SMSL PO100 Pro

Quadaptor!

Quadaptor!

Active Member
If you are like me and use a hard drive for playing back burned CDs and are thinking about another DAC, give the SMSL PO100 Pro a spin. I picked one up a couple weeks ago and without getting mired down too much subjective speak I have to say it really bumped up my game in clarity or precision in sound and soundstage. Anyway, it's probably the best 60-bucks I've spent on hifi gear in ages. I just thought I'd pass my experience along and foster some discussion if anyone is interested.
 
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The PO100 Pro is not a DAC. It is a USB interface. It takes USB input and converts it to SPDIF or i2s output. It does it very well!

The PO100 AK is a DAC but I think the SMSL U-1 does a much better job as a DAC.
 
stoutblock said:
The PO100 Pro is not a DAC. It is a USB interface. It takes USB input and converts it to SPDIF or i2s output. It does it very well!

The PO100 AK is a DAC but I think the SMSL U-1 does a much better job as a DAC.
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Yes, what I'm saying is that when used between my laptop and DAC in the capacity you described, it made a remarkable difference. What I'm suggesting is that one may want to consider giving the PO100 Pro a try as an alternative to moving on to a more costly DAC. It might just breath some new life into the DAC being used now. I figured the topic would be relevant to the DAC forum.
 
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I'm not expert by any means but I think what you're experiencing may be related to the device reclocking your digital signal? I watched a YouTube video about this very thing and also purchased one to check it out. In my situation it robbed the life from the music. Smsl po100 pro for sale! Lol!
 
Triggered said:
I'm not expert by any means but I think what you're experiencing may be related to the device reclocking your digital signal? I watched a YouTube video about this very thing and also purchased one to check it out. In my situation it robbed the life from the music. Smsl po100 pro for sale! Lol!
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I'm trying to learn more about this too and its unfortunate it didn't work for you. However, it does have something to do with reclocking the digital signal and maybe someone here can explain it better. I use it between my laptop and my DAC, which may explain our different experiences. As I understand it, computers are noisy devices and the PO100PRO was designed to convert USB into a SPDIF. From what I understand, USB was designed to run computers and not audio devices, and SPDIF (Sony/Phillips Digital Interconnect) was designed improve this situation for audio use. But again, maybe somebody here can give us the definitive explanation!
 
I had the exact same experience.
Using the SMSL PO100 Pro as a re-clocker between my obsolete MacBook “streamer” and external DAC, I was startled by the extended detail and staging. It sounds better than my WiiM Ultra when A/B comparing the same Amazon Unlimited (streaming) songs. I was skeptical after all the YouTube hubbub. Now I‘m a believer.
 
Triggered said:
I'm not expert by any means but I think what you're experiencing may be related to the device reclocking your digital signal? I watched a YouTube video about this very thing and also purchased one to check it out. In my situation it robbed the life from the music. Smsl po100 pro for sale! Lol!
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DM me if you really want to sell it
 
Triggered said:
You two have my interest piqued as to why it didn't work for me in such an overt way. I may mess with it again this weekend. What kind of DAC are you using? I'm using an r2r DAC.
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I'm using a Schiit Modi I bought new about two years ago. I was seriously thinking about replacing it with a Geshelli Labs J3, but not anymore. Besides, I have a big question that no one has fully answered about what you really get when spending more money on DACs. It seems like there's a certain percentage of a DAC that has to do with the basic function of signal conversion and a certain percentage that I'm not convinced does anything more than sound manipulation through circuitry having nothing to do with that basic function, i.e., sound processing. Anyway, for about 70-bucks I figure I got what I would have got for about 700-bucks with the J3, or any other DAC in that price range. For a test, I'd suggest streaming something from a laptop with and without the PO100PRO between it and your DAC. I'm not streaming, but I am using a hard drive on a laptop to play back a digital library of music. Best of luck!
 
