Views 37,189 Shanling UA4 is a $99 USD DAC/AMP with a new ESS ES9069Q DAC, Strong Output Power, DSD512 and Hi-Res PCM support, up to 32 Bit and 768kHz, and with both a Balanced Headphone Output and a single ended one. Today we will be reviewing it, the sound it …
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
C. DAC/AMP
FiiO K11 DAC Headphone Amplifier – Railgun Power Punch
Views 37,524 FiiO K11 is a $129 USD truly balanced headphone amplifier and DAC, with a balanced headphone amplifier, 1400mW of power, and with adjustable RGB Logo Lighting, which works without a Driver, and as a USB DAC, and is based on the CS43198 DAC. Today we will be reviewing …
HIDIZS S9 PRO Plus Balanced Dongle DAC – Martha HIFI Sound
Views 35,456 HIDIZS S9 PRO Plus Martha is a 89 USD Dongle DAC AMP from HIDIZS with a neat design, lots of angles and modern take on the dongle AMP, with two buttons, and with two headphone outputs, one in the 3.5mm SE format, and one in the 4.4mm Balanced …
FiiO BTR15 Bluetooth Receiver – Absolutely Wireless DAC/AMP
Views 37,293 FiiO BTR15 is a $119 USD / EURO Bluetooth DAC / AMP / Receiver, with a super light design, and an upgrade from the popular BTR5 model, with an improved design and overall abilities. Today we are putting it to test, diving into an in-depth review, and comparing …
HIFIMAN EF600 DAC / Headphone AMP – Towering R2R Music Excellence
Views 46,001 HIFIMAN EF600 is a $799 USD high-end desktop DAC / Headphone amplifier, with a vertical design, Himalaya Ladder DACs, and with a design to maximize desktop space. Today we will be reviewing it and comparing it to other high-end desktop DAC/AMPs, including Aune S9C PRO (699 USD), FiiO …
Audiophile-Heaven Awards – Best Products of 2023
Views 44,530 With 2023 drawing to an end, I think it is time to be grateful for all the excellent music we heard this year, for all the awesome moments we had together, and to be looking forward to an even better year in 2024! Today we’re publishing our best …
Shanling UA1 Plus Dongle DAC – Driving Power Figuratively Speaking
Views 27,673 Shanling UA1 Plus is a $49 USD Dongle DAC AMP with a Dual CS43131 DAC, and high resolution decoding abilities. Today we’re going to be reviewing it, and also compare it to Shanling UA2 Plus (89 USD), ddHIFI TC35C (49 USD), and iFi Go Link (59 USD). …
FiiO K9 PRO ESS DAC / AMP – Sound Versatility Unbound
Views 42,538 FiiO K9 PRO ESS is a $849 USD DAC / Headphone Amplifier with a multitude of inputs and outputs, a bulky but cool design, and with enough driving power to deal with most headphones out there. Although the XLR port is covered in most photos, and in most …
Shanling H5 Portable DAC / AMP – Multi Tone Of Warmth
Views 36,520 Shanling H5 is a $369 USD DAC / AMP designed with portability in mind, offering a rich selection of inputs and outputs, a lower power than H7, but still enough for most planar magnetic headphones, with RCA, Balanced 4.4mm, and Single Ended 3.5mm Outputs. With a battery life …
SMSL DO400 Fully Balanced DAC / Headphone AMP – Power Delivery Unbound
Views 32,864 SMSL DO400 is a $499 USD DAC / Headphone Amplifier sold and fulfilled by Aoshida Store, with three headphone outputs, fully balanced XLR Line Outputs, RCA outputs, and those can work at the same time, with a handy display, and with Bluetooth receiving abilities. Today we will be …
Audioengine D1 24-Bit DAC / H-Amp – Fearless Premium Sound
Views 28,214 Audioengine D1 is a 169 USD 24-Bit DAC with a small form factor, ergonomic design, and with a 3.5mm single ended headphone output, and RCA outputs for an external headphone amplifier, stereo amplifier, or powered speakers. Today we will be reviewing it and comparing it with other entry-level …
iFi Audio Go Bar Dongle DAC – Mini Amplifier Maxi Powered
Views 33,044 iFi Audio Go Bar is a $329 USD Premium Ultra Portable USB DAC, with a balanced 4.4mm output, a single ended 3.5mm headphone output, and with iEMatch, along with digital filters, and sound enhancements support. It will be compared to other high-end dongle DACs, including Lotoo PAW S2, …
ddHIFI TC44A Type-C USB DAC – Single Ended Mini Kick
