Henry Audio DA 256 vs SMSL DO100 PRO
The Henry Audio DA 256 scores 0.2 higher; the SMSL DO100 PRO costs $1,511 less. The reviews favour the DA 256 on tonal balance and build, and the DO100 PRO on connectivity and features.
By Jakub Charkiewicz, updated .
Our pick Henry Audio DA 256 The DA 256 is 0.2 ahead on score: two steps, more than the $1,511 the DO100 PRO saves can buy back under the rule. The reviews favour the DO100 PRO over the DA 256 on connectivity and features, which is its case.
When to choose the DO100 PRO over the DA 256The short version
The Henry Audio DA 256 scores 8.2/10 (Recommended) and the SMSL DO100 PRO 8.0/10 (Recommended). At €1,600 against $219, the DO100 PRO saves you $1,511 over the DA 256. On connectivity, the DO100 PRO's review lists "Balanced internally - XLR output sounds slightly better" where the DA 256's lists "No XLR outputs at all - one pair of RCAs and that's it". On tonal balance the DA 256 has the edge over the DO100 PRO: "Neutral and natural, with none of the dry, gray character most chip DACs share" against "Tonality leans slightly analytical". The published pick rule chooses the DA 256 over the DO100 PRO.
Higher score
Henry Audio DA 256
Which one to buy
Our pick is the DA 256, unless its connectivity or features would be a dealbreaker; then the DO100 PRO.
Henry Audio DA 256
Our pick. Choose it if:
- The DA 256's tonal balance and build matter more to you than the DO100 PRO's connectivity and features.
- You would pay $1,511 over the DO100 PRO for the DA 256's 8.2 against 8.0 on the rubric.
SMSL DO100 PRO
Choose it instead if:
- The DO100 PRO's connectivity and features matter more to you than the DA 256's tonal balance and build.
- Keeping $1,511 matters more to you than the DA 256's two-step lead over the DO100 PRO, 8.2 against 8.0.
- You want the DO100 PRO's brighter sound; the DA 256 sits closer to neutral there.
What matters most to you?
| What matters | Henry Audio DA 256 | SMSL DO100 PRO |
|---|---|---|
| Sound | 8.4 | 7.9 |
| Technical performance | 8.3 | 7.7 |
| Build & comfort | 8.4 | 8.1 |
| System fit | 8.2 | 8.5 |
| Value | 7.4 | 8.2 |
The widest gap is value: 7.4 for the DA 256 against 8.2 for the DO100 PRO. Each column comes from its own review's pros and cons, 15 for the DA 256 and 13 for the DO100 PRO, and recombines to its headline score, 8.2 and 8.0. How a score is built
Where they differ
The DO100 PRO has an XLR output, MQA, DSD support, and a display and the DA 256 does not.
Only the DA 256
Only the DO100 PRO
Inputs and outputs
The DO100 PRO review lists two strengths here, the DA 256 review one flaw.
- DO100 PRO, strength: "Balanced internally - XLR output sounds slightly better"
- DA 256, flaw: "No XLR outputs at all - one pair of RCAs and that's it"
Tonal balance
The DA 256 review lists one strength here, the DO100 PRO review one flaw.
- DA 256, strength: "Neutral and natural, with none of the dry, gray character most chip DACs share"
- DO100 PRO, flaw: "Tonality leans slightly analytical"
Features and formats
The DO100 PRO review lists four strengths here, the DA 256 review three strengths and two flaws.
- DO100 PRO, strength: "MQA / MQA-CD decoding, DSD512, PCM 32-bit/768kHz"
- DA 256, flaw: "No DSD, no MQA, and PCM stops at 24-bit/192 kHz"
Build and controls
The DA 256 review lists one strength here, the DO100 PRO review one strength and two flaws.
