iFi vs SMSL:Which is more popular?
In October 2026, SMSL had more branded searches than iFi among headphone amp and DAC brands worldwide. SMSL had about 22,200 branded searches, while iFi had 13,500. SMSL made up 10.6% of all headphone amp and DAC brand searches we track, and iFi accounted for 6.5%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about headphone amp and DAC brands, iFi appeared in three of the five answers and SMSL in none.
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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, iFi was mentioned in three out of five: in two of the three ChatGPT answers and in one of the 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.
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
See every answer about headphone amp and DAC brands
5 answers
Asked ChatGPT
“What's the best headphone amp and DAC for the money?”
Asked ChatGPT
“Which DAC should I buy for my headphones?”
- 1FiiO
- 1
Asked ChatGPT
“What are the best headphone amp brands?”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“headphone amp”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“dac amp”
Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in the United States on October 27, 2026.
Is iFi or SMSL more popular in search?
This chart shows how often people search Google for iFi and SMSL by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all 11 headphone amp and DAC brands we track, month by month, from English-language searches worldwide.
Share of searches by month for SMSL, iFi. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of searches table
| Month | FiiO | SMSL | Schiit | iFi | Topping | Chord | Questyle | xDuoo | Gustard | JDS Labs | RME |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 2025 | 57.8% | 9.1% | 9.1% | 7.2% | 3.5% | 2.5% | 2.7% | 2.2% | 1.5% | 2.7% | 1.8% |
| Dec 2025 | 58% | 9% | 9% | 7.5% | 3.4% | 2.8% | 2.7% | 2.2% | 1.5% | 2.2% | 1.8% |
| Jan 2026 | 55.9% | 8.9% | 8.9% | 8.6% | 3.4% | 2.8% | 2.7% | 2.2% | 2.2% | 2.2% | 2.2% |
| Feb 2026 | 56.9% | 10.3% | 8.4% | 8.1% | 3.4% | 2.6% | 2.5% | 2% | 1.7% | 2% | 2% |
| Mar 2026 | 57.3% | 10.1% | 8.2% | 8% | 3.3% | 3% | 2.5% | 2% | 1.6% | 2% | 2% |
| Apr 2026 | 59.2% | 8.7% | 8.7% | 7.9% | 2.9% | 2.7% | 2.1% | 2.1% | 1.7% | 1.7% | 2.1% |
| May 2026 | 59.8% | 8.6% | 8.6% | 7.8% | 2.8% | 2.3% | 2.6% | 2.1% | 1.7% | 2.1% | 1.7% |
| Jun 2026 | 58.4% | 9.3% | 9.3% | 8.1% | 3.1% | 2.4% | 2.8% | 1.9% | 1.5% | 1.9% | 1.5% |
| Jul 2026 | 62.3% | 8.6% | 8.6% | 6.4% | 2.7% | 2.2% | 2.6% | 1.7% | 1.4% | 2.1% | 1.4% |
| Aug 2026 | 61.1% | 8.7% | 8.7% | 7.5% | 2.9% | 2.2% | 2.6% | 2.1% | 1.4% | 1.7% | 1.2% |
| Sep 2026 | 56.9% | 11% | 8.9% | 9.1% | 3% | 1.9% | 2.7% | 2.2% | 1.4% | 1.8% | 1.2% |
| Oct 2026 | 61.2% | 10.6% | 8.7% | 6.5% | 2.9% | 2.2% | 2.1% | 1.7% | 1.4% | 1.4% | 1.4% |
How has branded search for iFi and SMSL changed worldwide over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- SMSL was ahead of iFi in every measured month of the 12 months ending October 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending October 2026, iFi’s share of searches among headphone amp and DAC brands worldwide moved from 7.2% to 6.5%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 17.5K to 13.5K.
- Across the 12 months ending October 2026, SMSL’s share of searches among headphone amp and DAC brands worldwide moved from 9.1% to 10.6%, and its estimated monthly branded searches held steady at 22.2K.
How did search popularity change for headphone amp and DAC brands worldwide in October 2026?
1 change
In October 2026, iFi lost share of searches among headphone amp and DAC brands worldwide, from 9.1% to 6.5%.
How are iFi’s and SMSL’s branded searches counted?
3 search terms
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using iFi’s and SMSL’s names. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for these branded terms can be used to understand whether interest in the brands is growing, holding steady, or fading.
Other head-to-heads among headphone amp and DAC brands
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