Shenzhen/SMSL RAW-HA1 Amplifier Review

[JakeK]

My first post in this thread is potentially misleading: it was to showcase the glitches over USB that seem to plague many DACs -- not necessarily the RAW-HA1, which I do not own.

I interpreted your question as to whether the popping could be heard when wearing headphones. The glitches were present in the SMSL C100 and SU-1 (others have documented the same problem with others' USB DACs), neither of which have a headphone output.

Apologies for the confusion.

Yes it confused me and perhaps others. We don't know if the RAW-HA1 has the USB glitching problem so it's possible it works perfectly over USB?

 

[alexanderino]

It's worth testing for. According to the author of Ropieee, lack of UAC2 compliance is the issue, and it is not uncommon.

 

[amirm]

This is preliminary information but i finally managed to test HDMI ARC using an HDMI splitter of sorts. It seemed to have clock jitter causing slightly lower performance (SINAD = 85).

 

[Ajax]

I need some advice.

I have an SMSL AO300 with a faulty screen and Amazon will refund me the cost of 260 euros.

If on a hardware level it is identical to this SMSL RAW-HA1 I think it has the same performance, am I wrong? (especially for power).

In this case, should I get the Wiim Amp (not the Pro) for 369 euros?
Honestly, I was worried about the difference in power declared 60watt vs 85watt but from the results they both settle at 60watt.
If for 100 euros I have an integrated streamer I'm very happy, considering that I wanted to buy a Wiim mini.

Hi erik,

I don't own either the SMSL RAW or the Wiim Amp Pro so consider my advice accordingly, however, based on this review and Amir's review of the Wiim Amp Pro, the later unit appears to be a far better buy.

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

There are 26 pages in this thread and worth a read.

IMO the Wiim Amp Pro has all the features you will need, also by all reports a great app, my only concern is whether 60 watts into 8 ohms is enough power. One way to ensure you will be happy is to avoid insensitive speakers, say below 88db, or add an active sub so that the high pass filter for the mains is activated at 80db thereby taking the low frequencies load off the Wiim Amp resulting in greater SPL for the mains. You can get a very good "name" secondhand 12" active sub such as Velodyne for around US$200-$300.

This is how I would use the system.

 

[erik42788088]

Hi erik,

I don't own either the SMSL RAW or the Wiim Amp Pro so consider my advice accordingly, however, based on this review and Amir's review of the Wiim Amp Pro, the later unit appears to be a far better buy.

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

There are 26 pages in this thread and worth a read.

IMO the Wiim Amp Pro has all the features you will need, also by all reports a great app, my only concern is whether 60 watts into 8 ohms is enough power. One way to ensure you will be happy is to avoid insensitive speakers, say below 88db, or add an active sub so that the high pass filter for the mains is activated at 80db thereby taking the low frequencies load off the Wiim Amp resulting in greater SPL for the mains. You can get a very good "name" secondhand 12" active sub such as Velodyne for around US$200-$300.

This is how I would use the system.

Iready have a subwoofer to use in a 2.1 configuration, and my current speakers are high-efficiency, klipsch rp 250f 96dB. I've seen reviews for both the regular and PRO versions of the Wim Amp. The PRO version is honestly too expensive. In my country, Italy, it costs €459. For this reason, I was thinking of getting the regular version, at €359. Would such a setup cause issues in a space of nearly 50 square meters?

 

[Ajax]

Iready have a subwoofer to use in a 2.1 configuration, and my current speakers are high-efficiency, klipsch rp 250f 96dB. I've seen reviews for both the regular and PRO versions of the Wim Amp. The PRO version is honestly too expensive. In my country, Italy, it costs €459. For this reason, I was thinking of getting the regular version, at €359. Would such a setup cause issues in a space of nearly 50 square meters?

Hi Eric,

I would think with such sensitive speakers your good to go, even in a large space.

Please note that Amir rates the performance of the Wiim Amp pro as ecellent vs very good for the regular version. Whether or not that would translate into an audible difference is debatable. In any case either option is very good value compared to "name" manufacturers. Good luck and please post your experience with the Wiim if you proceed.

 

[erik42788088]

Ciao Eric,

Penso che con diffusori così sensibili si possa suonare bene anche in spazi ampi.

Si prega di notare che Amir valuta le prestazioni del Wiim Amp pro come eccellenti rispetto a molto buone per la versione normale. Se ciò si tradurrebbe o meno in una differenza udibile è discutibile. In ogni caso entrambe le opzioni hanno un ottimo rapporto qualità-prezzo rispetto ai produttori "di marca". Buona fortuna e pubblica la tua esperienza con il Wiim se procedi.

Proverò sicuramente una delle due, ma a questo punto aspetto il Black Friday per ottenere uno sconto sulla versione pro.

Vi racconterò la mia esperienza in merito il prima possibile.

 

[escape2]

Still waiting for the day when someone incorporates a high pass filter into one of these things...

 

[Ajax]

Still waiting for the day when someone incorporates a high pass filter into one of these things...

I believe the Wiim Amp Pro does provide a high pass filter as demonstrated in Amir's review. Click on the link above in #84.

