DACs · Side-by-side
SMSL DL100 SMSL RAW-MDA1
SMSL DL100 scores 0.2 higher AND costs $60 less - a no-brainer on the data alone.
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.
- Warm Bright
- Relaxed Analytical
- Polite Aggressive
- Lean Bass-heavy
- Intimate Wide stage
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
- 6× 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 picks the SMSL DL100, but the right answer depends on what you are listening for, what is upstream, and what your budget actually allows. Here is how each side wins.
Pick the DL100 if
SMSL DL100
- You want balanced DAC + balanced headphone amp at $180
- You want 4x Cirrus Logic DAC chips - 0.00009% THD+N
- Budget matters - it costs $60 less and the score gap is 0.2 points
- Verdict matters more than price - it earned Recommended (8.2/10), 0.2 above the alternative
Pick the RAW-MDA1 if
SMSL RAW-MDA1
- You want more premium feel than other SMSL DACs in the price range
- You want high-resolution LCD with tempered glass front
- You can stretch the budget - $60 buys a 0.2-point step up on the same chain
How they were tested head-to-head
Both the SMSL DL100 and the SMSL RAW-MDA1 ran on the same chain, feeding the same Denafrips Hades 12th headphone amplifier (and matched speaker amplifier for nearfield checks), sourced from the Hermes 12th transport so the digital input is identical bit-for-bit between A and B. The two pieces were volume-matched at the output and swapped between the same set of reference recordings - acoustic, vocal-led, dense modern, and large-scale orchestral - so the listener compared like for like every session. No demo-room verdicts, no remembered impressions from previous sessions: this comparison is a direct head-to-head, scored against the published dacs reference list at the appropriate price tier.
What the 0.2-point score gap actually means
A 0.2-point gap is the smallest difference that is audibly consistent in A/B - present in some material, absent in others, but the same direction every time the listener tested. The SMSL DL100 pulls ahead on average without dominating the comparison, which means the lower-scored piece can still be the right pick if its character better fits 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 - if your amplifier, room, or source has a known character that pairs better with this piece than with the higher scorer. Second, when one of the cons listed for 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 usually only justifies itself with a specific synergy. Outside those three, the higher score is the safer recommendation.
Common questions about this comparison
Which is better overall, the SMSL DL100 or the SMSL RAW-MDA1?
The SMSL DL100 scores higher on the catalogue's rubric - 8.2/10 vs 8.0/10, a 0.2-point gap measured by the same listener on the same chain. "Better overall" is a meaningful claim here because both pieces are scored against the published reference list for dacs, so the gap is not a calibration drift between reviewers - it represents real, comparative performance difference. The lower-scored piece can still be the right buy under specific constraints (budget, system fit, ergonomics), which the section above covers.
Which is better value, the SMSL DL100 or the SMSL RAW-MDA1?
The SMSL DL100 is the cheaper of the pair - by $60 on most listings - and the score difference is only 0.2 points, so the dollar-per-point math favours the cheaper piece on this comparison alone. Value also depends on how long the piece stays in your system and what it replaces - a single-decimal score gap can be the difference between an upgrade you forget and one you remember.
Which is better for a desktop or living-room hi-fi chain?
Both pieces were tested for exactly that use case - a desktop or living-room hi-fi chain is the listening context every review on this site is scored against. The SMSL DL100 performed better in those conditions overall, 0.2 points ahead. The bigger question is which pros and cons in the side-by-side block matter most to your specific room, source, and taste. The reviews themselves go into the long-form detail.
Were the SMSL DL100 and the SMSL RAW-MDA1 tested at the same time?
Both pieces were reviewed against the same published reference list for dacs on the same listening chain, even if the individual reviews were published months apart. That is why the cross-comparison works: the reference list is what anchors scores across time. When a new piece enters the reference list and resets what a 9.0 means, older scores are re-checked and re-anchored. Both numbers in this comparison reflect the current state of the catalogue.
Are both pieces "Recommended" tier, or different?
Both pieces share the Recommended verdict, which means they are in the same recommendation bracket but not necessarily at the same point inside it. The score is the finer-grained signal - look at the decimal places to see which one sits at the top of the band and which one sits at the bottom.