SMSL PO100 PRO MQA DDC XMOS XU316 Digital to Analog Audio Converter Type-C USB Input IIS/Optical/Coaxial Output Mini Portable USB Interface for Phone/PS5/Switch/TV

This thing has made me re-think my car audio setup! I intentionally bought this just to use the coaxial output as a hub between my laptop and DSP for EQ'ing, but when I actually read up more about it I decided to try it out before I did any EQ'ing. I ended up using it with my phone for the MQA decoding and wow did it work wonders! The overall clarity and extra information given has blown my mind, I am by no means an expert on high end speakers and hi def music but to my average ears it's practically a night and day difference. In my opinion when comparing my Fiio M11s and my Samsung S23ultra I would be a bit hard pressed to spot a noticable difference honestly. I can't wait to EQ and see what kind of difference I'll hear in the end, that'll be the next hurdle for me. So for the price I would say give it a try if you have a DSP and are on the fence of getting a DAP.

This little unit is NOT a DAC, as described in the listing. Instead, it is used to adapt usb digital input to coaxial or fiber optic digital output. The big takeaway, though, is that this digital to digital converter, includes a 'reclocking' feature that cleans up the signal in a way that improves the sound quality substantially. I use it as the YouTube reviewers 'Cheapaudioman' and 'Old Guy HiFi' recommend: Use USB output from WiiM Ultra streamer through this unit into a digital input (I use optical toslink into my Geshelli Labs J3S DAC.) The sound improvement using this little unit is well worth the price. Resulting sound rivals much more expensive DACs. Highly recommended.

I received my SMSL PO100 Pro Digital to Digital converter quickly after ordering, given that the unit was shipped from overseas. AOSHIDA, the Amazon seller, was very proactive and kept me informed on the status of my order via email messages including notifying me of the arrival of my order in the US and when my order had cleared US Customs. Total number of days from order to receipt of the SMSL PO100 Pro was just 9 days.I purchased the SMSL PO100 Pro from Amazon based on an online review and recommendation that the SMSL PO100 Pro can be used to re-clock the digital signal from the WiiM Ultra preamplifier to reduce jitter in the digital stream from the WiiM Ultra. Based on my listening experience with headphones the SMSL PO100 Pro when used as a digital signal re-clocker improved the sound I heard. The output of the WiiM Ultra is very pleasing. However, to test the effect of re-clocking the digital signal I inserted the SMSL PO100 Pro in between the WiiM Ultra (using the WiiM Ultra's USB port as an output and sent the streaming signal to the SMSL PO100 Pro's USB-C input.) The re-clocked signal was then routed via a digital optical cable to my Denon PMA-600NE (purchased from Amazon) stereo amplifier that has two optical inputs and an internal DAC (I can't recall which DAC but it sounds very good to me). The best way to describe the improvement in audio is that the transient sounds including drum sticks hitting wood blocks, generally any percussive sound was cleaner, clearer. In comparison, without the digital signal re-clocking performed by the SMSL PO100 Pro these transients as streamed from the WiiM Ultra sounded smeared (that is the best way I can describe what I was hearing.)The SMSL PO100 Pro comes with everything you need to connect the unit in between a computer or in my case the WiiM Ultra's USB output and a digital amplifier. The required 5V power is provided to the SMSL PO100 Pro via the USB-C connection.) SMSL provides a USB-A to USB-C interconnect cable (approximately 24 inches in length) and a shorter USB-C to USB-C interconnect cable. The digital amplifier must have an optical connection and its own internal Digital to Analog Converter (DAC). Alternately, you can connect the digital optical output of the SMSL PO100 PRO to a Digital Analog Converter that has an optical input (Note that the WiiM Pro Plus streaming unit (I purchased from Amazon) has both an optical input and and optical output so you could use a WiiM Pro Plus as the DAC and then use the RCA output connections on the WiiM Pro Plus to connect to a two channel stereo amplifier that may not have an optical input or an internal DAC.

This product has been getting some hype from YouTube reviewers lately. It is touted as a product that will enhance the performance of relatively inexpensive DACs. I think that is generally true, but there are some things to know before you buy.The unit comes in simple packaging, a cardboard sleeve over a foam insert - there is no box. USB A to C, and USB C to C cables are included, along with a short manual and owner's card. The unit is smaller than a deck of playing cards and is USB powered, there is no port for an external power supply. Thus, I would not expect a level of performance that would improve a highly resolving home system.One thing you should know is that this is not a DAC and is incorrectly described on the site. It is a DDC (digital to digital converter) with no analog outputs. The sole input is USB C. For outputs you have the choice of optical, coaxial, and I2S. There is a switch on the top that allows you to select two I2S pin configurations for compatibility for different DACs, and a second switch that allows you to select between UAC1 and UAC2 for different USB sources. I only used the PO100 in an office desktop system, primarily connected to a Windows 10 PC and the optical input of the Fosi Audio ZD3. Speakers in the system are the Audioengine A2+. I also ran it into a Benchmark HDR DAC1 driving Focal Clear headphones.I did not have a preconceived notion as to whether adding the PO100 would improve the sound, but simply wanted to try the unit before the new tariffs kick in. My PC is home built and relatively noisy, I was hoping that adding the DDC and using an optical connection would, at the very least, reduce any noise coming down the USB cable.Upon listening, one thing I noticed was a volume attenuation. I normally set volume on the ZD3 at about 50, with the DDC I needed to set it to 58 to achieve the same volume. The A2+ speakers image quite well for near field listening - I thought I heard an improvement with the PO100. I also thought the soundstage was improved - horns seem to be coming from a location closer to the listener. With the Benchmark/Focal Clear, it seemed as if the bass response was enhanced. There was no noise even in quiet passages. I did not notice any difference in resolution/detail. The effects produced by devices like this are subtle - some say they are products of the fertile imagination of audiophiles. At this price, you can likely afford to take a chance. YMMV.