SMSL AO200 MKII Stereo Amplifier – A Blogs & Little Things Review

There are some small changes overall and an even smaller jump in price, from $223 to $249. But is it worth the upgrade from the AO200? For its looks and features, this amp should be a slam dunk at this price point. Let’s find out!

Listening Setup

• DAC – SMSL DO300
• Speakers – Jamo S 801s
• Interconnects – AudioQuest

Sample Music

• Valiant Hearts – Alaska
• Talk to a Friend – Rain City Drive
• PVRIS – White Noise
• Young Medicine – Lost Boys

Changes from AO200

The changes from the AO200 are admittedly not much at all, with the biggest one being the updated amplifier power which also affects things like the THD+N and SNR in very minor ways. The boost in power is of course a welcome one at about 35 watts per channel increase. Depending on the speakers you’re running and your listening setup this may interest you in upgrading. Unfortunately, I did not get a chance to test out the AO200 before trying out the MKII. So, I can’t say for certain as to how good an upgrade it will be.

There also is a small size difference in the height and depth, no doubt due to the larger internals now installed. There really aren’t any noticeable differences in the exterior appearance. The only real way to tell them apart is the added MKII lettering on the front. SMSL made the wise move of only slightly increasing the price by $26 from the AO200, making the upgrade an easy choice to make even if you’re like me and not already in possession of an AO200, jumping into the AO line is quite affordable.

I don’t often mention EQ in my reviews, for most pieces of gear I test. EQ setup and adjustments are usually a breeze and not even worth mentioning, it’s the same level of difficulty as opening the box. Unfortunately, this is the MKII’s only downside, the EQ settings are quite confusing and just not straightforward. I found some modes made vocals far quieter than expected, while others did the same for bass, it felt like a chore to really dial the amp in. I am not new to SMSL, the DAC I used for this setup is the DO300 and it’s almost the same menu layout, but the EQ settings are far more logical and sound the way you’d expect. The MKII’s EQ really took some trial and error to find one setting that was balanced and neutral.

I really felt during this whole experience that the MKII performed at a much higher price tag than $249. Every time I would check some specs online during this review, I would remember what a great value this amp is. It feels like it should be $500-600 given its overall design, fit, and finish. I used both XLR and RCA cables for my testing and didn’t notice any audible differences between the two, but having the option is always nice.

The sound is interesting on the MKII, once it’s finally set up it really does sound wonderful. It has a very laid-back sound, not bass-focused or overly warm. Some EQ is definitely needed to get the most from it. The Fosi Audio V3 has me spoiled for out-of-the-box bass response and full-range presentation. I would say these two amps sound a lot like each other, but the MKII has a more robust soundstage and tighter upper end. It matches pace with the DO300 but not as well as I had hoped out of the box. It has plenty of power and finesse to suit most listener’s needs, but the only issue is that at the sub $300 price point, competition is fierce and it’s hard to really choose the best in the ever more crowded amplifier selection found online today. The MKII is good, really good, and it’s feature-packed, clean sounding, and has balanced inputs. It’s a solid choice.

The SMSL AO200 MKII Stereo Amplifier is not a major upgrade from the AO200, but the small jump in price sweetens the deal enough to make it worthwhile.

EQ adjustments are a bit odd and time-consuming to get right, but it’s an amplifier that looks and sounds far nicer than it may appear. For $250 it’s an easy recommendation.