---
title: "Henry Audio DA 256 vs SMSL RAW-MDA1: Which to Buy?"
description: "Henry Audio DA 256 8.2/10 vs SMSL RAW-MDA1 8.0/10. The Henry Audio DA 256 wins; the SMSL RAW-MDA1 saves $1,491. They differ most on bass and system matching."
url: "https://theaudiostuff.com/compare/henry-audio-da-256-vs-smsl-raw-mda1/"
type: "article"
section: "DACs comparison"
author: "Jakub Charkiewicz"
published: "2026-09-19T00:00:00.000Z"
modified: "2026-09-23T00:00:00.000Z"
---

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# Henry Audio DA 256 vs SMSL RAW-MDA1

The Henry Audio DA 256 scores 0.2 higher; the SMSL RAW-MDA1 costs $1,491 less. The reviews favour the DA 256 on bass and system matching, and the RAW-MDA1 on connectivity.

By [Jakub Charkiewicz](https://theaudiostuff.com/authors/jakub-charkiewicz/), updated September 2026.

Our pick **Henry Audio DA 256** The DA 256 is 0.2 ahead on score: two steps, more than the $1,491 the RAW-MDA1 saves can buy back under the rule. The reviews favour the RAW-MDA1 over the DA 256 on connectivity, which is its case.

When to choose the RAW-MDA1 over the DA 256

## The short version {#cmp-qa-title}

The Henry Audio DA 256 scores 8.2/10 (Recommended) and the SMSL RAW-MDA1 8.0/10 (Recommended). At €1,600 against $239, the RAW-MDA1 saves you $1,491 over the DA 256. On bass, the DA 256's review lists "Full, deep, controlled bass and standout imaging" where the RAW-MDA1's lists "Bass is clean but lacks ultimate slam and punch". On connectivity, the reviews favour the RAW-MDA1 over the DA 256. The published pick rule chooses the DA 256 over the RAW-MDA1.

![The Henry Audio DA 256 seen from the front and side: a low brushed aluminum box with the engraved Henry Audio logo, a solid wood base underneath, and one tiny LED beside a USB-C port on the front plate](https://theaudiostuff.com/images/henry-audio-da-256-full-unit-1152w.avif)

Higher score

## [Henry Audio DA 256](https://theaudiostuff.com/reviews/henry-audio-da-256/)

Score **8.2** +0.2

Verdict Recommended

Price **€1,600** $1,730 approx. +$1,491

Reviewed Sep 2026

[Henry Audio DA 256 review](https://theaudiostuff.com/reviews/henry-audio-da-256/)

![The SMSL RAW-MDA1's front: tempered-glass LCD, stepped knob, and 1/4-inch plus 4.4mm headphone outputs](https://theaudiostuff.com/images/smsl-raw-mda1-front-display-1152w.avif)

## [SMSL RAW-MDA1](https://theaudiostuff.com/reviews/smsl-raw-mda1/)

Score **8.0** -0.2

Verdict Recommended

Price **$239** -$1,491

Reviewed Dec 2024

[SMSL RAW-MDA1 review](https://theaudiostuff.com/reviews/smsl-raw-mda1/)

Keep the DA 256

- [Compare the DA 256 with SMSL DO100 PRO scored 8.0 out of 10](https://theaudiostuff.com/compare/henry-audio-da-256-vs-smsl-do100-pro/)

Keep the RAW-MDA1

- [Compare the RAW-MDA1 with SMSL DO100 PRO scored 8.0 out of 10](https://theaudiostuff.com/compare/smsl-do100-pro-vs-smsl-raw-mda1/)
- [Compare the RAW-MDA1 with SMSL DL100 scored 8.2 out of 10](https://theaudiostuff.com/compare/smsl-dl100-vs-smsl-raw-mda1/)

## Which one to buy {#guidance-heading}

Our pick is the DA 256, unless its connectivity would be a dealbreaker; then the RAW-MDA1.

### Henry Audio DA 256

Our pick. Choose it if:

- The DA 256's bass and system matching matter more to you than the RAW-MDA1's connectivity.
- You would pay $1,491 over the RAW-MDA1 for the DA 256's 8.2 against 8.0 on the rubric.
- You want the DA 256's wider-staged sound, where the RAW-MDA1 runs more intimate.

[Henry Audio DA 256 review](https://theaudiostuff.com/reviews/henry-audio-da-256/)

### SMSL RAW-MDA1

Choose it instead if:

- The RAW-MDA1's connectivity matters more to you than the DA 256's bass and system matching.
- Keeping $1,491 matters more to you than the DA 256's two-step lead over the RAW-MDA1, 8.2 against 8.0.
- You want the RAW-MDA1's more intimate sound, where the DA 256 runs wider-staged.

