What comes in the box?
1 x Micro USB Cable
1 x Hi-Res Sticker (if you’re into that sort of thing)
Warranty and Manual paperwork
Specifications
Model Number – M100,
Color – Black, Blue, Red,
Structure – Aluminum & Glass,
Inputs – 2 X USB, 1X Optical, 1 X Coaxial,
Outputs – RCA,
DAC Chip – AKM 4452,
Amp Output Stage – JRC2114,
Output Level – 2 Vrms,
THD+N – 0.0005%,
Dynamic Range – 114dB,
SNR – 106dB,
USB Compatibility – Windows 7/8/8.1/10, MAC OS X 10.6 later, Linux, Android.
Bit Depth – USB (1 to 32 Bit), Coaxial and Optical (24 Bit),
Sampling Rate – USB (44.1- 768 KHz, DSD 64 - 512), Coaxial and Optical (32 – 192 KHz),
Power Consumption – 1.2 W,
Standby Power – < 0.1 W,
Size – 55 X 55 X 93 (W X H X D),
Weight – 258 g.
Introduction
When it comes to the name SMSL(Shenzhen ShuangMuSanLin electronics Co.) in the hi-fi community we all know this company very well due to the previous items they have pushed out. Such as the Sanskrit, A8, and M10 just to name a few and if you haven’t checked those out I would definitely give them a look. So what is so awesome about this Budget DAC? Well first off is the price, Currently on Amazon as I write this review the black one is going for $67.99 and the blue one is going for $79.99. I currently have the black one but do wish I got the blue one instead due to its blueish purple hue.
Controls and Display
Before you turn on the unit you are greeted with a dim red light in the center of the power button. Standby? Well hello there little standby light I haven’t seen you in hi-fi gear in a while. There is something about standby lights like this that make me happy that it was implemented in a budget device such as this M100. It’s a greeting of the old days where it smiles at you saying push me to get away from the world. But back to the task at hand and let’s move on.
Tested Gear
Tested Sources
Build and Design
When it comes to the build and design of this device nothing else I could say other than it is a tiny little device in my eyes. Coming in at a stout 170mm x 80mm x 80mm (W x L x H). About the size of a coke can just in a square format so I would say quite small. When it comes to the materials used it is made very well the front display is glass(Fingerprint magnet but who really touches the display anyways if it’s not a touchscreen?). The chassis is made of either an aluminum or steel case. The inputs and outputs on the back are quality as well no wobble or strange things happening back there. I myself have taken a few pictures of this dac and put it on social media and some of my friends and family all asked “What is that little device?” And when I tell them it’s the dac they are a little shocked because they’ve never seen a design quite like this one. So they definitely got the eye catching idea going in the right direction. The other thing about it is the weight of it, coming in at a little over 9oz or 258g. This little guy I would say feels like a very dense piece of hardware. Whenever I see budget devices like this I often wonder about the internals and if manufacturers cut too many corners to fit it in a chassis this small. Of course they do to be able to fit all the little pieces together. But from what I am hearing and for the price of this little dac it doesn’t seem like they made too many sacrifices.
Power Usage and Best Practices
For this little dac it draws about 250 to 320 milliamps using a 5volt source when on and when it is sitting in standby it draws 10 to 20 milliamps. There are a few ways you can hook this up but from my experience with it for best sound and lowest noise floor there is only one way. One way to hook it up is using the micro usb straight into the source which then you are running power and data through a single cable. I do not advise running it this way as I said earlier the noise floor is heightened and sound quality drops. This would be my last choice if that’s all you had at the time of usage. The second best way to hook this up is using a wall adapter and connecting it to the micro usb to power it and using the Toslink or Coaxial inputs. But the positively best way to make sure you have the lowest noise floor and least amount of EMI(Electromagnetic Interference) and RFI(Radio Frequency Interference) is to use either Toslink or Coaxial inputs and use a battery pack to power the device. When I did this as a basic test it heightened the highs extension a little as well as extended the lows just enough to hear that extra sparkle and that ever so sweet bass. Good segway into the next portion of which you are all here for, HOW DOES IT SOUND?
Sound
When it comes to figuring out how dacs sound it is always a hard thing to judge due to all the other components you can connect it to. But when it comes down to hearing a dac you have to have a good AMP that is transparent as well and have that what you hear is what you get. With this dac it is quite balanced and a very clean sound with good controlled bass but slightly rolled off. This dac does lean a little bit towards the highs, so for some newer listeners and coming audiophiles this dac will sound really good for what it is. But if you do listen at higher volumes this may come to be possibly fatiguing and you may have to give your ears a little rest ever so often. Or you could just turn it down a little for longer listening sessions.
Getting into a little more detail with lower range and bass it is punchy and controlled and it does reach deep with certain headphones and speakers. I would say when it comes to note to note in this range it performs accurately and fast.
