Shenzhen/SMSL RAW-HA1 Amplifier Review

[damjov]

thanks for your response @totti1965 i dont see that zd3 have some eq? I know that ha1 got some eq options.
i ask for sound difference between these because some reviewers note that smsl a300 have better and fuller bass against fosi v3 amps that sound i little more clinical in comparation. and ha1 and za3 are slightly updated versions of these? i listen the ha1 and i was pleased with sound quality and power.
if is not clearly noticeable i think that i will go with za/zd3 combo. I guess that zd3 have better quality than the ha1 dac? and i will have option for upgrade the system in the future like you said

 

[totti1965]

thanks for your response @totti1965 i dont see that zd3 have some eq? I know that ha1 got some eq options.
i ask for sound difference between these because some reviewers note that smsl a300 have better and fuller bass against fosi v3 amps that sound i little more clinical in comparation. and ha1 and za3 are slightly updated versions of these? i listen the ha1 and i was pleased with sound quality and power.
if is not clearly noticeable i think that i will go with za/zd3 combo. I guess that zd3 have better quality than the ha1 dac? and i will have option for upgrade the system in the future like you said

Oh, I was wrong about Parametric equalization of the ZD3!

I think, that sound of any Fosi V3 or Fosi V3 Mono is not „clinical“ at all, this is just typical Youtube-review Nonsense….
The Fosi V3 Bass is excellent - measurable even a bit more linear than the a300!

If you want everything a bit better- than you have to consider the Fosi V3 Monos, because they are completely load independent. Frequency response with the V3 Monos will dependent only by the speakers you use, and not differ because the Resistance of the speaker differs within his frequency range! With a ZA3 or the RAW-HA1 some speakers will sound a bit brighter and other speakers will sound a bit darker, than driven with a „perfect“ amp. So, some speakers will also „win“ a bit of sound quality (and sound more linear as with a perfect amp) with these cheap amps, others loose a bit…

Ah, yes the ZD3 seems to be a „top of the notch“ or „State of the Art“ DAC which will measure very very well…..
But I don’t expect that the differences to the RAW-HA1 are listenable, for that reason alone because the limiting factor is the amp in both cases - no matter if you would chose the integrated solution, the RAW-HA1 or the combination of Fosi ZA3 and ZD3.

 

[totti1965]

Total cool Ukrainian Website: https://rush-speakers.com.ua/en/filters-ma100-en/
Nice modifications!
Your next update may be the Crossover?
The Monitor Audio Bronze 100 Impedance from 7 kHz to 20 kHz is about 6 Ohms With or without modification…..
So, for this speaker, even the normal Fosi V3 would fit perfectly!

 

[nkck]

After replacing the AO300 with the RAW-HA1, I started hearing noise when viewing videos on my PC.
The same goes for speakers and headphones.

If you change the monitor's refresh rate from 60Hz to 120Hz to 144Hz, the noise will also change.

Is this a hardware failure of this individual? Or is it a problem with RAW-HA1 as a whole?

 

[Mike_Trueman]

After replacing the AO300 with the RAW-HA1, I started hearing noise when viewing videos on my PC.
The same goes for speakers and headphones.

If you change the monitor's refresh rate from 60Hz to 120Hz to 144Hz, the noise will also change.

Is this a hardware failure of this individual? Or is it a problem with RAW-HA1 as a whole?

How is it connected to the PC?

 

[nkck]

How is it connected to the PC?

I am connected via coaxial digital or USB and both have the same symptoms.

 

[Ismapics]

I was looking for this AMP here with the rest of the @amirm recommended amps and can't see this one as this has not been updated. It was easy to compere and look for all those that are in the blue part of the list. Any suggestions? Welcome

 

[Ismapics]

Certainly well priced, so one can't expect SOTA... cheers for the testing.

Pics;

View attachment 403092

View attachment 403093

View attachment 403094


JSmith

Do you know what chip it uses? It says Infineon and thats it.

 

[JSmith]

Do you know what chip it uses? It says Infineon and thats it.

Not 100%, but likely the Infineon MA12070;

MA12070 - Infineon Technologies

MERUS™ integrated audio amplifier ICs, 2x80W ultra power efficient. with analog input

www.infineon.com

JSmith

 

[Ismapics]

Not 100%, but likely the Infineon MA12070;

MA12070 - Infineon Technologies

MERUS™ integrated audio amplifier ICs, 2x80W ultra power efficient. with analog input

www.infineon.com

JSmith

Thanks, I don't get it I guess it's power supply. I have a Loxjie A30 and the review topped the power reading at 40W. However, this one has better SINAd and max power is 62W with the same chip. I guess I will have to skip as I was looking for more power, but I will need to look into separates.

 

[blucupp]

This thing looks as slick as an oil spill.

