SMSL C200 DSD 512 USB 1/2 BT 5.0 Coax Optical 2.6W Dac Amp

The review sample was kindly provided free of charge in exchange for an honest review.
I haven't received monetary or any other kind of compensation and I don't use affiliate links.
The price of the SMSL C200 is $219 and you can buy it from Aoshida Audio online shop.

There is a limited time 15% discount offer lasting from 01-11-2022 to 12-11-2022 and you can have it as low as $186.15

SMSL

SMSL needs no introduction, founded in 2009 are specialized in the audio DAC, stereo headphone amplifier and power amplifiers with a very competitive prices.
They pay close attention to user feedback in order to continue improving on their products and they rank now among the most well respected manufactures of audio gear.

Aoshida Audio

Aoshida-audio is one of leading Platforms which specializes in providing Audio Products, such as: Amplifier, Decoder, Player, Headphone,Cable and Accessories with high quality etc.
All products sold are original and covered by 50-day returns.
They are also part of the World Wide Hearing organization so a portion of every headphone sale goes toward helping a child hear.

SMSL and Aoshida Audio

The SMSL DO/HO/AO series is a collaboration between SMSL and Aoshida Audio to build quality products with high value to performance ratio and specifications set by Aoshida Audio as they were collected by extensive user feedback.
The series was inaugurated with the DO200 DAC, the HO200 headphone amplifier and the AO200 integrated speaker amplifier.
Then they have released a scaled down, more affordable series of products, the AO100, DO100 and HO100.
You can find and read all the related reviews in my signature below.
Now the C200 is their first all-in-one DAC and headphone amplifier combined in one compact chassis.



SMSL C200

The C200 is an all-in-one DAC and headphone amplifier which is based on the ESS ES9038Q2M DAC chip and a 2nd generation XMOS receiver which supports DoP64, native DSD512 and PCM up to 32bit/768kHz but no MQA.
4x high-end dual op-amps OPA1612 and a large number of audio grade components are used while there is a built-in specially designed low-noise switching power supply and a discrete component linear power supply with multiple low-noise power supplies for the analog and digital circuits.
Additionally to the digital inputs (USB, coaxial and optical) the unit also supports wireless Bluetooth 5.0 reception with the high resolution aptX HD and LDAC codecs.
A special audio clock processing circuit is used for greatly reducing the clock jitter.



Build quality and appearance

The C200 is an ultra compact device, measuring just 139x32x147.5mm, so it will fit virtually everywhere.
The chassis is made from CNC milled aluminum with a black matte finish and build quality is really excellent, there is absolutely nothing to complain about while the unit has a modern and aesthetically pleasing appearance.
The C200 might be mini sized but it is packed full of features, ready to accomplish various use scenarios.



At the front face there are the two headphone outputs, a 6.35mm and a 4.4mm one which is just for utility since the headphone amplifier is single ended.
At the middle there is the multifunction rotary knob and at the right side a small, three digits display.
You can control the unit either by the multifunction button or the included remote control.
At the back side of the chassis you can see the AC input plug, the Bluetooth antenna, coaxial, optical and USB type C inputs, RCA line output and a 4Vrms TRS balanced line output.
Pretty good for such a compact device.



User interface

All functions can be adjusted with the multifunction knob or the remote control and there are no other buttons.
Browsing and navigating through the menus is pretty easy and straight forward with a small learning curve thanks to the display which is very helpful but first you have to read the manual carefully in order to understand the abbreviations.
You can set the headphone output gain between high and low, choose between headphone and line outputs, select between the seven available low-pass filters, set the digital phase lock loop, select the desired digital input etc.
Both the RCA and TRS line outputs are adjustable so you can use the C200 as a preamplifier and of course as fixed line output when you set the volume to the maximum.
Headphone and line output volume is independently stored in the memory so you can leave your headphones always plugged in.
While playing music, the screen will display the input signal sampling rate.



Accessories

The package includes the remote control, a USB to USB-C cable and the power cable. There is also a manual and a warranty card.



