2024 BEST DAC UNDER $100 - SMSL PS200 Review - Part 1

I can wholeheartedly say, we have a new King in the under $100 DAC category. The SMSL SU-1 has been dethroned by the PS200.
Of course it isn't a perfect product, as most products, you can always do better, but at it's price, I don't think there is a better option for sound quality.

I'd like to thank @aoshidahifi for the review sample.

Get it here:

You don't have to buy a suggested item, you simply have to purchase whatever you were going to anyway and the channel received between 0.5% and 4.0% commission (instead of going to Mr. Bezos) for referring you.

Other DACs:

Sign up for a Free 30 day trial of ROON here:

Please consider leaving a tip to support the channel!

EQ and Tone Control:

And my favorite cables:

Check out these products as well:

FTC: THIS VIDEO IS NOT SPONSORED.
LINKS: The links above are affiliate, meaning I may make a small percentage if you use my link. The good news is it never affects the price you pay and it’s an easy way to help support the channel and the work that I do.

[jemsmay]

Picked up a SU-1 at Black Friday price ($67). Love the AKM sound feeding WiiM stream into my vintage dorm room system (Kenwood 4070 receiver, Akai cassette deck, large Advents). Now I can listen to sharp, detailed digi tunes and sweet full sounding vinyl (coming from a Fluance 85) on the same system. What’s not to love? This really is the golden age of hifi. Thanks for a great and concise review.

[OldGuyHifi]

Rick, I will be drop[ping a review on an $80 unit with swappable op amps as soon as it hit Amazon. Great review as usual.

[jp]

I just ordered the PS200 to a/b with the SU-1 that I’ve had for awhile and really enjoy.

[kunyang]

Hi Rick, by any chance you have tried the bluetooth function on PS200, I'm debating between using PS200 via bluetooth and PS100 via ARC for my tv speakers. I wonder if using PS200 via bluetooth still offer significantly better sound quality than PS100.

If you know of other DAC that has ARC connection (or good bluetooth sound..) under $200 please feel free to share, I'm all about the using one remote control 😂

[SvenfromKiel]

Thanks …but where is part2? Actually I am more with the SU1 because of the AKM-(sound) and the better case..

[Vince_]

How does smsl ps 200 perform compared wtih topping d50iii

[EARLandPEARL-ci]

My smsl su1 which i bought in october 2023 dropped dead today...just bought another

[YeahNahMaybe]

SMSLPS200 over rated, over hyped piece of crap, never has any bit of equipment come & gone so fast in my system in my 50 years of enjoying the audio hobby. It lasted 3 minutes in my system. Waiting for my refund from amazon as I type.