SMSL DO100 Review

Sound performances

For this review, I paired the SMSL DO100 with various amps, from the HO100 to the Cayin i-HA6. For headphones, I chose my old Audeze LCD-X, the new FiiO FD7, and the lovely BeyerDynamic DT700 Pro-X

Overall signature

So, what do we get from this tiny box? Very good things actually!

First of all, like the DO200, the SMSL DO100 is the epitome of linear signature. If you’re seeking warm voices or mellow highs, this won’t be the case here and the DAC could easily be used as a production converter, for a recording studio. In fact, I even brought it to a friend, who owns the RME ADI-2 DAC FS – a DAC/headphone-amp dedicated to sound engineers – and we were both surprised by how well the DO100 behaved compared to the RME.

Then, compared to the SMSL DO200, the bigger sibling, the difference was also hard to spot on the first listening – even if on the second try, the DO200 took the upper hand, with better accuracy and transparency. That said, with high-quality recordings, the DO200 remained on top every time, with a wider dynamic range and tighter lows, whatever the track.

Once again, I have to point out what SMSL achieved here: this is a sub-$250 DAC. Sure, cheap&good products are almost the norm in chi-fi, but cheap&great ones are rarer. And, like the DO200, I think the DO100 can easily fit this position, even compared to big guns like my Cayin i-DAC6. 

Ok, to be fair, dynamic range isn’t up to par with my Cayin IDAC-6 and head-to-head the Cayin was able to deliver more punch and more air. But… the SMSL DO400 is also three-time cheaper, and for that price, you get a lot of sound!

Paired with the Beyer, I was amazed by how well it sounded, even with a source as crude as Spotify. This was especially true with dynamic, bass-hitting, tracks like Zulu from A.D.H.S, where some drums seemed to pop up right behind my ears – I like that. It’s precise, dynamic, but sadly, a bit too bright sometimes, even with good recordings. I tried a few different PCM filter settings, but I never got rid of that little itch with the Beyer… until I switched for a different amp.

The SMSL HO100 was a sure choice, but unsurprisingly, going for the HO200 was the best choice out there – especially in XLR. The DAC is impressively silent, with pitch-black background, whatever the input you use, and that is translated directly to the amp. Even when connected as a Bluetooth endpoint, the DO100 delivered a flawless signal and allowed the paired amp – this time the HO200 – to show its full potential.

Paired together, the combo exhibits the same behavior I found on the DO200:  exquisite detail retrieval, at no expense of musicality, with fast decay and rapid transients. In the long run, the DAC always appeared quite pleasant to my ears. SMSL found the sweet spot between accuracy and musicality, especially on the low end. The bass is clean, sharp, and deep. Perfect to my taste.

Connected to my Cayin iHA-6, I didn’t feel a difference between line and pre output, once I maxed out the volume, but there’s a clear improvement going from unbalanced, to balanced. First comes power, then follows depth. In balanced mode, the pan effects are more natural and if some notes could appear muffled, switching from RCA to XLR can definitely make a difference. 

I could immediately hear the enhancement on On My Way from Rui Reis Maia / Yori, as the voice came out sharper, and the bass louder. That was especially true with the Audeze, which really enjoyed the combo, as did my ears. Listening to Solee – Customer is King, confirmed my initial impressions: excellent layering, deep soundstage (even if narrower than the DO200), and authoritative lows. I mostly listen to electro tracks and what I’m seeking are fast transients and decay, good headroom, and hard-kicking lows, and the DO100 didn’t falter. Bravo!

Finally, I tried the line output of the SMSL DO100, plugged into my desktop speakers, the old but mighty KEF LS50 Wireless. A very good idea as, once again, the DAC turned out to be much better than the embedded one, both in terms of resolution and tonicity. It’s a very different experience compared to the HiFiman EF400, which sounded more… raw.

So raise the question: is the DO100 as good as the DO200, for half the price? Not quite, but you get almost 70% of the performances, for 50% of the price. Not a bad deal if you ask me!

The perfect DAC for newcomers in my opinion.

Tonality

The sound signature is absolutely linear, but each frequency range got its own flaws and qualities. A quick overview.

Bass: deep, fast, accurate. The DO100 managed to reach deep notes with ease on my LCD-X and, paired with the HO100, the combo was almost equal to my DO200/HO200 combo in this aspect, falling short only when paired with higher-end headphones. Clearly, in this price range, the SMSL does an awesome job and with planar headphones, the result is amazing!

Test track : Ylang Ylang – FKJ

Mids: flat and clean. Good dynamic range combined with exceptional accuracy and absolutely grain-less/flawless background makes the DO100 perfect for detail lovers. It lacks the DO200 musicality, but I’m sure that you could compensate with the right headphone amp/

Test track : Customer is King – Meute

Highs: straight and technical. Like the DO200 shows excellent control there. It might be a bit too flat for some, especially when compared to the EF400, but for those who seek high-end lows, at a low-end price, this is the one.

Good test track : The Spoils – Massive Attack

Conclusion

Small but mighty, the SMSL DO100 is another great piece of hardware. For less than $250 US Dollars, it’s simply one of the best desktop DAC you could get at the moment.

Sound quality is surprisingly good, build quality is exquisite, I/O is versatile, and the conception design makes it the perfect desk companion, whether if it’s for your computer, a DAP or any other digital source. Pair it with a good headphone amplifier, or a pair of solid powered-speaker, and you’ll get one of the best experiences you might ever get, in this price range.

Sure, it’s not DO200 good, but it’s damn close! Kudos SMSL.