Shenzhen/SMSL RAW-HA1 Amplifier Review

[staticV3]

I'm new at this and figuring out a setup. Can I add three products together like a
Wiim pro
Fosi Za3
Headphones amp?

Yes.
E.g: WiiM Pro->RCA->Topping L30II->RCA->Fosi ZA3

The Topping's Pre/HPA switch toggles between headphone and speakers.

 

[gpunique]

Yes.
E.g: WiiM Pro->RCA->Topping L30II->RCA->Fosi ZA3

The Topping's Pre/HPA switch toggles between headphone and speakers.

Thanks! Are you familiar with the SVS

Prime Wireless Pro SoundBase?​

Would that be a good setup?

SVS Prime Wireless Pro SoundBase | Streaming Integrated Amp

Bring speakers into the future of immersive sound with Apple Airplay 2, Chromecast, WiFi, HDMI, and more.

www.svsound.com

 

[gpunique]

Yes.
E.g: WiiM Pro->RCA->Topping L30II->RCA->Fosi ZA3

The Topping's Pre/HPA switch toggles between headphone and speakers.

Any suggestions on an all in one or a combo with only 2 components? For the price of those 3 I could probably get something more streamlined. I need a dac, good headphone amp, and outputs for passive speakers. Thanks! This is getting confusing and every time I think I have a good setup I send up finding some big negatives.

 

[staticV3]

Are you familiar with the SVS

Prime Wireless Pro SoundBase?​

I'm not, sorry.

 

[JIW]

Headphone output is anemic for a desktop product:

If voltage supply is the limitting factor, this gives an output impedance of around 100 Ohm.

Since by Ohms law V = sqrt(P*Z), where Z is impedance and by voltage division in parallel circuits, V = Z/(Z + Z_O)*V_O, where V is the voltage across the load measured, V_O is the output voltage and Z_O is the output impedance,
sqrt(P*Z) = Z/(Z + Z_O)*V_O.
Solving for V_O gives
V_O = sqrt(P*Z)*(Z + Z_O)/Z = sqrt(P*Z)*(1 + Z_O/Z) = sqrt(P*Z) + Z_O*sqrt(P/Z).
If voltage supply is the limitting factor, the output voltage at the measured powers, P_1 and P_2, for two different load impedances, Z_1 and Z_2, is the same. Thus,
sqrt(P_1*Z_1) + Z_O*sqrt(P_1/Z_1) = sqrt(P_2*Z_2) + Z_O*sqrt(P_2/Z_2)
which gives
Z_O*(sqrt(P_1/Z_1) - sqrt(P_2/Z_2)) = sqrt(P_2*Z_2) - sqrt(P_1*Z_1)
and thus the output impedance is
Z_O = (sqrt(P_2*Z_2) - sqrt(P_1*Z_1))/(sqrt(P_1/Z_1) - sqrt(P_2/Z_2)).
Note that the unit of power is irrelevant as long as it is consistent.

Using the measured powers at 32 and 300 Ohm, this gives,
Z_O = (sqrt(31*300) - sqrt(29*32))/(sqrt(29/32) - sqrt(31/300)) = 104.63

Assuming instead that the powers are the same,
Z_O = (sqrt(300) - sqrt(32))/(sqrt(1/32) - sqrt(1/300)) = 97.98

 

[Mikig]

I have to say that I am not personally impressed by this amplifier.

if I wanted a better and simple amplifier, I would go for Fosi V3 48V. At half the price it has better measured performances even if less functions.
Alternatively if I wanted a well-equipped amplifier I would go for Wiim Amp; it costs more but has better performances and much more sophisticated and complete connectivity and functionality.

This Smsl is a middle ground, which, as far as I'm concerned, struggles to be noticed....

Thanks Amirm for the review!

 

[JIW]

Very good review, Amir. Thank you.

I think the headphone amp is the most disappointing aspect of the whole product. The Dac/Amp performance is ok, particularly at the price, but the headphone amp is seriously underpowered. My Hidezs Martha dongle will output 180 MW at 300 ohms, while the SMSL can only muster around 32. That just doesn't seem like nearly enough. And frequency response load variability at is a solved problem with Class D chip amps at (as Fosi has demonstrated) so it's also disappointing the SMSL falls short of the target here as well.

The Hidisz Martha seems to be rated at 180 mW at 32 Ohms not 300, where, assuming the same voltage, power would be 180*32/300 = 19.2 mW. Since it can manage 138 mW on the asymmetrical 3.5 mm output, there is very likely some current limitation on the 180 mW. Assuming that as is typical, the symmetrical 4.4 mm has twice the voltage output as the asymmetrical 3.5 mm, power is four times higher, i.e. 138*32/300*4 = 58.88 mW. 32 mW is around 5 dB below the 100 mW Amir wants to see in desktop equipment. That may be okay. However power at 32 Ohm is around 15 dB below 1 W. That may still be okay but only for highly sensitive headphones.

 

[JIW]

Many thanks for an informative review as usual, @amirm.

