SMSL RAW-MDA 1 DAC & Headphone Amp Review

[Ufasas]

is this one better than Fiio K7 non bluetooth one? I use k7 for gaming and music

 

[bartek725]

This is a review and detailed measurements of the SMSL RAW-MDA 1 stereo DAC and headphone amplifier. It was sent to me by SMSL and it is a collaboration with Shenzehenaudio (available elsewhere as well) and is on sale for $246.
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The first thing I noticed was the much more polished display. It is also quite responsive to rotary control. If you click it in, you get the standard SMSL menu system that is functional and easy to use, albeit not as pretty. Back panel shows addition of more inputs:
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We nicely have internal power supply and balanced outputs -- two things I really like in this kind of product. I do wish there was trigger output though to turn our a power amplifier in home stereo setting.

SMSL RAW-MDA 1 Measurements
Let's start with our usual dashboard with balanced output with volume adjusted for nominal 4 volt output:
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I expected SINAD of 120 dB for this price class but we have more than that, nicely landing the unit in our top 20 best list:
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RCA output takes a smaller than usual hit:
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Performance improves if you all the the full 5.3 volt output:
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Dynamic range is of course superb:
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IMD curve shows excellent performance:
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As a note, the blue line was a $245 so the same price showing the progress the industry has made to make more quiet and lower distortion DACs despite the inflation.

Multitone performance is absolutely superb:
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As is the stereophile test of 50 Hz into very low impedance of 600 ohm:
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Jitter is excellent with both USB and Coax with tiniest spurious tones with Toslink:
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I have gotten tired of running filter and filter response tests for all the settings as the results are always the same. So I am showing the default, Linear Fast Roll off:

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Using the same, we get this excellent result of THD sweep with frequency:
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Edit: linearity test:
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Headphone power with 300 ohm nicely passes my minimum threshold of 100 milliwatts:
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And produces healthy power with 32 ohm load:
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The distortion and noise were so low that in both tests I had to scroll the graph up to see where it landed in low gain mode!

50 mv output test shows the best that can be done without a third, negative gain setting:
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Conclusions
The RAW-MDA 1 aims high and achieves it across the board despite its very reasonable price. It is good looking, compact and easy to operate. Some of this we expect from SMSL but the total package is a step forward, as difficult as that may have seemed.

I am happy to recommend the SMSL RAW-MDA 1.

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Hi there, I have a raw mda 1 and got confused, they state that: "Utilizes 6 high-end dual op-amps OPA1612A", I wonder which one is that 1612

 

[Rick63]

This is on sale @Amazon.

On another note, sadly I had to return mine yesterday because it was exhibiting some very odd behavior. When using the #2 coaxial input for my Audiolab 6000CDT, when I touched or lightly tapped the top of the RAW-MDA1 the sound of the CD would cut out. I tried using the #1 coaxial input as well and one of the optical inputs and it didn't happen, and a different coaxial cable. It also happened when I hooked up my Sony UBP-X800M2 to the #2 coax input. I tried shaking the unit and there is nothing loose or rattling inside. Very strange.

 

[Roland68]

Hi there, I have a raw mda 1 and got confused, they state that: "Utilizes 6 high-end dual op-amps OPA1612A", I wonder which one is that 1612

Two per DAC chip, one for the RCA output and the sixth is presumably used somewhere on the way to the HPA.

 

[Mike_Trueman]

This is on sale @Amazon.

On another note, sadly I had to return mine yesterday because it was exhibiting some very odd behavior. When using the #2 coaxial input for my Audiolab 6000CDT, when I touched or lightly tapped the top of the RAW-MDA1 the sound of the CD would cut out. I tried using the #1 coaxial input as well and one of the optical inputs and it didn't happen, and a different coaxial cable. It also happened when I hooked up my Sony UBP-X800M2 to the #2 coax input. I tried shaking the unit and there is nothing loose or rattling inside. Very strange.

View attachment 490480

I think it is because SMSL still not connect the ground pin on their devices.

 

[Roland68]

I think it is because SMSL still not connect the ground pin on their devices.

View attachment 491462

It's not that simple, and that applies to many devices, regardless of manufacturer or device class.

This includes AV receivers, CD/DVD/BD players, amplifiers, DACs, streamers, etc., from established, well-known, audiophile and other manufacturers.
The ground connection could improve a situation, worsen it, or have no effect at all; it always depends on the overall situation.