Power output and associated gear

The amplifier is rated at 2.6Wx2/16Ω and 1.3Wx2/32Ω so it is very powerful and did a great job driving all my usual headphones with plenty of headroom.
At the same time the noise floor is as low as inaudible so you can use it with your sensitive IEMs.
The unit was left playing music for about 100 hours in order to settle down and most of the listening was done with the Sennheiser HD660S, the HiFiMan Sundara and the Meze Audio 109 PRO.
All headphone cables are of pure silver and made by Lavricables.



Listening impressions

The sound is transparent, crystal clear and neutral with an absolutely flat frequency response and great fidelity.
The bass is deeply extended and fast, precise and well layered with convincing dynamics.
It has good timing and it is not lean sounding but not too full bodied either, it mostly comes to headphone matching but don't expect it to fill a lean sounding headphone or surprise you with thundering impact.

Mid-range is crystal clean with spacious allocation and excellent articulation, smooth enough but not warm.
The overall texture of the C200 is more dry than wet but in exchange you get excellent definition and fast transient response.
The C200 is lively and sparkling, it is resolving and detailed enough but it could be more refined and nuanced.

The treble has great extension and some kind of sharpness but it is not bright, forward or fatiguing and it is also quite forgiving when it comes to lesser quality recordings.
Digital glare does exist but it doesn't get annoyingly intrusive and it doesn't add a metallic timbre to the sound.

Timbre is convincing and realistic but you will eventually find it somewhat lacking in harmonic diversity and sonorities.
The C200 is quite musical and engaging but you shouldn't be expecting an organic and analog like sound signature with a very colorful tone palette.
The C200 has a reference type approach to the sound reproduction which feels quite detached but on the other hand it shouldn't be considered as clinical sounding or boring.

The soundstage is spacious and well organized with accurate imaging and surplus of air.
It never becomes congested, it is grand sized but it should be considered more wide than holographic or layered on the background.

The truth is that the C200 did an excellent job with all kinds of music and was very competent with classical but it could do a little better with timbre realism and harmonic intensity.



Bluetooth implementation is great, the connection is stable without drop outs and the sound quality is just fine with the usually expected degradation due to the Bluetooth technology inherent weaknesses.

Compared to the FiiO K5 PRO ESS ($150)

The FiiO K5 PRO ESS is another all-in-one solution featuring the ES9038Q2M DAC chip with an admittedly excellent sound performance.
It is $50 less expensive than the SMSL C200 but it is bulkier and it doesn't have an LCD screen, a remote control, TRS balanced line output and Bluetooth connectivity.
But it has an RCA line input though so you can use it as a standalone headphone amplifier to connect another source like a phono.
The headphone amplifier can do 1.5W/32Ω and has three gain settings for a better matching between various headphones but it misses the convenience of the 4.4mm jack.



Sound quality is more or less on the same level, both devices sound pretty identical, the K5 PRO ESS has a touch more natural timbre and it is just slightly more musical when the C200 is more technical and transparent.
The differences are so blunt that are not worth considering when deciding between the two devices where functionality and price difference are much more important factors.



Compared to the SMSL SU-6 and SH-6 stack ($247 with RCA cable)

The SU-6 and SH-6 stack is the entry level solution from SMSL when it comes to separate desktop devices.
The C200 is essentially the two of them combined under the same chassis with the added feature of the TRS balanced line output and the 4.4mm headphone jack.
Less bulky and space saving, full remote controlled, cheaper and without the need for interconnects it is the obvious choice despite the stack sounding just a little better.
The purists may prefer the stack because of the separate power supplies and the fully analog headphone amplifier (thanks for the analog potentiometer and gain control) which translate in a slightly better, fuller and more dynamic sound performance but the rest would not bother at all given the extra convenience of the C200.



In the end

The Aoshida - SMSL C200 is a great entry level all-in-one solution which ticks most of the right boxes.
With good sound performance for the category, excellent build quality, super compact size and impressive functionality it would be an instant recommendation even if it wasn't so aggressively priced.

Test playlist

Copyright - Petros Laskis 2022.

Who said that a big size means big power? They surely hadn't met the SMSL C200, which is sure tiny but mighty. This diminutive desktop DAC with integrated headphone amplifier surely does pack a punch, with 2.6 W of power output at 16 Ω - more than devices several times larger and more expensive! There's few compromises that were made to get to this point, and the result is an incredibly competent device that has everything you need without emptying your wallet.