- DA 256, strength: "Thick brushed aluminum case on a real solid wood base, designed in Norway and built in Germany"
- DO100 PRO, flaw: "Slight wobble in the (digitally stepped) plastic knob"
Only the DA 256 review discusses system matching (one strength, one flaw), bass (one strength), measured noise (one strength), and in-box accessories (one flaw); only the DO100 PRO review discusses soundstage (one flaw) and circuit design (one strength).
What they have in common
The DA 256 and the DO100 PRO are both DACs, and both have a USB input, an optical input, a coaxial input, and RCA outputs. The DA 256 and DO100 PRO reviews both fault detail.
Sound signature, overlaid
On tonal balance the DA 256 sits near neutral where the DO100 PRO sounds bright and on stage size the DA 256 sounds wide-staged where the DO100 PRO sits near neutral. The DA 256 and the DO100 PRO both sound analytical and energetic. The DA 256 review reads bass weight and the DO100 PRO review does not, so the two go uncompared there.
On paper
The DA 256 ranks #2 and the DO100 PRO #4 of the 8 DACs reviewed here; on value the DA 256 rates Steep and the DO100 PRO Strong. The DA 256 lists 4 inputs and 1 output; the DO100 PRO lists 5 and 2. Inside, the DA 256 uses Texas Instruments PCM5142 delta-sigma, chip filter only, no upsampling and the DO100 PRO Dual ESS DAC + 6× OPA1612, XMOS.
The DA 256 and DO100 PRO figures come from Henry Audio's official site and SMSL's official site.
| Spec | Henry Audio DA 256 | SMSL DO100 PRO |
|---|---|---|
| Architecture | Texas Instruments PCM5142 delta-sigma, chip filter only, no upsampling | Dual ESS DAC + 6× OPA1612, XMOS - PCM 32-bit/768 kHz, DSD512, MQA |
| Inputs | USB-B, USB-C (front), Coaxial, Optical x2 | USB-C, Bluetooth, HDMI ARC, Optical, Coaxial |
| Outputs | RCA | RCA, Balanced XLR |
| Weight | Just over 1 kg | 1.50 kg (1500 g) |
Only the DA 256 review records SNR, format support, output level, power input, case, origin, and licensing, not the DO100 PRO review.
How these verdicts were reached
The DO100 PRO was reviewed in June 2024 and the DA 256 in September 2026, just over two years later, on one reference chain and rubric. The DA 256 review never mentions the DO100 PRO, nor the DO100 PRO review the DA 256: two separate sessions. The DA 256 and DO100 PRO reviews were both re-checked in September 2026.
Questions about the DA 256 and DO100 PRO
What is the difference between the Henry Audio DA 256 and the SMSL DO100 PRO?
Scores first: the Henry Audio DA 256 takes it from the DO100 PRO, 8.2 to 8.0. In the reviews' own lines, tonal balance and build go to the DA 256 and connectivity and features to the DO100 PRO. On voicing the DO100 PRO is the brighter of the two; the DA 256 does not lean far on that axis.
Which should you buy, the Henry Audio DA 256 or the SMSL DO100 PRO?
The DA 256: its 8.2 against the DO100 PRO's 8.0 is two steps, a lead the published pick rule keeps even at $1,511 more.
Which has the better inputs and outputs, the DA 256 or the DO100 PRO?
The DO100 PRO: its review lists two strengths on connectivity, the DA 256 review one flaw.
How do the DA 256 and the DO100 PRO differ in tonal balance?
The DA 256: its review lists one strength on tonal balance, the DO100 PRO review one flaw.
Is the DA 256 worth $1,511 more than the DO100 PRO?
On the pick rule, yes: the DA 256's 0.2 lead over the DO100 PRO is two steps, more than the rule trades for $1,511. In the reviews' own lines, it buys the DA 256's tonal balance and build over the DO100 PRO.
Where they rank
In Best DACs the DA 256 ranks #2 and the DO100 PRO #5.
DA 256 #2 DO100 PRO #5 8 picks