Marcelo opinions the SMSL DS20, a conveyable quad CS43131 DAC and built-in balanced amplifier able to as much as 500mW of output energy. It’s presently priced at $189.99.
Disclaimer: I acquired this pattern in change for my trustworthy opinion. Headfonics is an unbiased web site with no affiliate hyperlinks or partnerships. Thanks to Shenzhen Audio and SMSL for his or her assist.
Click on right here to study extra in regards to the SMSL merchandise we’ve beforehand reviewed on Headfonics.
This text follows our present scoring pointers, which you’ll find in additional element right here.
SMSL DS20 Evaluation
Abstract
The SMSL DS20 is a really solid-feeling moveable DAC and headphone amplifier with an lively bass tuning and a impartial midrange tone. It appears to be like and appears like a costlier product than its worth may counsel.
Professionals
Glorious bass extension, definition, management, and pace.
Clear-sounding midrange.
Glorious dynamics inside its energy restrict.
Cons
Not the smoothest treble.
The brilliant LEDs are annoying.
I’ve heard a few of SMSL’s desktop DACs and headphone amplifiers at a latest HiFi present, and so they sound clear. Even one in all their least costly desktop DACs, the SMSL SU-1 ($80), which I exploit for my spare PC setup, isn’t any exception.
The $189.99 SMSL DS20 is their first battery-powered moveable DAC/ amplifier. It makes use of 4 Cirrus Logic CS43131 DAC chips for higher efficiency in comparison with only one, a totally balanced amplifier part, and an enormous 6000mAh battery, with as much as 500mW of output energy.
Their product web page for the DS20 contains nice measurement outcomes and excellent efficiency specs. Which I contemplate believable, based mostly on their glorious observe file at a third-party testing web site with their earlier merchandise.
However all these glorious specs and measured efficiency outcomes imply nothing if the audio product doesn’t sound good, so how does the SMSL DS20 sound?
Particularly when in comparison with the vacuum tube-equipped MUSE HiFi M5 Extremely, which I reviewed lately, and the venerable Topping G5? Discover out in my full evaluate beneath.
Options
As talked about earlier, the DS20 makes use of 4 well-known Cirrus Logic CS43131 digital-to-analog converter chips, that are extensively used at present, and 500 mW headphone amplifiers with an SMSL-designed suggestions system per channel.
The DS20 makes use of the threerd era XMOS XU-316 asynchronous USB audio receiver, which helps as much as 32-bit/768 kHz PCM digital audio alerts and DSD256 digital audio alerts. This implies it’s suitable with nearly any digital supply at present.
Along with the ever-present USB 2.0 assist, it conveniently helps USB 1.1 to be used with gaming consoles such because the PS5 and the Change, extending its versatility.
The DS20 has a giant 6000mAh lithium-ion battery, which is nice for lengthy use. That is barely value mentioning because of its unpopularity, but it surely has MQA 8x decoding assist.
Design
The DS20 chassis is wholly machined out of strong aluminum alloy, as I can see no seams in all its exterior metallic components. A transparent tempered glass covers the entrance, letting the person see the neatly laid-out circuit board and the high-quality surface-mounted components.
I really like the strong really feel of the physique that doesn’t make any rattling noise when shaken; it has a pleasant weight to it, making it really feel like a high-quality, costly product.
The DS20’s flat, cuboid-shaped physique is obvious on all sides besides on the backside, the place the I/Os and controls are positioned, which is machined into a stunning, scalloped form with an identical design language to a few of their higher-end desktop merchandise.
Relating to battery-powered DAC/ amplifiers, the DS20 is taken into account medium, with dimensions of 71mm x 17mm x 118.5mm (WxHxD). It’s between the Topping G5 and Muse HiFi M5 Extremely, which will likely be in contrast later on this evaluate.
The circuit board is populated with vivid LEDs, which I discover annoying and can talk about within the management part beneath.
I/O
All of the I/O’s are positioned on the backside of the DS20, with solely two output jacks: the 4.4mm balanced and three.5mm single-ended. I’m glad they didn’t embrace a 2.5mm output jack, as it could solely waste house as a result of it’s an irrelevant and out of date connection.
I’d have beloved it extra if it included two USB-C ports, separating the charging and knowledge switch like its rivals: the Topping G5 and the Muse HiFi M5 Extremely.
As an alternative, it solely has one which serves each functions. This isn’t too dangerous, however utilizing it whereas charging is a giant bonus when you’ve two.
