SMSL RAW-MDA 1 DAC & Headphone Amp Review

[Bob101]

I'm using Tidal and Foobar. What do you mean by mode of operation? Usually DL200 works as a dac in my no. 1 system but sometimes I listen to headphones with it aswell. SU-1 used to be dac in my 2nd system but I replaced it with a Topping E30II lite.

There's a lot of discussion in DL200 thread about the click/pop problem some users have.

PS. sorry for my English.

I use the USB in of my D70pro Sabre as pre-amp and actual audio source 24/7 for movies, streaming, music,... everything audio. And it gives faint pops/clicks when, e.g. a playlist stops in iTunes, or after switching applications. Not immediately (more like after a few seconds or so) and never while playing actual audio of any form, so I stopped bothering. Just to say: even my 'expensive' DAC suffers irregularities by my (expensive) laptops switching between audio apps in Win11/Win10. Maybe it's fixable with settings, but I've decided I'm too old to bother finding this out.

 

[patoulol]

See here:

Topping L30 II Review (Headphone Amp)

@amirm why is this amp not on the graphs on the newer reviews? Is this not recommended? https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?attachments/most-quiet-headphone-amp-reviewed-png.318638/ I don't know if that's why Amir no longer shows the L30II's 50mV SNR result, but his original...

www.audiosciencereview.com

I sent you a private message, did you receive it? Thank you

 

[Wunderphones]

I thought SMSL’s published numbers must’ve been exaggerated. So I was hoping to see this test before I got one.

I’m amazed by the complaints about various missing features at this price point. It’s not that long ago this would have been an impressive device even at $500. At $300, this seems like the obvious value choice for a desktop DAC/amp.

 

[CedarX]

I just wish, somebody would make something like this in a small portable format.
That would be grrrreat!

Sure… but when you look at the rear face, how much smaller can it really be? Give up enough features and it can be made really small… like a dongle?

 

[DeDovla]

Thanks for the review Amir, great as always! (one small mistake in the screenshot for stereophile test - it's not 21.5dB it's 21.5 bits or 129/130dB; and distortion + noise vs output voltage test is missing)

So this is basically a next-gen C200 -> better screen, better design, newer chips (both XMOS and DAC). However, the asking price is higher than the C200 was on release.

I am a bit disappointed with SMSL not stating correct numbers for their Headphone Out (they state 1.7W into 32Ohms, and Amir measured 1.4W into 33Ohms). Not that it should be a concern for most headphones out there, I just don't like seeing incorrect numbers on spec sheets. There is some improvements to the headphone amp (SINAD for Headphone Out in low gain is now 120/121dB vs 116/117dB for C200), but the power seems to land about the same as C200 with slightly less distortion (which is probably not audible).

As a value proposition, since the DL200 exists, it's not the best price to performance DAC/AMP out there. From what I've seen so far, the DL200 is currently the best price to performance DAC/AMP Combo. However, the form factor and design are different so that might be a deciding factor for some.

Still voted for "Great" as there are only a few DAC/AMP combos which can compete with this in this price range and of course the measurements show excellent performance.

 

[pseudoid]

Thank you, @amirm,
I asked my internal-AI to summarize your review' results:

'nuff said!
At the present time, I have no need for such a device but I am in the process of convincing my internal-AI to justify the purchase.

 

[KiyPhi]

Nice measurements but low power output. I don't think you can drive a HE6 or any other "notorious" headphone with this.

Depends on your needs. My old HE6SE (the ones that Amir measured and hold the current crown for least sensitive so far) were driven by a JDS Atom on low gain with -8dB gain for PEQ. This would be sufficient for me.

 

[aravaioli]

Thanks for the review Amir, great as always! (one small mistake in the screenshot for stereophile test - it's not 21.5dB it's 21.5 bits or 129/130dB; and distortion + noise vs output voltage test is missing)

So this is basically a next-gen C200 -> better screen, better design, newer chips (both XMOS and DAC). However, the asking price is higher than the C200 was on release.

I am a bit disappointed with SMSL not stating correct numbers for their Headphone Out (they state 1.7W into 32Ohms, and Amir measured 1.4W into 33Ohms). Not that it should be a concern for most headphones out there, I just don't like seeing incorrect numbers on spec sheets. There is some improvements to the headphone amp (SINAD for Headphone Out in low gain is now 120/121dB vs 116/117dB for C200), but the power seems to land about the same as C200 with slightly less distortion (which is probably not audible).

