So glad you found this to review. This is all I need in a desktop DAC-amp. I had been going between using my iFi xCAN using bluetooth to connect to my desktop PC or using my Cayin RU6, and neither was an ideal setup. Having to either manage the battery life on my iFi xCAN or keep it constantly plugged in and harming the battery life was never going to be ideal long-term. My RU6 just could not cleanly decode the noisy digital signal from my PC. My Apple dongle doesn't have any volume control and can barely drive some of my gear. This solved all of my needs/issues. It was such a relief to finally have a quiet, black background from audio coming basically latency-free directly from my PC. No more debugging the occasional, inevitable bluetooth pairing issue. It's so much nicer having not only a nice knob but also the remote compared to tiny buttons on a dongle. With the amount of headroom available and the amount of I/O options, I can't really imagine what else I'd need from a desktop source.
I got it for about a week now and I'm totally satisfied and happy!! it's tremendous for quality and value ! I use mainly IEMs but also some headphones, really a wonderful SMSL creation - thanks for the review!
I have asked iWii reviews if he AcTUALLy measured the output power as he seems to say that or imply it. In any case I think it is all a bit of an academic matter and he did compare it to some stacks that needed to be using balanced to equal it's sound
@ But it’s not actually balanced? I really have no idea what qualifies an amp hardware wise to be considered fully balanced. On the SMSL site they don’t list it as balanced anywhere but others (amps, dacs and all in ones) they advertise outright as being balanced in big bold text.
i think i'm gonna order the RAW-MDA 1 for my first introduction to modern desktop/computer hifi equipment . i just turned 63 and want to treat myself to something better than my 30ish year old slowly dying pioneer 5.1 receiver that only the headphone output has worked right on for the past year or so .......
Hmmm, so tempting, yet so similar to my SMSL DL-200 that this just looks like a color screen upgrade. Guess I’ll have to wait until my current desktop DAC dies
okay hear me out.. i was waiting for something like this... usbc input for ps5.. 1 optical for my pc.. the other for my tv... then i can run xlr output to my monitors.. headphone output to my headphones... this is perfect for me..
Thanks Dave, old o see SMSL crate a quality budget product, the price to performance is getting crazy good across audio brands, consumers market and many options to service in. Did it have the power to push speakers and at what levels did it start to distort. I hope Timmy is doing ok, been a couple of weeks since any word following a flurry of videos, give him our best and hope he’s keeping safe and well. 🙂👍
So i have a very old headphone amplifier the fiio e09k very powerful for my headphone. I'm thinking i need a upgrade not sure if i should just upgrade the dac only since amp drive all my headphones. Or i really da need a overall upgrade.
For me the smsl c200 is already slightly better than the Dx3 pro (especially in temperature) and the fiio k7 is opinable better than the c200 so if this beat the Fiio, is a easy 2+2.
@@anc3stral. Overall Fiio is too warm for me and if RAW-MDA 1 is warmer than DX3 pro+ its also out. Second thought im not really sure if this worth it to change up to 4.4mm balance. Im not into planar IEMs no additional power isnt necessary
@@forsenzplocka ohhhhh but i don't think is that warm probably, the c200 is on the brighter side so a complete opposite direction in sound is really difficult to achieve and u can easily drive high sensivity iem with this too... just buy an adaptor, but if u think is not worth it, just don't buy it dx3 pro is still a great all in one.
So glad you found this to review. This is all I need in a desktop DAC-amp. I had been going between using my iFi xCAN using bluetooth to connect to my desktop PC or using my Cayin RU6, and neither was an ideal setup. Having to either manage the battery life on my iFi xCAN or keep it constantly plugged in and harming the battery life was never going to be ideal long-term. My RU6 just could not cleanly decode the noisy digital signal from my PC. My Apple dongle doesn't have any volume control and can barely drive some of my gear. This solved all of my needs/issues. It was such a relief to finally have a quiet, black background from audio coming basically latency-free directly from my PC. No more debugging the occasional, inevitable bluetooth pairing issue. It's so much nicer having not only a nice knob but also the remote compared to tiny buttons on a dongle. With the amount of headroom available and the amount of I/O options, I can't really imagine what else I'd need from a desktop source.
I got it for about a week now and I'm totally satisfied and happy!! it's tremendous for quality and value ! I use mainly IEMs but also some headphones, really a wonderful SMSL creation - thanks for the review!
4.4mm has dual ES9039 chips, so it is a true balanced output. Thanks for the great review.
I keep it hearing it’s not “true balanced”
Me too, gagetrytech said that and others, can we settle it?
Maybe people think it is not balanced, because the output volume doesn't increase like some other devices?