Connectivity
Because of the third-generation XMOS XU-316 asynchronous USB audio receiver, the DS20 connects immediately with all of the sources I attempted: PC, Laptop computer, telephones, and DAPs, with no hiccups.
By no means did the DS20 require a driver, but when the PC or laptop computer is just too previous, you received’t be capable to use it, as no driver is obtainable. However it’s best to be capable to use it so long as your PC is no less than Home windows 7.
Controls
The DS20 has solely two controls: an on/off swap and a pressable quantity management wheel. Its easy protocol makes it simple and intuitive to make use of.
A half-second press of the on/off button turns it on, a fast press places it into standby mode, one other fast press takes it out of standby mode, and a 3-second press turns it off.
One press of the quantity wheel permits you to choose between USB 1.1 and a couple of.0. Turning it steers you to the setting, yet one more press confirms it, and that’s all of the management there’s; it’s that easy.
The brilliant LEDs on the circuit board are annoying and can’t be dimmed or turned off.
There are 4 white LEDs, one for every CS43131, 15 different white LEDs to point the quantity and connection, and one other 4 smaller blue LEDs to point the battery stage. I want the LEDs could possibly be dimmed.
Battery
SMSL by no means printed the DS20 battery life and charging time, however based mostly on my statement, it is the same as the opposite DAC/ amplifiers, which ought to final greater than 10 hours, and about 2 hours or much less of charging time.
The DS20 expenses with each USB-C connection, together with energy supply (PD), QC 3.0, previous Kind-C charger, and unusual Kind-A charger.
Battery life varies based mostly on how loud the individual is listening and the way tough the IEM or headphones are to drive.
Packaging & Equipment
The DS20 packaging is sensible; it’s a white-gray field that’s simple to open and has foam linings inside to guard the DS20. It additionally features a handbook, a calling card, a small Hello-Res sticker, and a meter-long USB-A to USB-C cable.
Sound Impressions
I did my SMSL DS20 listening impressions utilizing my MacBook Professional laptop computer, PC, Samsung S21 Extremely Android cellphone, FiiO M15s DAP, and Shanling M3X DAP.
My examined IEMs and headphones included the Sennheiser HD 6XX, DUNU’s Falcon Extremely Ti, the Kiwi Ears Astral, and the Xenns Mangird Prime. With balanced 4.4mm connections to maximise the out there output energy.
Burn-in time was about 24 hours earlier than critical listening was carried out.
I used the UAPP music participant App on my cellphone and DAPs; no EQ and different sound enhancements have been used.
Abstract
The DS20 sounds dynamic and vigorous, with a transparent and barely ahead sound presentation when listening at medium to excessive volumes.
I’m listening to additional vitality at bass beneath 300 Hz and treble above 5 kHz, making its tonality barely V-shaped. This contributes to its energetic and fascinating sound.
In fact, it has a flat frequency response when measured, however this subjective evaluation relies on my comparability with different DAC/amplifiers that I’ve heard.
The DS20 has a powerful-sounding bass with glorious depth and tightness. I heard extra textured rumble than I’ve with the opposite DAP/amplifiers on this evaluate. It has a quick assault but additionally renders slow-decaying bass very nicely, making it sound articulate.
Whereas impartial in temperament, the midrange is obvious and coloration-free. It has a clear background decay, inflicting the midrange devices and vocals to sound reasonable.
The treble is energetic with a barely ahead presentation. Including to the general readability and vividness of the DS20’s sound.
Coloration
Along with its barely ahead treble presentation, I hear some emphasis across the DS20’s 8 kHz area when utilizing the Kiwi Ears Astral. The DS20 exacerbates the hump within the Astral’s frequency response in that area, which doesn’t occur with the opposite DAC/ amplifiers on this evaluate.
This isn’t dangerous, although; it isn’t apparent, only a minuscule subtlety I heard from vital listening and comparisons.
Staging & Dynamics
The DS20 has a large and spacious soundstage, which is wider than it’s deep in its form, with excessive left-to-right panning of the instrument, however not as a lot front-to-back layering.
The front-to-back spaciousness isn’t dangerous, although. It isn’t flat, and there’s nonetheless numerous perceptible zooming in or out and layering of the photographs.
There are ample areas between the devices, and the photographs are nicely outlined with good separation, particularly the middle vocals.
That mentioned, the perceived decision is excessive, and so are the small print. I’m listening to numerous nuances from the music delivered with good stability between subtleties and boldness, transient response and decay, stopping it from sounding analytical and chilly.
Click on on web page 2 beneath for my beneficial pairings and chosen comparisons.
