S.M.S.L PL200T User Manual

Safety Notes

• Install the unit in a well-ventilated, cool, dry, clean place, away from direct sunlight, heat sources, vibration, dust, moisture, or cold.
• Use only the voltage specified on this unit. Using this unit with a higher voltage than specified is dangerous and may cause fire, damage to this unit, or personal injury. S.M.S.L will not be held responsible for any damage resulting from the use of this unit with a voltage other than that specified.
• Do not attempt to modify or fix this unit by yourself. Contact a salesperson or customer service when any service is needed. The cabinet should never be opened for any reason.
• When not planning to use this unit for long periods of time (e.g., when going on vacation), disconnect the power cable from the AC wall outlet.

Important note: The product specifications and information mentioned in this manual are for reference only. The content of this manual is subject to change without notice.

Warranty Terms

1. Term of Service: Foshan Shuangmusanlin Technology Co., Ltd. promises to offer good-quality products. If the product is broken within 7 days after purchasing when used normally, customers can choose return, replacement, or repair (only products not affecting second sales can be returned). Free repair is provided for one year if used normally.

2. Date of Purchase: The date of purchase is in accordance with the date on the invoice or receipt issued by the seller. If purchased online, a screenshot of the transaction can be provided.

3. Warranty Void Conditions: If inappropriate usage causes damage, the warranty will be void. This includes:

• All damages from inappropriate use, including use in non-normal working environments or without following instructions.
• Dismantling, refitting, or repairing by the user privately.
• Damage caused by using fittings other than the designated or accredited ones.
• Inability to provide credible proof of purchase.
• Sending the product back to the company for repair without prior contact.
• Contacting your S.M.S.L Audio reseller for return or replacement.

4. Repair Method: Send for repair.

Note: These terms are applicable to mainland China. For other regions, please refer to the regulations of local sales agents and national laws.

Features

• Supports USB input to realize reference-level digital interface function with the addition of clock input.
• Self-developed P.A.S.S. (Precision Access Servo System), natively supports MQA-CD.
• Clock inputs and outputs, supporting 44.1kHz word clock and 10MHz standard or atomic clock.
• USB support up to 32bit/768kHz, DSD512, supports MQA full decoding.
• Uses two low-phase noise, high-precision femtosecond local crystal oscillators.
• Selectable 50Ω or 75Ω clock input impedance matching.
• Built-in low-noise switching power supply module, supports USB power supply and DC port external power supply.
• Features optical, coaxial, I2S, and AES/EBU outputs.
• Uses a tempered glass, fully laminated IPS display and a newly developed UI.
• Supports DOP and bit display function, making it easy to identify the current audio source format.
• High-quality all-aluminum chassis supports high-quality gold-plated input and output connection jacks.
• Japan Audio Society (JAS) Hi-Res certification.
• Equipped with a fully functional remote control.

Specifications

Specifications are subject to change without notice.

Remote Control

Operating the Remote Control:

• If the remote control is still ineffective when it is close to the machine, replace it with a new battery.
• If the user does not use the remote control for a long time, remove the battery of the remote control.
• Dispose of used batteries in accordance with local regulations on battery disposal.

Remote Control Buttons:

• Power ON/OFF: Turns the unit on or off.
• Mute: Mutes the audio output.
• No function: These buttons have no assigned function.
• Play/Pause: Starts or pauses playback.
• Previous: Skips to the previous track.
• MENU/OK: Enters the menu or confirms a selection.
• Next: Skips to the next track.
• Stop: Stops playback.
• Input Selection: Cycles through available input sources.
• FN (Define in the menu): Function key, its behavior can be defined in the menu.
• DISP: Toggles display information (e.g., time remaining).
• Numeric Buttons (0-9): Used for direct track selection or menu navigation.
• X (Random Playback): Enables or disables random playback mode.
• Repeat Playback: Enables or disables repeat playback mode (single track or entire disc).

Note: This remote controller uses 2 x R03/AAA batteries.

Display Interface and Instructions

The unit features a display screen that shows operational status and information. Key components are labeled in the diagram:

Top View Labels:

• 1 Lid
• 2 Disc Pressure
• 3 Disc Placement Area
• 4 Next
• 5 Previous
• 6 Stop
• 7 Play (long press)/Pause
• 8 Function Knob (long press to turn on/off)
• 9 Remote Window
• 10 Indicator light
• 11 Display Screen
• 12 I2S Output

Rear View Labels:

• 13 AES/EBU Output
• 14 Coaxial Output
• 15 Optical Output
• 16 Clock Input
• 17 DC Input
• 18 USB Input (USB power supply)
• 19 AC Input

Instructions

Power Supply:

The machine offers three power supply modes for flexibility:

• 100-240V AC Input: Suitable for home use.
• USB Power Supply: Users can utilize a rechargeable power bank for outdoor use.
• DC Input: Allows connection to an external linear power supply or mobile power source, convenient for car users.

Note: The external power supply must be 5V ± 0.3V. Voltages that are too high can cause damage. Do not use both the AC and DC interfaces simultaneously.

Turn On/Off:

• First, connect the signal cable on the back of the machine.
• Plug in the power cord; the screen will light up, indicating the power-on state.
• To turn off, long press the knob on the panel for about 2 seconds or press the power button on the remote control. The screen will go out, and the machine will stop playing and turn off most power functions.
• If the unit is not used for an extended period, disconnect the AC power cord from the mains socket.