Disclaimer: many thanks to Aoshida Audio for sending me a free unit. The SMSL C200 retails for $219. There's more info on SMSL's website.

This review was originally posted on my own blog, Soundphile Review.

Packaging & Accessories​

On top of the device itself and the Bluetooth antenna, which you need to install manually, the SMSL C200's box comes with a rather slim set of accessories which only includes the remote control, a USB to USB-C cable and the power cable. There are also a manual and a warranty card.

Design & Build​

The SMSL C200 is really a diminutive device: it is just 139 x 147.5 x 32 mm, which makes it easy to place it on any desk without taking up much space. It features the classic "audio device" aesthetic that we've seen on countless products, from the Topping A30 to SMSL's own DP3 player. That's not a bad thing, either, because the design is really minimalistic and I can see it fit well in any context. The device has a metal chassis (aluminium, if I had to take any guesses) coloured in black, with white text on the front and back. It's an overall very elegantly designed product.

The front hosts a large volume knob in the centre (actually slightly of to the left!), with the two jack outputs to its left (both unbalanced 6.3 mm and balanced 4.4 mm), as well as a display on the right hand side. The back is much more crowded, as it hosts the power connector (the kettle type), an antenna connector for Bluetooth connectivity, optical, USB and coaxial input ports, as well as RCA and TRS 6.3 mm jack outputs.




Back to the size considerations, I find it interesting that, in order to reduce the overall footprint of the device, they used TRS 6.3 mm jacks for balanced connections. These are far smaller than the usual XLR connectors while delivering largely comparable specs, and cables with XLR terminations on the other side are quite commonly found and reasonably priced. Despite the small size, the power supply unit is integrated directly into the device, which is quite something and further limits the space occupied by the unit.



The volume knob is actually a clickwheel, with discrete steps that give you tactile feedback as you rotate the knob. It has a nice weight to it, too, so it's easy to adjust the volume with precision. The downside of having discrete volume levels is that sometimes volume is either too low or too high and there's no in-between, but that's an inherent bug/feature of this type of adjustment.



The unit also comes with a remote controller. It is not necessary to control the SMSL C200, as you can do it using just the volume knob, but it does make things easier and more convenient. It's made of plastic and it has the following buttons: power, up, down, left, right, enter, input, FN (used to switch outputs and, when long pressed, to set the screen to automatically switch off), mute, raise and reduce volume.

Features & Specs​

For a device this small, the SMSL C200 is quite versatile and offers a lot of input and output options. Not only can you use USB, but there are also optical and coaxial ports as well as Bluetooth. Speaking of which, you get Bluetooth 5.0 connectivity with SBC, AAC, aptX, aptX and LDAC codecs, which makes the C200 able to deliver great sound quality even without using the wires. You can select both the input and the output, though you can't differentiate between balanced and unbalanced (and that's reasonable).

Although it only requires 5 W of power, which can be easily provided by USB, the C200 requires the power cable to be connected in order to be powered - a bit of a missed opportunity to make it more portable, but on the other hand this is understandable due to the internal power supply being reasonably (and I am making an unsubstantiated assumption here) better quality than your average cheap USB power brick.

The SMSL C200 works in a plug-and-play fashion with all major operating systems, including Linux and therefore including the Steam Deck. It can be used in USB Audio Class 1.0 mode, which makes it compatible with game consoles.



The SMSL C200 is based on the ESS Sabre ES9038Q2M DAC chip. It appears like just one DAC chip is used, which would make the C200 incapable of "true" balanced audio - which would require two DACs to process the signal in parallel. On the other hand, though, amplification is managed by four OPA1612A chips, which are able to output an overall 2.6 W of power - quite a large amount for a device this small.

Sound​

I have tested the SMSL C200 with various headphones, including the HiFiMAN Edition XS and the 7Hz Salnotes Zero.

Although it's so small, the SMSL C200 is able to drive practically any headphones out there. Even fairly demanding headphones such as the HiFiMAN HE-560 are driven easily and show no issues at all.

