SMSL RAW Pro-DAC1 Balanced DAC Review

[Yachats]

I bought this SMSL Raw Pro-DAC1 and absolutely love it. However, I have a question about USB cables from my laptop to the DAC. The DAC has two inputs - USB-B and USB-C. My laptop has the following ports:

• 1x USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 (Power Delivery 140W ad DisplayPort 1.4)
• 1x USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 (DisplayPort 1.4) 10Gbps
• 1x USB-A 3.2 Gen 1 (always on)
• 2x USB-A 3.2 Gen 1

Presently, I'm using the cable supplied by SMSL which runs from one of the USB-A 3.2 Gen 1 ports to the DAC USB-B input. I've been reading that USB-C to USB-C is the way to go for higher speeds but I've also been reading that USB-B is good enough for audio files. It's all very confusing for a newbie like me and I'd love to have some good recommendations regarding which type of connection I should use for hi-fi and if someone wanted to throw in cables I should consider (by brand and model), that would be wonderful. Thanks!

 

[staticV3]

I bought this SMSL Raw Pro-DAC1 and absolutely love it. However, I have a question about USB cables from my laptop to the DAC. The DAC has two inputs - USB-B and USB-C. My laptop has the following ports:

• 1x USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 (Power Delivery 140W ad DisplayPort 1.4)
• 1x USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 (DisplayPort 1.4) 10Gbps
• 1x USB-A 3.2 Gen 1 (always on)
• 2x USB-A 3.2 Gen 1

Presently, I'm using the cable supplied by SMSL which runs from one of the USB-A 3.2 Gen 1 ports to the DAC USB-B input. I've been reading that USB-C to USB-C is the way to go for higher speeds but I've also been reading that USB-B is good enough for audio files. It's all very confusing for a newbie like me and I'd love to have some good recommendations regarding which type of connection I should use for hi-fi and if someone wanted to throw in cables I should consider (by brand and model), that would be wonderful. Thanks!

The SMSL is a pure USB 2.0 device, so a regular Printer cable like the one that came in the box can fully saturate the DAC's USB chipset.

For a point of reference, uncompressed lossless CD audio requires 0.3% of USB 2.0 bandwidth.

Bandwidths above USB 2.0 only serve a purpose in recording studios, where one may require upwards of 16 simultaneous audio channels at high sample rates and bit depths.

 

[Yachats]

This DAC has several settings that I'm unfamiliar with. I'm using the following settings:

Output: Unbalanced
PCM: Linear Fast
Soundcolor: Tube 1
DPLL: 2

Not sure how to experiment with over-sampling, which I believe this unit can do. Any help or direction toward a guide would be appreciated!

So far, my experience has been great!

 

[staticV3]

Not sure how to experiment with over-sampling, which I believe this unit can do.

On the Pro-DAC1, Oversampling cannot be disabled and is not user configurable.

It's a vital part of the ESS converter's operation.

 

[Kiko1974]

Do you think that the SMSL RAW-1 and the SMSL D400 Pro sound very different?
Both use the same AKM chipset, I think the only main difference Here is the power supply.
The D400 Pro features two, while the RAW-1 has only one.
I don't know about the components used on analogue stages of each DAC, the D400 Pro may have better components.

 

[JSmith]

Do you think that the SMSL RAW-1 and the SMSL D400 Pro sound very different?

No, they are both transparent DAC's and thus impart no "sound"... looks at the measurements;

'SMSL RAW-MDA 1 DAC & Headphone Amp Review'

Aug 19, 2024

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.

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:

We nicely have internal power supply and balanced outputs -- two...

• amirm
• Replies: 862
• Forum: Combination Audio DAC and Headphone Amplifiers

• 

'SMSL D400 Pro Balanced DAC Review'

Nov 1, 2023

This is a review and detailed measurements of the SMSL D400 Pro balanced stereo DAC with Bluetooth support. It was sent to me by the company and costs US $619.

The scalloped front together with the high resolution and bright display make this one of the most beautiful products SMSL has released. The processor behind the display is very speedy as well. I like that the volume level is now in big letters and sample rate is small. You have the usual connections in the back:

SMSL D400 Pro DAC Measurements
As usual we start with our dashboard using balanced...

