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SMSL RAW Pro-DAC1 Balanced DAC Review

Rate this DAC:

  • 1. Poor (headless panther)

    Votes: 2 1.0%
  • 2. Not terrible (postman panther)

    Votes: 8 4.0%
  • 3. Fine (happy panther)

    Votes: 51 25.8%
  • 4. Great (golfing panther)

    Votes: 137 69.2%

  • Total voters
    198
But with their performance target and current price about $1200 they could use dual ES9039Q2M chips
In fact, they use ES9039SPRO chips, which have the highest performance. They may be missing out in some areas of PCB layout optimization.
 
with the price of 1.2k , should be dual ESS9039Pro chips :cool:
This is certainly much more sensible than investing the money and effort into development and getting devices with better functions and functionality and better firmware. Quality and quality control would also be interesting points.
 
Quality and quality control would also be interesting points.
This is a little-known area about all these brands such as SMSL, Topping, FiiO, Fosi. There is not enough long-term data due to the newness of the devices. There are cases of failures, described including on this forum. Repairability and customer support is virtually non-existent outside of China. Only exchanges by resellers within the first month after sale.
 
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It's a shame that SMSL didn't keep the 2 coaxial inputs and the 2 optical inputs of the budget version. So I only give it the good grade. I wonder about the usefulness of having 2 usb inputs. Personally, I don't like USB-C on this kind of device because I think it's mechanically more fragile than USB B. But this may be a misconception. In any case. Thanks to Amir for this review.
 
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It's a shame that SMSL didn't keep the 2 coaxial inputs and the 2 optical inputs of the budget version. So I only give it the good grade. I wonder about the usefulness of having 2 usb inputs. Personally, I don't like USB-C on this kind of device because I think it's mechanically more fragile than USB B. But this may be a misconception. In any case. Thanks to Amir for this review.
I think that it should have those, as well as BT.
 
Why do people get all hung up on 12v trigger from DAC. All you need is an unused optical out (which you should never use because optical sucks -- jitter) run into one of these
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07QS89MZG/ (Digital Audio Trigger Device with 12V Outputs - BobWire DAT1 Ads a 12 Volt Trigger Output to TVs, Streamers & DACs, auto Power on amplifiers or TV Lifts.)

And then this https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00WV7GMA2/ (Iot Relay - Enclosed High-Power Power Relay for Arduino, Raspberry Pi, PIC or WiFi, Relay Shield) to switch all your 12v-triggerless equipment.

That's how my RME ADI2PRO FS R BE turns on the hypex NC400 monoblocks.

PS: wow such price increases. Both of these are now at least 50% more pricey than when I bought them, which reflects the actual real inflation rate, not the fake rate reported by Biden's banksters and regime press propagandists. Meanwhile ChiFi got cheaper!!
 
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Thanks to Amir for the review and measurements.

I've read the comments from others who have commented on the "boring" nature of the unit and it seems many are complaining about the lack of PEQ/DSP functionality. I'd suggest they look at the FiiO K19 DAC which seems to have everything they asked for (like 31-band EQ/DSP) plus HDMI IN/OUT/ARC, Optical out, Headphone amp with SE and BAL 4.4 and XLR outputs, 12V trigger in/out etc. SINAD is 10dB lower than SMSL / TOPPING and most of the parameters are already measured and posted by the manufacturer themselves.
They launched the new K17 with AKM DAC + PEQ/DSP + a discrete class AB AMP.
It probably has a more warm sound than the K19, +- US$870 in AliExpress.
 
One additional reason for NOT having 12v trigger. In a real environment, that 12v trigger wire may look like a 0-12V DC "wire" but to the internals of the DAC, it looks like a giant antenna helping bring external RF signals via untwisted and unshielded wires into the DAC. And even if bypassed to the case or ground, end up as ground noise and a source for potential ground loops. So it's really best to just let the case of the DAC and the shielded, twisted, and/or balanced cables feeding RF interference&noise into the DAC (some of which might show up as jitter and not just noise) be the only source of unwanted signal.

Anyways that's a purist perspective, based on theory, and proximity to actual industrial practice (e.g. FCC certification) who gave weird orders to install inductors or resistors and I dutifully complied after learning all the reasons why such orders have been given. :)

It's also the reason why having fancy stuff, like LCD displays, spectrum analyzers, digital level meter displays, bluetooth I/O, streaming/ethernet/Wifi/5G may be best handled by external devices dedicated to the task, and then just use USB, AES/EBU, LVDS/HDMI-format etc to talk to the DAC.