As you can legitimately expect, the SMSL C200 has a perfectly neutral signature, which means it's indistinguishable from most other solid-state devices out there. I deem this a good thing as it means the device is not going to add its own flavour to your music, staying instead out of the way and letting you concentrate on the music itself (or on the headphones, if you wish to do so). There's a remarkably low noise floor and there's no hiss nor buzz, despite other devices on my desk having it - which appears to be proof of a good job done by SMSL in managing the power. I find transients to be quite fast, which is especially appreciable with fast headphones like the aforementioned HE-560 or the Edition XS.

Final Thoughts​

It is nothing short of astonishing to think that in such few years there has been such an incredible progress. When I started this blog, six long years ago, there was nothing that was even remotely comparable to the C200 at a similar price point. You had to pay at the very least two times this price, but probably even more, if you wanted something that had a similar set of features. It's impressive to see how much more affordable high-quality audio equipment is nowadays, and with which speed it has arrived. The SMSL C200 is definitely a remarkable device, even more so because it is quite affordable at $210. It doesn't have all the bells and whistles that more expensive devices offer, but it has plenty for anyone who doesn't really want to split hairs while looking at a specs sheet. I can't help but sincerely recommend the SMSL C200 to anyone and everyone: it's a great device under every perspective and it is definitely worth checking out.

EXCLUSIVE LOOK AT SMSL C200 DSD512 DACAMP​

This will be my 4th look at SMSL DacAmps and I’ve not been let down yet so… here’s hoping.
The C200 incorporates many of the features of the D0 and H0100 stack that I reviewed not too long ago in these here parts. SMSL have taken $100 off and streamlined the stack into a fetching 1 piece, retailing at $219 via this link to my suppliers, https://aoshida-audio.com/products/smsl-c200?DIST=REM=
Whilst I am not paid for my review, or any writing I do come to that, I am, as a rule, supplied items in return for either a written or a video in which I have a little natter about them. This, I’d imagine, is where pretty much all established reviewers find themselves, barring a few professionals who are sent caviar and boats and a ton of money in return for their nod of approval. Crikey, my YouTube isn’t even monetised, and even if it was, I make it it my mission to get a copyright strike on every posting I do there! Ooh, I’m such a rebel!
Aoshida-audio.com have kindly kept me up to date with SMSLs prodigious dacamp output during 2020-2022. They have a habit of doing of doing some nice little packages with plenty of inputs, and plenty of grunt too.

Inputs​

The C200, out today, in actual fact, (if you’re reading this on Monday 29th August 2022), is a willing partner for many of the different dances that are, or were, in vogue. We have the obvious USB input and those most generous Chinese ChiFlyers have included a USB C to USB B connection. This will get you into a laptop or PC, for those others, you’ll have to convert, purchase, beg, borrow or already have a drawerful of cables that are so anxious to see the light of day after your 100th purchase of audio kit that you definitely needed at the time. I can hear them screaming at you – “let me out! let me out!” Onwards please, we’re getting nowhere yet again! So…old skool coaxial. Any of you got any of this stuff? I found coaxial on my Ibasso DX100. It worked a treat and actually only needs a tiny wee cable thingy.



Optical is another helpful input, and the old optical connection is a more abundant fruit growing from the Audio Tree. It can be worth giving it a shake sometimes. Optical is typically found on a Macbook, where those clever Apple people found a way to make a 3.5 headphone jack double up as an optical output. I used a CD Walkman to test out the C200. Yes, before the Apple people thought of the idea, it appears that Sony had realised they could have a dual purposed line out/optical out jack….



We have bluetooth here. The C200 has a cutesy looking aerial supplied that screws into the back and gets you some wireless sounds. Whoo! Beware though, (as we of the ultra skeptical, nit pickingly methodical critters undoubtedly are) , the lossless LDAC codec did not auto default as the acceptable standard when paired with my otherwise faultless Samsung A52 5G Smartphone. I had to suffer the indignity of sub standard tunes until I realised I had to go back into my connectivity menu to set the matter straight. Shame on you SMSL, or Samsung (I dunno which one is responsible) for not offering the cream instantly and forcing your average user to unwittingly put up with the skimmed milk! Hopefully, if you end up as a purchaser you can remember this little ramble and tweak the necessary. LDAC runs effortlessly smoothly so there is absolutely no need to put up with nasty lossy. Lossy be gone! And close the door quietly behind you!



