Henry Audio DA 256 vs SMSL RAW-MDA1
On score and price Henry Audio DA 256 Its score lead is worth more than the RAW-MDA1's lower list price.
The Henry Audio DA 256 scores 0.2 higher; the SMSL RAW-MDA1 costs roughly $1,490 less. Going by the two reviews, the DA 256 is stronger on bass and system matching and the RAW-MDA1 on connectivity.
By Jakub Charkiewicz Published Updated
When to choose the RAW-MDA1 over the DA 256Is the DA 256 worth roughly $1,490 more than the RAW-MDA1?
On score, yes: the DA 256 leads the RAW-MDA1 by 0.2, two steps, which outweighs the price difference. Going by the two reviews, what the DA 256 adds for the money is its bass and system matching, and the RAW-MDA1 keeps the edge on connectivity.
Which one to buy
The DA 256 is the better buy unless its connectivity would put you off, in which case take the RAW-MDA1.
| At a glance | Henry Audio DA 256 | SMSL RAW-MDA1 |
|---|---|---|
| Score | 8.2/10, Recommended | 8.0/10, Recommended |
| List price | €1,600 about $1,730 | $239 |
| Lowest US price now | not tracked at US stores | $237.99 at Apos Audio on Nov 6, 2026 |
Henry Audio DA 256
Choose it if:
- You care more about the DA 256's bass and system matching than the RAW-MDA1's connectivity.
SMSL RAW-MDA1
Choose it instead if:
- You care more about the RAW-MDA1's connectivity than the DA 256's bass and system matching.
What matters most to you?
| 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. The DA 256 column is worked out from its review's 15 pros and cons and the RAW-MDA1 column from 14, and each adds back up to its overall score, 8.2 and 8.0. How a score is built
Where they differ
The RAW-MDA1 has an XLR output and a display and the DA 256 does not.
Only the DA 256
Only the RAW-MDA1
Bass
Here the DA 256 review is the more positive of the two and the RAW-MDA1 review finds fault:
- DA 256, praised: "Full, deep, controlled bass and standout imaging"
- RAW-MDA1, criticized: "Bass is clean but lacks ultimate slam and punch"
Power and system matching
Here the DA 256 review is the kinder of the two and the RAW-MDA1 review has reservations:
- DA 256, praised: "Runs off USB bus power, any 8 to 16 V supply, or a 9 V battery"
- RAW-MDA1, criticized: "Not enough power for Susvara, HE6, or Tungsten"
Features and formats
The DA 256 review and the RAW-MDA1 review are both mixed here, so neither has a clear edge:
- DA 256, praised: "Coax and optical are buffered and replayed on the DAC's own precision clocks, not the source's"
- RAW-MDA1, praised: "High-resolution LCD with tempered glass front"
Inputs and outputs
Here the RAW-MDA1 review is the kinder of the two and the DA 256 review finds fault:
- RAW-MDA1, praised: 'XLR + RCA outputs, 1/4" + 4.4mm headphone outs'
- DA 256, criticized: "No XLR outputs at all - one pair of RCAs and that's it"
Build and controls
Here the DA 256 review is the more positive of the two and the RAW-MDA1 review has reservations:
- DA 256, praised: "Thick brushed aluminum case on a real solid wood base, designed in Norway and built in Germany"
- RAW-MDA1, criticized: "Volume knob can be unpredictable on fast adjustments"
Only the DA 256 review faults its detail and in-box accessories; only the RAW-MDA1 review praises its circuit design but faults its treble.
What they have in common
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 the RAW-MDA1 are both praised for their tonal balance and measured noise.
Sound signature, overlaid
Only the DA 256 review describes the sound on these axes (tonal balance); the RAW-MDA1 review does not, so the marks place the DA 256 alone.
On paper
The DA 256 ranks joint #2 and the RAW-MDA1 joint #4 of the 8 DACs reviewed here; on value the DA 256 rates Steep and the RAW-MDA1 Fair.
The DA 256 and RAW-MDA1 figures are the makers' own; AES17 defines how they are measured.
| 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 lists SNR, weight, format support, power input, case, origin, and licensing; only the RAW-MDA1 review lists power output and dynamic range / THD+N.
How these verdicts were reached
The RAW-MDA1 review was published on Dec 11, 2024 and the DA 256 review on Sep 19, 2026, nearly two years later, on one reference chain and 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 last checked on Oct 3, 2026.
Sources
Further reading for the DA 256 and the RAW-MDA1: the DA 256's delta-sigma conversion and what both reviews say about the noise floor.
Questions about the DA 256 and RAW-MDA1
What is the difference between the Henry Audio DA 256 and the SMSL RAW-MDA1?
The Henry Audio DA 256 scores 8.2 and the RAW-MDA1 8.0. The DA 256 does better on bass and system matching, the RAW-MDA1 on connectivity. The DA 256 and the RAW-MDA1 have similar sound signatures on every axis.
Which should you buy, the Henry Audio DA 256 or the SMSL RAW-MDA1?
The DA 256: its 8.2 against the RAW-MDA1's 8.0 is two steps, enough to justify the roughly $1,490 extra.
Which has the better bass, the DA 256 or the RAW-MDA1?
The DA 256: its review is positive about bass, while the RAW-MDA1 review is critical.
How do the DA 256 and the RAW-MDA1 compare on power and output?
The DA 256, narrowly: both reviews are mixed on system matching, the DA 256's less so than the RAW-MDA1's.
Where they rank
In Best DACs the DA 256 ranks #2 and the RAW-MDA1 #4.
Related comparisons
Nearby DAC matchups without the DA 256 or the RAW-MDA1.
Other matchups for the DA 256 or the RAW-MDA1 All DAC matchups All DAC reviews