Why pay a fortune for a CD player? Representing the affordable end of this type of device, SMSL’s PL100 has everything we could want on paper. In addition to its compactness and the presence of a relatively modern DAC (without being high-end), this model powered via a simple USB-C port can also be used as a CD transport and as a headphone amplifier.
Not portable, but almost
Far from displaying the usual dimensions and weight (160 x 162 x 42 mm for 1.2 kg) of a living room CD player, the PL100 is not a portable model. Note, however, that its power supply, which passes through a USB-C port, opens the doors to transportability, since it is compatible with the vast majority of phone chargers and PC USB outputs (5 V/2 A).
Beyond this small footprint, the PL100 has a relatively simple design. Its parallelepiped shape goes hand in hand with a refined facade, integrating a tiny display and control buttons, which complement the remote control supplied as standard. Only the design printed on the facade really allows the product to stand out.
Unsurprisingly, the SMSL PL100 is as simple as inserting CDs directly through a classic notch. We obviously have no technical details regarding the transport itself, other than its compatibility with CDs, CD-Rs, and CD-RWs.
Although the connectivity is not the richest of its kind, we still find optical and RCA SPDIF digital outputs, an RCA line output, and even a 3.5 mm headphone jack output. The latter, widely promoted by the manufacturer, can deliver a power of 60 mW per channel at 32 Ohms, which is sufficient to power headphones and headsets that do not consume too much energy.
Necessarily quite simple, the conversion circuit is not antediluvian however. SMSL uses a CS43131 chip from Cirrus Logic for the occasion, a chip supported by a PLL circuit (phase-locked loop), making it possible to cancel out any possible jitter problems linked to the stages placed upstream. The manufacturer puts forward a few figures, without giving details of the measurement: signal/noise ratio of 110 dB, total harmonic distortion + noise of 0.001%.
Without being intended to fight against very high-end devices, or even against its impressive big brother PL200, the PL100 intends to offer maximum sound quality, for a particularly reduced price. This CD player is in fact sold at only 100 euros at our place.
Specifications
- Type: CD player
- Outputs: optical Toslink, RCA SPDIF, RCA line, 3.5 mm jack (headphone)
- Alimentation USB-C (5V, 2 A)
- DAC : Cirrus Logic CS43131
- Signal-to-noise ratio (without measurement accuracy): 110 dB
- Total harmonic distortion + noise (without measurement accuracy): 0.001%
- Headphone output power: 60 mW at 32 Ohms per channel
- Dimensions : 160 x 162 x 42 mm
- Poids : 1,2 kg
- Prix : 100 euros