Can I go out on a limb here? I’d have loved SMSL to have put some “get me up and running” leads for the posh TRS input and output bits, and charged $220, or even $230? I’d have liked a nicer box too while we are on the ask.

Built in power supply​

There is a difference in the quality of an amplifier/DacAmp that is quickly apparent to the trained eye. Most of our cheaper stuff comes with a PSU which is known as a switching power supply. They are mass produced and have 2 bits to them – the mains bit and the transformer bit. They are inherently noisy, take up a lot of floor space, don’t look like they belong to the unit you bought, and are prone to breakage and just plain annoying. Companies that supply a switching PSU don’t have to worry about putting a decent power supply into their unit and can save a little bit on the design and get it out there faster. We shouldn’t dismiss every product out there for having an external PSU, we should just be mindful of it. The C200 has a built in power supply and just needs a kettle lead to get it working – easily replaceable. While I’m here – any chance of a longer lead? Or are we near a certain weight limit for transhipment?

Remote and tweaks​

This tiny thing has a remote supplied! SMSL actually gives a remote with a C200…Will you use it? The volume knob can do all the stuff the remote can but, of course, takes a little learning to master. If you’re on a long lead with the display switched off then, for sure, it will have some benefits. I suppose my usage was more about discovery than it will be for those who live with this as their constant companion.
The C200 uses a ES9038Q2M Dac Chip which means you can configure your device to pull older sources into this Century. There is a setting that allows you to lower the clock speed for older TVs and the like, if you’re experiencing a ssssstutter. I didn’t find any issues so I left the setting where I found it. There are 7 filter settings for the C200. A lifetime of enjoyment for those of you who will be keen to hear what they can all do. Perhaps one of you can come back to me with which was best for what in the comments? I can’t hear enough in the time I’ve had to justify anything meaningful in writing other than to say, it’s there, go nuts. Brightness can be adjusted but doesn’t need to be, display can be switched off, that could be nice. Your display will highlight the file size you’re playing. The nerdy part of me always likes that, so I guess I’m never switching my display off….

Outputs​

The C200 has a preference. It wants your full sized headphones. The clue is in the headphone jacks, of which there are 2 on the front. No.1 is a full sized and no.2 is a 4.4 balanced affair. There is happily no prejudice between power ratings for either output. Both boast a 2.6W over 16 Ohms rating. Plenty enough juice to strike fear into the hearts of most of the phones out there, and with 11 dB of gain in high mode, enough to make an Abyss or Susvara raise an eyebrow…. Hooking up to your hifi should be easy enough. Either RCA (so simple, so many spare leads) or TRS (oh god! Not more leads to buy!) and you’re full steam ahead, for those times when only a visceral blast in your nether regions by your bass cannons will suffice.

Sound Quality​

I tested the C200 through a selection of weapons from my armoury. I included no IEMs – this is aimed at full sized headphones folks – and this is what I found.
There is a distinct quality in the sound – it’s tuned well – there’s no hiss on any of my phones. I did a comparison with the much more expensive EF400 R2R from HiFiMan and I did find that $499 gets you a little more insight into the music, with there being a little more resolution being offered compared to the C200 and a leaner, faster bass response. What I also was surprised to discover was that, for some of more demanding headphones, I preferred the signature of the C200.

Using HiFiMan HE-6​

Those of you who have been following this site over the years will know that I am an owner of 1 of the original HE-6 Planar Magnetic Headphones from HiFiMan . The HE-6 predates the HE1000 range and was the (non electrostat) flagship for a while. It established a mythical status and continues to have a cult following, mainly due to a fast, punchy, wide delivery, especially when married to a suitably powerful amplifier. The amplification was 1 of several drawbacks to the HE-6. An extremely low sensitivity levels will put many modern DacAmps out of the running for getting decent sound from them. Most portable and many desktop Dac Amps will run out of steam well before the HE-6 has got off the starting grid, and more than 1 HE-6 has been literally blown to pieces when a hastily assembled hook up to a speaker amp has gone horribly wrong. The C200 will not disfigure your HE-6, nor will it deliver so much power that the drivers of said headphones are in jeopardy. However, with 2.6W and 11 dB in high gain under the hood, there is enough to have the HE-6 muscling around the circuit at a hellish rate. The next issue with the HE-6 is a rather dry, crisp character to the presentation, and some ringing effects in the upper mid/lower high frequency tonal range that most of us human beings have an intolerance for. This effect can be mitigated with some modifications, of which, naturally, I have been happy to make to mine. I have tamed the beast somewhat with an open design, and a less tempestuous cable. In fact, the C200 has taken what I’ve done and has added some of its own ingredients. The less linear presentation of the C200 has taken some of that over polished glare off the HE-6s upper ends. The HE-6 is, in short, more liveable. I found myself somewhat surprised on 1 fine Saturday afternoon when I realised I had been listening to the old warhorses for the whole day….. How long had it been since I’ve done that? If ever?

