Brandwave

RME vs SMSL:Which is more popular?

In October 2026, SMSL had more branded searches than RME among headphone amp and DAC brands worldwide. SMSL had about 22,200 branded searches, while RME had 2,900. SMSL made up 10.6% of all headphone amp and DAC brand searches we track, and RME accounted for 1.4%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about headphone amp and DAC brands, RME appeared in one of the five answers and SMSL in none.

Among headphone amp and DAC brands worldwide in October 2026

Who do people search for more?

SMSL, about 8 searches for every 1 for RME

SMSL 22.2K searchesRME 2.9K searches

Who does AI mention more?

RME, mentioned in 1 of 5 answers, SMSL in 0

RME in 1 of 5SMSL in 0 of 5

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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, RME was mentioned in one out of five: in one of the three ChatGPT answers, but not in either 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.

  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.

Is RME or SMSL more popular in search?

This chart shows how often people search Google for RME 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.

RME and SMSL among headphone amp and DAC brands worldwide, by month

Share of searches by month for SMSL, RME. 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%

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

3 findings
  • SMSL was ahead of RME in every measured month of the 12 months ending October 2026.
  • Across the 12 months ending October 2026, RME’s share of searches among headphone amp and DAC brands worldwide moved from 1.8% to 1.4%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 4.4K to 2.9K.
  • 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

  1. Estimated monthly branded searches for RME worldwide fell 34.1% over 12 measured months, from 4.4K to 2.9K in October 2026.

How are RME’s and SMSL’s branded searches counted?

2 search terms

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using RME’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.

RME

1 branded search term

  • rme adi 2

SMSL

1 branded search term

  • smsl

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Other head-to-heads among headphone amp and DAC brands

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