SMSL B200 Bluetooth Receiver – LDAC Clarity And aptX HD Strength
SMSL B200 is a $85 USD Bluetooth Receiver and DAC, with a very rectangular design, and a 2.33″ display at the front. Today we will explore the B200, what it is, how it works, and how it sounds.
Introduction
SMSL is one of the most popular Chifi sellers in the Chifi / Audiophile industry, and they quickly rose to fame thanks to how well the DACs, AMPs and other equipment they make measures. Even I am using a SMSL DO200 PRO for my daily listening using my speakers right now, as I find the volume control convenient and the zero background noise very good, but as B200 is an entry-level Bluetooth receiver, we will have to apply a more rigorous testing and see how much you can cut from the price before it becomes a problem. As an Amazon Influencer, I earn from qualifying purchases, and using the purchase links in my reviews helps me maintain this website and Youtube Channel. Huge thanks to SMSL and HiFi Express for providing us with the sample for this review.
PROs – Great value, strong bluetooth connection, LDAC and aptX HD support, relaxed and smooth sound with a neutral bass, and solid build quality, with no background noise.
Cons – No Preamp function, a pause of about 1 second every time you resume playing.
Product Link
Official Link – https://hifi-express.com/products/smsl-b200
Amazon – https://amzn.to/48ltkJa
Build Quality/Aesthetics
A funny thing revealed to me in a dream, or rather from experience is that the chip inside of B200 is recognized as FiiO SP3 BT, and the two may be using a similar module for processing the Bluetooth input and USB DAC input. This being said, B200 is a unit of its own, and you can use it as both a Bluetooth Receiver and also as a USB DAC. For the USB DAC function, it supports data rates up to 24 Bit / 96 kHz.
With Bluetooth, there is a bit of delay, as you’d expect from the Bluetooth protocol itself, but if you’re using the B200 via USB, there is a tiny bit of USB DAC delay, around 2 frames of content, which should be between 20 and 40 ms. It is not noticeable, and you can easily enjoy watching movies, music videos and live concerts using B200, although the delay may be relevant if you plan on gaming using it.
The sound also does not start immediately, and there’s around a second of silence after you press play, but there is no popping sound nor any kind of distortion and this approach just mutes the first second of each sound, if no sound has been paying for the past 3 seconds. Stopping a song is instantaneous.
The DAC chip at the heart of B200 is a Cirrus Logic CS43131 which we’ve seen many times in multiple configurations now, including being implemented on high-end devices, like FiiO Ka11, Hiby Digital Xeno, ddHiFi TC35PRO, iBasso DC07 PRO, and iBasso DX180. This DAC chip always shows a low background noise and a fairly natural sound. Where B200 delivers some shiny, new abilities that are not seen on the market, is by supporting LDAC and aptX HD, and needs only a type-C usb input of 5V to be fully powered.
The full power consumption is below 1W, while the standby power consumption is lower than 0.1W, with the unit having a pretty consistent weight of 375 grams and a size of 72mm x 108mm x 72mm. It is a square that is long in depth. There is a coaxial output, and an RCA output, an optical output, while the inputs are either USB or Bluetooth. If you do not install the bluetooth antenna you will have a poor signal, but with the bluetooth antenna it works very well.
There is no remote, but you can control everything from your smartphone, and if you are using the Bluetooth input, the name of the artist and the song, as well as the remaining time of the song will be displayed on the 2.33″ display, Overall, B200 looks and behaves beautifully with no eros or problems.
Sound Quality
Pairings – To test the B200 I have either driven it via Bluetooth or USB from my computer, and I have used it to power a pair of Fosi Audio v3 Mono Amplifiers and to drive Pylon Audio Diamond 30 mkii speakers, to power up the Singxer SA-1 V2 Headphone Amplifier and to drive the Erzetich Thalia Headphones, and together with Topping A50 III to drive Audeze MM-100. The sound of the B200 is free of background noise, as long as the AMP is not too sensitive, it does not overpower any amplifier, and it sounds crisp, detailed, slightly gentle and soft in the midange, and has a pretty natural – neutral bass. The display shows the information about the song that is playing , data rate, the bluetooth protocol that is being used, and looks really beautiful in person.
