While the soundstage isn’t huge, it’s definitely not restricted in any way. It’s not especially wide but it has excellent depth and I can easily guestimate the relative position of musicians in relation to me. It reminds me somewhat of the Topping DX3 Pro Plus, with its precise imaging and clean instrument separation. Verdict At the middle there is the multifunction rotary knob and at the right side a small, three digits display. The overall texture of the C200 is more dry than wet but in exchange you get excellent definition and fast transient response.

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. Built-in discrete component linear power supply and multiple low-noise power supplies for analog circuits; SMSL needs no introduction, founded in 2009 are specialized in the audio DAC, stereo headphone amplifier and power amplifiers with a very competitive prices. If we were keeping score the Aoshida Audio SMSL C200 would loose a half a point in instrument separation in comparison to the DO/HO100 combo, but by itself I do not notice it. I am glad there is a difference between the two options, otherwise SMSL might cut into the sales of the DO100/HO100. I would wager that it is essentially the SU-6/SH-6 instead with improved measurements.

Coming at around two hundred dollars, SMSL C200 doesn’t bring anything new and exciting to the table. What it does offer is a good balance of features, sonic qualities, and value. So let’s take a closer look. Build and Features The SMSL HO100 is a compact desktop headphone amplifier, designed as an entry-level version of the HO200. From the look, it reminds me of Topping recent amp, with a footprint no bigger than an A5 book and front toggles to select your source/gain. If you’re at all familiar with the house sound of SMSL’s newer DAC offerings, the slightly warmer sonic signature of C200 will not surprise you. This warmth is most noticeable in the bass and midbass sections that lend nice fullness to the overall sound signature without influencing or muddying the midrange. Midrange itself is nicely resolving and natural sounding, without excessive sharpening or being obsessed with outlining the edges of a tone with laser-like precision. The same can be said about the highest part of the frequency response which feels open and revealing, but not too prominent or overly bright. All of this put together makes for a natural blend with a slight hit of warmth that doesn’t deviate much from something that most of us would call neutral.

So what does the C200 have to offer when it comes to audio quality? Plenty as it turns out. Once again SMSL has gone with a flat, neutral tuning for the C200. It measures exceptionally well with its linear frequency response and low THD+N. Sound Details and Pairing Now, a burning question in my mind aside from whether SMSL has gone too far with the slimming process of the C100 is if the pedigree of the brand remains sonically sound. I’d say that a cute face is wasted if it has poor talent. use not following the ‘User Guide’ or any additional safety, use, or warnings included in the product materials. 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.

Controls

With a power output of 1.3Wx2, it should have enough muscle to drive all but the most demanding headphones. Thanks to a near 0 Ω output impedance from the headphone section, the C200 is ideal for sensitive all-BA IEMs too. In addition, the headphone output has 2 gain settings: Low-gain 0dB and High-gain 11dB giving you more precise control over the output. Design

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. Governing Law - This contract shall be governed and construed per the laws of the People's Republic of China. Buyer agrees that competent courts in the People's Republic of China shall have exclusive jurisdiction over any legal action concerning this contract. In the event of any dispute related to this contract, the prevailing party shall be entitled to reasonable attorney's fee and costs. FAQs How can I Request a Warranty replacement or repair? 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 & BuildMid-range is crystal clean with spacious allocation and excellent articulation, smooth enough but not warm. C200 is not just a decoder, it also has a powerful headphone amplification circuit that produces a powerful output thrust of up to 2.6W @ 16Ω of impedance load. SMSL has featured dual headphone outputs, one 6.35mm single-ended and another 4.4mm balanced. High-Resolution Bluetooth Input:- Reading the numbers of the C100 may not be the best out there but they’re surely not lagging too far behind even compared to some slightly more expensive DACs. I also noticed that the protective material SMSL chose to cover the display is not completely transparent. It makes it easier for the display to hide when turned off, which for me is a cleaner execution. The sound is transparent, crystal clear and neutral with an absolutely flat frequency response and great fidelity.

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. Digital glare does exist but it doesn’t get annoyingly intrusive and it doesn’t add a metallic timbre to the sound. The USB protocol is USB 1.1, which should be fully compatible with most sources, including PS4, PS5, XBOX, Android and iPhones, and PC, plus, the power input is a typical cattle plug, which should be easy to source. Even better, we have Bluetooth input, supported by a provided antenna, and it has Bluetooth 5.0 with LDAC support. SMSL designed the power supply to be inside the unit, to have better isolation from noise, and with the C200 being built around ESS ES9038Q2M, it can play and decode native DSD512, and PCM Hi-Res signals as high as 32 Bit / 768 kHz.In the beginning, it boots immediately upon plugging in but it can remember to start on standby the next time if preferred.