With the midrange this dac is a very clear and transparent but also natural sounding without it trying to be something it isn’t. The mids are not pushed forward or recessed; they are what they need to be. Since vocals are more so in this frequency range male and female vocals sound energetic, crispy, and also present a softer side when hearing through speakers or not a good amp. But when the speakers or headphones are driven correctly this little hiccup is not really noticeable.
Highs, Highs, Highs!!!! This is something this dac does very well, never gritty but just enough resolution to fulfill that, “Oooooo it’s so crispy and clear!” feeling inside. The highs have good resolution, a good airyness to them, so basically very good breathing space. Like I said to some ears it may be a little too much if you listen at higher volumes for long periods. But if you listen at a moderate level you will never have a problem, and I myself never had an issue with this listening for 3-4 hour listening sessions on a moderate volume.
This also does soundstage very well when using it on my speaker setup and it’s fairly accurate to be able to place things within the room. It has great all around depth, width, and height, but your mileage may vary depending on speakers and headphones used. Am I done yet? NOPE! It also has very decent instrument separation; clean and good, all the things a dac should be.
Competition
Well in recent years there have been many many many products that have come out in this space that compete with this little device. But currently at this price of $67.99(Amazon), the closest thing that compares is the Topping D10 $89.99(Amazon). Which in my opinion does have a little bit better extension in the highs than the M100 due to its use of an ESS Sabre dac. But the D10 is a little on the colder side of neutral and the M100 is on the warmer side of neutral. The D10 is also a little bit more analytical and less musical than the M100 sounds. But the D10 only uses USB input, but does have toslink and coaxial output, so it really comes down to usage for these two. But if you wanted to get the new chip and as well as the DAC/Preamp combo you could always save a few more pennies and get the new Topping E30 uses the new AKM4493 chip. But that review and full comparison is for another day.
In Conclusion
You may be asking yourself after that little comparison, “Well what should I get then?!?!” I would say what do you need for outputs and what do you have for inputs. Do you like a more velvety smooth sound or a more analytical sound with less warmth? But as a great start to the audiophile world you can’t really go wrong with the M100 it is a great all-rounder. And if your budget only calls for spending $70 get it! But if you can wait a little bit longer I would skip the D10 and save for the Topping E30 I would go for that one!
Overall for a good sounding dac and super affordable no reason not to grab this one! Do it!
1 x Micro USB Cable
1 x Hi-Res Sticker (if you’re into that sort of thing)
Warranty and Manual paperwork
Specifications
Model Number – M100,
Color – Black, Blue, Red,
Structure – Aluminum & Glass,
Inputs – 2 X USB, 1X Optical, 1 X Coaxial,
Outputs – RCA,
DAC Chip – AKM 4452,
Amp Output Stage – JRC2114,
Output Level – 2 Vrms,
THD+N – 0.0005%,
Dynamic Range – 114dB,
SNR – 106dB,
USB Compatibility – Windows 7/8/8.1/10, MAC OS X 10.6 later, Linux, Android.
Bit Depth – USB (1 to 32 Bit), Coaxial and Optical (24 Bit),
Sampling Rate – USB (44.1- 768 KHz, DSD 64 - 512), Coaxial and Optical (32 – 192 KHz),
Power Consumption – 1.2 W,
Standby Power – < 0.1 W,
Size – 55 X 55 X 93 (W X H X D),
Weight – 258 g.
Introduction
When it comes to the name SMSL(Shenzhen ShuangMuSanLin electronics Co.) in the hi-fi community we all know this company very well due to the previous items they have pushed out. Such as the Sanskrit, A8, and M10 just to name a few and if you haven’t checked those out I would definitely give them a look. So what is so awesome about this Budget DAC? Well first off is the price, Currently on Amazon as I write this review the black one is going for $67.99 and the blue one is going for $79.99. I currently have the black one but do wish I got the blue one instead due to its blueish purple hue.
Controls and Display
Before you turn on the unit you are greeted with a dim red light in the center of the power button. Standby? Well hello there little standby light I haven’t seen you in hi-fi gear in a while. There is something about standby lights like this that make me happy that it was implemented in a budget device such as this M100. It’s a greeting of the old days where it smiles at you saying push me to get away from the world. But back to the task at hand and let’s move on.