If you still have the unit, would you mind testing it for occasional and regular low-level popping when used via USB without the XMOS driver (that plagues some SMSL products and may indicate incomplete UAC2 compliance) as seen in my video?

Some notes:

• Only affects USB input (on Windows, Linux, Mac)
• After powering on, two pops are heard. Starting playback results in two more pops and a loss of the start of that track. Stopping and waiting a few seconds results in two pops, after which there will be two more pops upon playback
• The 'fix' exists for Windows only, by installing the XMOS driver, editing the XML config file to expose more Control Panel tabs, then changing the Streaming option from 'On when Needed' to 'Always On'
• No Mac or Linux XMOS driver & Control Panel, hence no such fix for those OSes
• This setting is not stored inside the unit
• Audio captured with a MOTU UltraLite mk5. The only processing performed is normalisation.

There is a workaround for macOS. However, it is using qobuz which is not free. As long as the qobuz app is running and the DAC is selected as output device in the app, there will be no muting and clicking from dis- and reconnecting.

Sample rate changes still produce some muting and clicking though.

See this thread and this post in particular.

 

[Hart]

Great bang for the buck. I think we need a designation for really well priced bargains.

 

[anphex]

Apart from size, why not just get a AVR like Denon AVR-X1800H? It's about 360 €.

Note that - at least in Germany - DACs/Amps from Shenzhenaudio or even Amazon usually come with 30-50 € customs free. Often the price in USD is without tax and in Germany everything is with tax, meaning this device can quickly cost 300 €.

So go with a unknown USB driver, fault-prone manufacturer (can attest this first hand, repair was done on warranty though) with quickly EOL products or just get an AVR.

I'd trust Denon over SMSL any day.

 

[tjf]

Great bang for the buck. I think we need a designation for really well priced bargains. Panther holding a piggy bank.

View attachment 403243

Nope - that panther/Piggy bank selection is already used for "Rip-Off" products, cables, power condtioners, etc...

 

[Hart]

Nope - that panther/Piggy bank selection is already used for "Rip-Off" products, cables, power condtioners, etc...

Thanks for the head's up!

 

[amirm]

Apart from size, why not just get a AVR like Denon AVR-X1800H? It's about 360 €.

Size is the issue.

 

[GWolfman]

Sample rate changes still produce some muting and clicking though.

Ugh! I used to have an SMSL DAC that would mute/delay while switching bitrates and when switching from PCM to DSD. I ended up having to sort my library by file type just to avoid it.

 

[Dougey_Jones]

View attachment 403057

Maybe stupid question, but, why is the SINAD -87 when I don't see any bars on the graph that dip above -95'ish?

 

[staticV3]

Maybe stupid question, but, why is the SINAD -87 when I don't see any bars on the graph that dip above -95'ish?

SINAD (THD+N) is the sum of all distortion and noise. It is not dictated by any one distortion spike. Multiple low amplitude harmonics will add up.

 

[Billy Budapest]

Good considering the rock bottom price, especially with all that functionality, but far from SOTA. Gets a “fine” from me.

 

[Ajax]

IMO the membership got it about right:

	SMSL HA1	WiiM AMP PRO
POOR	5	2
NOT TERRIBLE	36	7
FINE	55	36
GREAT	4	55
PRICE	$212	$379

I appreciate the extra $160, however, when compared to the insane prices paid for "magazine approved" HiFi gear it is an insignifcant amount of money to get something close to SOTA. The WiiM is near perfect for a second system, especially with such a useful App. The headphone amp on the SMSL is not powerful enough to be considered a valued feature.

Add a pair of Elac DBR62 speakers to the WiiM Amp Pro and you will enjoy seriously good sound for less than$1k.

WiiM Amp Pro Streaming Stereo Amplifier Review

This is a review and detailed measurements of the WiiM Amp Pro networked streaming stereo class D amplifier. It was sent to me by the company and costs US $379. The package is minimalistic in nature and matches the "non-pro" version of the amplifier. The volume indicator is that set of LEDs...

www.audiosciencereview.com

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This is a review and detailed measurements of the Elac Debut Reference DBR-62 bookshelf speaker. It was kindly purchased new and drop shipped to me for testing. The DBR-62 costs US $600 a pair from multiple sources/dealers. The DBR-62 comes in black and walnut finish or the distressed Oak and...

www.audiosciencereview.com

 

[Ziroz]

Strange to see a flat line for crosstalk, indicating some kind of resistive connection between channels:

Is there any reason why they would do that?
would this level of crosstalk be audible?

I have noticed in the stated spec sheet, the channel separation is at 87db, while the AO300 which share much of the same design is at 98db. It seems like a deliberate design choice, which would be quite strange.

 

[SpeaKa]

Thanks but that's just a headphone amp. I need a dac, headphone amp (can run 300ohms) and a passive speaker amp. So I thought the smsl might be good, but it's not. That's why I suggest a different solution. Im open to other ideas but I'd really rather avoid 3 components.

Topping MX5 might be an option. It has a powerful headphone amp.