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    The Computer Audiophile

    SOtM sMS-200 Review

    The SOtM sMS-200 is one of the more popular products on the market in the Ethernet to USB category. A category that was pretty much created by the team at Sonore with its early products and the release of the microRendu. Ethernet to USB devices are now the 'it" products. More manufacturers are copying these idea and features, to implement them in products at all price levels.

     

    At its most basic level, the sMS-200 is a digital to digital converter. Ethernet packets in and USB packets out. I guess it's even possible to consider the device a protocol adapter, from TCP data packets to USB data packets. The sMS-200 is great for people with USB DACs or even more traditional DACs without USB or Ethernet inputs. In the case of a USB DAC, a direct connection between the sMS-200 and the DAC is made by a single cable. Other DACs will require a USB to S/PDIF converter to sit between the sMS-200 and digital to analog converter.

     

    If all this sounds like a lot of converters and boxes and potential problems, it really isn't an issue for the most part. A larger problem is replacing a DAC that one paid thousands of dollars for, just because it isn't RoonReady or doesn't support Ethernet input. Devices like the sMS-200 open a whole world of possibilities for any USB DAC, and save one's investment in whatever DAC he or she already owns.

     

    With respect to hardware, the sMS-200 appears to be a ground-up SOtM design. It features an ARM processor on a custom motherboard that's typical SOtM white in color. On the inside, the device looks very similar to one of the popular SOtM USB cards that many in the Computer Audiophile community have used for years.

     

    Digging deeper into the software running on the sMS-200, reveals a Linux operating system and support for Roon, as a RoonReady endpoint, Squeezelite, MPD / DLNA, AirPlay, and HQPlayer as a Network Audio Adapter (NAA). I know many readers will want to understand differences between the sMS-200 and the Sonore microRendu, and the software is where a major difference lies.

     

    The software running on the sMS-200 is less stable and far less advanced than that of the Sonicorbiter OS running on the microRendu and Sonore's Sonicorbiter SE hardware. For example, I frequently switch USB DACs and input applications on these devices. When doing so, the sMS-200 didn't always work. I tried to restart the application such as RoonReady or HQPlayer NAA, but sometimes these apps would just spin in circles, as if stuck in a loop trying to restart. To resolve the issue I restarted the whole sMS-200. Once rebooted, everything worked great.

     

    Another less than advanced "feature" of the sMS-200 is the requirement that each update to the system software be done serially in order. When updating my review unit, I clicked the update button, waited for the update to download and install, then restarted the unit. Upon reconnecting to the web interface, I had to update to the next version and go through the same procedure. Unfortunately I was about five versions behind the current release, so I had to manually update the unit five times. It would be nice to just click update and have the sMS-200 update to the current version of the software (from version 1 to version 3 in a single update rather than from version 1 to version 2 to version 3).

     

    One other piece of the sMS-200 software that could use an improvement to get closer to the level of the microRendu is the informational screens, or lack thereof. The mR offers several places to get information about the connected USB DAC. This would have been nice on the sMS-200 when I had issues connecting to the McIntosh D1100 DAC. It turned out to be an issue with the DAC, but I was unsure because I didn't have any information about the connection from the DAC to the sMS-200, like I did when connecting the same DAC to the microRendu. There are little things that the Sonicorbiter operating system, used by Sonore products, does much better than the sMS-200 OS. Some users will never notice these things and never care about the differences. Others will find that these are deal breakers. I'm just presenting the information so each reader can decide for his or herself.

