Network Player SOtM sMS-200

Convenience of use and playback performance were the main considerations that drew my attention to the idea of buying a dedicated network player to replace the PC I had been using. After researching the market for an affordable device capable of streaming digital audio over a local network or from attached USB storage, my choice was basically narrowed down to two contenders — the Auralic Aries Mini and the SOtM sMS-200, both priced below 600 euros. I decided to give SOtM a try because of its seemingly better build quality and greater versatility.

For those of you who have no idea what a network player is, I’ll explain briefly. A network player, or streamer, is a digital transport similar to a CD player, but instead of having a slot for a disc, it has a network interface (RJ45 Gigabit Ethernet or Wi-Fi connection) that allows it to become part of the local network. This means that another device, such as a PC or smartphone connected to the same network, can be used as a remote control.

Imagine sitting on your sofa with your smartphone or tablet in hand. All you need to do is open the control application, choose an album, and press the “Play” button. A network player can transport not only locally stored audio files from a NAS server, hard drive, or USB stick, but also music from internet-based services such as Qobuz, Tidal, Spotify, TuneIn, and others. A PC can also be configured to work as a network player in a similar way and be remotely controlled via a smart device.

The enclosure of the SOtM sMS-200 is made of metal rather than plastic, as is the case with the Auralic Aries Mini. The software variety and flexibility offered by SOtM also outperform the Auralic, which is restricted to its proprietary software platform (AURALiC Lightning Server).

With the Auralic Aries Mini, there is only one playback control application available (AURALiC Lightning DS) for use on a smartphone or other iOS device. What I like about SOtM is the wide range of possibilities it provides at nearly the same price. It comes with support for several software platforms, including Roon Client, HQ Player, Logitech Media Server (LMS) with SqueezeLite Client, Music Player Daemon (MPD), DLNA Renderer, Shairport, and a lightweight web server. There are also dozens of applications available that can be used to remotely control playback.

At the same time, the Auralic has an integrated DAC, allowing it to be connected directly to an amplifier through its analogue outputs. Basically, it is an all-in-one solution that offers straightforward usability as a digital transport. It targets less demanding users and can save money that would otherwise need to be spent on a separate DAC.

The Aries Mini is more limited in terms of software, but more versatile in terms of hardware, offering various connectivity options — USB, coaxial, TOSLINK digital outputs, as well as analogue RCA outputs. The SOtM, on the other hand, is more limited in hardware connectivity, providing only a digital USB output, but offers greater software flexibility.

How it all began

Before I got the SOtM sMS-200, I used my PC as a digital transport together with my iPod Touch as a control centre. Initially, I used the famous foobar2000 media player software on my PC with the MonkeyMote remote control app running on my iPod. I was able to play audio files stored on my PC and remotely control playback.

After some research, I became aware of the existence of Logitech Media Server (LMS) software, which could also be installed on a PC and expand its functionality by adding internet streaming capabilities through services such as Qobuz, Tidal, Spotify, and others. I decided to give LMS a try, and after installing it I was literally blown away by this software.

It completely transformed my PC, not only in terms of convenience and versatility but, most importantly, because of the superb playback quality it delivered.

Shortly before discovering LMS, I was considering switching to a completely analogue setup using a turntable and phono preamp. However, I was reluctant to do so because of my belief that a properly implemented digital transport could deliver sound very close to analogue while offering flexibility that analogue simply cannot provide.

Despite having a high-quality non-over-sampling (NOS) DAC, the combination of a PC running Windows 7 and foobar2000 did not come anywhere close to the relaxed and earthy presentation of a pure analogue source. Everything changed after installing LMS.

I was listening to music again. I was immersed in its organic flow, forgetting myself completely. One cannot truly understand what a huge difference software can make until experiencing it.

I consider switching to LMS one of the most positive influences on my audio system ever. However, using a PC or notebook as a digital transport is still not very convenient and has its drawbacks.

The main disadvantages of using a PC are that it produces acoustic noise, takes up considerable space, and requires peripheral devices such as a keyboard and monitor. Another weak point is that the components used in an average computer are not designed with audio performance in mind. This means that electromagnetic interference can potentially contaminate the signal and contribute to increased jitter.

After sorting out the software side, the next logical step was to find suitable hardware.

Being aware of the significant influence software can have on system performance, I was not willing to limit my system by introducing a device dependent on a single proprietary software platform.

Despite trying different audio drivers such as WASAPI, ASIO, and Kernel Streaming under Windows 7, before adopting LMS I was still able to hear the typical artificial glare and listening fatigue associated with digital audio reproduction.

With the SOtM sMS-200 using LMS as the playback software, music listening became an even more relaxed experience. It is a fanless device with no mechanical noise, and the musical background is completely silent as well.

All aspects of audio reproduction have improved compared with my PC setup. The manufacturer and several reviewers claim that performance can be further improved by using the company’s optional battery power supply. I find it somewhat expensive at the moment, but I would like to test it at some point.

I am currently using the iPeng 9 application on my iPod Touch together with SqueezeLite and LMS running on the SOtM sMS-200 to remotely control the playback, and I am very happy with the results.

The iPeng 9 iOS app runs like honey on butter — sleek, fast, and responsive — and gives me access to features such as song lyrics, artist and album information, playback quality, and much more. It is not free, but the user experience it provides is many times better than what you get from free applications such as the old Logitech Squeezebox Controller.

My conclusion is that the SOtM sMS-200 compact network streamer is a high-quality device that delivers extraordinary performance for the money and can be used in a variety of ways. If you are considering such a device, you would do no wrong by giving it a try.

Thank you for stopping by!