SMSL PL100 Pro CD Player Review

SMSL's PL100 Pro is a slot-loading CD player with built-in DACs, listed at $159 in black or silver. The page lists two Cirrus Logic CS43131 chips, XLR and RCA outputs, a 4.4mm balanced and a 3.5mm single-ended headphone jack, and optical and coaxial digital outputs. It also gives a maximum output power of 200mW on 4.4mm and 58mW on 3.5mm with no load named in the page text, and calls the model an upgrade to the PL100.

Specifications

Options and pricing

Two options are listed, PL100 Pro Black and PL100 Pro Silver, both at $159. Both were orderable when the page was read, and the description opens with a pre-order line. The page text names no difference between the colors and does not say what is in the box, apart from a remote control among its listed features.

How it compares

The Moondrop DISCDREAM 2 Portable CD Player is listed at $179.99 against $159 here and is sold as a portable player, while the PL100 Pro page lists XLR and RCA line outputs and a pre-amp function for active speakers. The SMSL PL200T MQA-CD Transport costs $499 and is named a transport, while the PL100 Pro page lists its own DAC chips and headphone jacks. The PL100 Pro suits a tight budget that still wants balanced outputs.

Shipping, returns and warranty

This item is sold as a pre-sale, so the usual dispatch time below starts only once HiFiGO has stock. 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.

Before you buy

The product page carries this pre-order note: "Pre-order | Estimated Shipping: March 2026". Ask HiFiGO for a dispatch date before you order. Its pre-order page says pre-orders are charged in full at checkout and that shipping dates can change, and an unshipped pre-order can be cancelled through its contact page.