     

    One area where the sMS-200 has a leg up on the microRendu is when playing high resolution content under a very specific set of conditions. I'm not talking about sound quality here, I'm talking about playback without dropouts. On the rare occasion that someone has an enterprise class network (think Cisco switches and the like), and plays 24/192 content or DSD128 or upsampled HQPlayer material, the microRendu can drop tons of packets. This leads to dropouts because the mR's 1 Gbps Ethernet interface can't keep up with the incoming data. The sMS-200 only has a 10/100 Mbps Ethernet interface and this somehow makes the sending servers slow the data down. Even setting a switch or the microRendu manually to 10/100 doesn't fix the issue for the mR. The mR's gigabit interface is an achilles heel in these very rare circumstances. No, extremely rare circumstances, that I've only experienced in my home. The problem doesn't happen when using Roon because Roon Labs implemented a fix for the issue last year. In addition, I can slow down the data just enough if I stick an Ethernet isolator from Baaske inline with the mR. This resolves the issue 100%.  

     

    Note: I mistakenly thought the sMS-200 had a 10/100 Ethernet interface and that was the reason it worked when the microRendu didn't, but I've been corrected by SOtM. The sMS-200 has a gigabit interface. 

     

    Overall, I think the sMS-200 is a really good product that needs some tweaking on the software side. The hardware is pretty fast and accepts either the SOtM power supplies or any of the aftermarket supplies that the CA community is so fond of using (myself included). By explaining a few of the shortcomings of the sMS-200, I hope to make decisions easier for people considering a product in this category. If these shortcomings don't bother people, they may just save some money by selecting the sMS-200 over a more expensive product.

     

     

     

     

    SOtM sMS-200

     

     

     

     

     

    Listening

     

    I've had the SOtM sMS-200 in my system for a pretty long time. During this time, I've connected the unit to many DACs. Based on my tests, the sMS-200 had no trouble playing PCM or DSD (via DoP) to any of them. Playback of Native DSD may be a different story, but I was unable to test native DSD for this review.

     

    The system I used for much of my listening consisted of a RoonServer outputting to the SOtM sMS-200 to either a Berkeley Audio Design Alpha USB / Alpha Reference DAC Series 2, EMM Labs DA2, dCS Rossini, McIntosh D1100, or Schiit Yggdrasil DAC. The analog side of the system was a Constellation Audio Inspiration PreAmp and monoblocks, with Wire World cabling. Powering the sMS-200, I used the SOtM mBPS-d2s "intelligent battery power supply."

     

    Earlier this week, the McIntosh Group hosted John Mellencamp at its townhouse on Lafayette Street in lower Manhattan. I watched the interview and was inspired to listen to John's new album and his older stuff that got him inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. I stumbled upon an acoustic version of Pink Houses (DR11) via Tidal. After listening to the track a few times I created an acoustic playlist and added both the acoustic versions of the Stone Temple Pilots' Plush (DR12) and Pearl Jam's Elderly Woman Behind the Counter in a Small Town (DR11) to the playlist.

     

    One thing was constantly on my mind as I played these three acoustic tracks. The sound is so clean. It's hard to explain more about this sense of cleanliness that I heard. In a way, this is like proving a negative. How do I write about something that isn't present? As I switched from the dCS Rossini to the EMM Labs DA2 to the McIntosh D1100, I could hear clear sonic differences when playing the same acoustic tracks. This is exactly what a source component should enable. I should be enable one to hear the differences between components further downstream, as well as components upstream and most important of all, the recording.

     

    On Pink Houses, I heard nothing but John Mellencamp's voice and his guitar. Ah, that sounds rather stupid, as this is an acoustic recording. But, this was something different. The sound provided a view back into 1983. Perhaps the fact that John's voice sounded 500,000 cigarettes cleaner, contributed to the lack of grunge, noise, or anything I would consider dirty. Note: John estimates that by 2010 he had smoked 650,000 cigarettes in his life. Later in 2014 he told the Associated Press, “Two million cigarettes later and I finally sound like a black guy. Thank God. The cigarettes finally paid off. They’re going to give me cancer and they’re going to kill me, but for a short amount of time, they’re going to make my voice sound like it should.” Given that the acoustic version of Pink Houses was recorded in 1983, John's much-less smoke-affected voice contributed to this very clean sound I heard. I also can't discount the fact that the SOtM sMS-200 doesn't seem to be adding any noise to the recording.

