S.M.S.L RAW-HA1

[Zek]

Something new from SMSL - all in one, can be very desirable...

S.M.S.L RAW-HA1 CS43131 Headphone Amplifier & Speaker Amplifier

shenzhenaudio.com: professional headphone, earphone, amplifier, dac, decoder, hifi player, cable supermarket. you will find good price here.

shenzhenaudio.com

 

[surroundman]

Spec-wise, this seems like an excellent unit for the price!

 

[vrobec]

It seems another AL200/AO300 iteration.

 

[Mike_Trueman]

First review on YouTube:

 

[Mike_Trueman]

You can buy it as a nice combo with the new better DAC also.

S.M.S.L RAW-DAC1 + RAW-HA1 + RCA Cable Combo

shenzhenaudio.com: professional headphone, earphone, amplifier, dac, decoder, hifi player, cable supermarket. you will find good price here.

shenzhenaudio.com

 

[vrobec]

I think this little AMP/DAC combo utilizes the Infineon MA5332MS chip. Not find any info about this, so I think it is the same chip like in AL200, AO300.

 

[Mike_Trueman]

I think this little AMP/DAC combo utilizes the Infineon MA5332MS chip. Not find any info about this, so I think it is the same chip like in AL200, AO300.

Edit: Sorry i misread the post above.

 

[Zek]

Not the same DAC chip.

RAW-DAC1

We are talking about the RAW-HA1 amplifier here, not the RAW-DAC1.
RAW-HA1

 

[Schlippwhip68]

I think this little AMP/DAC combo utilizes the Infineon MA5332MS chip. Not find any info about this, so I think it is the same chip like in AL200,

 

[Schlippwhip68]

Looks like SMSL have released this to match the dac. It looks like the AO-300 with a new coat and slightly different font and graphical readout.
Would be nice to see this amp with an ESS based chipset in the future.
As far as those ‘nice rubber feet’ go, I found them too shallow for the A0-300 with some considerable warmth building up underneath the amp which I is why I switched the feet out for the ones I have in this photo. Aluminium Silver feet (40mm x 20mm also available in black) with replaceable rubber ring £12 Amazon, M3 x 12mm screws and washers £6 eBay UK (item number: 325493024829). Worth it, no more heat!
Moaning about the length of the stock power was a little sad imo and on top of that the power cord sucks despite the length but it’s nice to have one at all supplied these days, regardless to say put a nice MCRU Asylum mk2 1.5m power cord in this amp and hear a big difference! Those supplied power cords are as noisy as a child’s playtime at school!

 

[vrobec]

Looks like SMSL have released this to match the dac. It’s the AO-300 with a new coat!
Would nice to see this amp with an ESS based chipset in the future.

Yes, would be nice with ESS or AKM chip, but then they have to use separate amp chip for headphones. The CS43131 DAC chip has HP amp too.

 

[Ziroz]

Looks like SMSL have released this to match the dac. It’s the AO-300 with a new coat and slightly different font and graphical readout.

The DAC and amplifier sections look almost identical. Volume is changed from 60 steps to 100 steps. The new screen can display the song title, musician, and a progress bar.

 

[Schlippwhip68]

View attachment 398296
View attachment 398297

The DAC and amplifier sections look almost identical. Volume is changed from 60 steps to 100 steps. The new screen can display the song title, musician, and a progress bar.

Thankyou.

 

[Schlippwhip68]

Yes, would be nice with ESS or AKM chip, but then they have to use separate amp chip for headphones. The CS43131 DAC chip has HP amp too.

Could be done though but keeping a quality amp a shade under £300 for me personally is a must today. Not many about that offer the same quality SMSL are selling here I have to admit.

 

[vrobec]

So I don't need to upgrade my AL200.

 

[Schlippwhip68]

So I don't need to upgrade my AL200.

Nor I my AO-300 but then I would not call the RAW an upgrade on either, just a sidegrade for software aesthetics so far or dac/amp match up. The new volume count from 60 to 100 is not the biggest attraction that would give me a buying flush but I f owned the RAW dac then this would be my choice. All three are very nice regardless.

On a slightly different note after some system testing with Fiio SR11/R2R combo and the Wiim Pro plus with the AKM chip and the SMSL AO-300 I found the both streamer/dacs are a really good match with these Cirrus logic/Infineon amps from SMSL The AKM chip with the WiiM Pro Plus has really nice synergy with the Cirrus Logic chips and Infineon amplification in the AO-300, these two chips sound very nice together imo. It just works very well, very nice accurate, clear, detailed soundstage, plenty of power and tiny footprint. Drives the Cambridges Audio SX-60 and Wharfedale 12.2 with ease.

 

[Mike_Trueman]

I hope they do not forget to connect the grounding cable like with the AO300

 

[Schlippwhip68]

I hope they do not forget to connect the grounding cable like with the AO300

I was not aware of any issue with mine Mike. Can you relay your experience with more detail?

 

[Ziroz]

I hope they do not forget to connect the grounding cable like with the AO300

There is still no ground connection. At this point, I think it is a design choice. I have had the A300, AO300, and RAW-HA1. All came with the ground disconnected.
I was really hoping they would implement a grounding switch, so the user can choose whether or not to have the ground connected.

 

[Ziroz]

I was not aware of any issue with mine Mike. Can you relay your experience with more detail?

SMSL seems to never connect the ground terminal on their amps, which can lead to a tingling sensation when you touch the enclosure while standing on the ground barefooted.