s.m.s.l LIN.LIN.LIN M20 MQA
The LIN.LIN.LIN M20 MQA delivers crisp, spacious detail with a musical, non-clinical presentation that belies its palm-sized form. Passion for Sound found its refined separation and wide staging impressively desktop-grade, while 700mW output, 3.5mm and 4.4mm headphone ports, plus line out make this a remarkably versatile compact hub.
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Nicely Roasted
Sound Quality
88/100
Build Quality
82/100
Features Usability
91/100
Value for Money
94/100
Pros
Crisp, detailed and spacious sound remains musical rather than clinical, with strong instrument separation.
Compact USB-powered design delivers ample output for most demanding headphones and supports both 3.5mm and 4.4mm headphones.
Physical controls provide app-free access to filters, output modes, USB mode and MQA settings.
Cons
It may require a separate 5V power connection when used with a smartphone, as a phone USB output alone caused restart issues in testing.
Small menu labels can be difficult to read, and the lighting may be distracting in darker setups.
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What Reviewers Are Saying
SOUND QUALITY PERFORMANCE 88/100
The available listening review finds the M20 unusually refined for such a compact DAC/amp, describing a crisp, spacious and musical presentation with strong separation. It is presented as a convincing desktop-level performer, although the supplied reviews offer no direct assessment of background noise and limited pairing detail beyond its claimed drive capability.
Transparency Resolution
93/100
Passion for Sound calls the presentation crisp, detailed, spacious and refined, with an excellent sense of separation between instruments. The reviewer also found it easy to focus on individual sounds within a recording, suggesting notably strong clarity for the price and size.
Tonal Balance Musicality
92/100
The M20 is praised for avoiding a clinical or soulless character while retaining detail and refinement. Its presentation is described as musical as well as crisp and spacious, indicating a successful balance between analysis and enjoyment.
Dynamics
89/100
The reviewer reports 700 mW into 32 ohms and considers this sufficient for most challenging headphones. While there is no extended discussion of transient attack or large-scale dynamic impact, the M20 is portrayed as composed and capable rather than strained.
Noise Floor
80/100
The supplied reviews do not directly discuss hiss, hum, background silence or performance with sensitive IEMs. There is therefore little listener evidence on how quietly the M20 behaves with highly efficient headphones.
Headphone Compatibility
88/100
Passion for Sound considers the stated output sufficient for even most challenging headphones, and reports that the available headphone outputs sound broadly alike. The 3.5 mm and 4.4 mm headphone connections expand practical pairing options, though the reviews do not document tests across high-impedance dynamics, demanding planars and sensitive IEMs.
Assessments of Build Quality, Usability, and Overall Propositions.
Build Quality
82/100
Audiophilepure describes the controls as tactile, albeit with a soft-click feel rather than a firm mechanical action. The M20's exceptionally compact form is clear, but the supplied reviews say little about chassis durability, connector quality or long-term reliability.
Features Usability
91/100
This compact DAC/amp provides separate USB-C data and power ports, UAC1 support for console use, 3.5 mm and 4.4 mm headphone outputs, and a 3.5 mm line output for active speakers or an external amplifier. Its physical controls handle filters, output mode and MQA settings without an app, although the small menu labels are difficult to read and the lighting may be too conspicuous for some setups.
Value for Money
94/100
At roughly $130-$149, Passion for Sound says the M20 costs about the same as a dongle while delivering a miniaturized desktop-style experience. The reviewer calls it a real winner for its size and price, with performance characterized as properly desktop-level rather than merely portable.
Reviews & Sources
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Specifications
Manufacturer's Description — s.m.s.l
DAC with Headphone Amp
Using 4 pieces of Cirrus Logic's latest audio decoding chip CS43131 and carefully designed circuits;
Using PLFC circuit design, with 2 pieces of TPA6120A2 special headphone amplifier chip.
The brand-new third-generation XMOS XU-316, supports PCM up to 32bit/768kHz and DSD up to DSD256;
Supports MQA decoding and MQA-CD;
The device offers a choice between USB 1.1 and USB 2.0 modes, USB 1.1 mode allows for easier connectivity with gaming consoles such as the PS5 or Switch.
The audio clock processing circuit helps reduce clock jitter greatly;
Built-in specially designed low noise power supply;
Using a large number of audio-specific audiophile grade resistors and capacitors;
Japan Audio Association (JAS)Hi-Res certification.
Verified Dealers
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Authorized dealers for s.m.s.l LIN.LIN.LIN M20 MQA
- Addicted to Audio — online and in-store — Epping, Victoria, Australia (website)
- Apos Audio — online and in-store — Oakland, California, United States (website)
- Audio 46 — online and in-store — New York, New York, United States (website)
- Audio Hum — in-store — Norte Sierra, Andalucía, Spain (website)
- Audio Magic - EU — online and in-store — Wola, Województwo mazowieckie, Poland (website)
- AUDIOPHONICS — in-store — Bordeaux, Nouvelle-Aquitaine, France (website)
- Bloom Audio — online and in-store — Gibbsboro, New Jersey, United States (website)
- Elise Audio — online and in-store — Paddington, England, United Kingdom (website)
- Headphone Zone — online and in-store — Laxmi Industrial Estate, Maharashtra, India (website)
- Hifi Passion — in-store — Neustadt, Bremen, Germany (website)
and 4 more verified dealers