• amirm
• Replies: 372
• Forum: Digital To Analog (DAC) Reviews and Discussion

• 

JSmith

 

[Roland68]

Do you think that the SMSL RAW-1 and the SMSL D400 Pro sound very different?
Both use the same AKM chipset, I think the only main difference Here is the power supply.
The D400 Pro features two, while the RAW-1 has only one.
I don't know about the components used on analogue stages of each DAC, the D400 Pro may have better components.

You're probably talking about the RAW-DAC1 with the AK4499EX + AK4191EQ?
The RAW-MDA1 with 2 x ES9039Q2M is a different device. There's also the RAW Pro-DAC1 with the ES9039MS Pro.
There is no RAW1 yet, but it would be perfect to make the confusion even greater .

However, all of these devices have two power supplies, one for the plus and one for the minus voltage. Whether they're housed in one or two enclosures makes no technical difference.

 

[welwynnick]

However, all of these devices have two power supplies, one for the plus and one for the minus voltage. Whether they're housed in one or two enclosures makes no technical difference.

That would be a first in my experience.

i think it's more likely that digital and analogue electronics have separate power supplies.

 

[Roland68]

That would be a first in my experience.

i think it's more likely that digital and analogue electronics have separate power supplies.

This has been the case for almost all of these devices for a long time, at least in these price ranges and below.
Either a +/- 12 or 15 volt switching power supply, or two +12 or +15 volt switching power supplies wired to output +/- 12 or 15 volts.
The other required voltages, including those for the digital range, are generated from this.
However, some devices also generate everything from +12 volts, and USB devices also generate the +/- 12 volts from +5 volts.
All of this has long been standard.

A dedicated 5 volt supply for the digital range is the exception and can be found, for example, in the Topping DX9.

Here are the two power supplies from the D400 Pro and the RAW-DAC1, just as an example.

 

[Kiko1974]

You're probably talking about the RAW-DAC1 with the AK4499EX + AK4191EQ?
The RAW-MDA1 with 2 x ES9039Q2M is a different device. There's also the RAW Pro-DAC1 with the ES9039MS Pro.
There is no RAW1 yet, but it would be perfect to make the confusion even greater .

However, all of these devices have two power supplies, one for the plus and one for the minus voltage. Whether they're housed in one or two enclosures makes no technical difference.

You may no remember, but I do. By June 2024 I owned the SMSL DO300 EX, which uses the AK4191+AK4400EX AKM chipset.
I asked you for advice if It was worthwhile to change the DO300 EX (I could return It from Amazon, no loss of money) for the D400 Pro, same AKM chipset but in a better case, a higher quality circuito board and as it's advertized by SMSL, the D400 Pro features "several regulated power supplies", while the DO300 EX only has one.
You answered me that the difference in sound quality would be minimal, It any.
I finally paid around 250 Euros more for the D400 Pro, and returned the DO300 EX. But I had the chance of having both DAC's at the same time at home and connected to my HiFi system. Nothing fancy, source is Sony's UBP X-8OO M2 UHD BD player that also plays SACD'S, DSD files (I have allnmy SACD's ripped and its tracks extracted with ISO2DSD, I rarely play and original physicsl SACD.
Integrated amp IS an inexpensive Marantz PM 6007, it's cheap, nothing fancy outer design-wise maybe a bit short on power, 45 Watts (from 20 to 20000 Hz, at 8 Ohms, both channels driven simultaneously. Speakers are also a pair of KEF Q550, and as a subwoofer, a B&W ASW608.
With all those inexpensive components, I could tell which DAC was playing.
It was a blind test, the same digital signal was getting at the same time at both DAC's, so no need for syncronization. I didn't have my eyes closed, a friend of mine changed from the DO300 EX to the D400 Pro, the horizontal line of LED's that indicates what source was playing at the time, was covered with black adhesive tape. With well recorded music, os music I know very well, as Van Halen S/T and Van Halen II MoFi SACD's, I could tell the DO300 EX from the D400 Pro.
The difference wasn't day and night, the D400 Pro has a better imaging than the DO300 EX, and so was bass (punchier, not boomy, on the D400 Pro) and a more defined midrange.
For me It was worty to pay a little more for the D400 Pro, and its body and overall finish is better than the DO300 EX, which feels flimsy compared to the D400 Pro.
If only I could get to update its firmware...