     

    This raises some serious questions, 1) Is the SOtM sMS-200 doing anything to the signal to make the music sound clean? 2) Is this clean sound similar to edge enhancement in video, that soon becomes unnatural and annoying? Without a deeper scientific analysis of the sMS-200, I can say that all the music is bit perfect. The sMS-200 isn't changing anything that would cause my bit perfect indicator lights to go dark on a couple DACs. Also, I haven't experienced any fatigue or unnatural sound when using the sMS-200. This leads me to believe the music signal isn't changing and if something else is at play, it isn't a negative to my ears in my system.

     

    Sonically, this clean sound is very different from the sound I hear through the microRendu. That statement shouldn't be taken to mean the microRendu is the opposite and dirty sounding. Rather, the mR sounds more organic and analog-like than the sMS-200. From a technical point of view I can't explain the sonic differences, but I suspect some of this may be related to the different power supplies and technologies, or there's always the placebo effect. I'm disinclined to believe it's a placebo, based on the amount of sonic difference I heard between the units.

     

    Comparing the sound of the sMS-200 to the microRendu further, I listened to some 1970s rock and roll. I've been on a real 70s kick lately. Playing it for my five year old daughter in the car on the way to school in the morning as well. Not sanctioned by the hoity-toity audiophile society, but damn good music made to sound as good as it can through a real HiFi system.

     

    I put on Fleetwood Mac's Gold Dust Women in 24/96, first through the microRendu. Once I had that sound committed to memory as much as possible, I switched to the sMS-200. I immediately thought the sMS-200 was louder. I don't know what contributed to my perception, but I know it wasn't a change in the audio signal. I was so concerned that I immediately checked the sMS-200 and the microRendu for bit perfect audio (again). Both were sending unaltered audio to the dCS Rossini.

     

    Despite the (mis)perceived difference in volume, I heard the same types of differences with Fleetwood Mac that I heard with the acoustic tracks, but a bit less audible and with a slight twist. The sMS-200 was very clean, just as it was previously. The sonic cleanliness was nice, but it perhaps gave the sound an ever-so-small amount of sterility. By contrast, the microRendu sounded a little lower in level and, as it did before, sounded more organic and closer to an analog sound. Neither device is perfect nor 100% better than the other, for all people in all systems.

     

    I'm unsure if the sonic differences I heard would be present in another system, connected to different equipment. Or, if they'd be present with someone else's ears and brain. When considering a device such as the sMS-200, one should consider the whole, rather than a single piece. Consider the software, support, upgradability, sound quality, and anything else that's important to the individual.



     

    Conclusion

     

    The SOtM sMS-200 is a reasonably priced Ethernet to USB converter that adds Roon, DLNA, AirPlay, Squeezelite, and HQPlayer NAA to almost any system. If the sMS-200 hardware is the system's heart, the operating system is its head. Based on my tests, the sMS-200's heart is in the right place, but its head is a few steps behind the curve. Also note, this may not mean anything to those who want to set it and forget it. The SotM sMS-200 will likely work very well if connected to a USB DAC, set to one of the output modes such as Roon or DLNA, and left alone. In fact, this is what I imagine most users will probably do with the unit.

     

    When it comes to sonic quality and the sMS-200's ability to reproduce music, it's a wonderful piece of equipment. The sound I heard through my system, with the sMS-200 in the mix, was incredibly clean. In a way, it was like a pristine Steely Dan or Donald Fagen recording. Everything was tight, with no loose ends or extraneous frequency bumps. Compared to the microRendu, I'll say the sMS-200 is like a clean crisp compact disc whereas the mR is more like a 180 gram vinyl record. Both can deliver the goods sonically, but one may be better suited to a user's specific taste or requirements.

