In this article, Marcus reviews the SMSL PL200, a compact desktop CD player with top loading, USB-DAC and Bluetooth functionality. It is priced at $669.00.
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SMSL PL200 Review
Summary
The SMSL PL200 is a high-capacity CD player for the modern audiophile. It has a healthy mix of retro external styling combined with a pleasantly fast disc reader and a wide range of features that go beyond CD playback.
Advantages
Balanced XLR line output option
Top-loading mechanism with fast CD reading.
Wide range of sound filter options.
Cons
It may lean too much towards bright on some systems
Lacks a balanced PO output
Along with the high-end VMV T2, the PL200 represents SMSL's first foray into CD players, a move in keeping with Asia's recent love of all things retro, particularly when it comes to audiophile gear.
However, at $669, the PL200 costs more than our recently reviewed Shanling CA80, so it's more than just an intricately designed homage to a bygone era.
The inclusion of a USB-DAC interface, balanced outputs and Bluetooth capability suggests that SMSL wants to make sure it captures a broad slice of what it thinks modern audiophiles might be interested in.
And to a large extent it does. The range of functions on this device is excellent, the top-loading mechanism is very good, with satisfactory disc reading speeds. It also has a beautiful design and is very easy to use.
The one aspect that might be polarizing is the sound signature. Some will call it clean, detailed or punchy, while CA80 owners might say it's lean and bright. Much will depend on the specific equipment you connect it to.
You can find out how the PL200 works in more detail, what you should pair it with, and how it compares to some competing desktop CD players in my full review below.
Characteristics
So what is an SMSL PL200? To most, it’s a standalone desktop CD player. A player that supports regular CD and MQA-CD formats, which is very popular in Asia at the time of writing.
SMSL has used the popular top loading format with a magnetic disc and manual flap to hold the CDs in place combined with PASS or SMSL's internal Precision Access Servo System which is a quiet, fast and accurate disc reader.
However, it is much more than just a CD player. Inside it houses a high-end AKM AK4499EX DAC capable of decoding up to DSD512, PCM 32BIT/768kHz and MQA when connected to a PC, MAC or OTG compatible device via a USB-C interface on the rear panel.
For the modern audiophile consumer, there is also a Bluetooth or wireless option capable of receiving an SBC signal up to LDAC. Unlike the Shanling CA80, which we reviewed recently, the PL200 also supports aptX and aptX HD.
Since it's a USB-DAC, SMSL has equipped the PL200 with analog outputs, but unlike most CD players, this one is equipped with dual RCA (single-ended) and balanced (XLR) outputs.
This means you can connect it to headphones or a power amplifier to switch between a personal audio setup or become part of a larger HiFi system.
If you don't have a headphone amp, the PL200 provides a built-in headphone amp with a single 1/4″ SE output on the rear and rated at up to 1W x 2 into 32Ω, which is the most powerful headphone output I've reviewed on a player to date.
Design
The PL200's design is superb. It has a compact square form factor with dimensions of 20cm x 17.5cm x 4.2cm and a profile that's not much larger than Shanling's EC-Mini, making it the ideal desktop companion.
The housing is an anodized aluminum alloy cut from a single billet, allowing SMSL to dispense with the panel-and-screw design format more common on players such as the Cayin Mini CD MK2.
All visible screws are discreetly housed in the base of the player, giving the PL200 a very smooth and minimalist aesthetic.
The front panel finish is split between the mirror black of the IPS display plus bezel on the left and anodized aluminum on the right, complete with a single multifunction dial in the middle and excellent mechanical keys on top.
I find it visually almost noirish, you may disagree, but it's a very attractive finish nonetheless and those physical piano key style buttons are much more useful than you might imagine.
The top-loading elements have a refined finish with a single physical circular lid with a separate magnetic disc that stabilises the disc when the lid is closed. It should be noted that SMSL has designed the PL200 to work without the lid, which gives it an added visual flair.
IS
All of the PL200's I/O is on the rear panel, save for the top-loading disc mechanism. That means you'll need some clearance above the PL200 to insert or remove CDs, which makes it less easy to stack them unless you're on top.
On the rear, there’s a mix of the expected and the unexpected. In addition to the usual two single-ended RCA outputs, a set of 3-pin balanced XLR outputs are also included, allowing the PL200 to be used in a balanced system configuration.
SMSL has not published official Vrms for the XLR output, so I'm assuming it's a standard 2Vrms SE and a balanced 4Vrms with superior dynamic range and signal-to-noise ratio weighted measurements from the XLR output.
Apart from that, you have the BT antennas to receive wireless signals and classic coaxial and optical outputs to connect to a third-party source with a USB-C connection instead of a USB-B (or A) connection.
I think some would have liked to see a standard USB-B, but since the USB-C port supports OTG digital audio, you can connect a smartphone to the PL200 and use it as a source, giving you indirect streaming capability without WiFi loss.
What is unexpected is the rear-facing 6.35mm PO output rated at up to 1W into a 32Ω load. The excellent power rating is not a surprise; rather, it is the placement at the rear of the PL200’s housing and not the front. It is almost as if SMSL wanted to hide it.
Top loading experience
The PL200's top-loading PASS system reads CDs with incredible speed. It's much faster than any Cayin or Shanling player in this price range and on par with my old flagship Meridian 506 20BIT player with its sleek and very stable motorised platter.
The two-piece lid and magnetic disc system are unique to systems like the Shanling EC3, which uses an all-in-one integrated top-loading lid.
The stability of the disc without a CD is “so-so” and there is a chance of losing it. However, when the CD is in place it feels fairly stable and does a good job of stabilizing the main lid when it is put back down.
Once inserted, the CD spins up and is read by the PL200. Boy, is this player fast! The disc format and playing time appear on its gorgeous IPS panel in a matter of seconds.
Controls
There are several ways to control the PL200, but the most notable feature is the mechanical piano key button located on the front right of the player.
The retro design combined with the very easy access make it a pleasure to use, although I suspect some might prefer more resistance when pressing down. I don't have that problem and find it to be a simple and intuitive set of playback controls with the advantage that the stop button is a source selector when held down.
The center dial is the default digital volume control for the headphones and variable volume line output functions. It operates in 1 dB increments from -99 to zero, but can be disabled for a fixed volume line output option via the PL200's menu system.
The PL200 also includes a plastic remote control, the quality of which is comparable to that of the CA80 version. However, unlike the CA80 version, it has numeric buttons from 0 to 9 which I find much more useful for CD track control than the more linear track-by-track selection dial of the CA80.
Menu options
Unfortunately, the PL200 doesn't have anything like the Shanling Eddict app. However, through its remote or manual control system, you can access a menu packed with options and plenty of sound-tweaking features.
These include a wide range of input and output controls, including the ability to activate or deactivate any analog output, switch from variable volume to fixed line outputs, and numerous digital filters for PCM and DSD output.
You can also control the screen brightness settings, which can help those who use it in low-light conditions.
Packaging and accessories
As with most CD player bundles I've encountered to date, don't expect the PL200 box to be loaded with tons of accessories.
The black label container is at least a generic brown box configuration with a matching solid foam interior and plenty of wrapping to protect the laser unit from potential damage.
SMSL did at least include a 1m USB-A to USB-C cable that will help you connect it to a PC or MAC for USB-DAC functionality right out of the box. Aside from the region-specific power cable (the unit has a 110-240V switched power supply), there’s not much else.
You may need to visit the SMSL website to get the USB audio driver, especially if you are using an older version of Windows. For Mac, the PL200 is plug-and-play.
Click to page 2 below for my sound impressions and recommended pairings.
Click on page 3 below to see my selected comparisons.
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