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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
So what DAC chip does this have?
The answer to your question is one Google search away:
Screenshot_20250112-162943.png

Surely, typing out your question and waiting for an answer here is more work, right?
:p
 
Why is it called RAW?
I assume that it has nothing to do with the image format and also nothing to do with the Indian secret service, even if it was founded because of China. Or is it a homage?
 
Is the difference between this and the DAC in a WIIM Pro Plus going to be audible?
Well, subjectively speaking you really can't discern after a certain threshold when blindfolded
 
Well, subjectively speaking you really can't discern after a certain threshold when blindfolded
Completely subjectively, I can't hear a difference between my Pro Plus's DAC and my SMSL C200's DAC (114 vs 120 SINAD).

I'd like to think that I can, but 'm not even 100% sure I can tell the difference between the C200 and the DAC in my WiiM Pro (120 vs 89 SINAD).
 
For that high of a price price it should definitely come with a digital phono stage.

I'll see myself out...
 
Thanks for the testing Amir. Although, what happened to the SINAD chart? :cool:


JSmith
When a DAC falls in top 20 list, I don't post the full graph if that is what you are asking about.
 
12v Triggers, auto-sensing power and idle power draw

It would be worthtwhile to start measuring the idle power of these DACs without 12v triggers. It's a cheap and fast measurement that many would be interested to learn.

The spec sheets does not provide this data. The spec sheet provides a "power consumption" figure that is seemingly a max power draw number (<20w in this instance) and a "standby power" number. I'm assuming "stand-by power" means "power draw in a remote sensing-only state (eg., awaiting remote control "on" signal). Whatever "standby power" means, it is not an idle powered number as evidenced by others' measurements. For e.g., the SMSL C200 spec sheet lists the "stand-by power" as < 0.5w (same as the subject unit). Yet, it has been measured at 2.3w idle. Source Ergo, "stand-by power" is not idle power.

The idle power number is also of value b/c, per that source, an idle DAC with no 12v trigger may actually consume less power than a different DAC that is using auto-sensing (Topping Ex5 in the source comparison; disregarding other factors why auto-sensing may still be superior to having the unit fully powered on at all times (although most would just resort to the remote control on/off)).

Voted Not Terrible. Not having a 12v trigger is unacceptable, especially for the price, given the current state of the market.
 
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You mean an ice cream shop should only have 3 or 4 flavors?
Come on Amir, you know what we are talking about.
How many devices does smsl have with exactly the same inputs and outputs and practically the same performance?
I also think it is a questionable business practice. It would be enough to have a model for each market segment and differentiate the features.
With 4/5 models you can cover everyone's needs and give rationality to your production line.
 
Isn't there a reason for so many models to fill as many positions as possible in the ASR top list?

But the question is, does this DAC on the USB input still pop (like the RAW-MDA1, which uses the same generation chip ES9039Q2M) when playback is started/stopped or when a sample rate is changed?
 
Different markets ask for different things, this has been discussed quite many times here. Just buy what you're after, it's actually easier now. For me the non-pro is ideal, the only thing that could make it better is a 12v trigger and HDMI input. And well, PEQ.
 
Seems to me that some short of "traveling" business strategy word must be invented.
Their selling point is SINAD but their main market* is theirs.

So they use some short of back and forth validation for it.

*don't anyone be fooled,we talking about their budget market,cause the hiend one is worst than the western one.
 
I assume that it has nothing to do with the image format and also nothing to do with the Indian secret service, even if it was founded because of China. Or is it a homage?
it's just the name of the product line. RAW. Apparently SMSL did not bother to explain it, so maybe they picked it randomly.
 
You mean an ice cream shop should only have 3 or 4 flavors?
In Düsseldorf we have a well-known ice cream parlor that has always only had 5 flavors. It has been in the same place for over 100 years and in summer the line is 10-20 meters long.
 
Come on Amir, you know what we are talking about.
How many devices does smsl have with exactly the same inputs and outputs and practically the same performance?
I also think it is a questionable business practice. It would be enough to have a model for each market segment and differentiate the features.
With 4/5 models you can cover everyone's needs and give rationality to your production line.
You are overlooking the fact that some series are developed and manufactured specifically for dealers. The fact that in this case it also says SMSL seems to be company policy.
For DACs, for example, the product series RAW, SU, DO, C are assigned to dealers. You can tell this by the fact that these products are not sold via HiFi-Express.
Or the other way around, HiFi-Express only sells SMSL's own products (including Loxjie and Sabaj), and possibly also surplus stock.
 
Different markets ask for different things, this has been discussed quite many times here. Just buy what you're after, it's actually easier now. For me the non-pro is ideal, the only thing that could make it better is a 12v trigger and HDMI input. And well, PEQ.
The addition of three or more (HQ) PEQ's at this pricepoint must be possible. I'm willing to accept a drop in SINAD of 10bD for a feature like that, and I'm betting I'm not alone. There will always be a better RME, sure...
 
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