     

    I'm certainly sold on the concept of the SOtM sMS-200 and all its input application options. I used this device, and its competitors, seven days a week here at CA HQ. The product is very capable of delivering what most HiFi aficionados want, and that's great sound quality first and foremost. I recommend everyone in the market for such a versatile device consider the SOtM sMS-200 and its matching mBPS-d2s power supply. Many people will find they can simply add this SOtM combination to any existing USB DAC and call it a day.

     

     

    Product Information:

     

     

     

     

    Associated Music:

     

     

     

     

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    It's too bad you waited so long to make this review and soon the Ultra version will be out.  Things are moving far faster than these reviews and yesterdays technology is already old today.

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    Hi Chris,

     

    Did you try the sMS-200 and mR, both powered by the LPS-1?

     

    In my own review here on CA, I found them both to sound very, very good, but I felt the sMS-200 edged ahead by, as I put it, "a nose." 

     

    Obviously, with components this close in quality to each other, YMMV!

     

     

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    4 minutes ago, The Computer Audiophile said:

    I know it's hard to believe, but I don't even have an LPS-1!

     

    That is mind-boggling, my friend!

     

    So you used the mBPS-d2s with sMS-200. With what were you powering the microRendu in this comparison?

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    Thanks for adding this long-in-the-wait review. I'm a bit confounded why you didn't try out a variety of power supplies to come about the sonic differences between the sMS-200 and the mR, instead of resorting to the bit perfect "analysis" tool (which didn't amount to anything anyway). It seems to me interesting light could've been shed with a range of PSU's here.

     

    If anything I'd have guessed this review has seen a significant shelf life prior to publication.. 

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    1 hour ago, The Computer Audiophile said:

    I know it's hard to believe, but I don't even have an LPS-1!

    How about the Sonore Signature?  Or was that one never a "keeper" in your system, to go along with the microRendu?  It would seem logical to at least try and keep relative/comparable financial combinations of such products.  I know the Signature does not exactly fit that criteria, but what did you use for the microRendu? Since you're doing a bit of comparison here, it's only fair to reveal what power supply you're using in conjunction with the microRendu.

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    10 minutes ago, stevebythebay said:

    How about the Sonore Signature?  Or was that one never a "keeper" in your system, to go along with the microRendu?  It would seem logical to at least try and keep relative/comparable financial combinations of such products.  I know the Signature does not exactly fit that criteria, but what did you use for the microRendu? Since you're doing a bit of comparison here, it's only fair to reveal what power supply you're using in conjunction with the microRendu.

     

    Yes, thanks for bringing this up. I used a prototype Sonore Signature PSU for the microRendu.

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    34 minutes ago, phusis said:

    Thanks for adding this long-in-the-wait review. I'm a bit confounded why you didn't try out a variety of power supplies to come about the sonic differences between the sMS-200 and the mR, instead of resorting to the bit perfect "analysis" tool (which didn't amount to anything anyway). It seems to me interesting light could've been shed with a range of PSU's here.

     

    If anything I'd have guessed this review has seen a significant shelf life prior to publication.. 

     

    Hi phusis - Thanks for the comments. You touched on what makes CA a bit different from other publications.

     

    On front page reviews we lean more toward information that a majority of people in this hobby can digest. We try to limit the number of variables and limit the number of words in a review. For example, the sMS-200 review could have been 6000 words and covered every power supply capable of driving the unit and the mR and every PSU and other similar devices and all the PSUs etc... I know some people would like this type of review and I don't blame them for wanting more information. On the other hand, some people don't want to know too much about how the sausage is made and want a review they can digest without blocking off an hour of their schedule.

     

    Fortunately, CA also has a user forum where the nitty gritty details are all there for anyone to read and ask questions. Crowd sourcing this information from people all over the world with all kinds of systems etc... is an unmatchable way to really get deep knowledge about a product. 

     

    Some reviews we dig deeper and write more words, but for the most part we try to condense down what we find interesting and what we think will benefit the readers. We also realize when we aren't the first publication to review a product and we try to offer something that people haven't received from elsewhere. it's all a fine balance. We hope that between the front page reviews and the forum, most people will be able to extract the information that suits their style of reading and absorbing the info. 

