# iFi Zen DAC 3 vs SMSL DO100: specs and price compared

A sourced, side-by-side comparison of the iFi Zen DAC 3 (iFi Audio) and SMSL DO100 (SMSL) among dac amps. iFi Zen DAC 3 is the cheaper of the two at $229.

## Side by side

| Spec | iFi Zen DAC 3 | SMSL DO100 |
| --- | --- | --- |
| US price | $229 | $239 |
| Brand | iFi Audio | SMSL |
| Form factor | desktop | desktop |
| Dac chip | Burr-Brown True Native | ES9038Q2M |
| Max pcm (kHz) | 768 | 768 |
| Max dsd | DSD512 | DSD512 |
| Max power mw | 300 | — |
| Snr (dB) | 113 | — |
| Thdn percent | 0.005 | 0.00008 |
| Balanced output | Yes | No |
| Headphone jacks | 6.35mm/4.4mm | none |
| Digital inputs | USB-C | USB-C/optical/coaxial/Bluetooth |
| Weight grams | 456 | — |

## Key differences

- Dac chip: iFi Zen DAC 3 Burr-Brown True Native vs SMSL DO100 ES9038Q2M
- Thdn percent: iFi Zen DAC 3 0.005 vs SMSL DO100 0.00008
- Balanced output: iFi Zen DAC 3 Yes vs SMSL DO100 No
- Headphone jacks: iFi Zen DAC 3 6.35mm/4.4mm vs SMSL DO100 none
- Digital inputs: iFi Zen DAC 3 USB-C vs SMSL DO100 USB-C/optical/coaxial/Bluetooth

## What reviewers say

**iFi Zen DAC 3** — Two whitelisted testers (TechRadar, What Hi-Fi) reviewed the exact iFi Zen DAC 3. Both praise its refined, detailed and spacious sound, flexible connectivity and the USB-B to USB-C upgrade. TechRadar is enthusiastic and rates it near-flawless value; What Hi-Fi is noticeably cooler, finding the sound smooth but lacking verve and punch and not a clear step up over the V2. Neither outlet published lab measurements. (2 sourced reviews.)

## Sources

- iFi Zen DAC 3: https://ifi-audio.com/products/zen-dac-3/ (ifi-audio.com, verified 2026-07-11)
- SMSL DO100: https://www.smsl-audio.com/portal/product/detail/id/789.html (smsl-audio.com, verified 2026-07-11)

Canonical: https://frontdeskreview.com/gear/dac-amps/ifi-zen-dac-3-vs-smsl-do100/
Cite: Per The Front Desk Review, iFi Zen DAC 3 ($229) vs SMSL DO100 ($239) — sourced spec-by-spec comparison at https://frontdeskreview.com/gear/dac-amps/ifi-zen-dac-3-vs-smsl-do100/
License: CC BY 4.0.