At first, M200 gave an impression that mid-bass is not as defined and not as meaty sounding as it was the case on its younger brother Sanskrit 10th MKII, but shortly after I realized that the later is simply having a weaker sub-bass portion, moving the spotlight to the mid-bass region. It is one of those DACs that makes you add another album to your playlist, lean back and relax for a few hours. Portable headphones: Sennheiser Momentum 2, Interconnects: QED Reference (x2), Aune AL3, Speaker cables: Kimber PR8, Audioquest Type4, Balanced Isolation Power Conditioners: PLiXiR Elite BAC400, KECES BP-600, Topping D90 MQA Review – Majestic, Quick, Accurate, TOPPING D90 DAC (Digital-to-Analog Converter), TOPPING E30 DAC (Digital-to-Analog-Convertor), SMSL SU-8 Version 2 DAC (Digital-to-Analog Converter), Moondrop Blessing 2 In-Ear Monitor (IEM) Earphone. Disclaimer: The SMSL M200 sent to us for this review is a sample in exchange for our honest opinion. It is not overdone, but it feels fuller in density, there is a bit more warmth in there, it is easier to spot voices playing on different tonalities. After further testing, I've discovered a couple of limitations using the Creative G6 as a virtualizer for the SMSL: 1) SPDIF-Out is limited to 48KHz, despite being noted as supporting 24/96. To me, Neutral and Natural are in the center, while Clinical is on the icy and cold end and Warm/Musical is on the opposite side of the spectrum of tonality. SP200 was very good in here and if M200 would be the same, by offering crisp and detailed top-octave, the tonal balanced could be shifting towards brightness and nobody wanted that. It lacked the cojones a dedicated preamp could deliver in a speaker setup, the surgical accuracy of an all-discrete output stage and the ultimate frequency extremes felt a bit rolled-off, but everything else was in-there in spades and I quite enjoyed my time with it in a headphone and speaker setup. When I say neutral, I mean it is somewhat flavorless and different sounding than the very clinical Objective 2 DAC, for example, which exudes a metallic sheen to the entire listening experience. It came double boxed as most of the high-quality stuff is coming nowadays, the smaller product box is full of foam for extra protection measures. However, the sneaky SMSL added a high-performance encapsulated voltage regulator that will clean up that power and lower the noise floor to very low levels, SMSL is calling this circuit “power purification system”. , Flux Lab Acoustics FCN-10, Audio-GD R7, Denafrips Venus, Musician Pegasus. Treble had spark that could ignite some fiery music, I particularly enjoyed listening to some crowded Zen-Funk that extracted the best M200 could deliver. M200 lacked only when it came to slam and heft that usually a +$1K source will deliver, the highest top-octave didn’t feel as detailed, as extended and as outlined as it sounds on much more expensive units. 6 digital filters incorporated on the hardware level of the DAC chip itself, I recommend checking the manual to know which is which, I personally like filter number 4 a bit more (FL4). I’m generally speaking, because with extra care and with a good tuning you could make an ESS Sabre DAC having all the warmth and soul you could possibly desire. However, for the price, I’d be opting to pay a bit more for something from Burson if you need imaging to be absurdly good. This is a great stepping stone DAC to be connected to an analog amplifier for headphone usage. Thickness was the issue, as the experience remained pure throughout. It was originally written and published by Sandu Vitalie of. M400 is by far their most good-looking device and I wish all their future products would have the same look. XUF-208 is capable of receiving 32 bit/768 kHz PCM and DSD512 data streams, so its really fast, reliable and good performing. The M200 doesn’t have that problem. The amazing 1000w output of the Xduoo, combined with the fantastic smoothness of the M200, resulted in experiences that are well tailored for the all arounder headphones out there (again, the DT17xx Go is one of them that paired magnificently with the M200 as a DAC). If you don’t plan on using the M200 as a preamp, I recommend putting the M200 in the DAC mode by pressing the FN button on the remote. Model Number – M100, The SMSL M200 is a desktop pure DAC featuring an AKM AK4497EQ chipset, LDAC Bluetooth, and a fully balanced analog output. I can EQ down if need be and retain good quantity and smoothness. It is not a deal-breaker to me, but should be mentioned, here’s a photo on top of a SP200 just to be clearer. M200 is simply one of those DACs that I would attribute words as natural, smooth but also warm sounding to a lesser degree. Keep in mind that there is