As a value proposition, since the DL200 exists, it's not the best price to performance DAC/AMP out there. From what I've seen so far, the DL200 is currently the best price to performance DAC/AMP Combo. However, the form factor and design are different so that might be a deciding factor for some.

Still voted for "Great" as there are only a few DAC/AMP combos which can compete with this in this price range and of course the measurements show excellent performance.

I had the DL200 and returned it after getting the RAW MDA1. The usability of the D200 is not even close. Remote fairly unresponsive, rotary volume nont nearly as pleasant, much less settings available, much worse screen, less inputs and, last but not least, no XLR analog out.
With that said, they sounded the same on stock setting to me. If that is all you care, yes you can save a few bucks with the DL200 (30£ in my case), but best value in my opinion is not.

 

[SAV1972]

Why is it so rare to install a trigger in such devices?

 

[amirm]

Why is it so rare to install a trigger in such devices?

They are at heart desktop devices where such a need does not exist much. So there is no precedence for it. Now that Topping has it though, hopefully they rest of the companies do the same as many of us are using them in our main systems.

 

[jimmyjames8]

Balanced out via stereo XLR's but no balanced headphone out?

 

[gorb]

Balanced out via stereo XLR's but no balanced headphone out?

The smaller headphone output on the front is 4.4 mm balanced.

 

[amirm]

The smaller headphone output on the front is 4.4 mm balanced.

It is balanced but produces no more power.

 

[pseudoid]

Why is it so rare to install a trigger in such devices?

Do you think - since it cannot be the cost of a [similar] relay board - it must be the cost of wiring/connector?

 

[DeDovla]

Remote fairly unresponsive, rotary volume nont nearly as pleasant, much less settings available, much worse screen, less inputs and, last but not least, no XLR analog out.

I was not aware of DL200 having issues with the remote especially since C200, DL200 and RAW-MDA1 use the same remote model RC-8C - maybe it's because of where the lens for receiving the infrared signal is positioned in your case. I can not really comment too much on this as I only have C200 where the remote works fine.

For more settings on RAW-MDA1 - Sound color is a gimmick compared to PEQ; PRE mode can be useful but it is not necessary for most people; more control over outputs is nice though.

Screen quality and rotary knob feel are more on the aesthetic side of things so that falls into what I wrote - some people would prefer to pay more for it.

More inputs on RAW-MDA1 sure, it's a functionality thing that could appeal to someone - I personally use USB only so those added inputs are nice but not a dealbreaker for many.

Does it really matter if it's XLR or TRS out? TRS to XLR cables exist afaik. I for example prefer TRS as they take up less space, but to each his own.

For MY usecase which is headphones only and only using USB to PC I don't see much point. Otherwise if people feel that RAW-MDA1 is worth the price difference they should go for it no doubt as it is a great device. I was mostly stating that the price difference does not provide more sound quality and that the added features might not be as useful to some people. Obviously, it is a better value than a lot of devices in the category, but in my eyes the DL200 is still value (price to performance) to beat in the around 200 dollar category DAC/AMP combo.

 

[staticV3]

It is balanced but produces no more power.

Are you sure that the output is actually balanced?

Or are you just saying that it uses a Pentaconn connector?

 

[WalterW]

Not the highest power for the headphone amp, but otherwise extremely well performing for a quite decent price, considering also the built quality and design. Hard to beat.

 

[Newman]

One if the inputs is not labelled ...

 

[Svperstar]

Depends on your needs. My old HE6SE (the ones that Amir measured and hold the current crown for least sensitive so far) were driven by a JDS Atom on low gain with -8dB gain for PEQ. This would be sufficient for me.

I know the OG HE6, Abyss 1266, Tungsten, etc all take more power then the HE6se(last time I checked). The holy grail is a device like this but like 4 watts at 32-50 ohms so it can drive anything ever released.

 

[Ken Tajalli]

It is balanced but produces no more power.

Balanced headphone out is misunderstood and over rated.
There are no technical advantages to it in a desktop setting, bar keeping those with such cables happy. a $2 adaptor can cure that.
According to spec. it can produce 2.5W at 16 ohm!
There are hardly anything out there that needs more.
If you were duped into buying one of those rarities, then you can afford to buy an extra amp, since this one is so cheap!