It would be interesting to get a re-do of some of Amir's measurements with a fully-hooked-up in a real-situation setup, with every single connector you'd actually be using plugged in to existing equipment -- spdif, aes, lvds, 12v-triggers, XLR-out, RCA-out, sub-out, etc -- in a standard home or apartment with tons of Wifi, 5G-cell usage, baby-monitors, wireless-intercoms, home-automation, wireless alarms, and a high-power AM transmitter nearby (e.g. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KFI ) that reportedly transmitted audible signal into people's dental-braces... all running as they would be during normal usage of the equipment.
 
Why do people get all hung up on 12v trigger from DAC. All you need is an unused optical out (which you should never use because optical sucks -- jitter) run into one of these
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07QS89MZG/ (Digital Audio Trigger Device with 12V Outputs - BobWire DAT1 Ads a 12 Volt Trigger Output to TVs, Streamers & DACs, auto Power on amplifiers or TV Lifts.)

I assume the idea here is that you're triggering the switching of the wall power. That only works if devices turn fully on when the wall power is connected, rather than go into standby mode.

As an example, I'd want do something like WiiM -> SMSL C200 -> Fosi ZA3. I'd like to start playing something on the WiiM and have it turn on the C200 and ZA3. I don't believe your solution would come close to working, because both the C200 and ZA3 start in standby mode.

By contrast, if I replaced the C200 in this scenario with a ZD3, which has trigger in and trigger out, everything would work wonderfully. The only reason I haven't done that is that the ZD3 doesn't have a headphone amp.
 
It would be interesting to get a re-do of some of Amir's measurements with a fully-hooked-up in a real-situation setup, with every single connector you'd actually be using plugged in to existing equipment -- spdif, aes, lvds, 12v-triggers, XLR-out, RCA-out, sub-out, etc -- in a standard home or apartment with tons of Wifi, 5G-cell usage, baby-monitors, wireless-intercoms, home-automation, wireless alarms, and a high-power AM transmitter nearby (e.g. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KFI ) that reportedly transmitted audible signal into people's dental-braces... all running as they would be during normal usage of the equipment.
You should set it up.


(which you should never use because optical sucks -- jitter)
You could measure the effect of that on the analogue output at the same time.


One additional reason for NOT having 12v trigger. In a real environment, that 12v trigger wire may look like a 0-12V DC "wire" but to the internals of the DAC, it looks like a giant antenna helping bring external RF signals via untwisted and unshielded wires into the DAC
And that.
 
What you'll hear coming out of the RAW Pro-DAC1 is an exact 1:1 copy of what's stored on the audio file.

The SMSL does not add any character or signature on top.

It doesn't have a sound.
I'm happy that my SMSL D400 PRO AKM based DAC DOES have a sound.
Before the D400 PRO I owned SMSL's D300 which features the then Sabre top of the like IC.
The D300 sounds very detailed, but also lifeless, unmusical and boring. It didn't invite me to listen to music with It.
I got rid of It and got the DO400 PRO and I really like the sound of It, actually, I LOVE It. A pitty the D400 PRO has a coupled of glitches that are supposed to be addressed by a firmware update that I've been unable to install.
Does this new Sabre based DAC sounds similar to the D300? I bet It has the typical Sabre sound, that's not my cup of tea.
 
What you'll hear coming out of the RAW Pro-DAC1 is an exact 1:1 copy of what's stored on the audio file.

The SMSL does not add any character or signature on top.

It doesn't have a sound.
I'm happy that my SMSL D400 PRO AKM based DAC DOES have a sound.
Before the D400 PRO I owned SMSL's D300 which features the then Sabre top of the like IC.
The D300 sounds very detailed, but also lifeless, unmusical and boring. It didn't invite me to listen to music with It.
I got rid of It and got the DO400 PRO and I really like the sound of It, actually, I LOVE It. A pitty the D400 PRO has a coupled of glitches that are supposed to be addressed by a firmware update that I've been unable to install.
Does this new Sabre based DAC sounds similar to the D300? I bet It has the typical Sabre sound, that's not my cup of tea
 
I'm happy that my SMSL D400 PRO AKM based DAC DOES have a sound.
Before the D400 PRO I owned SMSL's D300 which features the then Sabre top of the like IC.
The D300 sounds very detailed, but also lifeless, unmusical and boring. It didn't invite me to listen to music with It.
I got rid of It and got the DO400 PRO and I really like the sound of It, actually, I LOVE It. A pitty the D400 PRO has a coupled of glitches that are supposed to be addressed by a firmware update that I've been unable to install.
Does this new Sabre based DAC sounds similar to the D300? I bet It has the typical Sabre sound, that's not my cup of tea.
The D300 uses a Rohm chip not an ESS. The DO300 uses an ES9039MSPRO which is the latest. Do you mean the latter?
 