Sennheiser HD-800​

The HD-800 has so much going for it. It started the flagship battle, in my opinion. The HD800 is renowned for its splendiferously wild, wide soundstage. It throws your music into the outer depths of the galaxy; you are encased in a giant bubble of vivid, startling clarity, etc.etc. But… ohh….that lack of bass, that spike in the upper mids! I have summarised several years of praise and scorn here. The criticisms are spread across the pages of audio blogism and forum mongering. The HD-800 IS World Class. That IS the official view of subjective reviews. But…well…we at Team Subjective has tinkered heavily with ours, adding some fairly heavy felt around the driver rings and a little something to the dead centre of the diaphragms. The eccentricity’s of the 800s are still there, but we have added a little, and only a little, to the lower end, and have, delicately, snipped off some glare around the upper mids. We have not created an 800S on the cheap. We still have that sound stage and the HD-800 is not dark sounding like the S. The 800 can be improved further still; in fact a member of Team Subjective has sent his off for further expert intervention, at a not inconsiderable cost. That magic is still prevalent on the C200. The wide soundstage, the glasslike presentation of micro details is all still there on the SMSL DacAmp. It is not QUITE as much as some of my other DacAmps, but, as per the HE-6, I suddenly found myself having been sit with the Senn’s on for hours, and I hadn’t felt fatigue. No – it was hunger that drove me to call it a day and head for the kitchen.

Other normal headphones​

Are fine. The C200 gives at good as it gets. For the money, it delivers bang. More money will get you more linearity, a little more micro detailing, a stronger sense of the rhythm and emotion of your music, provided of course that you choose well. For Planars the C200 has the drive to push when others out there tend to pull back their performance. For Dynamics, the bass and mids are given a suitably solid surface from which to smooth their way along the track. As always, my closed headphones – Mobius by Audeze, Audio Technica’s W1000Z and the on ear H1 from Even came up a little short against the open backs, being bloated in the lower ends, as the bass rattles around inside the cups, desperate for release. They’ve sounder far worse before though, believe me…

Summary​

It is with great pleasure that I bring you the all in one C200. I have had a fine week mastering its ups and downs and ins and outs, but, in reality, it didn’t really need too much fiddling about with. The bits I wrestled with (so you don’t have to). DSD. Yep. Notoriously tricky. This baby can handle up to DSD 512, although Audivarna only recognised it as up to DSD 256. I mean who the heck has DSD 512 tracks anyway? In comparison, HiFiMan’s EF400 can handle up to DSD 64 on Audivarna. If you don’t put the C200 in a dedicated USB socket, DSD will not work. On my Macbook I got a thumping pulsing noise and nowt else. If the cable pulls out slightly on your socket, you’re gonna have to switch off, unplug, restart, the whole works. All the other files are fine, but DSD is a nightmare. The C200 is not alone with this issue, and close attention and maybe you’ll never hear this problem. But, if you do, I’m hoping you remember this article and, being ware, you are prepared. Is it worth all the trouble, just for DSD? I’ll leave that for you to ponder. Other than that, just note that this has a short kettle lead. An awkward person like myself can end up a dangling DacAmp, good for a dongle, potentially catastrophic for a C200…..



All perils aside – (and there weren’t too many were there?) the C200 is a competent, solidly built, affordable performer, a jack of many trades, a good looker and again shows just how much you can get from China for your money. Now, where did I leave that remote control?