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    47 minutes ago, The Computer Audiophile said:

     

    Yes, thanks for bringing this up. I used a prototype Sonore Signature PSU for the microRendu.

    I don't suppose you happened to test the Signature PSU with the sMS-200.  Seems that might have put this combination sonically ahead of the one you tested.  But then, that might violate what you intended to do here.  And unlike the microRendu, which suggests different alternative power supplies, I don't see that suggested by SOtM. 

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    2 minutes ago, stevebythebay said:

    I don't suppose you happened to test the Signature PSU with the sMS-200.  Seems that might have put this combination sonically ahead of the one you tested.  But then, that might violate what you intended to do here.  And unlike the microRendu, which suggests different alternative power supplies, I don't see that suggested by SOtM. 

     

    Correct, I didn't test the Sonore PSU with the SOtM D-to-D. 

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    I am blown away that the HD-Plex LPS are not more popular.  They are incredibly versatile...4 DC rails.  5-19 Volts and one rail is adjustable.   They use XLR connectors/cables and are included with the LPS.

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    1 hour ago, LarryMagoo said:

    I am blown away that the HD-Plex LPS are not more popular.  They are incredibly versatile...4 DC rails.  5-19 Volts and one rail is adjustable.   They use XLR connectors/cables and are included with the LPS.

     

    That's because the HDPlex doesn't even come close to the LPS-1 impedance levels, let alone the blocking of stray DC current.  In other words the HDPlex is not in the same league.  Works fine for a noisy mobo and temporary power supply.

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    Appreciate the review, tells me to stick with mRendu. Would be nice to see a "full potential"  review with optical Ethernet, both powered  by a good LPS and something like the Mutec 3 + USB. Suspect that could take you into "extreme pin drop" sound resolution with both which to me is the hallmark of the mRendu.

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    2 hours ago, stevebythebay said:

    I don't suppose you happened to test the Signature PSU with the sMS-200.  Seems that might have put this combination sonically ahead of the one you tested.  But then, that might violate what you intended to do here.  And unlike the microRendu, which suggests different alternative power supplies, I don't see that suggested by SOtM. 

    I don't get it.  How can we get a true comparison without the same power supply.  A special power supply add on for the mR and a switching power supply for the sMS-200?  Not even a fair comparison.  Oh well, it don't matter anymore, the Ultra sMS-200 is just about out and from all reviews from those that already have it, it is a night and day difference with the new clocking board.  Of course the price is dramatically different also.

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    I encourage you to lighten up a bit Elvis. 

     

    Each company sends a product how they want it tested. In this case the battery supply for the sotm and the signature for the mR. 

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    12 minutes ago, The Computer Audiophile said:

    I encourage you to lighten up a bit Elvis. 

     

    Each company sends a product how they want it tested. In this case the battery supply for the sotm and the signature for the mR. 

    No problem, my bad,  didn't know that the sotm had a battery supply, guess I missed that, you do say so in your review, and was supplied by the company. 

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    Thanks Chris.

     

    Very nice review. 

     

    I have the microRendu.

     

    As you say, this class of device allows one to preserve any investment in DACs, amps etc and yet keep up with playing and streaming developments like Roon, Tidal, NAS and so on. 

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    Nice review Chris,

    I have also noticed some quirks in the SMS-200 and want to get one soon.  It would be my first server and the dac either a starting point DAC3 or Metrum Musette will be my first DAC.  I have lots of CDs and vinyl and my CD player just died.

     

    My question, for the large assembled gallery of SMS-200 users, is what type of hard disk device will successfully plug directly into the SMS-200?  On stereonet.com.au it has been noted by some that USB drives that draw 5V power from the SMS-200 don't sound great.  Any one want to speculate as to why?  Does the extra current draw cause more electrical noise in SMS-200 perhaps?

