SMSL DS100 DAC and Headphone Amp Review

Listed by HiFiGO at $89.99 in a single Black option, the SMSL DS100 is a desktop DAC and headphone amp that names a CS43131 chip from Cirrus Logic and an XMOS XU-316 USB decoder. The page gives PCM up to 32bit/768kHz and DSD512 for USB and DoP64 for the coaxial and fiber inputs. It lists 6.35mm and 4.4mm headphone jacks and quotes 7 Vrms for 600 Ω and 61mW for 16 Ω without saying which jack they belong to.

Specifications

Options and pricing

One option is listed, DS100-Black, at $89.99, and it was orderable when the page was read. The page text's packing list names one DS100, one USB cable and one user manual, among other items; it names no power adapter, coaxial cable or optical cable. The page text gives no color choice.

How it compares

The Fosi Audio SK02 ES9038Q2M Compact Desktop DAC and Headphone Amplifier is $84.99 and names the ES9038Q2M chip, against the CS43131 and $89.99 for the DS100. The xDuoo MH-02 / MH02 CS43131 USB DAC & Tube Headphone Amplifier is $149, also names the CS43131 and adds a tube stage by name. The TOPPING L30 II NFCA Modules UHGF Technology Headphone Amplifier is $149 and its spec line reads Up to 3.5Wx2@16Ω, a 16Ω figure to set beside the DS100's 61mW for 16 Ω. The DS100 page lists USB, coaxial and fiber inputs; check each sibling's page for its own inputs and power figures.

Shipping, returns and warranty

HiFiGO sells from hifigo.com and says every order leaves its warehouse in China, usually 1-3 business days after it is placed, and says its delivery times are estimates, not promises. Its shipping policy gives the United States 1-2 weeks (about 10 days on average) by Priority and 6-10 days by Premium, both with duties and taxes prepaid by the store; Canada 2-3 weeks; the United Kingdom 1-2 weeks; and Australia 10-15 days. Express couriers (DHL, UPS, FedEx) take 3-7 days, but then the buyer pays any duties and taxes. No shipping page names New Zealand, PO boxes are not accepted, and the free-shipping thresholds differ between the store's own pages, so check the cart. One of its two shipping pages adds that a lost parcel on an order above $50 gets only a 50% refund. A US buyer reported a $40 tariff charge in August 2025, after which HiFiGO said it had added a customs notice at checkout.

Read the return terms before you order. The homepage advertises 7-day returns. Both of HiFiGO's policy pages offer a 7-day dead-on-arrival cover (a replacement or a full refund, with the return postage refunded) and also describe 30-day returns, but a request made 7 to 30 days after delivery loses 30% of the MSRP as a restocking fee (10% more if the packaging is incomplete), plus shipping both ways and duties, and the FAQ on the same pages says there is no refund or exchange once 7 days have passed. One version recommends reselling an opened product locally. Custom IEMs and custom cables cannot be returned, no return address is published, and buyers describe sending items back to China.

HiFiGO's warranty runs one year from the order date for parts and labor; its policy names desktop DACs and amps, IEMs and dongles at one year and gives cables and adapters three months. HiFiGO decides between repair and replacement, the buyer pays the shipping, and faulty items go back for service, not for a refund. Claims go to [email protected], the only contact the store lists: its pages name no company, street address or phone, and its terms are governed by the laws of China.

On Trustpilot, HiFiGO had 4.6 out of 5 from 378 reviews when we checked on 2026-10-28 (91% five-star, 5% one-star), and it had replied to about 75% of negative reviews; Trustpilot notes the store has not invited customers to review recently. The one-star reviews mostly concern the short return window and the deductions on returns, items listed in stock that turned out back-ordered, slow email support and a tariff charge on a US delivery in 2025. HiFiGO says its products are genuine and come in the brands' retail packaging; it does not claim to be an authorized dealer.