I have asked iWii reviews if he AcTUALLy measured the output power as he seems to say that or imply it. In any case I think it is all a bit of an academic matter and he did compare it to some stacks that needed to be using balanced to equal it's sound
@ But it’s not actually balanced? I really have no idea what qualifies an amp hardware wise to be considered fully balanced. On the SMSL site they don’t list it as balanced anywhere but others (amps, dacs and all in ones) they advertise outright as being balanced in big bold text.
Great video. Do you think that SMSL RAW MDA1 is better in terms of sound than SMSL SU1?
i think i'm gonna order the RAW-MDA 1 for my first introduction to modern desktop/computer hifi equipment .
i just turned 63 and want to treat myself to something better than my 30ish year old slowly dying pioneer 5.1 receiver that only the headphone output has worked right on for the past year or so .......
Thanks for the review! Would you recommend the raw-mda 1 or saving up for a e70 velvet + l70 stack, I saw on your desk?
Another banger video from Dave, what a GOAT.
I think you just convinced me to buy this thing, brother…
Great review Dave. Looking forward to hearing your opinion on those Pilgrim Noirs 😄. Love my set!
Just an FYI, BT version has nothing to do really with codec support. There are a lot of cheap TWS with BT 5.X and nothing more than apt-x.
This looks interesting, excellent cinematics as well dave!!
Dang love the cable on andromeda! nice combination!
Hmmm, so tempting, yet so similar to my SMSL DL-200 that this just looks like a color screen upgrade. Guess I’ll have to wait until my current desktop DAC dies
okay hear me out.. i was waiting for something like this... usbc input for ps5.. 1 optical for my pc.. the other for my tv... then i can run xlr output to my monitors.. headphone output to my headphones... this is perfect for me..
Hope you can review the new Fiio FH19 iem. Heard it at CanJam London last month. Very nice sounding iem. I hope you get to review it.
I would love to check them out. Hopefully I can get my hands on a set. Thanks for watching!
Have you guys tested the Topping DX9? Such a beautiful piece. There’s not enough reviews about it
I hope they release a non-mqa version.
Pricewise it's similar to the Schiit Asgard 3 with the added DAC. It doesn't have all same features, but would be interested to know how they compare.
do such desktop dac/amp improves sound over the best dongle for iem ? or do such desktop dac/amp only make a difference on full size headphones ?
Thanks Dave, old o see SMSL crate a quality budget product, the price to performance is getting crazy good across audio brands, consumers market and many options to service in. Did it have the power to push speakers and at what levels did it start to distort.
I hope Timmy is doing ok, been a couple of weeks since any word following a flurry of videos, give him our best and hope he’s keeping safe and well. 🙂👍
What about SMSL DO400?
ES9039MSPRO chip and 3w at 32ohm
$499
Nice!❤
How do I find Dave’s other channel?
So i have a very old headphone amplifier the fiio e09k very powerful for my headphone. I'm thinking i need a upgrade not sure if i should just upgrade the dac only since amp drive all my headphones. Or i really da need a overall upgrade.
Are these Audeze LCD-3 headphones? How do you like them?
Why do they put dB instead of % because with the different sensitivity of the elements, 1dB on the screen may be 5dB on the elements?
How is this compare to the FiiO k19? Thank you
I already have a fiio k7. would this still be worth getting ?
Better as desktop setup than Topping DX3 Pro+ for iems?
Yes.
For me the smsl c200 is already slightly better than the Dx3 pro (especially in temperature) and the fiio k7 is opinable better than the c200 so if this beat the Fiio, is a easy 2+2.
@@anc3stral. Overall Fiio is too warm for me and if RAW-MDA 1 is warmer than DX3 pro+ its also out. Second thought im not really sure if this worth it to change up to 4.4mm balance. Im not into planar IEMs no additional power isnt necessary
@@forsenzplocka ohhhhh but i don't think is that warm probably, the c200 is on the brighter side so a complete opposite direction in sound is really difficult to achieve and u can easily drive high sensivity iem with this too... just buy an adaptor, but if u think is not worth it, just don't buy it dx3 pro is still a great all in one.
@@anc3stral. Im gonna see which one got larger discount tomorrow haha
How does it compare to a Schiit stack or TRI TK2 Audio ?
Will you review the FiiO K9 AKM ?
compared to mojo2?
👍🌟👍
Would this be worth getting if I already own the Alpha XL1? For IEMs
Dave wears grey.
I think ill stick with my RME ADI-2 FS.
How do you switch between headphones amp and DAC?
FN button on the remote is the easiest way
@@Hirnlego999 thanks