I'm happy that my SMSL D400 PRO AKM based DAC DOES have a sound.
Before the D400 PRO I owned SMSL's D300 which features the then Sabre top of the like IC.
The D300 sounds very detailed, but also lifeless, unmusical and boring. It didn't invite me to listen to music with It.
I got rid of It and got the DO400 PRO and I really like the sound of It, actually, I LOVE It. A pitty the D400 PRO has a coupled of glitches that are supposed to be addressed by a firmware update that I've been unable to install.
Does this new Sabre based DAC sounds similar to the D300? I bet It has the typical Sabre sound, that's not my cup of tea

There seems to be an echo in here. :p

Come back when you can reliably (at least 9/10 times) pass a properly controlled level matched blind comparison, and there might be something to talk about.
 
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There seems to be an echo in here. :p

Come back when you can reliably (at least 9/10 times) pass a properly controlled level matched blind comparison, and there might be something talk about.
I think Sabre and AKM IC's have different developing philosophies and market targets. As far as I know, brands like AKM or Burr Brown don't make D/A IC's aimed at mobile phones or DAP's, while Sabre or Circus Logic do.
AKM or Burr Brown develop and make D/A IC's aimed at the Hi Fi or professional market, while Sabre make a bit of everything.
My critisism with the Sabre based DO300 wasn't bad sound quality issues, in paper after being measured with the proper equipment, Sabre ICs measure highly well with very high numbers on SINAD, Signal to Noise ratio, dinamic range and the likes, outperforming top of the like IC's by AKM or Burr Brown, yet AKM and Burr Brown IC's when well implementes sound arguably and subjectively better, more pleasing to many people's ears.
I didn't move from the SMSL DO300 to the DO400 PRO straight on, I first got an AKM based SMSL DO300 EX, which features the same IC's as the DO400 PRO, but on a lesser build quality, simpler power supply and added a headphones output, something redundant to me.
As I prefered the sound of the lesser DO300 EX to the Sabre based DO300, I decided to move to the better built and better power supplies of the DO400 PRO. After some hours of breaking in, I loved the sound of the DO400 PRO.
I've had two Sabre based DAC's before, I don't remember the reference of my first Topping , I then got a D50, which for the money sounded extremely clean and dinamic (powered by an external linear power supply), but I found its sound tiring, uninspiring, boring, despite its high measurements.
That's when I moved to the DO300 and I find a more detailed sound next to the D50, but same tiring and "cold" sound. So I started looking for something aforddable but with and engaging and inviting sound, and that was the AKM based DO300 EX. The DO400 PRO just took its sound a step further. It's been on my set up since early July, a Marantz PM 6007 integrated amp, KEF'S Q550 speakers and Sony's UBP X-8OO M2 as a source, with "the" Chinese HDMI audio extractor so I can play SACD's and DSD files vía the DO400 PRO, as you see, nothing expensive or fancy, and I can tell you the DO400 PRO stays and Will be there for a long time.
I had never been Happy with none of the Sabre based DAC's I owned before.
 
