SMSL PL200T CD Transport & DDC converter - Impressions Thread

[PitBul34]

Hello and let me introduce SMSL PL200T Pinocchio Edition )))

A few days ago, I received this little beauty from Shenzhen Audio and decided to make an oak cabinet and some cables.

It is now installed on my system.

The PL200T is connected to my Gustard R26 dac via AES and i2s interfaces.

Both the DAC and CD-Transport received a 10 MHz WC signal from the Aune XC1 OCXO clock generator.

At the same time, my Asus EEE PC 901 with Daphile (audiophile Linux) is connected to the PL200T via USB, so this SMSL works as a DDC converter simultaneously.

A very beautiful and good sounding device, imo

 

[rafalc]

Are the nobs on top of original or you swapped them out?

 

[PitBul34]

Are the nobs on top of original or you swapped them out?

Original

 

[TinearedOne]

Bump. Is no one else interested in this? I think it could be compelling if it works at the price. Waiting for the news about whether or not my HDCD player can be repaired to pull the trigger, but this one's on the list if I need a replacement. Only a few days since I dropped it off at the shop and already missing the ability to spin CDs.

1. Anyone other than the OP with feedback?
2. OP, how is the operation? Is it "klugy" or does everything work as expected? I see you like the sound. Have you compared it to other transports?

I am curious.

 

[rafalc]

Operation very smooth and quick compared to front loading players, very happy with it.

Having to take off the lid and then clamp is bit annoying, I don’t have space to put them on next to it in my case.

 

[PitBul34]

Having to take off the lid and then clamp is bit annoying

Vinyl-like CD transport)

Is it "klugy" or does everything work as expected?

Everything works pretty good: MQA-CD playback, CD, CD-R, CD-RW playback, DDC (usb-converter), extended clock generator input (I use Aune XC1 OCXO clock with it), DC power supply, nice IPS display, mechanical keyboard switches, transparent cover, full alu jacket, i2s lvds switchable output, AES, Coax, Opt outputs, remote control unit

Have you compared it to other transports?

VRDS CMK 3.2 lost the battle

 

[evanft]

Bump. Is no one else interested in this? I think it could be compelling if it works at the price. Waiting for the news about whether or not my HDCD player can be repaired to pull the trigger, but this one's on the list if I need a replacement. Only a few days since I dropped it off at the shop and already missing the ability to spin CDs.

1. Anyone other than the OP with feedback?
2. OP, how is the operation? Is it "klugy" or does everything work as expected? I see you like the sound. Have you compared it to other transports?

I am curious.

It's a transport. It'll sound the same as any number of cheap old CD or DVD players with a digital output, so there's probably not much interest.

 

[PitBul34]

It's a transport. It'll sound the same as any number of cheap old CD or DVD players with a digital output

Sorry, but cheap old CD-DVD players don't have a special adapted mechanism & servo board, don't have a master clock input and i2s lvds output. Btw, €4500 Metronome Le Player 3 doesn't have them either. The Metronome uses a CDROM-like mechanism, a small and cheap TCXO clock generators and a cheap Chinese MediaTek processor. Several photos below.

Personally, I vote for the €400 SMSL PL200T

 

[TinearedOne]

It's a transport. It'll sound the same as any number of cheap old CD or DVD players with a digital output, so there's probably not much interest.

Hmm, I’m guessing you’re in the minority around here with that opinion.

 

[evanft]

Hmm, I’m guessing you’re in the minority around here with that opinion.

And? Doesn't make me any less right. The SMSL looks like a nice unit, especially in 2025 where finding a new CD transport can be difficult, but the reasons to buy it vs. something else aren't going to include sound quality. Build, features, and the amount of noise made by the drive are going to make it a better choice than something else.

Sorry, but cheap old CD-DVD players don't have a special adapted mechanism & servo board, don't have a master clock input and i2s lvds output. Btw, €4500 Metronome Le Player 3 doesn't have them either. The Metronome uses a CDROM-like mechanism, a small and cheap TCXO clock generators and a cheap Chinese MediaTek processor. Several photos below.

Personally, I vote for the €400 SMSL PL200T

Those are nice features, but ultimately are unlikely to actually effect the sound. The Metronome just looks like a garbage audiophile product designed to extract money from people with more money than sense.

 

[TinearedOne]

And? Doesn't make me any less right. The SMSL looks like a nice unit, especially in 2025 where finding a new CD transport can be difficult, but the reasons to buy it vs. something else aren't going to include sound quality. Build, features, and the amount of noise made by the drive are going to make it a better choice than something else.

Those are nice features, but ultimately are unlikely to actually effect the sound. The Metronome just looks like a garbage audiophile product designed to extract money from people with more money than sense.

So, you are of the opinion that all CD transports sound the same and that they present the digital information identically. That's great. Why even enter this thread, then?

 

[PitBul34]

Quote & photos below (c) Andrey Molochnik, soundex dot ru

"Today we made a comparison and showed what the new SMSL PL200T CD transport with a 10 MHz OCXO clock input is capable of against the legend of the past Wadia CD 861 SE ... alas, the time of legends is inexorably gone (.
SMSL PL200T with an external clock generator left Wadia no chance."

 

[rafalc]

Quote & photos below (c) Andrey Molochnik, soundex dot ru

"Today we made a comparison and showed what the new SMSL PL200T CD transport with a 10 MHz OCXO clock input is capable of against the legend of the past Wadia CD 861 SE ... alas, the time of legends is inexorably gone (.
SMSL PL200T with an external clock generator left Wadia no chance."

Do you need a DAC with clock input also so they run from the same clock? Or just clock to CD player?

 

[PitBul34]

Do you need a DAC with clock input also so they run from the same clock? Or just clock to CD player?

Right, the better choice is to have a DAC with a 10 mHz master clock input to run from the same clock. I have the Gustard R26 R2R ladder DAC.

 

[Iluzun]

This little guy ‘kicks ass’! What clocks have u folks tried. I’ve an OCK2 and a SMSL VMV D2.
Terrific combination. I’ve the matching SMSL ‘player’ also and it is very good. Side by side the
newer T is more refined…. Great player/transports.