SMSL DO100 PRO HiFi Balanced DAC with 2X ES9039Q2M & XMOS XU316, 768kHz/DSD512 USB Audio MQA Decoder Preamp, Bluetooth 5.1/Opt/Coax/HDMI ARC Input, RCA/XLR Digital-Analog Converter for PS5/Amp

So, for unrelated reasons I ended up getting rid of my schiit midi and pair of Amphion Argon 1's about a year and a half ago. They were replaced with a pair of Klipsch RP600Ms and the built-in deck on my bluesound node. I have been fairly disappointed ever since but assumed the bulk of the issue was related to the speakers. I didn't have the $1,000 or more it would take to improve drastically on the Klipsches so I lived with it. That's until I purchased this DAC on a whim. I was blown away. The clarity was increased. The soundstage broadened and deepened. Vocals that were supposed to be grounded in the middle sounded more grounded in the middle. I was truly amazed at how much better a 230 DAC could be the one built in on the node. To be clear, I am still using the node for streaming. I am connecting to the SMSL DAC via optical. This has been a massive upgrade. I thought to get a better DAC then in the nude I would have to spend over $500.

The media could not be loaded. Recently I’ve gotten into resurrecting some vintage HiFi systems (starting with my dad’s Revox). The issue is that they obviously don’t have an internal Digital to Analog Converter to run streaming services.I’ve been using S.M.S.L. AO300 by Aoshida for the last few weeks as a general compact HiFi for streaming and to power some external speakers for the TV. I was so impressed by this little powerhouse that I wanted to try one of their DAC units. As it happened, Aoshida just released the DO100Pro, an upgrade from their previous high resolution DAC. I was lucky enough to buy one of the first units, so figured I’d give a quick rundown.As with the previous S.M.S.L. AO300, it comes very well packaged with a manual, computer style power cord, USB A to C adapter cable, Bluetooth antenna and a nice little compact remote (you do need to add batteries).The case is all metal, with a CNC front fascia and formed metal main section. It has the updated fascia style with the wave design over a plain box design of the previous DO100. There is a good sized display screen with large font and next to it a concave selector knob/dial for volume and menu selection.On the I/O back panel there is a pair of balanced XLR and a set of single ended RCA outputs. As far as inputs, there is a wide array: Optical, Coaxial, USB-C 2.0 and 1.1(for game consoles), Bluetooth 5.1, and HDMI ARC, which is new on the Pro.Internally there are upgraded components over the previous model. The new dual ESS DAC chips have better dynamic range and ultra-low distortion, and there is a new 3rd generation controller chip with two additional Op-Amp chips, for a total of 6. There is also decoding for MQA in the Pro model. I don’t dabble in that, so can’t say too much about it.This is a DAC only, so it does need an external power amp. I used it directly on powered desktop speakers, and a few different passive speakers via vintage and semi-vintage amplifiers. I do not have any XLR gear, so I did not have a chance to test that.Sound wise this DAC is exactly what I’d hoped for. Just as with the AO300, there is an extremely low noise floor (non-existent basically). The tiniest of details can be clearly heard on decent speakers. Obviously speakers make a big difference in how good things sound, so the better the speaker, the better the sound quality. That is probably my only gripe with this and the newer high resolution audio equipment - you really notice the difference between good and bad recordings.No matter which input I used, all worked flawlessly. The Bluetooth 5.1 connected with my phones immediately, and stayed connected throughout my listening area, which is pretty much the whole house. I use an older phone as my streaming device hooked up via USB-C. This allows me to bypass the phone’s internal DAC and lets the DO100Pro do its thing. Usually I use this while sitting in the listening sweet spot running a playlist and use the remote for volume. My current phone is connected via Bluetooth, so I can change music if I’m walking around.The interface is streamlined and simple to use. Pressing the dial center enters the program menu, starting with input. It cycles through USB, Bluetooth, Coax, and HDMI ARC. Another press puts it into the PCM filter selection, of with there are 7 levels. Next are the 9 DPLL settings, which is for clock jitter. The default of 1 for both of these worked just fine for me. Lastly is the brightness control of the screen.For me, the DO100Pro is a homerun for Aoshida. Though it’s an entry level model, it doesn’t compromise on sound quality, and that is the most important part of course. The higher models have more features such as sound modes, more complex screens, and internal headphone out amps, but those all come with a price increase. If you’re looking for a quality high resolution DAC that doesn’t require a crash course on settings or break the bank, the DO100Pro should be on the short list.

This DAC does most of what I need and does so in a measurable SOTA manner.I bought this DAC for my TV, hoping it would turn on automatically when the optical signal does. Unfortunately, that is a feature that only Topping products have.I switched out a Topping DAC from elsewhere and now use this one in its place. It works great, although I have to manually turn it on each time with the button or remote.I know I’m not supposed to hear a difference, but the Topping seemed smoother and more mellow. Technically they measure the same and have very similar features.I like the balanced output and that it displays the sample rate in use. I also like that it has Bluetooth, although I use it with a Wiim mini’s optical out.Overall, it is a good product and built like a tank. It just seems to be missing some roundness compared to some of my other gear. That and an auto-on/off feature.

This DAC is worth every penny. I've used all the inputs except HDMI(opt, coax, usb-c, and bluetooth), and they all work great. Running an optical cable from my 101- disc cd player really brought out dynamics and detail from my cd's that I hadn't heard before. I stream through the coax connection, and it proved equal in sound quality to the Marantz receiver I formerly used, but with a bigger soundstage. The manual was just okay, but not hard to understand, and setup is pretty easy. Spending 10-15 minutes with the manual will allow you to make a breeze out of using all functions to get the most out of this little gem. I've been a stereo guy for over 40 years with an above average setup. I research a lot before spending my money, and, with the exception of cd's, this is my first venture into the digital side of things. I didn't want to "bet the farm" on my first purchase, so this was a safer bet, in case I was wrong. I couldn't have been more right! This won't be the only DAC I ever buy, but I doubt I'll ever sell this little gem(the HDMI input makes it useful for home theater when it's time to upgrade), and I will likely have to pay 3-4 times as much to see an appreciable increase in sound quality. I can definitely endorse the purchase of an SMSL DO100 Pro from Aoshida.