 

[escape2]

I believe the Wiim Amp Pro does provide a high pass filter as demonstrated in Amir's review. Click on the link above in #84.

Excellent. Thank you!

 

[Ajax]

Your welcome - it is a hell of a piece of grear for the price if you have resonably effficent speakers combined with a sub woofer.

 

[gpunique]

I'm a little confused with this SMSL. It uses the CS43131 chip which is also used in the SMSL DL100. which amir reviewed as having wonderful headphone specs and performance. That chip does both dac and headphone amp processing, yet on the RAW-HA1 it's pretty bad . Wouldn't that chip work the same in both? Maybe one of his units was faulty?

SMSL DL100 DAC and Headphone Amp Review

This is a review, listening tests and detailed measurements of the SMSL DL100 balanced stereo DAC and headphone amplifier. It was sent to me by the company and costs US $179. The DL100 is a fair departure from standard SMSL offering in that it uses a stamped steel enclosure instead of machined...

www.audiosciencereview.com

 

[Bleib]

I'm a little confused with this SMSL. It uses the CS43131 chip which is also used in the SMSL DL100. which amir reviewed as having wonderful headphone specs and performance. That chip does both dac and headphone amp processing, yet on the RAW-HA1 it's pretty bad . Wouldn't that chip work the same in both? Maybe one of his units was faulty?

SMSL DL100 DAC and Headphone Amp Review

This is a review, listening tests and detailed measurements of the SMSL DL100 balanced stereo DAC and headphone amplifier. It was sent to me by the company and costs US $179. The DL100 is a fair departure from standard SMSL offering in that it uses a stamped steel enclosure instead of machined...

www.audiosciencereview.com

My guess is that DL100 uses many DAC chips to gain more HP power. In order to cut costs this amp doesn't do it

 

[JIW]

My guess is that DL100 uses many DAC chips to gain more HP power. In order to cut costs this amp doesn't do it

The DL100 does not use the DAC chips for the headphone amplifier. The CS43131 chip can only do 30 mW into 32 Ohms and 5 mW into 600 Ohm so even using 4 as in the DL100 would only give 16 times as much - 480 mW into 32 Ohms and 80 mW into 600 Ohm. The DL100 can do 1500 mW into 32 Ohm so at least 80 mW into 600 Ohms.

Source: https://www.cirrus.com/products/cs43131/

 

[totti1965]

David Mellor‘s (AUDIO Masterclass) video is out now:

It’s a review without woo woo…. Interesting from 7:30 min on! He misses only presets and wants to know if someone knows an amp which has presets AND a similar reasonable price. Has @staticV3 any ideas?

 

[staticV3]

He misses only presets and wants to know if someone knows an amp which has presets AND a similar reasonable price. Has @staticV3 any ideas?

What kind of presets is he referring to?

 

[totti1965]

That is a special mode in AP where it automatically sets the generator to parameters I give it, namely 1% THD at 1 kHz. Once there, I use that to do a frequency response graph. The voltage value is computed iteratively by AP much like it is used for the two power levels at 1% THD. It searches up and down from parameters you give it until it hones in on the target value. You could do the same manually but it of course is much faster this way.

David Mellor says that the power output for 0.1% Distortion has been regarded as a benchmark since aeons from now,
for the RMS power the manufacturer claims.
Which makes sense for me because it is 1/1000 of the signal. Nice round number!
In Germany we have DIN 45500 for HiFi wich talks about 1%. Seems a bit old-fashioned for me.
It is from 1962.

 

[totti1965]

What kind of presets is he referring to?

I think, that he wants every input to tell how loud it has to play (gain-level).

 

[damjov]

do anyone have compared raw-ha1 with fosi za/zd3 combo? some sound type differences? i never have a chance to listen a fosi product. My plan is to use it with monitor audio bronze 100. where i live i can get these options for around same price ~260euros

 

[totti1965]

do anyone have compared raw-ha1 with fosi za/zd3 combo? some sound type differences? i never have a chance to listen a fosi product. My plan is to use it with monitor audio bronze 100. where i live i can get these options for around same price ~260euros

Both pretty close. You won´t hear any differences. Both will sound like very good amplifiers. If you can grap the Za3/ZD 3Combination for only $ 260 - I would prefer this because you can upgrade it someday with another ZA3 and use them as Monos.
Perhaps the Ti 3255 chip is also slightly preferable over the Infineon (very very slighthtly more power output).
And: The ZD3 has also parametric equalization (10 Band or so) which is a cool feature. I dont know, if the raw- haw 1 has this also.
But: If you have problems with your space: Go with the raw-ha 1!

Power output: The Bronze 100 is cool - It has 87 dB /Watt - Even 10 Watts would fit your needs - you will get 42 Watts at 20 Hz even with the raw - ha1 before it goes into protection. So - more than enough power.
But again: The Za 3 is a bit more stable at 20 Hz: 90 Watts /8 Ohm. So you can play 3 dB louder in the deep base range! And perhaps you will love the extra power if you will go someday for other speakers!

thorsten