 

[trevor_bartram]

This is a rebadged AO300 & similar to the A300 (see ASR review) & PA40. The AL200 is similar but the PSU is on the right (rather than the left) that necessitated a PCB re-layout & may have changed performance. A contributor to ASR was singing the praises of the AL200. I listened to the AO300 for two weeks, it was functionally perfect but the sound was not equal to my reference system (the AO300 was intended as a backup) so I returned it. I'm presently trying the Fosi V3 (stereo), so far it has similar problems but was so inexpensive I'll keep it. If the AL200 got a positive ASR review I might try it, otherwise I'm done with class-D chip amps.
This winter I will recap my 80s Adcom power amp, presently it lacks bass a sure sign it needs a recap. The recap is inexpensive, so little lost if it doesn't compare. Cheers!

 

[Amogh]

That makes sense. I have a Loxjie A40 and like it.

How does a low pass filter work on Loxjie A40? and does this SMSL have the same feature?

 

[Brian Hall]

How does a low pass filter work on Loxjie A40? and does this SMSL have the same feature?

Sorry, but I don't know the answer. I just have a subwoofer plugged in and set the frequency on the subwoofer.

 

[Gator Rican]

Would this amp/dac (RAW HA-1) be "ok" to use with Micca's RB42 in a near-field desktop set up using my MacMini USB-C > HA-1 for listening to YT Music? Volume will be low-ish. The RAW HA-1 will also be connected to my monitor/TV (LGC3) via HDMI neither of these inputs (USB/HDMI) were tested here and I'm worried I will be disappointed with poor performance/noise/latency/not enough power to power the Micca's.

 

[zelenuchka]

The device as a whole pleased me.
From the observed disadvantages:
- Extremely poor terminals for cable 15AWG and larger
- Uncomfortable regulator (it is very low, the feet should be higher)
- Low volume on headphones

Overall, for its price it is a great all-in-one combo.
---
Question. What are the ratings of the capacitors under the heatsink ?

 

[cshake]

Got one of these for bedroom use and just set it up - initial impressions are that it'll meet the needs for my intended usage. Out of the box I was surprised to find it came with an EU plug (Type E/F) on the power cable, but luckily it's just an IEC C14 receptacle on the back of the unit and I have US type cables laying around from other things.

I measured some power draw, to the accuracy of my Kill-a-Watt. Sitting there, connected to HDMI ARC and on but with nothing playing, it's reading just under 8W (seems like a poor power factor since it also reads 14VA). I wonder about the accuracy of the Kill-a-Watt for dynamics loads since I didn't see it increasing the power when I started playing music - though I didn't go particularly loud. In standby mode (hitting the power button on the remote and making the little red LED line on the front illuminate) it draws about 3W. As expected the physical power switch in the back cuts all power to the unit.

I can also confirm my disappointment (albeit expected due to nothing being mentioned in the specs) that it does not support HDMI CEC when using the HDMI ARC input. The TV will detect that there is an ARC device when I switch to the input on the RAW HA1, but that's the extent. Changing the TV volume while the amp was connected showed up on the screen as a digital volume starting at the maximum of 100 and I could turn it down from there, but the display on the amp itself still stayed constant at whatever number I was on. Similarly turning off the TV does not put the amp into standby mode. I could not find any settings in the menu relating to this either. Those two features would have made it even better for my intended usage (TV on streaming Plex for a while in the evening on a sleep timer), but the idle draw isn't too bad and I could set the display timeout so it doesn't stay visible all night, so I'll live with it.

Edit: to clarify, this is with speakers, I'm not intending to use it for headphones. I chose it because it was one of the few 2 channel amps that had HDMI ARC input, and the Alexa in the WiiM remote is an absolute showstopper for me.

 

[AnonYmous129]

Had very high hopes for this all in one dac/amp. While the DAC part of the unit was alright for CS logic chipset, my Schiit Audio Hel+ delivered much better dynamics through the ESS chipset. The CS logic chip just did not have much presence in it. It was possibly made worse by the fact that the headphone amp could barely drive my Hifiman Ananda Stealths. This is a very low impedance headphone. I had to crank the amp all the way up to maximum gain level (vol 99) to get approx 60% of what my Schiit Audio amp produced at a medium gain level. I tried to look for a HIGH gain function through the SMSL and could not find additional gain levels. So I unfortunately have to return. I will test the amp on passive speakers and provide an update if I can get to it. But I've already started a product return through Amazon. Very very disappointed. Will give the A0300 a try and see if the older model has a better output for headphones.

Update: I did a bit more digging and it looks like the CS Logic chipset only produced approximately 30mV - not nearly enough to drive most medium demanding headphones. These are only good to drive most DD IEMs but that defeats the purpose of this all in one.

I also hooked this up to my RP-600m ii and while, it reaches good volume levels - the dac seems to be missing soundstage and imaging. Again, if you're looking for a VERY flat sound profile and the ability to sit at your desk with IEMs, this may be a decent choice given the features and input/output options.

Lastly - a HUGE issue with this unit is that both my MacBook and Windows PC loses the USB connection constantly. This may be the number 1 red flag with this unit for me. I am constantly having to restart or switch off the SMSL unit to try and reconnect with my PC. This may cause early failure on this unit. I am not certain if I have a dud, but my Schiit Audio stays connected and I can always switch between sound option outputs. SMSL isn't found until I switch off and switch off half a dozen times before the unit is found in the sound settings.

