SMSL RAW-MDA 1 DAC & Headphone Amp Review

[Antz123]

I've seen someone suggest an audiocard with S/PDIF out, in an other topic. The thing was quite cheap (~$10 on Amazon I think it was).

Thank you, That too is an option. We don't have 10$ sorts available, but a Xonar SE would cost me 40$ or something.

 

[RHO]

Thank you, That too is an option. We don't have 10$ sorts available, but a Xonar SE would cost me 40$ or something.

Acxico 1 pcs SPDIF Optical and RCA Out Plate Cable Bracket for ASUS MSI Gigabyte Motherboard

Amazon.com

This an option?

 

[JIW]

Thank you, That too is an option. We don't have 10$ sorts available, but a Xonar SE would cost me 40$ or something.

Why don't you try USB connection first and see if there even are any issues?

 

[Antz123]

Acxico 1 pcs SPDIF Optical and RCA Out Plate Cable Bracket for ASUS MSI Gigabyte Motherboard

Amazon.com

This an option?

I saw that one, it needs SPDIF pins on the Motherboard to connect. Surprisingly, or rather non-surprisingly, my last two motherboards had that connector, to skim costs, the modern ones don't have it. Thus, that's not an option.

 

[Antz123]

Why don't you try USB connection first and see if there even are any issues?

I have two devices that I need to connect to my DAC. Both have Type C, and none have Optical or RCA. Thus, I am confused.

 

[staticV3]

I have two devices that I need to connect to my DAC. Both have Type C, and none have Optical or RCA. Thus, I am confused.

https://www.cubilux.com/collections/usb-c-to-spdif-adapters
https://www.smsl-audio.com/portal/product/detail/id/903.html

 

[JIW]

I have two devices that I need to connect to my DAC. Both have Type C, and none have Optical or RCA. Thus, I am confused.

Then you need one USB to SPDIF converter. @staticV3 has pointed some out to you above.

 

[Antz123]

@JIW @staticV3

Sorry, I took a little time to reply. Those are awesome options. Thank You.

SMSL PO100 is available at my end for around 45$ USD. I think I will pick either this or the Xonar SE sound card. The sound card goes in the PCIe slot and does not add the devices, thus I am leaning towards it. My vendor told me Xonar SE would be available for around $ 50$ by Feb 15.

Thank You again.

 

[Newsound82]

Did you switch the cables at the input of the mixer to check if it is the same channel producing the signal? Have you tried the balanced connection from DAC to mixer? Does it do that with Toslink cable connected to the DAC but not the source?

If this still produces the same problems, consider getting another DAC while the RAW MDA1 is away to be checked in China. You can always sell one of them afterwards. Also, if USB connection has no issues and is practical to you, you can just stick to using that.

Hi

Yes I switched cables and the problem still exist even when no optical cables are connected to the dac. Today I tried something else, I connected my speakers directly to the dac using XLR cables and USB cable between the dac and my PC. I won't risk using an optical input anymore, but now a brand new issue arrived, when I play some stuff on youtube whenever I stop/play anything and take even 15 sec break I can hear double pop in my right channel, think I'm done with this unit and company for good :/

Thx for the tips anyway.

 

[JIW]

Hi

Yes I switched cables and the problem still exist even when no optical cables are connected to the dac. Today I tried something else, I connected my speakers directly to the dac using XLR cables and USB cable between the dac and my PC. I won't risk using an optical input anymore, but now a brand new issue arrived, when I play some stuff on youtube whenever I stop/play anything and take even 15 sec break I can hear double pop in my right channel, think I'm done with this unit and company for good :/

Thx for the tips anyway.

That is due to the XMOS USB interface going into standby if no signal is received by default. On a Windows PC, this can be changed in the driver settings. See this thread.

 

[Newsound82]

That is due to the XMOS USB interface going into standby if no signal is received by default. On a Windows PC, this can be changed in the driver settings. See this thread.

Thx mate, I was just about to upload an update to my previous post. Call me an idiot but somehow I had no idea that there are some "special" drivers on the SMSL website that I should download and install. Instead at the beginning when I connected my unit to my PC and saw "SMSL dac" in my windows audio setting I assumed that's all I should do.
But it turned out those "extra SMSL" drivers indeed have this option in their menu and now I don't hear any popping from my speakers. I had only couple of hours of testing but everything seem to work just fine and hope it will stay like this (knock the wood). I can almost bet that many other folks did exactly the same "mistake" as I did...

 

[JIW]

Thx mate, I was just about to upload an update to my previous post. Call me an idiot but somehow I had no idea that there are some "special" drivers on the SMSL website that I should download and install. Instead at the beginning when I connected my unit to my PC and saw "SMSL dac" in my windows audio setting I assumed that's all I should do.
But it turned out those "extra SMSL" drivers indeed have this option in their menu and now I don't hear any popping from my speakers. I had only couple of hours of testing but everything seem to work just fine and hope it will stay like this (knock the wood). I can almost bet that many other folks did exactly the same "mistake" as I did...