Views 31,367 ddHIFI TC44A is a $79 USD DAC / AMP with a CS43434 DAC wit a Type-C or Lightning port, and a 4.4mm Single Ended headphone output. Don’t mind too much the single ended part, it has all the poles for balanced cables and balanced headphones, but ddHIFI did …
SMSL M300 SE DAC / Headphone AMP – High Resolution USB Power
Views 34,340 SMSL M300 SE is a $ 105 USD DAC made for desktop systems, with two headphone outputs, XLR Balanced outputs, RCA Single Ended outputs, and a newt design that would make it a top choice for an entry-level DAC/AMP. It will be compared to other desktop DAC AMPs …
Shanling UP4 2022 Bluetooth Receiver DAC AMP – Gym Partner, Music Renderer
Views 42,156 Shanling UP4 2022 is a $ 85 USD Bluetooth DAC / AMP sold by Ahosida, based on a Dual ES9219C DAC configuration, with both Single Ended and 2.5mm Balanced outputs, and with a long battery life. It will be compared to other Bluetooth Receivers / DAC / AMPs, …
Shanling UA2 Plus DAC AMP – Strong Little Guy
Views 34,936 Shanling UA2 Plus is a $ 89 USD entry-level DAC AMP with two headphone outputs, one in 3.5mm single ended format, and one in 4.4mm Balanced format. It will be the star of today’s review and will also be compared to other portable DAC AMPs including iBasso DC04PRO, …
High-End Munich 2023 – An Audiophile Heaven For Your Ears
Views 67,281 With 2023 being still fresh, we decided to participate for the first time at a high-end show, and what a trip this has been. In today’s article we will discuss the highlights of High-End Munich 2023, traveling to Germany, and how to get the best of your experience …
iBasso DC04PRO Type-C DAC AMP – Strongest Music Tail
Views 32,265 iBasso DC04PRO is a $ 119 USD Type-C USB DAC AMP made for smartphones, with a super high driving power, balanced power output, Hi-Res support, and Dual DAC architecture. Although the price is not high, the performance is incredibly good, it will be compared to other similarly priced …
ddHIFI TC35C Dongle DAC – Ultra Minimal Power Source
Views 31,527 ddHIFI TC35C is a $ 48.99 USD Entry-Level Dongle DAC with a Realtek ALC5686 DAC chip inside, Hi-Res support. In today’s review we will compare it with other high-quality DACs such as HIDIZS XO (99 USD), iFi Go Link (59 USD), and Periodic Audio Rhodium (49 USD) . …
HIDIZS XO DAC / AMP – The Gamer Look, Musician Sound
Views 33,898 HIDIZS XO is a DAC / AMP priced at $99 USD, made for smartphones, with a type-c input connector, MQA 16X support, and dual ESS Sabre ES9219C DAC implementation. It will be compared to other entry-level DAC/AMPs, including HIDIZS S9 PRO (119 USD), Shanling UA3 (110 USD), and …
iFi Go Link DAC – Short Tail Links To Music
Views 35,042 iFi Go Link is a $59 USD DAC AMP for mobile devices, or laptops with a type-C USB port, with a super light and portable design, and with a single ended 3.5mm headphone output. Given the price point, today’s review will focus on it and the comparisons with …
EverSolo DAC-Z6 – Visualizing Music, Enjoying Headphones With Zidoo
Views 34,431 EverSolo DAC-Z6 is a $459 USD / 2299 RON DAC, Headphone AMP with a large display, designed for music enjoyment by the parent company Zidoo, under the sub brand EverSolo. It is part of a new line of DACs, and it comes with ESS ES9068AS DACs in Dual …
IKKO ITB03 Heimdallr Bluetooth Receiver – DAC, AMP, More
Views 21,554 IKKO ITB03 Heimdallr is $149 USD / EURO a Bluetooth DAC AMP and Receiver with a dual DAC inside, with Dual Asahi Kasei AK4377 DACs, Bluetooth LDAC connection, and 4 audio modes. It will be compared to other popular Bluetooth Receivers, including Shanling UP5 (179 USD), FiiO BTR5 …
iBasso DC03PRO Dongle DAC AMP – Industrial Freedom
Views 24,355 iBasso DC03PRO is a $69 USD Dongle DAC AMP made to drive portable headphones and IEMs, and which has a 3.5mm Single Ended Headphone Output, and which can decode PCM files and DSD files up to DSD256X. It will be compared to other entry-level DAC-AMPs, including IKKO Zerda …
Khadas Tea DAC / AMP / Bluetooth Receiver – Slim Apple MQA Amplifier
Views 27,745 Khadas Tea is a $209.9 USD DAC / AMP / MQA decoder with LDAC and Bluetooth connection, an ESS ES9281AC PRO DAC, and MagSafe locking mechanism, with a battery that powers it, designed mainly for apple devices, but compatible with everything else as well. It will be compared …