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DAC/AMP devices are those that have both a DAC or a digital to analogue converter inside, but also an AMP, either for headphones and portables for a stereo AMP made for speakers. They are usually great for versatility, and have better price / performance ratio compared to getting standalone AMPs, DACs and other in between devices.
You can find my reviews on DAC/AMPs below, and also the best DAC/AMPs here: https://amzn.to/3JQcUM6
Views 6,607 JDS Labs Element IV is a $549 USD Desktop DAC Headphone AMP, with a huge 3.2W of clean power output tetradeca output buffer, Auto Gain, Preamp output, OLED Display with Gorilla Glass protection, Parametric EQ, and DC protection safety. Today we review the mighty JDS Element IV, and …
Views 5,094 Topping DX5 II Dual DAC AMP is a $299 USD Desktop DAC / Headphone AMP, with a Dual ES9039Q2M DAC combo at the core, with an X-Hybrid Headphone Amplifier Circuit, and Bluetooth BT5.1 support, and 10-Band High-Precision PEQ. Today we will review the Topping DX5II and compare it …
Views 6,955 TanchJim Luna is a $139 USD portable DAC AMP with a Dual CS43198 DAC pair at the heart, and a dual headphone output, featuring both 3.5mm and 4.4mm balanced headphone outputs. The maximum output power is 285 mW for a 32 OHM impedance, and it has a non-linear …
Views 7,674 Fosi Audio K7 is a $229 USD gaming soundcard DAC / Headphone AMP with a CNC shell, AK4493SEQ DAC at the core, and OPA1612 LPF, and with Bluetooth connectivity. Today we will review the K7 and see how it fares in the busy market of upper entry-level DAC …
Views 34,942 Shanling UP6 is a $199 USD Bluetooth DAC / Headphone Amplifier with a portable design, Two ESS ES9069Q DACs, and Dual SGM8262 Amplifiers, for a fully balanced headphone output. Having a maximum power output of 626 mW at 32 OHMs, it will be the star of our review …
Views 29,075 TanchJim StarGate II is a $38 USD Doggle USB DAC / Headphone AMP with a 4.3 grams lightweight construction, support for an inline microphone, 3.5mm headphone output, and with DSP and 8-Band PEQ Function, that we will review today and broadly compare to the market. Introduction TanchJim …
Views 25,232 SMSL M20 is a $129 USD entry-level DAC / Headphone AMP with a complex 4 X CS43131 DAC solution at the core, and with USB decoding abilities, made to act as the soundcard for your desktop system. Today we will review the M20 and broadly explore how it …
Views 32,139 FiiO K17 is the $899 USD Desktop DAC / Headphone Amplifier which employs a Flagship AKM DAC solution, relying on AK4191 + AK4499EX*2 DACs, combined with an extremely powerful 4000mW + 4000mW headphone amplifier inside. Today we will review the K17 and compare it with other similarly priced …
Views 28,553 SMSL C200PRO is a $199 USD DAC / Headphone AMP made for stereo setups, sold and fulfilled by Aoshida, with an ES9039Q2M DAC chip at the core. Today we will review the C200PRO and see how it fits in the rich market of today’s world. Introduction Aoshida …
Views 29,135 High-End Munich is coming to an end and today we cover the last ever audiophile event to take place in the Bavarian City, as this year we’re seeing changes for every aspect of audio, many new interesting technological advancements, as well as new products from companies, while others …
Views 48,801 TempoTec March V-M5 is a $220 USD Desktop Bluetooth DAC / Headphone Amplifier with a Dual DAC chip inside, LDAC support, and a limited version available with a beautiful wooden veneer case. Today we will review the March V and briefly compare it with the desktop DAC / …
Views 31,191 FiiO RR11 is a $59 USD portable stereo radio with a Magic Bass effect, 13mm ultra thin aluminium body, and Analog PVR Tuning. Today we will go back to the birth of music broadcast, explore how a Radio can fare in 2025, and whether FiiO RR 11 is …
Views 31,738 ddHiFi TC35CM2 is a $55 USD portable DAC AMP that’s really short, portable and lightweight, and which has a type-C connector at the digital side, and a 3.5mm headphone output at the headphone output side. There are two different chips for DAC Decoding and Amplification, with an inline …
Views 33,959 Shanling EH2 is a $369 USD desktop DAC / Headphone Amplifier with an In-House Developed 24-Bit R2R DAC, Extra Powerful Amplifier with a 4.3W driving power for a 32 OHM impedance, and with an external DC12V Power Supply. Today we take a look at the EH2, and compare …
Views 53,775 Dethonray Clarinet is a $223 USD Portable USB DAC / Headphone Amplifier with an AK 4493S DAC at the heart, USB, Coaxial and Optical Inputs, Balanced Headphone output and two separate firmwares for a different sound named Serenade and Rhapsody. Today we will review the Clarinet and see …
Views 38,746 iBasso Nunchaku is a $299 USD Dongle With Dual tubes, based on Dual Raytheon JN6418 tubes with a 22.5V Anode Power Supply, and a Tube and Class AB Output modes. Today we will review the Nunchaku and also compare them with other high-end dongle and portable DAC AMPs …
Views 66,956 Rose Technics RT-5000 is a $699 USD Desktop DAC and Headphone Amplifier by ROSESELSA with a wooden face, golden accents, High-End Dual ESS9038PRO DACs inside, and 10 Texas Instruments Amplifier Chips inside. Today we will review the RT5000 and compare it with other similarly priced DAC/AMPs, including Burson …
Views 32,833 Shanling EH1 is a $219 USD Entry-Level DAC / Headphone AMP designed for desktop usage, with a Cirrus Logic CS43198 DAC at the heart, and up to 1015mW at 32 OHMs of driving power, and with a 4.4mm headphone output too. Today we will review the EH1 and …
Views 32,122 iBasso Jr Macaron is a $45 USD DAC / Headphone Amplifier made for portable usage, and today we have the pink version, compatible with Android and Windows PC computers, and based on the CS43131 DAC in a Dual Configuration. Introduction iBasso Jr is the sub brand of …
Views 34,861 FiiO BTR17 is a $199 USD portable Bluetooth DAC, Headphone Amplifier that can be used as a desktop DAC/AMP, wired and wireless, and which has both a single ended and a balanced headphone output. With a flagship Dual DAC ES9096Q and a maximum driving power of 650mW x2 …
Views 38,637 ddHiFi M120B is a $89 USD upgrade cable for IEMs which has a Type-C connector, having the DAC embedded in the cable, with nothing else required for you to drive headphones besides the cable. Today we will review the M120 B, how it sounds like, and what my …
Views 37,884 With the winter holidays drawing us closer to each other and to our families, it is time to be grateful that we survived another year, that we got to listen to so much excellent music, to meet so many new awesome people, and to explore this wonderful hobby …
Views 29,275 Creative Sound Blaster G8 is a $149 USD desktop DAC / AMP with a Dual DAC inside, Hi-Res decoding support, and Proprietary XAMP dedicated amplifier. Today we will review the G8 and explore how it works, how it sounds like and if it would make a good purchase …
Views 46,633 Shanling UA6 is a $159 USD Dongle DAC AMP with 4 x CS43131 DACs inside, a fairly high driving power, and what Shanling considers to be the peak of USB Dongle DAC technology. Today we will review the UA6 In-Depth and study its performance, how it generally compares …
Views 33,775 FiiO KA15 is a $109 USD dongle DAC AMP with a unique retro design that reminds me a lot of old cassette players, being a dual DAC design inside, perfect for HiFi listening with a modern sound. Today we will explore and review KA15. Introduction FiiO has …
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