- Push button and a 100 reads on display showing you the device name
- Hold the power to switch it on and off
- Short press to cycle through the rear inputs, USB-1, Optical-2, and Coaxial-3
- Viewing Input Sample Rates (44.1-768KHz, DSD 64-512) over USB and (32KHz-192KHz) over Coaxial and Optical
Tested Gear
Tested Sources
- Windows 10 PC, Surface Pro 6
- SMSL SP200, ONKYO TX-NR609, ONKYO TX-NR414
- HiFiMan Sundara, Sennheiser HD650, Fostex Dekoni Blue’s, Tin T2’s
Build and Design
When it comes to the build and design of this device nothing else I could say other than it is a tiny little device in my eyes. Coming in at a stout 170mm x 80mm x 80mm (W x L x H). About the size of a coke can just in a square format so I would say quite small. When it comes to the materials used it is made very well the front display is glass(Fingerprint magnet but who really touches the display anyways if it’s not a touchscreen?). The chassis is made of either an aluminum or steel case. The inputs and outputs on the back are quality as well no wobble or strange things happening back there. I myself have taken a few pictures of this dac and put it on social media and some of my friends and family all asked “What is that little device?” And when I tell them it’s the dac they are a little shocked because they’ve never seen a design quite like this one. So they definitely got the eye catching idea going in the right direction. The other thing about it is the weight of it, coming in at a little over 9oz or 258g. This little guy I would say feels like a very dense piece of hardware. Whenever I see budget devices like this I often wonder about the internals and if manufacturers cut too many corners to fit it in a chassis this small. Of course they do to be able to fit all the little pieces together. But from what I am hearing and for the price of this little dac it doesn’t seem like they made too many sacrifices.
Power Usage and Best Practices
For this little dac it draws about 250 to 320 milliamps using a 5volt source when on and when it is sitting in standby it draws 10 to 20 milliamps. There are a few ways you can hook this up but from my experience with it for best sound and lowest noise floor there is only one way. One way to hook it up is using the micro usb straight into the source which then you are running power and data through a single cable. I do not advise running it this way as I said earlier the noise floor is heightened and sound quality drops. This would be my last choice if that’s all you had at the time of usage. The second best way to hook this up is using a wall adapter and connecting it to the micro usb to power it and using the Toslink or Coaxial inputs. But the positively best way to make sure you have the lowest noise floor and least amount of EMI(Electromagnetic Interference) and RFI(Radio Frequency Interference) is to use either Toslink or Coaxial inputs and use a battery pack to power the device. When I did this as a basic test it heightened the highs extension a little as well as extended the lows just enough to hear that extra sparkle and that ever so sweet bass. Good segway into the next portion of which you are all here for, HOW DOES IT SOUND?
Sound
When it comes to figuring out how dacs sound it is always a hard thing to judge due to all the other components you can connect it to. But when it comes down to hearing a dac you have to have a good AMP that is transparent as well and have that what you hear is what you get. With this dac it is quite balanced and a very clean sound with good controlled bass but slightly rolled off. This dac does lean a little bit towards the highs, so for some newer listeners and coming audiophiles this dac will sound really good for what it is. But if you do listen at higher volumes this may come to be possibly fatiguing and you may have to give your ears a little rest ever so often. Or you could just turn it down a little for longer listening sessions.
Getting into a little more detail with lower range and bass it is punchy and controlled and it does reach deep with certain headphones and speakers. I would say when it comes to note to note in this range it performs accurately and fast.
With the midrange this dac is a very clear and transparent but also natural sounding without it trying to be something it isn’t. The mids are not pushed forward or recessed; they are what they need to be. Since vocals are more so in this frequency range male and female vocals sound energetic, crispy, and also present a softer side when hearing through speakers or not a good amp. But when the speakers or headphones are driven correctly this little hiccup is not really noticeable.
Highs, Highs, Highs!!!! This is something this dac does very well, never gritty but just enough resolution to fulfill that, “Oooooo it’s so crispy and clear!” feeling inside. The highs have good resolution, a good airyness to them, so basically very good breathing space. Like I said to some ears it may be a little too much if you listen at higher volumes for long periods. But if you listen at a moderate level you will never have a problem, and I myself never had an issue with this listening for 3-4 hour listening sessions on a moderate volume.
This also does soundstage very well when using it on my speaker setup and it’s fairly accurate to be able to place things within the room. It has great all around depth, width, and height, but your mileage may vary depending on speakers and headphones used. Am I done yet? NOPE! It also has very decent instrument separation; clean and good, all the things a dac should be.
Competition
Well in recent years there have been many many many products that have come out in this space that compete with this little device. But currently at this price of $67.99(Amazon), the closest thing that compares is the Topping D10 $89.99(Amazon). Which in my opinion does have a little bit better extension in the highs than the M100 due to its use of an ESS Sabre dac. But the D10 is a little on the colder side of neutral and the M100 is on the warmer side of neutral. The D10 is also a little bit more analytical and less musical than the M100 sounds. But the D10 only uses USB input, but does have toslink and coaxial output, so it really comes down to usage for these two. But if you wanted to get the new chip and as well as the DAC/Preamp combo you could always save a few more pennies and get the new Topping E30 uses the new AKM4493 chip. But that review and full comparison is for another day.
In Conclusion
You may be asking yourself after that little comparison, “Well what should I get then?!?!” I would say what do you need for outputs and what do you have for inputs. Do you like a more velvety smooth sound or a more analytical sound with less warmth? But as a great start to the audiophile world you can’t really go wrong with the M100 it is a great all-rounder. And if your budget only calls for spending $70 get it! But if you can wait a little bit longer I would skip the D10 and save for the Topping E30 I would go for that one!
Overall for a good sounding dac and super affordable no reason not to grab this one! Do it!
