SMSL RAW-MDA 1 – Powers any Headphones and Saves Your Money

SMSL RAW-MDA 1 is a versatile unit that combines DAC and headphone amplifier capabilities in one device. Over time I came to expect great sound and great value from the SMSL, and this time is not an exception. So let’s see if SMSL can continue with its reputation.

Build and Features

SMSL RAW-MDA 1 is a modestly sized desktop component. The unit is decently made of metal sheets and a plastic front plate. Its profile is slim and wide, and you can judge styling yourself. The front panel hosts a small LCD, a volume knob, and two differently sized headphone outputs for your convenience.

In the back, you’ll find a plethora of digital inputs: USB, two Coaxials, two Opticals, and even Bluetooth is present if you care for convenience more and you’re not such a critical listener (Bluetooth connection is lossy and not on pair with wired options). Once the D/A conversion is done, you have a choice between the single-ended RCA or balanced XLR outputs.

Finally, the whole power supply is located inside the unit so there’s an IEC mains socket on the back, and no power bricks that you have to worry about.

A small remote control is included in the box, and you can use it to select inputs or control the volume given that all the outputs are variable in level.

Looking at the list of features, you’ll see that a near flagship Sabre DAC chip ES9039Q2M is used in unison with a very modern XMOS XU-316 signal processing unit. So this DAC supports any format you can think of, and if it doesn’t support something then you don’t truly need it. Even the amplifier power rating is very high at 2.5 Watts at 16 Ohm and 1.7 Watts at 32 Ohm. But let’s put all of these paper wins to the real test to see if they hold.  

Sound (Headphone Out)

SMSL RAW-MDA 1 is a modern SMSL DAC, meaning it rocks clean but never too analytical sound. The bassline is deep, clean, and well-controlled. Midrange contains lots of details and tone richness that never left me wanting for more. The highest frequencies are informative but not too prominent. While RAW-MDA 1 offers very clean and crisp edges of notes and their perceived sharpness, it manages to sound unforced and natural at all times.

Soundstaging is as good as it gets around this price. Instruments and vocals are given plenty of room to breathe and not cause clutter.

Finally, dynamics and microdynamics are very decent, this is a punchy and fast-sounding DAC and amplifier. During my tests, I never encountered any rhythm that RAW-MDA 1 couldn’t follow with ease. Huge dynamic swings and slams are as good as it gets at this price point. This means that very powerful separate amplifiers will slam harder and more relentlessly, but no DAC and amp combo up to 500 dollars that I’ve ever heard can outperform this one.

Sound (Line Out)

If you use line outputs in the back of the unit, you still get a very competent sound with all of the basic qualities mentioned in the previous section. That said, line outputs do feel slightly less dynamic and flushed out. This puts their performance roughly in line with a standalone DAC like SMSL D6S, but that one is still slightly more alive-sounding. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with this level of performance it’s just that fantastic headphone output overachieved while line outputs didn’t.

Comparisons

SMSL C200 is an older model that goes for a slightly lower price of $220. Let’s make this quick and simple – RAW-MDA 1 is a better DAC, and an even better headphone amplifier. It sounds cleaner, more precise, and more spacious. C200 can’t match it.

SMSL DO400 is almost twice the price and offers a very similar set of features but with a greater digital input selection. DO400 is a more capable line-level DAC with a bigger and more three-dimensional soundstage. The tones inside of it also feel more three-dimensional and palpable. Move to the headphone output and the gap decreases. Now it’s more about different tonalities but not much of a different performance level, to be honest. DO400 sounds a bit warmer and fuller, RAW-MDA 1 a bit more focused on crisp edges, and it will be a matter of taste.

So if you’re interested in driving headphones only, save your money and go for the RAW-MDA 1. If line-level output is equally important to you then pricier DO400 still has its merits.

Topping DX3 Pro+ costs slightly less and offers the same functionality. DX3 Pro Plus was never a favorite of mine with its sharp, analytical, and lean sound. My suggestion is to get RAW-MDA 1 and thank me later when your ears don’t hurt.

Conclusion

Even though I regularly listen to headphones over much pricier devices I never felt I was missing anything while testing the SMSL RAW-MDA 1. I even kept using it for over a week when the review was done because I simply didn’t miss my pricier gear all that much. This kind of performance is truly impressive for the money.