Quadaptor! said:
I'm using a Schiit Modi I bought new about two years ago. I was seriously thinking about replacing it with a Geshelli Labs J3, but not anymore. Besides, I have a big question that no one has fully answered about what you really get when spending more money on DACs. It seems like there's a certain percentage of a DAC that has to do with the basic function of signal conversion and a certain percentage that I'm not convinced does anything more than sound manipulation through circuitry having nothing to do with that basic function, i.e., sound processing. Anyway, for about 70-bucks I figure I got what I would have got for about 700-bucks with the J3, or any other DAC in that price range. For a test, I'd suggest streaming something from a laptop with and without the PO100PRO between it and your DAC. I'm not streaming, but I am using a hard drive on a laptop to play back a digital library of music. Best of luck!
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I haven't used the Modi, however the first DAC that I purchased was the Modi+. When the Fiio r2r came out I tried it and the sound was so much more open and the soundstage so much larger on my setup that I switched permanently.

Regarding test streaming from a laptop, I just don't have any need for a computer in my setup. I wonder if reclocking is more important for chip based DACs than resistor based units?...Also, the USB output on the Wiim Ultra, which is used for the PO100 Pro hack, is restricted to 44.1khz while spdif runs at 192khz so if you aren't having clocking issues I suppose that would deteriorate sound quality wouldn't it?
 
Triggered said:
I haven't used the Modi, however the first DAC that I purchased was the Modi+. When the Fiio r2r came out I tried it and the sound was so much more open and the soundstage so much larger on my setup that I switched permanently.

Regarding test streaming from a laptop, I just don't have any need for a computer in my setup. I wonder if reclocking is more important for chip based DACs than resistor based units?...Also, the USB output on the Wiim Ultra, which is used for the PO100 Pro hack, is restricted to 44.1khz while spdif runs at 192khz so if you aren't having clocking issues I suppose that would deteriorate sound quality wouldn't it?
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I'm still learning myself so I'm underqualified to answer your question. I was suggesting you replicate my experience as a form of litmus testing. I had heard that the PO100PRO would improve the quality of the signal in my situation. That is, playback from a computer-based output signal. And that it did. However, I suspect it wouldn't be necessary with other components of my system such as the Audiolab CD transport or the Pioneer Elite digital tuner. So, my needs were very specific. I'm hoping that someone here can jump in with more knowledge on the subject.
 
Got an SMSL PO100 Pro recently.

Before signal chain 1: Qobuz to WiiM Ultra via ethernet, WiiM to Hegel H600 via Coax.

Before signal chain 2: Qobuz via Roon, Roon to H600 via ethernet.

After signal chain 3: same as signal chain (SC) 1, but with PO100 Pro inserted between WiiM(via USB) & H600(via coax).

Speakers are Sonus Faber Sonetto IIIs & KEF KC62.

With comparison between SC1 & 2, SC2 is the hands down winner. SC2 makes you go OMG with the rich, tight bass that the H600 can provide. With both SC1&2, I always felt the extreme hi end was rolled off, but hey, I got 24/7 tinnitus & other than a rug, my listening room is untreated yet.

SC2 & 3 are both great. SC3 gets rid of the hi end roll off & again I go OMG, something really was missing on the hi end! But there's a bit of sacrifice on the bottom end richness & timber provided by SC2 configuration - hard to quantify, maybe 5-10% loss, closer to 5.

Light shows blue on unit. Changing switch settings from UAC2(as recieved new) to UAC1 result in no signal, so UAC2 it is. No change with the I2S switch, but i bet they're for the HDMI output, which I currently don't have a need for.

So what does all this mean? I get 3 distinctively different sounding outputs fed digitally into the same DAC(onboard Hegel). If I could have my preference, it would be a combo of the bottom/low mid richness & timber of SC2 with the brighter top end of SC3. If I have to choose between 2&3, it'll be SC3(for now) because Roon (addl monthly expense) isn't needed to get that sound.

Sorry for the long post, but there's a lot of info there that might help somebody else down the road. Heck, somebody might be able to help me! ;P
 
Granted its late at night for me right now, but could you clarify your thoughts on the PO100 PRO in your tests? Many thanks and keep in mind I may not be the sharpest tool hanging in the barn. Thanks!
 
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