Brandwave

How popular isSMSL?

In October 2026, people searched for SMSL by name about 22,200 times worldwide, about the same as the previous year. These searches made up 10.6% of all global headphone amp and DAC brand searches, placing SMSL second out of 11 brands. When we asked both ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about headphone amp and DAC brands, SMSL did not appear in any of the answers.

Search and AI answers in October 2026

SMSL is the second most searched of 11 competitors and not named in the AI answers we collected.

  1. FiiOShare of searches 61.2%Mentioned in 5 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 1st
  2. SMSLShare of searches 10.6%Mentioned in 0 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations –
  3. SchiitShare of searches 8.7%Mentioned in 2 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 4th
  4. iFiShare of searches 6.5%Mentioned in 3 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 2nd
  5. ToppingShare of searches 2.9%Mentioned in 3 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 3rd

+6 more

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Top headphone amp and DAC brands in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, SMSL did not appear in any of the five answers.

Most recommended by AI

Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.

  1. FiiO1st
  2. iFi2nd
  3. Topping3rd
  4. Schiit4th
  5. JDS Labs5th
  6. Chord6th
  7. RME7th
  8. SMSL–
  9. Questyle–
  10. xDuoo–
  11. +1 more

Mentioned by AI

Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.

  • FiiO5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • iFi3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Topping3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Schiit2 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Chord1 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • JDS Labs1 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • RME1 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • SMSL0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Questyle0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • xDuoo0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers

+1 more

See every answer about headphone amp and DAC brands

5 answers

Not named in any answer:

Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in the United States on October 27, 2026.

How often do people search for SMSL compared with other headphone amp and DAC brands worldwide?

SMSL against headphone amp and DAC brands worldwide, by month

Share of searches by month for FiiO, SMSL, Schiit, iFi, Topping, Chord, Questyle. The figures are in the table below the chart.

View monthly share of searches table
MonthFiiOSMSLSchiitiFiToppingChordQuestylexDuooGustardJDS LabsRME
Nov 202557.8%9.1%9.1%7.2%3.5%2.5%2.7%2.2%1.5%2.7%1.8%
Dec 202558%9%9%7.5%3.4%2.8%2.7%2.2%1.5%2.2%1.8%
Jan 202655.9%8.9%8.9%8.6%3.4%2.8%2.7%2.2%2.2%2.2%2.2%
Feb 202656.9%10.3%8.4%8.1%3.4%2.6%2.5%2%1.7%2%2%
Mar 202657.3%10.1%8.2%8%3.3%3%2.5%2%1.6%2%2%
Apr 202659.2%8.7%8.7%7.9%2.9%2.7%2.1%2.1%1.7%1.7%2.1%
May 202659.8%8.6%8.6%7.8%2.8%2.3%2.6%2.1%1.7%2.1%1.7%
Jun 202658.4%9.3%9.3%8.1%3.1%2.4%2.8%1.9%1.5%1.9%1.5%
Jul 202662.3%8.6%8.6%6.4%2.7%2.2%2.6%1.7%1.4%2.1%1.4%
Aug 202661.1%8.7%8.7%7.5%2.9%2.2%2.6%2.1%1.4%1.7%1.2%
Sep 202656.9%11%8.9%9.1%3%1.9%2.7%2.2%1.4%1.8%1.2%
Oct 202661.2%10.6%8.7%6.5%2.9%2.2%2.1%1.7%1.4%1.4%1.4%

  1. 1.FiiO

    61.2%

    Held 1st. 128K estimated branded searches, +10.7% vs prior month. Share +4.2 points.

  2. 2.SMSL

    10.6%

    Held 2nd. 22.2K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share -0.3 points.

  3. 3.Schiit

    8.7%

    Moved from 4th to 3rd. 18.1K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share -0.3 points.

  4. 4.iFi

    6.5%

    Moved from 3rd to 4th. 13.5K estimated branded searches, -26.6% vs prior month. Share -2.6 points.

  5. 5.Topping

    2.9%

    Held 5th. 6K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share -0.1 points.

  6. 6.Chord

    2.2%

    Moved from 8th to 6th. 4.6K estimated branded searches, +17.9% vs prior month. Share +0.3 points.

  7. 7.Questyle

    2.1%

    Moved from 6th to 7th. 4.4K estimated branded searches, -18.5% vs prior month. Share -0.6 points.

  8. 8.xDuoo

    1.7%

    Moved from 7th to 8th. 3.6K estimated branded searches, -18.2% vs prior month. Share -0.4 points.

  9. 9.Gustard

    1.4%

    Moved from 10th to 9th. 2.9K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share 0 points.

  10. 10.JDS Labs

    1.4%

    Moved from 9th to 10th. 2.9K estimated branded searches, -19.4% vs prior month. Share -0.4 points.

  11. 11.RME

    1.4%

    Held 11th. 2.9K estimated branded searches, +20.8% vs prior month. Share +0.2 points.

Compare popularity between SMSL and its closest rivals

Every comparison with SMSL

10 comparisons

How has branded search demand for SMSL changed worldwide over the last 12 months?

4 findings
  • Across the 12 months ending October 2026, estimated monthly branded searches for SMSL worldwide held steady at 22.2K.
  • Across the 12 months ending October 2026, SMSL’s share of searches among headphone amp and DAC brands worldwide increased from 9.1% to 10.6%.
  • Across the 12 months ending October 2026, SMSL’s share of searches among headphone amp and DAC brands worldwide peaked at 11% in September 2026 and was lowest at 8.6% in May 2026.
  • Across the 12 months ending October 2026, SMSL rose from 3rd to 2nd among headphone amp and DAC brands worldwide.

How did search popularity change for headphone amp and DAC brands worldwide in October 2026?

6 changes

  1. In October 2026, FiiO gained share of searches among headphone amp and DAC brands worldwide, from 56.9% to 61.2%.

  2. In October 2026, iFi lost share of searches among headphone amp and DAC brands worldwide, from 9.1% to 6.5%.

  3. In October 2026, Questyle lost share of searches among headphone amp and DAC brands worldwide, from 2.7% to 2.1%.

  4. In October 2026, Chord rose from 8th to 6th among headphone amp and DAC brands worldwide.

  5. In October 2026, Gustard rose from 10th to 9th among headphone amp and DAC brands worldwide.

  6. In October 2026, Schiit rose from 4th to 3rd among headphone amp and DAC brands worldwide.

How are SMSL’s branded searches counted?

1 search term

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using SMSL’s name. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for this branded term can be used to understand whether interest in the brand is growing, holding steady, or fading.

  • smsl

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How the Brand Demand Index is measured

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