Selecting Audio Source:

• Short press the panel knob to enter the menu, select INPUTS, and switch the audio input signal to "CD Player" or "USB Input".
• Alternatively, use the input shortcut key on the remote control to switch between "CD Player" and "USB Input".

CD Playback:

• Switch the current music input signal to the CD player.
• Remove the lid and disc pressure, insert the CD, replace the disc pressure and lid. The machine will automatically enter the playing state.
• Alternatively, remove the lid and disc pressure, insert the CD, replace only the disc pressure, then long press the Play/Pause button on the panel. The machine will enter the playing state.

Lidless Playback Mode:

• Remove the lid, insert a CD, and place the CD stabilizer.
• Without replacing the lid, press and hold the [▷/||] button. The machine will read the CD and begin playing.

USB Playback:

• Switch the current music input signal to USB AUDIO.
• Connect a device that supports USB Audio via the data cable.
• After connecting the device, use playback software to output music to "SMSL USB DAC".
• For Windows systems playing DSD files, install the driver from: https://smsl-audio.com/portal/product/support

Stop:

• Press the Stop button [■] on the panel or remote control to stop the current playback.
• When changing discs during CD playback, press the Stop button first to halt the current playback before changing discs.

Pause Playback:

• To temporarily interrupt playback, press the [▷/||] button on the panel or remote control. The display will show "PAUSE". Pressing the button again will resume normal playback.

Previous Song:

• In CD playback, press the previous song button [ K ] on the panel or remote control. If the current song has played for less than 3 seconds, it will skip to the previous song. If it has played for more than 5 seconds, it will return to the beginning of the current song, and pressing again will skip to the previous song.

Next Song:

• In CD playback, press the next song button [▷] on the panel or remote control to skip to the next song.

Switching to a Specific Song:

• In CD playback, use the number combination on the remote control to select a specific song (e.g., press "1" and "2" for the twelfth song).

Random Play:

• In CD playback, press the random play button [ X ] on the remote control. The machine will play songs randomly until all are finished. Press the button again or the Stop button to cancel.

Repeat Play:

• To repeat the current song, press the Repeat Play button once (display shows [곤]). To repeat the entire disc, press the button again (display shows [C ]). Press again to cancel.

Display Time Setting:

• During CD playback, the display shows the current song's playing time. Press the [DISP] key on the remote control to toggle between remaining time of the current song and remaining time of all songs.

Menu Settings:

• Short press the panel knob or the MENU button on the remote control to enter the settings menu.
• Use the panel knob or remote control direction keys to navigate selections.
• Short press the knob or MENU button to confirm a selection.
• Long press the knob or the left direction button on the remote control to return to the previous menu.

Function Introduction

INPUTS (Input Methods):

• CD PLAYER (CD Input)
• USB AUDIO (USB Input)

CLOCK IN (Clock Input):

• INTERNAL (Internal femtosecond clock)
• CLK IN 44.1kHz (44.1kHz word clock input)
• CLK IN 10MHz (10MHz clock input)

Note: If CLK IN is selected but no correct clock is input, the system will use the internal clock. When the mode is 44.1kHz, it only supports 44.1kHz input; 48kHz input is not supported even if the audio file is a multiple of 48kHz.

CLOCK LOAD (External Clock Impedance):

• 50 OHM (50 ohms)
• 75 OHM (75 ohms)

Note: Impedance mismatch can cause signal reflection and distort the clock signal. Refer to the clock and clock cable manual for specific settings. Adjusting this parameter can significantly impact sound quality; prioritize rich detail and clear layers if unsure about impedance matching.

I2S MODE (I2S Mode):

• NORMAL (Standard PS AUDIO format)
• REVERSED (Inverted DATA and LRCK)

Note: This option matches different I2S interface standards. Check the signal source's interface definition before use.

I2S MCLK (I2S Signal Output Frequency):

• 1024fs (Default)
• 512fs

Note: This function switches the master clock (MCLK) frequency for the I2S output. Some DACs only support 512fs input, requiring this switch.

MQA-CD DECODE (MQA-CD Decoding):

• DECODER ON (Enable)
• DECODER OFF (Disable)

Note: This mode affects coaxial, optical, and AES/EBU outputs; the I2S interface will still decode MQA.

DIMMER (Auto Screen Off):

• 5 seconds ~ 60 seconds: The screen automatically turns off within the set time. It will re-light upon any operation of the remote control or knob. This reduces light pollution and enhances listening comfort.

BRIGHTNESS (Display Brightness Setting):

• LEVEL 1 ~ LEVEL 6

RESET (System Reset):

• Long press the middle button of the knob to clear all system settings, including Bluetooth.

About MQA

The unit features MQA full decoder for network streaming and USB audio playback, enabling full MQA audio unfolding.

• MQA / AA MOA: Indicates the unit is decoding and playing an MQA stream or file, with sound identical to the original.
• MQA.: Indicates playback of an MQA Studio file approved by the artist/producer or verified by the copyright holder.
• MQA.: Indicates the unit is rendering the MQA stream or file, representing the final stage of MQA file expansion.

How to Play MQA:

• The PL200T supports MQA decoding.
• No special playback software is required. Software supporting ASIO or WASAPI audio output (e.g., foobar2000, Audirvana Plus) is sufficient. For optimal MQA audio playback, set the computer's volume to maximum.
• When playing an MQA file, the display shows the original sampling rate of the master recording.

MQA and the Sound Wave Device are registered trademarks of MQA Limited. © 2016

Notes on Playing MQA-CD:

• Ensure the disc is a genuine MQA-CD.
• Verify that the optical or coaxial signal output from the CD player is unprocessed source code.