DACs · Side-by-side
SMSL DL100 vs SMSL RAW-MDA1
The SMSL DL100 scores 0.2 higher and costs $60 less - on the data, it just wins.
See which one to buy
Higher score
SMSL
DL100
A $180 balanced DAC/amp combo with MQA, DSD256, 4 Cirrus Logic chips, and a clarity-focused house sound that punches well above its budget category.
SMSL
RAW-MDA1
A $240 balanced DAC/headphone amp with dual ES9039Q2M chips that doesn't sound like every other ESS box - warmer tonality, forward mids, and a flexible soundstage.
Sound signature, overlaid
Each axis is positioned from the review body itself. The same word-frequency model anchors every review on the catalogue.
| Axis | SMSL DL100 | SMSL RAW-MDA1 |
|---|---|---|
| Warm to Bright | leans bright | sits near neutral |
| Relaxed to Analytical | leans analytical | leans analytical |
| Polite to Aggressive | leans aggressive | leans aggressive |
| Lean to Bass-heavy | leans bass-heavy | no clear signal in the review |
| Intimate to Wide stage | sits near neutral | leans intimate |
Specs, side by side
Manufacturer figures unless a measured value is noted; an em-dash means we haven't recorded that spec yet.
| Spec | SMSL DL100 | SMSL RAW-MDA1 |
|---|---|---|
| Architecture | 4× Cirrus Logic DAC + XMOS – PCM 32-bit/768 kHz, DSD256, MQA | Dual ES9039Q2M (dual-mono) + 6× OPA1612A + XMOS XU-316 – PCM 32-bit/768 kHz, DSD512, MQA |
| THD+N | 0.00009% | — |
| Inputs | USB-C, HDMI ARC, Bluetooth, Optical, Coaxial | USB-C, 2× Coaxial, 2× Optical, Bluetooth (LDAC / aptX / AAC / SBC) |
| Outputs | Balanced XLR, RCA, 4.4 mm (HP), 6.35 mm (HP) | Balanced XLR, RCA, 4.4 mm (HP), 6.35 mm (HP) |
| Output level | 2.5 Vrms (RCA) / 5.2 Vrms (XLR) | 5.2 Vrms (XLR) / 2.5 Vrms (RCA) / 8.2 Vrms (HP) |
| Dynamic range / THD+N | — | 132 dB (XLR) / 127 dB (RCA) / 122 dB (HP) |
Pros & cons, side by side
DL100
Pros
- Balanced DAC + balanced headphone amp at $180
- 4x Cirrus Logic DAC chips - 0.00009% THD+N
- USB-C, HDMI ARC, Bluetooth, Optical, Coax inputs
- 1/4" + 4.4mm headphone outs (3W into 16Ω, 1.5W into 32Ω)
- MQA / MQA-CD, DSD256, DoP support
- 5 selectable digital filters including NOS-style
- Hi-Res certification
- Bright, functional front display
Cons
- Sub-bass is less extended than measurements suggest
- Low-mids can feel slightly thin / less warm
- Pairs poorly with already-bright systems
- Slight loss of dynamic impact vs. higher-end DACs
- Vocals slightly forward (likely intentional for HDMI ARC use)
RAW-MDA1
Pros
- More premium feel than other SMSL DACs in the price range
- High-resolution LCD with tempered glass front
- Dual ES9039Q2M chips in dual mono configuration
- 6x OPA1612A op-amps and XMOS XU-316 USB interface
- 2.5W into 16Ω / 1.7W into 32Ω headphone output
- XLR + RCA outputs, 1/4" + 4.4mm headphone outs
- Silent operation - no hiss, no transformer hum
- Warmer-than-typical ESS tonality with forward midrange
Cons
- Doubled coax/optical inputs instead of BNC or AES
- Volume knob can be unpredictable on fast adjustments
- Slight digital glare above ~13kHz if you listen for it
- Not enough power for Susvara, HE6, or Tungsten
- High output voltages can clip downstream amps
- Bass is clean but lacks ultimate slam and punch
Which one to buy
Short version: the rubric leans SMSL DL100 - but what's upstream, what you listen for, and what your budget allows can each flip it. Here's the case for each.
The case for the DL100
SMSL DL100
- Balanced DAC + balanced headphone amp at $180
- 4x Cirrus Logic DAC chips - 0.00009% THD+N
- Cheaper by $60, and it gives up nothing on the score
- Higher score, plainly - Recommended, 8.2/10, 0.2 clear of the SMSL RAW-MDA1
The case for the RAW-MDA1
SMSL RAW-MDA1
- More premium feel than other SMSL DACs in the price range
- High-resolution LCD with tempered glass front
- That $60 premium buys character and build, not a higher score
How they were tested head-to-head
Same chain for both - the SMSL DL100 and the SMSL RAW-MDA1, feeding the same Denafrips Hades 12th preamplifier into a matched speaker amplifier and the reference monitors, sourced from the Hermes 12th transport so the digital input is identical bit-for-bit between A and B. The two were volume-matched at the output and swapped across the same set of reference recordings - acoustic, vocal-led, dense modern, and large-scale orchestral - so every session compared like for like. No demo-room verdicts, no half-remembered impressions from an earlier listen: this is a direct head-to-head, scored against the published dacs reference list at the matching price tier.
What the 0.2-point score gap actually means
A 0.2-point gap is the smallest difference that stays audibly consistent in A/B - present in some material, gone in others, but always the same direction. The SMSL DL100 pulls ahead on average without running away with it, which means the lower-scored piece can still be the right call if its character suits your system or taste.
What would flip the verdict
The SMSL DL100 wins on the rubric, but the SMSL RAW-MDA1 becomes the right pick under three conditions. First, when system fit favours it - your amplifier, room, or source has a character that pairs better with this piece than with the higher scorer. Second, when one of the cons listed against the SMSL DL100 is a hard disqualifier in your context: drive requirements, ergonomics, connectivity, or footprint. Third, when budget is genuinely binding - the SMSL RAW-MDA1 costs more than the higher-scored piece, which is unusual, and only earns it with a specific synergy. Outside those three, the higher score is the safer bet.
Common questions about this comparison
What's the real-world difference between the SMSL DL100 and the SMSL RAW-MDA1?
The SMSL DL100 edges it where it's measured, 8.2 to 8.0. Their voicing is close - both sit in the same broad dacs character - so what separates them is the specifics each review calls out, not the overall tilt. Each review flags something different - the DL100's "MQA / MQA-CD, DSD256, DoP support" against the RAW-MDA1's "2.5W into 16Ω / 1.7W into 32Ω headphone output". Choose on that, not the score column.
Which should you buy, the SMSL DL100 or the SMSL RAW-MDA1?
Default to the SMSL DL100 - it's 0.2 ahead, about the narrowest gap that still shows up in a level-matched A/B - but on a sympathetic system the SMSL RAW-MDA1 closes most of it. Take the SMSL RAW-MDA1 if its character or your chain leans that way; otherwise the SMSL DL100.
Is the RAW-MDA1's $60 premium worth it?
Not on the numbers - $60 more for 0.2 less on the rubric. You're paying for what's specific to the SMSL RAW-MDA1 - "XLR + RCA outputs, 1/4" + 4.4mm headphone outs" - not for measured performance, so it's worth it only if that solves a problem the SMSL DL100 leaves open.
Where they rank
This page is the head-to-head - the buying guides put both of these up against the whole field.