SMSL RAW-MDA 1 DAC & Headphone Amp Review

[Bleib]

Does anyone know if this DAC automatically powers-on when power is plugged in and the computer is turned on? I just want it to be ready to use when I turn my computer on.
Also, does it remember the last settings regarding the volume and input/output?

No, it's not a Topping product
But yes, it remembers

 

[Nango]

Finally they got IT, only one font source and sans serifs on the display, well done, but ..... wait .... Four different colours for 5 labels?? Even the dimension "dB" does need an extra colour? Only one colour is more than enough. No, they don't get it.

 

[Jimster480]

Wow the performance is amazing and the price is great too! This is like the Topping EX5 that I have been using for 1+ year already. It is really everything I need in a single unit, and it wasn't too expensive either. This one has a nicer display and such but overall I still like my EX5.

Glad to see the performance and design improving at lower price points.

 

[Cool Runnings]

Does anyone know if this DAC automatically powers-on when power is plugged in and the computer is turned on? I just want it to be ready to use when I turn my computer on.
Also, does it remember the last settings regarding the volume and input/output?

There is no trigger in/out in the RAW so you have to leave it on but you can turn on the Dimmer function to turn the display off so it may save some current usage.

Yes it will remember the last settings for a specific input. I was using Optical 1 and powered off/on and the settings remained. Am not sure if it will remember the last settings for multiple inputs.

 

[Palladium]

The one feature that Topping has and SMSL does not is auto turn on and off. It seems like a small thing but when hooked up to an Apple TV or a streaming device, it’s frustrating to need two remotes instead of being able to hit play and getting sound. Current use case is Wiim mini->Topping D70 (optical)->Fosi monos. All I have to do is hit play on my phone and the whole thing turns on. I had the SMSL DO100 in that system briefly and was very disappointed when it didn't do the same.

It's not a small thing at all when a lack of usability becomes annoying really quick.
I'm for one ain't touching any new SMSL at any price until they step up their game here. It's baffling they are still dragging their heels over this when it should be technically easy to solve.

 

[audiofun]

It's not a small thing at all when a lack of usability becomes annoying really quick.
I'm for one ain't touching any new SMSL at any price until they step up their game here. It's baffling they are still dragging their heels over this when it should be technically easy to solve.

you will never see SMSL doing that. The auto-on/off feature is a patented feature by Topping. SMSL cannot produce a unit with this feature without paying $$$ to Topping.

 

[Palladium]

you will never see SMSL doing that. The auto-on/off feature is a patented feature by Topping. SMSL cannot produce a unit with this feature without paying $$$ to Topping.

Well, they can at least get rid of the startup lag on all inputs for starters.

 

[Esprit]

Yes there’s some pop and cracking issues that come with the RAW.

I don't like it, it's true that I use the DAC volume and not the fixed output because I connect the DAC directly to the monitors, but I really don't like reading about these problems.

 

[Esprit]

It's not a small thing at all when a lack of usability becomes annoying really quick.

I have the whole system, video projector included, connected to three of these, when I'm not using it I turn everything off.

 

[diaolodoro]

There is no trigger in/out in the RAW so you have to leave it on but you can turn on the Dimmer function to turn the display off so it may save some current usage.

Yes it will remember the last settings for a specific input. I was using Optical 1 and powered off/on and the settings remained. Am not sure if it will remember the last settings for multiple inputs.

Powering off is not a problem. I have a power strip with a trigger to my computer. The PC turns off - everything turns off - and vice versa.
My question is would the DAC be ready as soon as I power on my PC? I need the DAC to be ready to use as soon as it gets power, and remembers the last setting before it was powered off (powered off from the wall and not simply turned off by pressing the button or stand-by mode)

 

[Esprit]

You can also unplug it: if it's like the D-6s all the previous settings will be there.

 

[Schlippwhip68]

Why do you need so many DACs?
Do you hear any difference in the sound signature of the AKM (DL300) and ESS (DL200) chips? If yes, how would you describe it?

I don't know how, but I hear a difference between Cirrus Logic and ESS. And that is definitely not in a frequency response.

What difference do you hear between the ESS and Cirrus chips, I have a feeling i know what you are going to say...

 

[Razael]

I don't like it, it's true that I use the DAC volume and not the fixed output because I connect the DAC directly to the monitors, but I really don't like reading about these problems.

i have same problem with hissing, my dl200 has it too. i have topping dx7 pro with opamp mod (opa1612) and sound is richer then raw1(which i got today). raw1 display is faulty - is brigher on the right side.i think it is good product, but they should use oled displays . it is not very expensive and looks a lot better then cheapest LCD. SMSL DL200 has better headphone amp, my sennheser hd800 works on 100% well, in dl200 it used 80%, but it is written in specs.

 

[Cool Runnings]

Powering off is not a problem. I have a power strip with a trigger to my computer. The PC turns off - everything turns off - and vice versa.
My question is would the DAC be ready as soon as I power on my PC? I need the DAC to be ready to use as soon as it gets power, and remembers the last setting before it was powered off (powered off from the wall and not simply turned off by pressing the button or stand-by mode)

I did a mains power off and on for my RAW and it took about 3 secs to be ready for use. Settings stayed same as before power off.

 

[Esprit]

i have same problem with hissing, my dl200 has it too

I have a D-6s and have no problems with the Tidal app.
I have to try with other apps (with Apple Music I DON'T know how to change frequency automatically).
I wanted to get the RAW instead of the D-6 but I don't want any problems...

 

[Esprit]

What are these?

 

[staticV3]

What are these?
View attachment 389199

Boosted 2nd and 3rd harmonic distortion, using the harmonic distortion compensation feature built into the ES9039Q2M chip

See here:

https://cdn.l7audiolab.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Sound-scaled.jpg

 

[Razael]

Boosted 2nd and 3rd harmonic distortion, using the harmonic distortion compensation feature built into the ES9039Q2M chip

See here:

https://cdn.l7audiolab.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Sound-scaled.jpg

IMO its hard to hear a difference (it has very small impact i expected a huge effect like real tube warm simulation (f.e. samsung has this feature in S8 phone). but overall its nice dacamp. i wrote before about faulty display - its not faulty its screen burn effect, someone in factory left dac in graphical mode for a day or more and it has burned ghost backlight. but overall i think its best dacamp for money, its nearly as good as topping dx7 pro, but for 1/3 price, it has also better settings menu, sadly not oled but i can find interfaces and buy corresponding oled display . i ve done it with topping dx7 pro, now i have blue oled display instead of white.

 

[aagstn]

Overall I am very happy with the MDA 1. Music sounds great out to my speakers and through the headphone amp. Being able to hook up so many sources at once is very convenient and LDAC through my phone sounds good as well, but I mostly use that for audiobooks.

I am noticing the half second of crackle when first playing a track on my Moode Raspberry PI setup when first powering on the MDA 1. I'm not having it occur after that or when switching inputs. Just when first turning it on. I have started turning it on and playing and pausing the Moode real quick to get that out of the way before turning on my stereo or plugging in headphones.

Edit: Just realized there are two ways to power it off. One is the switch in the back, the other is holding down the dial on front. If I power it off and on using the dial, it does not click when I start up music.

 

[RoA]

Is this true balanced?