It does work without a special driver up to a certain sample rate on Windows. Hence, why it worked for you before installing the driver. The popping has been much discussed, indeed.

 

[RHO]

No issues with the balanced outputs here. (connected to a KRK S10.4)

I did notice that connecting optical 1 and coax 1 simultaneously doesn't work for some reason. I mean, selecting coax 1 doesn't work properly when there's a signal going to optical 1 too. I had my PC running (optical 1) and had my DVD player connected to coax 1. I wanted to play a CD in the DVD player but that didn't work. When I connect the DVD player to coax 2 it works fine.
When the PC is in sleepmode (still connected to optical 1), I can connect the DVD player to coax 1, I can play a CD but it still stutters.
Is this normal behavior?
Meaning, you cannot have 2 optical inputs AND 2 coal inputs connected? It's OR you connect 1 optical and 1 coax OR 2 optical OR 2 coax?

 

[JIW]

No issues with the balanced outputs here. (connected to a KRK S10.4)

I did notice that connecting optical 1 and coax 1 simultaneously doesn't work for some reason. I mean, selecting coax 1 doesn't work properly when there's a signal going to optical 1 too. I had my PC running (optical 1) and had my DVD player connected to coax 1. I wanted to play a CD in the DVD player but that didn't work. When I connect the DVD player to coax 2 it works fine.
When the PC is in sleepmode (still connected to optical 1), I can connect the DVD player to coax 1, I can play a CD but it still stutters.
Is this normal behavior?
Meaning, you cannot have 2 optical inputs AND 2 coal inputs connected? It's OR you connect 1 optical and 1 coax OR 2 optical OR 2 coax?

That should not happen.

Does it also not work with optical 2 and coax 2? Does it work with optical 2 and coax 1?

 

[RHO]

That should not happen.

Does it also not work with optical 2 and coax 2? Does it work with optical 2 and coax 1?

I've not tested with the PC connected to optical 2. I will do that.
Edit: PC on optical 2 and DVD on either coax 1 or Coax 2 works fine. PC on optical 1 and DVD on coax 1 gave 1 small glitch now. I'm playing an audio DVD now. Disc is mint. Previously I was playing a CD with some superficial scratches and fingerprints on it. Maybe the cheap DVD player is to blame.

 

[JIW]

I've not tested with the PC connected to optical 2. I will do that.
Edit: PC on optical 2 and DVD on either coax 1 or Coax 2 works fine. PC on optical 1 and DVD on coax 1 gave 1 small glitch now. I'm playing an audio DVD now. Disc is mint. Previously I was playing a CD with some superficial scratches and fingerprints on it. Maybe the cheap DVD player is to blame.

If only Toslink 1 causes issues as you describe here, the problem is in the DAC.

 

[RHO]

If only Toslink 1 causes issues as you describe here, the problem is in the DAC.

I'm not sure what the problem is. ATM I'm playing a CD and the player is connected to COAX1 and the PC to OPTI1. Both are running simultaneous. No issues now. But it could be that in a few minutes there is some stutter or even very bad stutter. Don't know what triggers it. Maybe it's the player? I hadn't noticed it before. So for a while there were no issues. It's really hard to tell where the issue is in the chain if it happens a bit at random.

 

[JIW]

I'm not sure what the problem is. ATM I'm playing a CD and the player is connected to COAX1 and the PC to OPTI1. Both are running simultaneous. No issues now. But it could be that in a few minutes there is some stutter or even very bad stutter. Don't know what triggers it. Maybe it's the player? I hadn't noticed it before. So for a while there were no issues. It's really hard to tell where the issue is in the chain if it happens a bit at random.

Try finding a section on the CD/DVD that causes issues with OPT1/COAX1 and see if it also causes issues with OPT2/COAX1, OPT2/COAX2 and OPT1/COAX2. If it's only with OPT1/COAX1, something is wrong in the DAC. If it does not vary with connection, it could be either the player or the DAC. Then, you would need another functioning coax source to rule out the player.

 

[RHO]

Try finding a section on the CD/DVD that causes issues with OPT1/COAX1 and see if it also causes issues with OPT2/COAX1, OPT2/COAX2 and OPT1/COAX2. If it's only with OPT1/COAX1, something is wrong in the DAC. If it does not vary with connection, it could be either the player or the DAC. Then, you would need another functioning coax source to rule out the player.

It's never in the same sections of a track as far as I can detect. It sound like it's at random intervals when it happens. Last time I used COAX1 and OPT1 I had nu issues.
I need to find a good source with COAX out. That's a good tip. I am suspecting the player. I need to test that.

 

[pl4w]

Hey all, i new !

anyone connect this amp\dac to hifiman sundara? or 660s2?
review?

Sundara and 660S here. All good.