SMSL PS100 Digital to Analog Audio Converter, USB/Optical/Coaxial/HDMI ARC to Stereo L/R RCA Output DDC Digital Toslink SPDIF 192kHz DAC Converter for PS5/HDTV/DVD/Blu-Ray Players/Home Cinema Systems

I struggled but ultimately gave this a 5 star and this more of a "How To"/"Do & Don't" Guide than a "review".TL;DR: I think this is an absolute steal for price and features but ARC is a pain to set up/keep working (probably extra problematic for "smarter" TVs like my LG C4). In the end, I was able to figure it out after much experimenting and hopefully the pain is behind me once I can "set it and forget it".I have not tried using coaxial input but tried Bluetooth, optical and USB inputs a few times. HDMI ARC is what I tried the most.I can't really say much about audio quality... It sounds fine to me and I can't tell if there is any difference from direct optical cable going into my Yamaha RX-V3800 receiver vs HDMI/optical going into this then feeding RCA into my receiver which ultimately drives a set of Klipsch RP-600M II speakers. I also didn't really try that hard to stress the DAC on this unit.There is conflicting/misleading information on volume control... I think it is technically correct that you can not change the volume of the connected devices but I can mute or reduce the volume of the RCA output with TV remote so it effectively gives me limited volume control with TV remote in the end (this is the main thing I want out of all this).Customer service did get back to me with a fairly detailed answer but still a rather generic answer (not that I included TV model in the inquiry). Here is my experience/recommendations with a LG C4 TV:1. unplug all HDMI ports2. plug compatible ARC/eARC HDMI cable into eARC HDMI port (HDMI2 for in this case)3. connect other end of the cable to unit (PS: make sure HDMI input is selected on unit)4. TV should say something like checking HDMI2 device5. change/make sure TV is set to use wired speakers/HDMI6. under advanced settings, select PCM under digital out settings and turn off eARC support (DO NOT change anything else) (PS: it also worked for me leaving eARC on...)7. unplug HDMI cable from unit and plug back in8. TV should say something like checking HDMI2 device again9. power off TV (ideally unplug TV even as it sometimes go into standby mode rather than truly powered off)10. power off unit (hold power button for a few seconds)... been doing this so long I totally forgot about making sure unit has HDMI selected also...11. power back on unit (press power button)12. plug TV back in and power it back onFor initial setup you might be able to optimize the ordering/steps here but this is what I do when things stop working and is what is most fresh in my mind so...Now TV should say a soundbar is connected to HDMI2. Going forward, unit does need to be on before TV whenever you turn off TV. Otherwise if TV is turned on with unit off, you'll need to turn off TV and turn TV back on.Problems I have seen with my LG C4:a. having other HDMI ports connected can interfere with the setup/"paring" processb. plugging back in other HDMI ports sometimes cause the LG C4 TV to revert to default settingsc. checking sound settings help but often times there is no visible change in TV settingsd. changing other HDMI input settings also seem to cause problemsHope this helps at least one other person out there but maybe it is just for me to remember how to make it work specific to the LG C4?

I recently purchased the SMSL PS100 Digital to Analog Audio Converter, and I couldn't be more thrilled with its performance. This compact device has truly transformed my audio experience in several ways, and I'd like to share my positive review with you.First and foremost, the sound quality delivered by the ES9023 DAC chip in the SMSL PS100 is nothing short of exceptional. It provides a level of clarity and depth to my music and audio that I hadn't experienced before. The highs are crisp, the mids are rich, and the lows are powerful, making every note and sound detail come alive. Whether I'm listening to my favorite music, watching a movie, or playing a game, the audio quality is consistently outstanding.One of the standout features of the SMSL PS100 is its small size, which makes it incredibly versatile and easy to incorporate into any setup. This little powerhouse can be discreetly placed anywhere, and its minimalist design blends seamlessly with any decor. Its compact form factor also means it doesn't take up much space in my entertainment center or on my desk, making it an excellent addition to my home audio system.Setting up the SMSL PS100 is an absolute breeze. It's designed to be user-friendly and compatible with a wide range of devices, including smartphones, TVs, tablets, and PCs. I was pleasantly surprised at how quickly and effortlessly I was able to connect it to my various gadgets. Whether I want to enhance the audio from my smartphone while streaming music or improve the sound of my TV for movie nights, the SMSL PS100 adapts effortlessly to each device, thanks to its versatile connectivity options.The SMSL PS100 Digital to Analog Audio Converter has exceeded my expectations in every way. The outstanding sound quality powered by the ES9023 DAC chip, its compact size, and its easy setup for a variety of devices have made it an indispensable addition to my audio setup. If you're looking to elevate your audio experience without breaking the bank, I highly recommend giving the SMSL PS100 a try – it's a game-changer!

I wrote an initial review of the PS100 where I stated the nominal 1.9V output voltage was too hot per "standard" audio spec and was causing distortion with certain fixed-volume inputs (specifically my Apple TV --> TV optical out). In subsequent troubleshooting and component-swapping, I've since realized that the SMSL was not in fact to blame (it was the input stage of one particular board amp in my collection) and have changed my review as I don't want to misinform anyone considering the PS100. It's a basic but serviceable unit and sounds fine, especially for the money.

Works with the TV remote (if your TV has the capability), sounds wayyy better than other HDMI dacs I have tried. Perfect for connecting an old receiver or amp that doesn't have ARC to your TV. For the price I really haven't seen anything close in terms of value, any of the dacs the are better are considerably more expensive. This is also just an good all around budget dac for a computer or any other device for this price. But I think the real use case where this dac shines is being able to cheaply integrate your TVs sound into your older hifi equipment. Also make sure your TV's ARC is set to PCM signal or you may run into issue.

Super noisy out of the box, maybe I had something hooked up incorrectly but I couldn’t get a clear signal even with the thing powered off and only the inputs hooked up.

I bought this for a PS4 game, Rock Smith 2014. I noticed there was a latency problem between the sound system and when I was playing my guitar. I had to watch a few videos to figure out what was going on. The digital signal needs to be processed back to analog to fix the latency problem. It works well. It small, so you can put it were ever you need to. Built well.