SOtM SMS-200

[jfp]

Chromecast audio is perfect. Will save money now instead of streamer which does not provide any major step (others are much more expensive).

[sam1000]

A review of the sMS-200

https://www.computeraudiophile.com/ca/re...view-r648/

I found this to be a particularly interesting review.  However, I could not help myself thinking if the author was in anyway influenced by the fact that rival Sonore pay for a sponsored section on Computer Audiophile's website?  We will never know for sure!

Wow.. Shows complete bias towards the advertisers.  I used to think CA was little different than other Audio Magazines/forums, but someone's going to have to pay the bills I suppose.

[Confused]

A review of the sMS-200

https://www.computeraudiophile.com/ca/re...view-r648/

I found this to be a particularly interesting review.  However, I could not help myself thinking if the author was in anyway influenced by the fact that rival Sonore pay for a sponsored section on Computer Audiophile's website?  We will never know for sure!

Wow.. Shows complete bias towards the advertisers.  I used to think CA was little different than other Audio Magazines/forums, but someone's going to have to pay the bills I suppose.

Actually, I did not think the article appeared to be overly biased in any way.  Although, because I have only used the microRendu and have not tried the sMS-200, it is impossible for me to judge.  Plus, it is worth noting that both SOtM and Sonore sponsor Computer Audiophile.  I suspect that Sonore are the bigger contributor though, which did make me wonder a little.  To be honest, whenever I read a review I always think through what personal agendas and biases the author may have, even for user reviews.  For anyone out there that does have the sMS-200, was there anything in the article that does not look right?

[Axel]

An advert from a Elite Audio in the June edition of Hi-Fi News and a Record Review offers the new SOtM
tX-USBultra for £990 including an sCLK-EX 10mHz Super Clock Module worth £210 thrown in free.

[Antoine]

Don't know what to make of that CA review of the SMS-200. I think it's badly written but I feel that way about most of his reviews and usually don't even read them anymore. I also don't like the guy (he banned me from CA to silence me as he felt I was attacking one of his sponsors JRiver so I may be biased here. ) He's also the one who wrote that any components upstream of the mR didn't matter in the end result. Boy was he wrong there too!!

Anyway it's just the opinion of one guy who indeed may have his own biases and agenda's. I like the SMS-200 (which replaced my mR) very much and also can't remember coming across a single report of any end user who didn't prefer it over the mR.

[Confused]

One thing I would like to check with sMS-200 users. There is some mention of software stability in the Computer Audiophile article. Much of this is related to issues when switching between DACs, which to be frank is utterly irrelevant to must users, who for obvious reasons will use the device with one DAC only for most if not all of the time. However, one thing I regularly do with my microRendu is switch between modes. So sometime I use the Roon mode, I might then switch to Shairport or DLNA modes. This is very easy and stable on the mR, not really any more difficult or less reliable that switching a pre amp button from CD to Tuner or whatever. Is the same true with the sMS-200?

[sam1000]

One thing I would like to check with sMS-200 users.  There is some mention of software stability in the Computer Audiophile article.  Much of this is related to issues when switching between DACs, which to be frank is utterly irrelevant to must users, who for obvious reasons will use the device with one DAC only for most if not all of the time.  However, one thing I regularly do with my microRendu is switch between modes.  So sometime I use the Roon mode, I might then switch to Shairport or DLNA modes.  This is very easy and stable on the mR, not really any more difficult or less reliable that switching a pre amp button from CD to Tuner or whatever.  Is the same true with the sMS-200?

I have switched between Roon and LMS couple of times without any issues. Thats why I was perplexed at software issues mentioned in the review :-)

[Antoine]

Before the 'direct ethernet connection' tweak (well it's much more than a tweak from a SQ point of view) I switched from Roon Ready to Shairport mode and back a couple of times (to use the free Spotify Premium account that comes with my Internet subscription) without issues. 99% of the time it was in Roon Ready mode though so I wouldn't dare to say my experiences are the 'norm'.

(Since Airplay etc. no longer works (by design) in my current setup I switched to Tidal HiFi and use it from inside Roon. )

[Kwan]

On my system with NUC as Roon server，Chord DAVE，devialet，i switch from mR to ifi iUSB3 and things improved，then change to sms-200 and further imoroved。
So i would rate sms-200 much higher then mR，which is diff from theCA review。
Furthermore，i found the tonal signal of mR is thin / lightest among the 3 above，so their comment saying mR is more like vinyl surprise me。

[mdconnelly]

On my system with NUC as Roon server，Chord DAVE，devialet，i switch from mR to ifi iUSB3 and things improved，then change to sms-200 and further imoroved。
So i would rate sms-200 much higher then mR，which is diff from theCA review。
Furthermore，i found the tonal signal of mR is thin / lightest among the 3 above，so their comment saying mR is more like vinyl surprise me。

Have you had a chance to compare either with AIR 3.0.4?   Curious to know your thoughts.