     

    One user, Bilbo, the initial SMS-200 reviewer, reported that his Geiseler 12V LPSU powered hard drive dock, the Astone 250E, sounded much better.  He  suggested this is because it does't use the SMS-200's power.  He also mentioned he had a NAS (also a self powered device) that worked directly plugged into SMS-200, but did not sound as good as the Astone 250E.  The Astone 250E is superseded and no longer available.  Another poster mentioned that a newer incarnation of the Astone HDD dock was not recognised or seen by his SMS-200.  

     

    So has anyone else experimented with self powered hard drive docks vs bus powered usb drives vs self powered NAS drives on the SMS-200?  If so have they noted any sonic differences or simply which ones were actually "seen" by SMS-200.  And if they used the self powered variety which power supplies did they prefer, e.g., battery or LPSU?

     

    Using a hard drive device plugged directly into the SMS-200 appeals to me because no computer is required.  (My computers travel to work and back daily).  SOtM's software and Lumin etc allow the hard drive's files to be directly accessed via iPad.  I wish to avoid the expense and complication or Roon, Tidal etc for now.  Thanking everyone for there input in advance

     

    Kind regards,

     

    Ben

     

     

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    Nice review but I think you may have missed some functionality in the Eunhasu software available since version 3.6.  "The mR offers several places to get information about the connected USB DAC."

     

    If you go to the System Config page in Eunhasu, there are two useful links provided at the bottom left of the page. One is "Detailed system information" and the other is "DAC information".  They only appear as small text but they are actually links to reports.  Have a look and you may find what you are looking for. :)

     

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    23 hours ago, bensoundresearch said:

    Nice review Chris,

    I have also noticed some quirks in the SMS-200 and want to get one soon.  It would be my first server and the dac either a starting point DAC3 or Metrum Musette will be my first DAC.  I have lots of CDs and vinyl and my CD player just died.

     

    My question, for the large assembled gallery of SMS-200 users, is what type of hard disk device will successfully plug directly into the SMS-200?  On stereonet.com.au it has been noted by some that USB drives that draw 5V power from the SMS-200 don't sound great.  Any one want to speculate as to why?  Does the extra current draw cause more electrical noise in SMS-200 perhaps?

     

    One user, Bilbo, the initial SMS-200 reviewer, reported that his Geiseler 12V LPSU powered hard drive dock, the Astone 250E, sounded much better.  He  suggested this is because it does't use the SMS-200's power.  He also mentioned he had a NAS (also a self powered device) that worked directly plugged into SMS-200, but did not sound as good as the Astone 250E.  The Astone 250E is superseded and no longer available.  Another poster mentioned that a newer incarnation of the Astone HDD dock was not recognised or seen by his SMS-200.  

     

    So has anyone else experimented with self powered hard drive docks vs bus powered usb drives vs self powered NAS drives on the SMS-200?  If so have they noted any sonic differences or simply which ones were actually "seen" by SMS-200.  And if they used the self powered variety which power supplies did they prefer, e.g., battery or LPSU?

     

    Using a hard drive device plugged directly into the SMS-200 appeals to me because no computer is required.  (My computers travel to work and back daily).  SOtM's software and Lumin etc allow the hard drive's files to be directly accessed via iPad.  I wish to avoid the expense and complication or Roon, Tidal etc for now.  Thanking everyone for there input in advance

     

    Kind regards,

     

    Ben

     

     

     

    Sorry Ben, but I have to correct a couple of things.

    I don't have a Geiseler LPSU - it was a friends we used as a test. Subsequent to that, I now use a 12V 3A DIY LPSU which also sounds better than the battery.

    My NAS was not connected direct into the SMS-200 but via ethernet into my router which made it available as a netwrok device that the SMS-200 could "see".

     

    I also recommend using the Soundirok app to control the SMS-200 in MPD mode.

    A great app with a good interface and that setup is very simple and works a treat!

    Cheers

    Bilbo

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    Are you reviewing the Mcintosh D1100?  I will be very interested in reading your review of that if you are.

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