SMSL RAW-MDA 1 DAC & Headphone Amp Review

[nick_l44.1]

There are reports of problems when using the opt/coax input. If you set up the optical input and disconnect all cables, a high-level 44.1k sine wave appears on the right channel after turning it on. Check who has oscilloscopes. The problem may be very serious; one tweeter has already burned out. I only have a dl200, and this issue does not occur with it.

 

[jareinertson]

There are reports of problems when using the opt/coax input. If you set up the optical input and disconnect all cables, a high-level 44.1k sine wave appears on the right channel after turning it on. Check who has oscilloscopes. The problem may be very serious; one tweeter has already burned out. I only have a dl200, and this issue does not occur with it.

Where did you see such reports?

 

[nick_l44.1]

Where did you see such reports?

On IXBT forum (russian).

 

[aagstn]

They replied and they want it sent back to China, via USPS, and paid by me first as they cannot provide shipping label oversea. (~$50-75 from what I can tell and takes 6-10 business days) and they did not confirm that they'll fix it since it's 10 days after the warranty expired so I'll just look to buy something else and avoid this company.

I don't want to be too hard on companies like SMSL, Topping, etc. I know plenty of people have purchased items from them with no issues. I have had unfortunate luck with these Chinese companies though and yes, once you have to deal with their customer service you really don't want to do business with them again. I have removed all of their products from my home. I found it worth the effort to just stick with a brand I know I can trust in Yamaha. The SINAD of their receivers is not going to match SMSL or Topping DACs and Amps, but the features make up for it and I know the reliability is going to be there. In the unlikely event I need service, it also isn't going to be a complete headache to deal with. When I'm asked for recommendations from people I know for smaller standalone DACs and headphone amps I send them to JDS Labs every time over any of these Chinese companies.

 

[beekeeper]

There are reports of problems when using the opt/coax input. If you set up the optical input and disconnect all cables, a high-level 44.1k sine wave appears on the right channel after turning it on. Check who has oscilloscopes. The problem may be very serious; one tweeter has already burned out. I only have a dl200, and this issue does not occur with it.

Yep, confirm. I faced this issue, unfortunately :-(
I would strongly recommend anyone who own raw-mda1 checking your devices to prevent damage. In my case, I've burned out tweeter on my Elac FS 267...

 

[Bleib]

Holy crap. Report that in for SMSL to fix.

 

[solawind]

There are reports of problems when using the opt/coax input. If you set up the optical input and disconnect all cables, a high-level 44.1k sine wave appears on the right channel after turning it on. Check who has oscilloscopes. The problem may be very serious; one tweeter has already burned out. I only have a dl200, and this issue does not occur with it.

Hi @Kitty (S.M.S.L Marketing) Can SMSL look into this issue with RAW-MDA 1 ? Such bugs are very dangerous and can damage customer equipment (which has already happened, as claimed above).

 

[Bhuwan Kaura]

I was the one to find it. Qobuz works indeed but TASCAM Hi-Res Editor does the same and is free. See below.

XMOS driver settings for no cutoff/delay

Wait ... is this issue just for SMSL dacs or any dac using XMOS chips? It's not brand specific but if there is some relay based solution there should be no or little popping. This thread explains a way in software to keep the driver I/O always open to prevent little pops. In case you have some...

www.audiosciencereview.com

XMOS driver settings for no cutoff/delay

Es apsvēru iespēju izveidot sava veida "pamācību" visiem XMOS draiveriem ierīcēs, kurām ir nogrieznis — latentums starp skaņas sākumu un dac "reaģēšanu" un šīs skaņas atskaņošanu... Tātad šeit tas ir: XMOS draiveri izmanto vadības paneli, kas atšķiras no šī: Parasti izvēlnes "Opcijas", kas ir...

www.audiosciencereview.com

I am hearing a very loud pop sound from my JBL studio monitors.. I have connected my LG OLED TV via bluetooth with this dac, further connecting the monitors via XLR.. Is there a workaround / patch for getting rid of this very loud pop / crackling sound? Even when I forward / reverse a video / movie on any app ( like Netflix, YouTube ), the same annoying noise is emitted, not everytime, but most of the times.. I fear it might blow away the tweeters some day.. I had a Topping DAC before and never faced this issue with it.. Any feedback would be highly appreciated..

 

[Roland68]

I am hearing a very loud pop sound from my JBL studio monitors.. I have connected my LG OLED TV via bluetooth with this dac, further connecting the monitors via XLR.. Is there a workaround / patch for getting rid of this very loud pop / crackling sound? Even when I forward / reverse a video / movie on any app ( like Netflix, YouTube ), the same annoying noise is emitted, not everytime, but most of the times.. I fear it might blow away the tweeters some day.. I had a Topping DAC before and never faced this issue with it.. Any feedback would be highly appreciated..

Since the device is only connected via Bluetooth, the transmission is already galvanically isolated.
If you have any other devices connected via SPDIF coaxial or USB, please disconnect them and test whether the problem still exists.

 

[Bhuwan Kaura]

Since the device is only connected via Bluetooth, the transmission is already galvanically isolated.
If you have any other devices connected via SPDIF coaxial or USB, please disconnect them and test whether the problem still exists.

No other devices are connected..

 

[orange_juice]

Where are you located that it would cost $50-75? I shipped my Aya Neo Back to China in a much larger box and it cost me around $15.

From Seattle and that was the cost quoted by USPS. I gave up in the end and purchased another DAC/Headphone amp from another manufacturer (US this time with 5y warranty).

 

[Roland68]

No other devices are connected..

Does your TV have a Toslink port?

 

[Bhuwan Kaura]

Does your TV have a Toslink port?

Yes.. I tried that option.. But I could not control the volume via tv remote.. I don't want to use two remotes..

 

[Roland68]

Yes.. I tried that option.. But I could not control the volume via tv remote.. I don't want to use two remotes..

Did you have the same problems?

 

[Bhuwan Kaura]

I don't remember.. Used it for a very short period of time..

 

[Roland68]

I don't remember.. Used it for a very short period of time..

If you test it again, we can see whether the problem lies with the DAC in conjunction with the speakers, or with the TV.

Have you also tried using a smartphone or a battery-powered laptop to see if you experience the same Bluetooth problems?

 

[Bhuwan Kaura]

If you test it again, we can see whether the problem lies with the DAC in conjunction with the speakers, or with the TV.

Have you also tried using a smartphone or a battery-powered laptop to see if you experience the same Bluetooth problems?

I don't remember exactly, but I never faced the problem while using Samsung 24/25 Ultra phones.. I will double check..

Even with my TV, the problem occurs only when the audio is terminated momentarily, like fast forwarding, changing video on YouTube, etc.. It never happens when audio is playing continously..

 

[dasherzx]

i used the mda1 with my speakers (kh310) for awhile when i was waiting for the dsp subwoofers to arrive, have the mda1 hooked to normal analog subs too. on a few ocassions I think i bumped the connections on the smsl and all hell broke lose with an ear shattering possibly 90-100db crackle. i manage to turn them off as fast as i could. i only use them as a headphone amp nowadays though

 

[Gurkenbarn]

Yep, confirm. I faced this issue, unfortunately :-(
I would strongly recommend anyone who own raw-mda1 checking your devices to prevent damage. In my case, I've burned out tweeter on my Elac FS 267...

I confirm as well, right tweeter fried on my Teufel Definion 3 after using optical connection on the MDA1 for a while.

 

[solawind]

SMSL should release a firmware update ASAP or recall the units.