still room for improvement and quite possibly the signal strength could be even better via UAT. Headphones like the HD800 from Sennheiser are “clinical and accurate” to me, headphones like the Audeze LCD series are more natural and neutral, headphones like the Sony XB1000 are straight-up warm and highly musical. headphone amplifier that overnight became one of the most desirable headphone amplifiers on the market, carrying flagship THX-AAA-888 tech inside and a very low THD, it had all the key ingredients a great headphone amplifier should have at a very attractive price point. In typical SMSL fashion, instead of leaving it look like a perfectly normal brick, they leaned the case a bit at an angle to match the case of SP200. Nonetheless, it is playing for about a week now, that is more than enough for it to bloom and show all its best traits. This is a very advanced silicon that you will normally find in expensive to very expensive units. For a great depth, a better power supply and filtering will be needed and a much more powerful output stage as well. Such is the case with the M200. SMSL already impresses by choosing a good sounding chipset that is more than capable of great sonics. It remains smooth and can be paired nicely with headphones known for good treble. that I will be testing today, SMSL will again try to land a critical blow to the affordable DAC market, offering more features, better electronics and hopefully a better musical experience for less money. M200 was also connected to a HPA4 by Benchmark so I could. I was able to hear those 20 – 25 Hz notes on The Prodigy – Invisible Sun and on James Blake – Limit to Your Love. This is where M200 adds just a bit of its own flavor, showing its true personality. I engaged Tidal Hi-Fi on my phone and I streamed some Tidal Masters directly to the M200 DAC and played all that via speakers. This is the “I can do almost anything well” product, as most budget to mid-fi DAC’s and amplifiers tend to be today. The M200 is not about bass quantity, it is more about purity and smoothness factor, which at this price point, were very nice overall. better and feel all its pros and cons. Treble has a decent amount of detail and presence; even top octave can be easily spotted. It offers a flagship-level chipset configuration and premium built quality at a budget price of just 279.99$, considering the current market of quality audio products this seems to be an entry-level price point. Treble dynamic kick factor is annoying at times with budget and mid-fi DAC’s, that wince factor, so to speak. The M200 is no slouch, it lacks nowhere and for a sub $300USD price tag, it would be my pick for one of the best generalist DAC’s on the market. It is not overdone, but it feels fuller in density, there is a bit more warmth in there, it is easier to spot voices playing on different tonalities. From flat sounding amps, speakers and headphones, it would infuse a bit of joy and listening pleasure. Sure enough, there are more resolute sources, but not at this price point so I’m very happy about M200 in this regard. I feel that M200 fights back some of the cons of SP200, tames a bit of brightness, adds a much-needed soundstage that SP200 lacks and most importantly adds warmer tones, awaking emotions in music that SP200 simply couldn’t do on its own. The SMSL M200 is a desktop pure DAC featuring an AKM AK4497EQ chipset, LDAC Bluetooth, and a fully balanced analog output. I did head-bang with my rock tunes, I did raise my hands up, air-guitaring like a madman with M200, but I did the same with cheaper alternatives. The SMSL M200 is a desktop pure DAC featuring an AKM AK4497EQ chipset, LDAC Bluetooth, and a fully balanced analog output. I don’t perform measurements. And interestingly enough, their much more expensive upgrade model, the M400, sounds like this M200 on steroids. I felt that this album was recorded in a smaller space, notes weren’t flying too far away from me and I’ve felt very comfortable listening to this record in the speaker setup. Three different primary tonality types. In a blind test, I could hardly guess if it is playing via Bluetooth or wired via USB. SMSL recently came up with their M series of desktop Digital Analog Converters and M100 is theirs under 99$ entry-level offering. This is one of the main positives I could mention about M200. Listening to a decently mastered album which was recorded with an omnidirectional microphone - Samantha Crain & Midnight Shivers – Songs in the Night, after pressing play I felt being the centerpiece - the microphone in that recording studio, being simply surrounded by people and by sounds. M200 is simply one of those DACs that I would attribute words as natural, smooth but also warm sounding to a lesser degree.