отличный аппарат!
Do you have a recommendation for an affordable pre? I just paired this with a Rotel power amp and it does sound thin as you mentioned. I can’t afford the big Rotel pre yet so I need something until then
I would just use this amzn.to/3gqxoBa
Hola! Crees que haría buena sinergia con Topping A90 discrete y unos auriculares Sigva 023?
Muchas gracias
It should be fine together with your setup, thanks
Hi, which AMP and DAC stack is good for Polk R200? My budget is currently under 1000 for a decent stack. Pls give me some reccomendations
Greetings.
I would like to know if the USB input of the DAC SMSL DO200 MKII works to receive digital data when connected to an android device.
Thank you very much in advance.
Hi I do not have Android device so it’s not tested, thanks
Could you please advise if the balanced output and SE output of DO200 (original or MKII) sound the same? My pre-amp got only SE input so I am wondering if I need a new pre-amp with balanced input.
it's probably good to note here that SMSL customer support is apparently non-existent. Warranty therefore also of little use. (Me, I have an SMSL M500 Mkii which appears to be fine -- it's my first DAC so I can't really compare it to anything else...)
My m500 mkii started making a popping noise about 45 days in. Theres no way to contact smsl. Luckily I ordered from Amazon and they refunded me.
I have had excellent support service with Aoshida Audio after having an issue with my SMSL DAC purchased from them through Amazon.
@@rm4474 that's good to hear
Какой на ваш взгляд лучше : smsl do200 mk2 или su9 pro?
DDC and 10mhz clock master more than better DDC only ?
I’m thinking of getting a dac but In new Zealand hard to listen before buying.. I have the hapz1es is there any dac u can recommend that will better the hapz1es?
You will not find significantly better sounding DAC than Z1ES under 5K USD, most new DAC just play louder and most of them don’t have advanced features like DSD upsampling like Sony can, I would recommend you spend money on something else.
@@Tharbamar So Esoteric Grandioso Dac sounds much better than Hapz1es?
Answer?
Hi, update my smsl do200mkII after i done to update no power it’s totally dead I don’t know why no power any suggestions. Thanks
I think only option for you is to contact SMSL to how to restore it to factory settings.
Thank you for your reply
SMSL and Topping release too many DACs to keep up with.
True but good for having variety of options for consumer in different price points.
@@Tharbamar I'm running a now 10 years old Asus Xonar Essence One, which made me happy. Do you think something like this DO200 would be a noticeable upgrade?
@@ilmatanela1816 It should be especially in noise floor and precision sound.
@@Tharbamar thanks 👍
Hi, what is the difference between smsl m500 mk3 and smsl su 10 in sound quallity?
SU-10 has Dual Chip Full balanced design, Dual power supply, i2s support and better clock, more polished refined sound quality with better precision in all frequency range.
The JBL are quite nice. One can listen to them. Do you think this new dac would work with the KLH model 5 or would either the Gustard R26 or the Ladder Schumann be a better choice?
I have a great respect for how the 100s 75th Edition sound compared to the previous versions. Thanks for bringing them forward for people to appreciate.
That will be tough call for me I might prefered R2R DAC a bit more in the long run, thanks
@@Tharbamar I was rather taken with the Rohm DAC. If they did the same kind of release of that DAC but with these types of changes, it might be interesting. The Rohm DAC seemed to have a different timbre than the Sabre. I rather agree generally that the Schumann and Gustard R26 add a new twist. Have you had a chance to hear either vs. your Musician DACs?
@Clarice Carter, Yes I can't wait to hear the better version D300, I would love to have it on DAC only function without other features like volume control.
SMSL D300 VS SMSL DO200 MKII? What is the difference? Can someone please help explain? Thank you
ESS vs ROHM, 3 DAC Comparison with Sound Samples
ua-cam.com/video/WleEd0Yh8ds/v-deo.html
For SONY TVs of 2020 via HDMI, how can I get a digital-to-analog converter to a stereo system? Someone tried, checked?
Custom i2s (HDMI) cable to i2s DAC input or HDMI to Optical or Coaxial converter.
@@Tharbamar Interested in connecting via HDMI (I2S). Output digital signal from SONY TV via HDMI to this DAC. Is it possible? Or I do not understand correctly what this I2S is for?
I own the cheap su-1 and i can hardly tell a differecne with the do200...really all this dac stuff is getting out of hand here.If you dont do this for a living then you wont notice a difference of all these dacs under $1,000...unless you have super ears.
There is no way you will notice a difference between the d200 and d200 MK2 or even d300. It's impossible !
those feet are not needed
DDC and 10mhz clock master more than better DDC only ?