 

[Ufasas]

Pulled a trigger on a k13 r2r, i believe between the two, they are quite different sounding, mda1 more neutral, and k13 more coloured ? k13 was 246$, but mda1, is around 202$ where i saw it for sale

 

[Mike_Trueman]

Pulled a trigger on a k13 r2r, i believe between the two, they are quite different sounding, mda1 more neutral, and k13 more coloured ? k13 was 246$, but mda1, is around 202$ where i saw it for sale

And how is the K13 sounding and which headphone are you using?

 

[Ufasas]

And how is the K13 sounding and which headphone are you using?

still around 5 days before being delivered to me, in a flight. Because i had ak4493seq & es9038q2m dac from fiio, i was wondering about smsl with 9039q2dm (9038q2m wasn't bad at all, and i prefer single or dual 4493 chip dac nowadays) as cheapest upgrade. I will compare Sundara (my biggest wish to test planar with k13, as i think fiio dacs i have make them enjoyable to listen to but fatiguing a bit... maybe it's not DAC/amp fault.. maybe Sundara?), ath-50x, hd560s, Shure 840a, and sony mdr-ma900 . Also SMSL mda1 still dropping price every few days, lol, and it's a dual chip, tempting to get it along with k13... for playing around...

 

[Mike_Trueman]

still around 5 days before being delivered to me, in a flight. Because i had ak4493seq & es9038q2m dac from fiio, i was wondering about smsl with 9039q2dm (9038q2m wasn't bad at all, and i prefer single or dual 4493 chip dac nowadays) as cheapest upgrade. I will compare Sundara (my biggest wish to test planar with k13, as i think fiio dacs i have make them enjoyable to listen to but fatiguing a bit... maybe it's not DAC/amp fault.. maybe Sundara?), ath-50x, hd560s, Shure 840a, and sony mdr-ma900 . Also SMSL mda1 still dropping price every few days, lol, and it's a dual chip, tempting to get it along with k13... for playing around...

I just ordered the Gustard Audalytic AH90 from Audiophonics, i hope the synergy is good with my headphone. Delivery this week normal.

 

[Ufasas]

I just ordered the Gustard Audalytic AH90 from Audiophonics, i hope the synergy is good with my headphone. Delivery this week normal.

oh damn, that is a monster of a dac, probably overkill for my needs..

 

[scw0w]

Hello guys. I bought this DAC for Hifiman Arya and notice that sometimes it turns off for 1 second. Just like rebooting.
I found out that it was due to the static charge I accumulated while sitting in the chair. Someone have this problem? Maybe there is workaround?

 

[Ufasas]

this is it, i am happy with my newly arrived fiio k13 - lush rich musical, ran with sundara, hd560s, ma900 sony, ath-r50x, all perfect, i am settled, not looking for new dac unless i stay in forums again for too long, tempted to get and mda1 and k13, but now i will skip mda1 for good

 

[Roland68]

Hello guys. I bought this DAC for Hifiman Arya and notice that sometimes it turns off for 1 second. Just like rebooting.
I found out that it was due to the static charge I accumulated while sitting in the chair. Someone have this problem? Maybe there is workaround?

This shouldn't happen at all.
You could check if the ground connection of the DAC is connected to its casing.

 

[RHO]

This shouldn't happen at all.
You could check if the ground connection of the DAC is connected to its casing.

Could also be the ground pin in the wall socket.

I haven't used mine with headphones a lot, but I never noticed such a thing.

@scw0w : Did you use the 1/4" or the 4.4mm output?

 

[scw0w]

: Did you use the 1/4" or the 4.4mm output?

I use 6.3mm 1/4

 

[RHO]

I use 6.3mm 1/4

Then I would certainly check the ground connection.
It could also be the headphones. No part of the drivers should be electrically connected to the cups or headband.
Also check the headphone cable for shorts.

 

[Roland68]

Could also be the ground pin in the wall socket.

I haven't used mine with headphones a lot, but I never noticed such a thing.

@scw0w : Did you use the 1/4" or the 4.4mm output?

You're right, I always assume a properly connected socket with a functioning ground.
However, if the device's ground pin isn't connected to the chassis and the RCA ground, I would return it.

 

[scw0w]

Then I would certainly check the ground connection.
It could also be the headphones. No part of the drivers should be electrically connected to the cups or headband.
Also check the headphone cable for shorts.

Its not cable or headphones 100%. I checked on 3 models with different cables. Change outlet too. Maybe faulty device? Its not big problem tho.

 

[Roland68]

Its not cable or headphones 100%. I checked on 3 models with different cables. Change outlet too. Maybe faulty device? Its not big problem tho.

If you have a multimeter, it would be a good idea to measure a few things.
Because if you replace the device now, or get a different one, and still have problems, you'll be starting all over again.