Update 2: I can confirm that there is also a "popping" sound with the unit. Its subtle but between tracks clicking through and pausing the music creates a subtle but present "pop". This was one of the concerns other posters had recorded and pointed out.

Also paying full price on Amazon for $249, although "budget", is still full price. Had I bought this unit on sale as the original post, I may have felt with some of my own gripes I could possibly live with. Or if this was a second hand unit that had wear, I could even live with that. But for a dedicated DAC/AMP that really has two functions, it's not a good buy.

While I can live with the look and feel and actually was a big factor in choosing this unit, for the price there are other stacks that have a lot better build quality at very similar price +/- $25-$50. I chose this unit for convenience of an all in one and didn't have the desktop space, but now back to the drawing board.

Sticking with my over 2/5 score. Will definitely return.

 

[zelenuchka]

Had very high hopes for this all in one dac/amp. While the DAC part of the unit was alright for CS logic chipset, my Schiit Audio Hel+ delivered much better dynamics through the ESS chipset. The CS logic chip just did not have much presence in it. It was possibly made worse by the fact that the headphone amp could barely drive my Hifiman Ananda Stealths. This is a very low impedance headphone. I had to crank the amp all the way up to maximum gain level (vol 99) to get approx 60% of what my Schiit Audio amp produced at a medium gain level. I tried to look for a HIGH gain function through the SMSL and could not find additional gain levels. So I unfortunately have to return. I will test the amp on passive speakers and provide an update if I can get to it. But I've already started a product return through Amazon. Very very disappointed. Will give the A0300 a try and see if the older model has a better output for headphones.

Update: I did a bit more digging and it looks like the CS Logic chipset only produced approximately 30mV - not nearly enough to drive most medium demanding headphones. These are only good to drive most DD IEMs but that defeats the purpose of this all in one.

I also hooked this up to my RP-600m ii and while, it reaches good volume levels - the dac seems to be missing soundstage and imaging. Again, if you're looking for a VERY flat sound profile and the ability to sit at your desk with IEMs, this may be a decent choice given the features and input/output options.

Lastly - a HUGE issue with this unit is that both my MacBook and Windows PC loses the USB connection constantly. This may be the number 1 red flag with this unit for me. I am constantly having to restart or switch off the SMSL unit to try and reconnect with my PC. This may cause early failure on this unit. I am not certain if I have a dud, but my Schiit Audio stays connected and I can always switch between sound option outputs. SMSL isn't found until I switch off and switch off half a dozen times before the unit is found in the sound settings.

Sticking with my over 2/5 score. Will definitely return.

You've described everything pretty accurately, but the 2/5 rating is grossly understated.
Take all the things you listed and compare them to the prices of individual units (that cover your needs) or other all-in-one combines. You'll see that you need to increase your budget by 2.5-4 times.
So I totally agree with your impression, but considering the price of the RAW-HA1, it's at least a 4/5.

P.S. SMSL, for some reason unknown to me, uses a Type-C connector that is non-sprung and “split” (i.e. the screen is not one piece). Also the quality of this connector leaves much to be desired. Bend the connector blades between the housing and the connector itself by 0.2mm and my problem with this is solved (I have a not cheap cable YYTCG Hifi DAC A-C Alpha 6N OCC 3m), if I do not use the complete SMSL cable. This is also true for the SU-1 units and for the PS200, same problem there.
You do everything at your own risk, I am not responsible!

 

[AnonYmous129]

You've described everything pretty accurately, but the 2/5 rating is grossly understated.
Take all the things you listed and compare them to the prices of individual units (that cover your needs) or other all-in-one combines. You'll see that you need to increase your budget by 2.5-4 times.
So I totally agree with your impression, but considering the price of the RAW-HA1, it's at least a 4/5.

P.S. SMSL, for some reason unknown to me, uses a Type-C connector that is non-sprung and “split” (i.e. the screen is not one piece). Also the quality of this connector leaves much to be desired. Bend the connector blades between the housing and the connector itself by 0.2mm and my problem with this is solved (I have a not cheap cable YYTCG Hifi DAC A-C Alpha 6N OCC 3m), if I do not use the complete SMSL cable. This is also true for the SU-1 units and for the PS200, same problem there.
You do everything at your own risk, I am not responsible!

All of us work hard for every dollar we make - so when paying full price, we have expectations that companies deliver. That's why I can only give 2/5. Although this is a budget unit, I paid full price. I've purchased many budget items that I am THRILLED with, including IEMs and 2nd hand. There are better quality stacks that utilizes older dacs and amp technologies. SMSL is pushing out new units every month or so and if they don't get honest feedback they will simply keep producing low quality equipment. Companies, especially Chi-Fi work with influencers that give rave reviews and we as the consumer fall for all the glowing reviews.

I also completely agree with you regarding the USB-C connection, although modern, it lacks a strong connection. I've used a few type C cables and cannot get a nice click or connection to the unit. I'd rather then go with the 20+ year old "printer" USB-B and save a few bucks and make a more solid connection.

Thanks for your input and reply. With more real consumer feedback, I think manufacturers will either lower their prices or make better quality products.