[SMSL RAW-MDA1 review](https://theaudiostuff.com/reviews/smsl-raw-mda1/)

### What matters most to you? {#cmp-ax-title}

**Rubric axes out of 10: DA 256 and RAW-MDA1.**
| What matters | Henry Audio DA 256 | SMSL RAW-MDA1 |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Sound | 8.4 | 8.0 |
| Technical performance | 8.3 | 8.0 |
| Build & comfort | 8.4 | 8.2 |
| System fit | 8.2 | 8.1 |
| Value | 7.4 | 7.8 |

The widest gap is sound: 8.4 for the DA 256 against 8.0 for the RAW-MDA1. Each column comes from its own review's pros and cons, 15 for the DA 256 and 14 for the RAW-MDA1, and recombines to its headline score, 8.2 and 8.0. [How a score is built](https://theaudiostuff.com/about/#rubric)

## Where they differ {#diff-heading}

The RAW-MDA1 has an XLR output and a display and the DA 256 does not.

Only the DA 256

- Henry Audio
- Delta-Sigma
- Desktop
- Reclocking
- Open Source
- Norway

Only the RAW-MDA1

- Headphone Amp
- SMSL
- Balanced
- ESS
- MQA

### Bass

The [DA 256 review](https://theaudiostuff.com/reviews/henry-audio-da-256/#how-does-it-sound-neutral-deep-bass-superb-timing) lists one strength here, the [RAW-MDA1 review](https://theaudiostuff.com/reviews/smsl-raw-mda1/#how-does-it-sound-warm-for-an-ess-mids-forward) one flaw.

- DA 256, strength: "Full, deep, controlled bass and standout imaging"
- RAW-MDA1, flaw: "Bass is clean but lacks ultimate slam and punch"

### Power and system matching

The [DA 256 review](https://theaudiostuff.com/reviews/henry-audio-da-256/#inputs-and-outputs-five-digital-in-rca-out) lists one strength and one flaw here, the [RAW-MDA1 review](https://theaudiostuff.com/reviews/smsl-raw-mda1/#inputs--outputs-doubled-up-digital-inputs) one strength and two flaws.

- DA 256, strength: "Runs off USB bus power, any 8 to 16 V supply, or a 9 V battery"
- RAW-MDA1, flaw: "Not enough power for Susvara, HE6, or Tungsten"

### Features and formats

The [DA 256 review](https://theaudiostuff.com/reviews/henry-audio-da-256/#features-open-source-auto-switching) lists three strengths and two flaws here and the [RAW-MDA1 review](https://theaudiostuff.com/reviews/smsl-raw-mda1/) one strength, with no clear edge.

- DA 256, strength: "Coax and optical are buffered and replayed on the DAC's own precision clocks, not the source's"
- RAW-MDA1, strength: "High-resolution LCD with tempered glass front"

### Inputs and outputs

The [RAW-MDA1 review](https://theaudiostuff.com/reviews/smsl-raw-mda1/#inputs--outputs-doubled-up-digital-inputs) lists one strength and one flaw here, the [DA 256 review](https://theaudiostuff.com/reviews/henry-audio-da-256/#inputs-and-outputs-five-digital-in-rca-out) one flaw.

- RAW-MDA1, strength: 'XLR + RCA outputs, 1/4" + 4.4mm headphone outs'
- DA 256, flaw: "No XLR outputs at all - one pair of RCAs and that's it"

### Build and controls

The [DA 256 review](https://theaudiostuff.com/reviews/henry-audio-da-256/#build-quality-aluminum-on-a-solid-wood-base) lists one strength here, the [RAW-MDA1 review](https://theaudiostuff.com/reviews/smsl-raw-mda1/#design--build-quality-denser-sharper-more-premium) one strength and one flaw.

- DA 256, strength: "Thick brushed aluminum case on a real solid wood base, designed in Norway and built in Germany"
- RAW-MDA1, flaw: "Volume knob can be unpredictable on fast adjustments"

Only the [DA 256 review](https://theaudiostuff.com/reviews/henry-audio-da-256/) discusses detail (one flaw) and in-box accessories (one flaw); only the [RAW-MDA1 review](https://theaudiostuff.com/reviews/smsl-raw-mda1/) discusses treble (one flaw) and circuit design (two strengths).

## What they have in common {#common-heading}

The DA 256 is a DAC and the RAW-MDA1 a DAC/amp, and both have a USB input, an optical input, a coaxial input, and RCA outputs. The DA 256 and RAW-MDA1 reviews both praise tonal balance and measured noise.

## Sound signature, overlaid {#sig-heading}

On stage size the DA 256 sounds wide-staged where the RAW-MDA1 sounds intimate. The DA 256 and the RAW-MDA1 both sound analytical and energetic. Neither the DA 256 nor the RAW-MDA1 leans either way on tonal balance. The DA 256 review reads bass weight and the RAW-MDA1 review does not, so the two go uncompared there.

## On paper {#specs-heading}

The DA 256 ranks #2 and the RAW-MDA1 #4 of the 8 DACs reviewed here; on value the DA 256 rates Steep and the RAW-MDA1 Fair. The DA 256 lists 4 inputs and 1 output; the RAW-MDA1 lists 4 and 4. Inside, the DA 256 uses Texas Instruments PCM5142 delta-sigma, chip filter only, no upsampling and the RAW-MDA1 Dual ES9039Q2M (dual-mono) + 6× OPA1612A + XMOS XU-316.

