SMSL DS100 MQA CS43131 Headphone Amplifier and DAC Review

Name: High-quality Smsl Ds100 Mqa Cs43131 Headphone Ampifier And Dac 95% Off - Today Only [cxzyXWO0]
Brand: mappa-mercia.org
SKU: HBS19992355461
Price: 29.99 USD
Availability: InStock
Rating: 4.8 (330 reviews)

Today, we review the SMSL DS100, an entry-level MQA-capable headphone amplifier and DAC using the Cirrus Logic CS43131 DAC chip. It is priced at $89.99 USD.

SMSL is well-known for producing a wide range of audiophile products, including amplifiers and DACs such as the HO100 and the DO100, and higher-end DAC AMP combo units like the SH-9 Pro and the M500 MKII.

Their latest release, the DS100, is likely their most affordable stand-alone headphone amplifier and DAC that we have reviewed to date, priced at just $90.

Using the Cirrus Logic CS43131 DAC chip, while integrating MQA and MQA-CD decoding support, the DS100 certainly has an interesting value proposition. Let's see if this compact device has what it takes to stand out in its category.

Features

Support MQA decoding, support MQA-CD
Cirrus Logic's latest audio decoder chip CS43131, with carefully designed circuitry to achieve a performance of 0.00017% (-115dB) distortion
New third generation XMOS XU-316, PCM support up to 32bit/768kHz, DSD support up to DSD256
Input ports all support MQA and DSD, coaxial and optical support DoP64
Dedicated clock processing circuit for audio, greatly reducing clock jitter
Built-in high-efficiency power supply chip to provide sufficient energy for the decoder, and the use of multiple low-noise LDO power supplies
Equipped with 6.35mm, 4.4mm balanced headphone output
High-quality gold-plated input and output connection terminals
All aluminium alloy CNC precision machined chassis to effectively reduce interference
Japan Audio Society (JAS) Hi-Res certification

Controls

The DS100 features a straightforward and intuitive control system, designed to be user-friendly. The front panel is equipped with a single knob that serves multiple functions: power switch and input selector. Holding the knob will turn the device on or off, while a brief press will cycle through the available input sources.

The slight indentation of the knob, along with the source indicator LEDs, makes the unit easy to use even in low-light conditions. The LEDs provide clear visual feedback on the active input, making it simple to switch between different sources.