Good and Affordable - SMSL D12 DAC

00:00 Intro
00:19 SMSL D12
04:12 Sound
07:05 vs Topping E30 II
08:36 vs SMSL C200
12:02 vs Topping DX3 pro+

Test system:
Spirit Wind Speakers
Head-Fi:

#hifi #audiophile #dac #stereo

[benkrake]

I just got the C200 a few weeks ago, and I love it. One of the best upgrades for my hifi system ever! Really is a game changer as far as soundstage, detail and tonality goes. Got myself a decent USB type-c cable to connect my phone to it, and it sounds fantastic! Love how this DAC actually shows you what you’re listening to. The tonality is neutral. If you’re listening to music that hasn’t got a lot of bass, it will show you that, but if it does have bass, it will show you with real slam and authority.

[Simon_Hawkshaw]

Thank you so much for this in-depth review and introduction to this 'budget ' DAC.

[CharlesSeraphDrums]

I just got the D12 this past weekend. I’m using it as a dac/pre amp with a Monolith Liquid Spark and Hifiman Sundaras. I upgraded from the iFi UNO that is a very capable yet tiny dac/pre. I noticed much more of a holographic scene and it is far more analytical and neutral than the iFi that has some colouring to the sound. Music sounds just a bit more spacious, clearer, better imaging and separation, maybe at the loss of some “musicality”. Overall, very happy with the SMSL D12, amazing customer support.

[yn]

Ooh--noticed the Topping DX5 Lite--looking forward to that review!

[readyforencore]

How does the D12 compare to the SU-1 in terms of sound? Any noticable differences?

[carlsitler]

Love my affordable SMSL dac (Sanscrit 2 - $110).

[NeilBlanchard]

I suspect that even if you have a USB input that is capable of powering the unit - that if you add a 5V supply to the second input, it would improve the sound quality, at least somewhat?

[JohnMicius]

I bought this, connected my portable music player (Pioneer XDP300r) via Bluetooth, headphones via jack, exactly zero changes in sound. Returned. Is there any model that would improve the sound?

[KostooR]

Hi, thanks for the review! I can't find any info on BT codecs supported by the D12. It has a hi-res certificate, so it should support at least one high-quality bt codec, right? (AAC, AptX or LDAC)

[shipsahoy]

I already have a few DACs that have optical, coaxial, and USB. That said, if one needed a headphone amp just from USB, this one sounds like it could be a very good one with
the “right” headphones for those on a budget that aren’t too picky.

[matthewbyrnes]

Any benefit to using a separate power source rather than powering it from the USB input?

[mohammadmg]

What do you think about fiio k3 ? .. and at this price what else you think is better ?
I have dt990 ed 32 ohm

[ohadschwartz]

Seemz tha C200 is nest option att $200. Does it have e ought power to drive Hifiman eddision XS?

[adamhearts]

mine is blinking 200 and making a ticking noise every second or 2.

is this a dead on arrival unit or... will it do that without an input? thanks

I made a short on my channel showing the issue with the c200

[srdjanstevanovic]

How does it comperes to ifi zen dac, they are cimilar price?

[rodelcastro]

Can this be paired with fosi audio v3 amplifier?

[HevyGee]

Is it qualitatively advantageous to max out my PC's volume and use the DAC's volume control?

[DN]

I wonder how this compares to something like a very affordable Fiio q11 portable DAC/amp (90 to 100), or even cheaper the Venture Electronics Megatron (50) You'd have to be a bit more adventurous for that one. Battery DAC's can deliver more power than Dongles most of them have Balanced outputs as well as single ended.

[carlsitler]

.4 watts isn't enough for my planar. My Asgard 3 has 5 watts.

[dstrssr]

How powerful is this compared to Hidizs XO?