I think Sabre and AKM IC's have different developing philosophies and market targets. As far as I know, brands like AKM or Burr Brown don't make D/A IC's aimed at mobile phones or DAP's, while Sabre or Circus Logic do.
AKM or Burr Brown develop and make D/A IC's aimed at the Hi Fi or professional market, while Sabre make a bit of everything.
My critisism with the Sabre based DO300 wasn't bad sound quality issues, in paper after being measured with the proper equipment, Sabre ICs measure highly well with very high numbers on SINAD, Signal to Noise ratio, dinamic range and the likes, outperforming top of the like IC's by AKM or Burr Brown, yet AKM and Burr Brown IC's when well implementes sound arguably and subjectively better, more pleasing to many people's ears.
I didn't move from the SMSL DO300 to the DO400 PRO straight on, I first got an AKM based SMSL DO300 EX, which features the same IC's as the DO400 PRO, but on a lesser build quality, simpler power supply and added a headphones output, something redundant to me.
As I prefered the sound of the lesser DO300 EX to the Sabre based DO300, I decided to move to the better built and better power supplies of the DO400 PRO. After some hours of breaking in, I loved the sound of the DO400 PRO.
I've had two Sabre based DAC's before, I don't remember the reference of my first Topping , I then got a D50, which for the money sounded extremely clean and dinamic (powered by an external linear power supply), but I found its sound tiring, uninspiring, boring, despite its high measurements.
That's when I moved to the DO300 and I find a more detailed sound next to the D50, but same tiring and "cold" sound. So I started looking for something aforddable but with and engaging and inviting sound, and that was the AKM based DO300 EX. The DO400 PRO just took its sound a step further. It's been on my set up since early July, a Marantz PM 6007 integrated amp, KEF'S Q550 speakers and Sony's UBP X-8OO M2 as a source, with "the" Chinese HDMI audio extractor so I can play SACD's and DSD files vía the DO400 PRO, as you see, nothing expensive or fancy, and I can tell you the DO400 PRO stays and Will be there for a long time.
I had never been Happy with none of the Sabre based DAC's I owned before.
I'm not sure where you find these large differences. The difference for instance in dynamics is not supported by any measurement at all. I think it's likely psychological, and perhaps different filters which do not quite sound the same. Or perhaps very small differences in output levels. Usually the one that plays just a bit louder tends to sound better.

ESS and AKM dacs are extremely much better than human hearing, loudspeakers, recordings and rooms aren't.
Even the, I assume, cheaper CS43131 sounds absolutely perfect to me
 
I'm not sure where you find these large differences. The difference for instance in dynamics is not supported by any measurement at all. I think it's likely psychological, and perhaps different filters which do not quite sound the same. Or perhaps very small differences in output levels. Usually the one that plays just a bit louder tends to sound better.

ESS and AKM dacs are extremely much better than human hearing, loudspeakers, recordings and rooms aren't.
Even the, I assume, cheaper CS43131 sounds absolutely perfect to me
A friend of mine owns Shanling,'s EH3 DAC, that can do a lot of things like Upsampling PCM or DSD to 700 and something kHz and 32 bits, PCM or DSD to DSD 512, play digital audio without any processing and It features a built in playing app (It must be controlled with an external app with a mobile phone or a tablet) and despite all the efforts Shangling put into its internal processing, It still sounds as "a tamed Sabre based" DAC to me.
I wonder how a DAC with such processing but using AKM or Burr Brown IC's would sound.
 
A friend of mine owns Shanling,'s EH3 DAC, that can do a lot of things like Upsampling PCM or DSD to 700 and something kHz and 32 bits, PCM or DSD to DSD 512, play digital audio without any processing and It features a built in playing app (It must be controlled with an external app with a mobile phone or a tablet) and despite all the efforts Shangling put into its internal processing, It still sounds as "a tamed Sabre based" DAC to me.
I wonder how a DAC with such processing but using AKM or Burr Brown IC's would sound.
This is rather off topic so I'll just add one final comment. I wonder how much of this is down to memory. I have very good memory of using a Topping E30, it was some of the most detailed sound I had heard. But it's among my first impressions of it but I also now that I played some material that was highly detailed as a first listen and I think this stuck into my mind. Objectively I have no reason to think that it's any better than any of the stuff I have now though, and I have plenty of mediocre experiences with them because tons of recordings aren't exactly that great.
 
This is rather off topic so I'll just add one final comment. I wonder how much of this is down to memory. I have very good memory of using a Topping E30, it was some of the most detailed sound I had heard. But it's among my first impressions of it but I also now that I played some material that was highly detailed as a first listen and I think this stuck into my mind. Objectively I have no reason to think that it's any better than any of the stuff I have now though, and I have plenty of mediocre experiences with them because tons of recordings aren't exactly that great.
I still own the Topping D50, I thought It wasn't worthwhile selling It but better keep It as a back Up DAC.
Using "the" Chinese HDMI audio extractor I fed both PCM and DSD to both DACs, the D50 via S/PDIF (DSD as DoP) and the DO400 PRO vía I2S, playing the same music material connected to the same integrated amp and speakers. I don't need to tell you which one I prefered.
Moreso, I got Amazon to exchange the DO300 for the DO300 EX and as I had a time frame of two weeks to return the DO300, I had both connected at the same time and playing the same music, Guess which one I prefered.
 
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