 

[Roland68]

You may no remember, but I do. By June 2024 I owned the SMSL DO300 EX, which uses the AK4191+AK4400EX AKM chipset.
I asked you for advice if It was worthwhile to change the DO300 EX (I could return It from Amazon, no loss of money) for the D400 Pro, same AKM chipset but in a better case, a higher quality circuito board and as it's advertized by SMSL, the D400 Pro features "several regulated power supplies", while the DO300 EX only has one.
You answered me that the difference in sound quality would be minimal, It any.
I finally paid around 250 Euros more for the D400 Pro, and returned the DO300 EX. But I had the chance of having both DAC's at the same time at home and connected to my HiFi system. Nothing fancy, source is Sony's UBP X-8OO M2 UHD BD player that also plays SACD'S, DSD files (I have allnmy SACD's ripped and its tracks extracted with ISO2DSD, I rarely play and original physicsl SACD.
Integrated amp IS an inexpensive Marantz PM 6007, it's cheap, nothing fancy outer design-wise maybe a bit short on power, 45 Watts (from 20 to 20000 Hz, at 8 Ohms, both channels driven simultaneously. Speakers are also a pair of KEF Q550, and as a subwoofer, a B&W ASW608.
With all those inexpensive components, I could tell which DAC was playing.
It was a blind test, the same digital signal was getting at the same time at both DAC's, so no need for syncronization. I didn't have my eyes closed, a friend of mine changed from the DO300 EX to the D400 Pro, the horizontal line of LED's that indicates what source was playing at the time, was covered with black adhesive tape. With well recorded music, os music I know very well, as Van Halen S/T and Van Halen II MoFi SACD's, I could tell the DO300 EX from the D400 Pro.
The difference wasn't day and night, the D400 Pro has a better imaging than the DO300 EX, and so was bass (punchier, not boomy, on the D400 Pro) and a more defined midrange.
For me It was worty to pay a little more for the D400 Pro, and its body and overall finish is better than the DO300 EX, which feels flimsy compared to the D400 Pro.
If only I could get to update its firmware...

In fact, a few months ago we had the opportunity to compare the D400 Pro again with the DO300EX, as well as a few other DACs.
None of us would have been able to tell the difference between the two devices blindly, whether on a very transparent system with speakers or with headphones, such as the HE6se or LCD5. And we take great care to ensure that the DAC settings and the overall conditions are very similar.
But ultimately, all that matters is that you are satisfied with your device.

 

[JSmith]

I could tell which DAC was playing

Level matched? If not the louder will sound better.


JSmith

 

[antcollinet]

Level matched? If not the louder will sound better.


JSmith

And for clarifcation - accurately with a voltmeter using a test tone at the output of the dac. To within 0.1%

 

[Lux Maldini]

Fantastic DAC. Glorious measurements.

Now that amps are gettie use of lower gain / sensitivity, I'd like to see DACs with higher output levels. This could help to open up the dynamic range of the system as a whole.

Hello, may I ask how many output signals do you think are ideal?

 

[welwynnick]

Hello, may I ask how many output signals do you think are ideal?

One per channel

 

[Lux Maldini]

Isn't it said how much V is the output signal?

One per channel

 

[Roland68]

Hello, may I ask how many output signals do you think are ideal?

Isn't it said how much V is the output signal?

You need to ask more precise questions and know what you mean.
You asked about the number of output signals, not the voltage.

 

[antcollinet]

You need to ask more precise questions and know what you mean.
You asked about the number of output signals, not the voltage.

Looks like a translation issue to me - I suspect the poster is not posting in his/her native language.

 

[Lux Maldini]

You need to ask more precise questions and know what you mean.
You asked about the number of output signals, not the voltage.

Sorry for the inaccuracy caused by translation issues. I did want to ask about the magnitude of the output voltage.

 

[Lux Maldini]

Yeah, the RME also has bass, treble, and loudness controls, but you better not use them, cuz you might damage your speakers ... or trigger a fire in the battery of your electric car.

Hello, may I ask why it caused a fire?