The DA 256 and RAW-MDA1 figures come from [Henry Audio's official site](https://www.henryaudio.com) and [SMSL's official site](https://www.smsl-audio.com).

**Specifications for the Henry Audio DA 256 compared with the SMSL RAW-MDA1**
| Spec | Henry Audio DA 256 | SMSL RAW-MDA1 |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Architecture | Texas Instruments PCM5142 delta-sigma, chip filter only, no upsampling | Dual ES9039Q2M (dual-mono) + 6× OPA1612A + XMOS XU-316 - PCM 32-bit/768 kHz, DSD512, MQA |
| Inputs | USB-B, USB-C (front), Coaxial, Optical x2 | USB-C, 2× Coaxial, 2× Optical, Bluetooth (LDAC / aptX / AAC / SBC) |
| Outputs | RCA | Balanced XLR, RCA, 4.4 mm (HP), 6.35 mm (HP) |
| Output level | 2 V | 5.2 Vrms (XLR) / 2.5 Vrms (RCA) / 8.2 Vrms (HP) |

Only the [DA 256 review](https://theaudiostuff.com/reviews/henry-audio-da-256/#specs-heading) records SNR, weight, format support, power input, case, origin, and licensing; only the [RAW-MDA1 review](https://theaudiostuff.com/reviews/smsl-raw-mda1/#specs-heading) records power output and dynamic range / THD+N.

## How these verdicts were reached {#deepdive-heading}

The RAW-MDA1 was reviewed in December 2024 and the DA 256 in September 2026, nearly two years later, on one [reference chain](https://theaudiostuff.com/#rig-title) and [rubric](https://theaudiostuff.com/about/#rubric). The DA 256 review never mentions the RAW-MDA1, nor the RAW-MDA1 review the DA 256: two separate sessions. The DA 256 and RAW-MDA1 reviews were both re-checked in September 2026.

## Questions about the DA 256 and RAW-MDA1 {#compare-faq-heading}

1. ### What is the difference between the Henry Audio DA 256 and the SMSL RAW-MDA1? {#compare-henry-audio-da-256-smsl-raw-mda1-faq-what-is-the-difference-between-the-henry-audio}
   The Henry Audio DA 256 edges the RAW-MDA1 where it is measured, 8.2 to 8.0. In the reviews' own lines, bass and system matching go to the DA 256 and connectivity to the RAW-MDA1. Where they really split is voicing: the DA 256 runs clearly wider-staged, the RAW-MDA1 more intimate.
2. ### Which should you buy, the Henry Audio DA 256 or the SMSL RAW-MDA1? {#compare-henry-audio-da-256-smsl-raw-mda1-faq-which-should-you-buy-the-henry-audio-da}
   The DA 256: its 8.2 against the RAW-MDA1's 8.0 is two steps, a lead the published pick rule keeps even at $1,491 more.
3. ### Which has the better bass, the DA 256 or the RAW-MDA1? {#compare-henry-audio-da-256-smsl-raw-mda1-faq-which-has-the-better-bass-the-da-256}
   The DA 256: its review lists one strength on bass, the RAW-MDA1 review one flaw.
4. ### How do the DA 256 and the RAW-MDA1 compare on power and output? {#compare-henry-audio-da-256-smsl-raw-mda1-faq-how-do-the-da-256-and-the-raw}
   The DA 256, narrowly: its review lists one strength and one flaw on system matching, the RAW-MDA1 review one strength and two flaws.
5. ### Is the DA 256 worth $1,491 more than the RAW-MDA1? {#compare-henry-audio-da-256-smsl-raw-mda1-faq-is-the-da-256-worth-1-491-more}
   On the pick rule, yes: the DA 256's 0.2 lead over the RAW-MDA1 is two steps, more than the rule trades for $1,491. In the reviews' own lines, it buys the DA 256's bass and system matching over the RAW-MDA1.

## Where they rank {#ranks-heading}

In Best DACs the DA 256 ranks #2 and the RAW-MDA1 #4.

[Best DACs](https://theaudiostuff.com/guides/best-dacs/)

DA 256 **#2** RAW-MDA1 **#4** 8 picks

## Tools for this decision {#compare-tools-heading}

Test

### [ABX Blind Test](https://theaudiostuff.com/tools/abx-test/)

Listening test

### [Sound Signature Quiz](https://theaudiostuff.com/tools/sound-signature-finder/)

## Related comparisons {#related-heading}

Nearby DACs matchups without the DA 256 or the RAW-MDA1.

[SMSL DL100 SMSL DO100 PRO 8.2 vs 8.0](https://theaudiostuff.com/compare/smsl-dl100-vs-smsl-do100-pro/)

[All DACs matchups](https://theaudiostuff.com/compare/#cat-dacs) [All DACs reviews](https://theaudiostuff.com/reviews/dacs/)