SMSL RAW-HA1 Integrated Amp/USB Headphone Amp Review – Not In Kansas Anymore

Surpise surprise!!—the SMSL RAW-HA1: another $212 all-in-one from SMSL, a/k/a the poster child for hyperactive engineers.  UI and features are noticeably improved from SMSL’s prior army of barely-distinguishable  DAC/amps, with a larger LED screen and control knob, a built-in power supply, useful subwoofer out and HDMI ARC.

In contrast to SMSL’s higher-end DACs, the numerous PCM filter and Sound Color adjustments have a very significant effect on the presentation; the slow rolloff filters sounding the best and the NOS filter sounding truly terrible.

There’s also a variety of tone controls, gratuitous preset EQs, and a loudness setting, which is best avoided. Rated at 60w/8 oHm, which seems accurate, the HA-1 had no problem powering my 87 dB, 4 oHm bookshelf speakers and showed no signs of clipping or distortion at very loud levels. 

Tonality of the RAW-HA1is unabashedly bright; bass is well-extended and surprisingly deep but controlled while high-end is likewise well-extended, crisp and fairly detailed, although drums and percussion miss some echo and snap. Soundstage is wide and enveloping and there’s no bunching or congestion of the performers. Per AudioScienceReview, who I have no cause to doubt, measured performance (SNR, distortion, etc.) is good, and there’s little of the characteristic shrillness or background noise of cheap Class D amps.

Yet despite its estimable virtues, at least when using its optical and USB inputs the timbre on the RAW-HA1 sounds unnatural and heavily processed—a digital reproduction rather than a lifelike rendering. Voices, in particular, have a synthesized AI quality which lacks warmth and body, while guitars and horns sound a bit aggressive and excessively forward.

Like Fox News, there’s a lot of information presented, but it’s not really accurate. These negative qualities aren’t as apparent when using the RCA inputs; I surmise that implementation of the inboard DAC is the culprit—through the RCA ins, tone softens and sounds a little smoother, though it’s less detailed and sparkly at the high end.

As a headphone amp, the RAW-HA1 is a miss—it  lacks the oomph to drive high impedance cans like the Senn HD650, which sounded sorta anemic and bass-shy through RAW-HA1, and compared to the uncolored, transparent presentation of the Pro-Ject Head Box or JDS 02 (review here), sources sound slightly veiled/compressed. BT (including LDAC and other higher-rez codecs) sounded about as good as expected.

The RAW HA-1 is inarguably a powerful, professionally-executed unit which will do the trick for those seeking a compact, unfussy desktop unit for uncritical listening at lower volumes. It’s also cheap. However, for a few bucks more you can get a cleaner-sounding DAC/headphone amp/preamp (think iFi Zen or Topping) and a used Class A/B power amp (Adcom, NAD, etc.), or even a conventional analog integrated + dongle, all of which will sound much truer to source. Ultimately, the HA-1 is more impressive for its functionality and features than for its actual sound, and I will refrain from my usual cultish SMSL worship on this one.

Specifications SMSL RAW-HA1

Disclaimer: Sent to us gratis by Shenzhenaudio for review purposes and can be purchased here:. We love SHENZHENAUDIO, none the least because they send us free stuff for review purposes.

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