Overall Signature – Although we don’t speak much about the tuning and signature when it comes to such a mini Bluetooth Receiver DAC, it has a pretty clean signature, it is free of background noise and interference, even if I am using it via the Bluetooth input. In fact, there is almost no sonic difference between the bluetooth and the USB input, the sound is clean and detailed, holographic and wide. There’s a good sense of instrument separation and the leading element is the sweet and playful midrnage, while the bass is kept neutral in amount, natural in speed, and with a good amount of detail. The treble extends naturally up to 20 kHz, there is no noticeable roll-off, but the treble is kept somewhat gentle, fatigue-free and smooth. Using LDAC will improve the sound significantly compared to using aptX HD.
Bass – If you’re looking for a honest DAC, SMSL B200 is perfect, it brings a neutral-natural bass, gives music enough extension to never sound rolled-off, but is not bloomy nor overpowering. The bass speed is slow, creating a romantic and natural approach, which is not too technical.
Midrange – SMSL generally has a house tuning with a forward midrange, and this is the case with B200 too, this is a DAC that has plenty of mids, presence in the voices and instruments. Most lead instruments are projected really close to you, and so are lead voices. The midrange tonality is natural-neutral, B200 presents male voices as powerful and deep, and female voices as emotional and sweet, it emphasizes both nicely and is pleasing with all music styles. In fact versatility across multiple music styles is a huge plus for B200.
Treble – For a gentler, fatigue-free treble, SMSL B200 sounds detailed, crisp and sharp, it has a good amount of resolution and detail, but the treble is always smooth and fatigue-free, relaxed. There is enough extension and presence for you to hear the cymbal crashes, but the speed is slow with a natural character, not too wet, not too dry, so treble sounds relaxed and smooth.
Volume Control – There is no Preamplifier function with B200, you need to use the digital volume from the smartphone or PC to control the volume. There is no big difference with different volume levels, and changing the volume does not increase the background noise, great results.
Dynamics / PRaT / Textures – The texture is generally smooth and lush, as B200 has a slow impulse response, creating a very relaxed presentation. You can hear the square waves and edgy parts in music if you really focus, but B200 does not make them obvious and it is a very forgiving DAC.
Soundstage – The stage is wide, flattened in depth, but fairly holographic and engaging. Imaging is ok, you have a good stereo imaging, and B200 is good at showing a good separation between the left and the right channel, although it does not project music too deep depth-wise.
Value and Conclusion
SMSL B200 is a pretty affordable DAC with Bluetooth input, it supports LDAC and aptX HD, has a noise-free RCA Line Out and it simply works, having a beautiful display too, the value being very high.
At the end of the day, B200 delivers everything it promises to, it over delivers in some aspects compared to other options on the market, and it feels well made, and practical having no errors or issues, so if you need an entry-level Bluetooth DAC with a clean and relaxed sound, it is a fully recommended device.
Product Link
Official Link – https://hifi-express.com/products/smsl-b200
Amazon – https://amzn.to/48ltkJa
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Full Playlist used for this review
We listened to more songs than those named in this playlist, but those are excellent for identifying a sonic signature. I recommend trying most of the songs from this playlist, especially if you’re searching for new music! The playlists are different for Spotify, Tidal and Youtube, and based on the songs I enjoy and are available on each!
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL_cjBXGmwSHSdGcwuc_bKbBDGHL4QvYBu
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5J3oloz8Riy9LxEGenOjQ0?si=979ba4f082414be7
https://tidal.com/browse/playlist/330fd544-8e5b-4839-bd35-676b2edbb3d5
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