Views 34,501 AIYIMA Audio D03 is a Hifi Amplifier in Class D, priced at 160 USD at the moment of writing today’s review. Given the low price point, it will be compared to other entry-level and super affordable desktop hifi amplifiers, including Arylic A50 (220 USD). Introduction Today is …
Amplifier – that part that takes the signal from a DAC and powers your Headphones, Speakers, IEMs, and even more.
You can find my reviews on amplifiers below, and the best amplifiers here: https://amzn.to/3GeTvSt
A. Amplifier
Aune X1S GT BT DAC / AMP / Streamer – Flow Of Music
Views 39,168 Aune X1s GT is a 349 USD DAC/AMP with LDAC Bluetooth, Balanced 4.4mm Headphone Output, and Hi-Res decoding. Given the price and design, it will be compared to the Soundaware A1X (700 USD), iFi xDSD DAC/AMP (400 USD), and Palab M1 Mini (500 USD). Introduction Aune Audio …
S.M.S.L SMSL HO100 – Relaxing Listen
Views 34,104 S.M.S.L SMSL HO100 is a Headphone Amplifier priced at 149 USD, XLR and RCA inputs, three gain levels, and an ultra low distortion design. It is also made to pair perfectly with the SMSL DO100 DAC I just reviewed. SMSL HO100 will be compared with JDS Labs Atom+ …
Soundavo NSA-250 Streaming HIFI Amplifier – Power Hidden In The Network
Views 34,760 Soundavo NSA-250 is a streaming Amplifier priced at 300 USD formally, but available on Amazon for 200 USD at this moment, which means that it will be compared to other stereo HIFI Amplifiers such as Arylic A50 (220 USD), Burson Funk (550 USD), SMSL AO200 (280 USD). …
Matrix Audio Element i Streamer / DAC / Headphone AMP – Music Connections
Views 38,623 Matrix Audio Element i is a Streamer with a headphone output, DAC output, and much more, priced at 1150 USD, and will be compared to some of the best streamers, DACs and headphone amplifiers in the price range, including Cyrus One Cast (2000 USD), cocktail N25 Music Streamer …
Hiby FC5 MQA Hi-Res DAC/AMP – Small Package, Tons Of Power
Views 23,451 Hiby FC5 is a DAC/AMP with MQA Decoding, priced at 159 USD, and has one balanced output in the form of 4.4mm, 125MW of power per channel at 32 OHMs, a LED data rate indicator, and a type-C USB port. It will be compared to other DAC/AMPs in …
iBasso DX240 AMP8 MK2 Module – A Whole New Experience
Views 43,799 I just reviewed iBasso DX240, the linear evolution from their DX220, and now it is time for a new amplifier module, made just for it, AMP8 MK2, priced at 219 USD, with both a balanced and a single ended output, and much more driving power than the AMP1 …
IKKO ARC ITB05 Bluetooth Necklace Cable – Cyber Musician
Views 50,058 If you’re into necklace style Bluetooth IEMs, ITB05 should be cool for you, as it has a pocket-friendly price of 129 USD. It will be compared to the Shanling MW200 (120 USD), FiiO UTWS3 (80 USD), and 1More Dual Driver ANC PRO EHD9001BA (150 USD). Introduction IKKO …
Cyrus One Cast Smart DAC / Integrated Amplifier – English Media Flagship
Views 77,526 We’re finally having a look at a masterpiece from a British company, and namely One Cast from Cyrus is the star of today’s review. Priced at 2000 USD, One Cast is a full sized entertainment center, and it features a high-end DAC, a Class AB Headphone Amplifier, a …
Pro-Ject Head Box DS – Mini Size, Maxi Sound
Views 58,733 Head Box DS is a DAC / Headphone Amplifier made by Pro-Ject in Austria, and priced at 400 USD at the moment of its release, and now being a pretty old-school device, as it was released around 2016, so about 5 years ago. I will be comparing it …
Hilidac Audirect Beam 2 DAC/AMP – MQA Blues Got Me Singing’
Views 41,835 You heard about Hilidac’s Audirect Beam, Whistle, and Atom PRO, now it is time for the second beam of enlightenment, Beam 2, with MQA and Hi-Res support, and priced at 100 USD, and which will be compared to FiiO BTR5 2021 (130 USD), iFi Hip DAC (150 USD), …
Violectric HPA V340 Headphone Amplifier / Preamplifier – German Musicality
Views 67,875 Germany has been the home to many technological wonders, and audio is part of that as well. The Violectric HPA V340 is priced at 1800 EURO, or roughly 2000 USD, and it is a full sized AMP, with PREAMP functions, high damping factor, and will be compared with …
HIDIZS H2 Bluetooth AMP – Smallest Receiver Out There
Views 27,124 We sometimes work on reviewing something that’s so tiny it gets lost in the queue, and this is the case with the 50 USD H2 Bluetooth Amplifier / Receiver from HIDIZS. This one doesn’t really have any comparisons I can make given its price, and the closest Bluetooth …
Arylic A50 Streaming Amplifier – Smol Boy Got Class
Views 54,089 Arylic A50 is a 220 USD Class-D Streaming Stereo Amplifier, or some kind of goose-camel-ostrich-cat that can do many jobs, in many inquisitive ways, but ends up being a pretty fun and good sounding unit in the end. Given its price and usage scenario, I can’t comment on …
SMSL AO200 Stereo Amplifier – Rabbit’s Foot, Either Quick Or Lucky
Views 66,894 S.M.S.L AO200 is a full sized, full powered 50W Speaker Stereo Amplifier priced at 280 USD, and designed with many features like a USB input, Bluetooth input, RCA and XLR inputs, and runs in class D. Today we will compare it to other stereo amplifiers, like Burson Funk …
FiiO BTR5 2021 – MQA Freedom At The End
Views 47,844 The title says it all, and we’re at the end of 2021, but the latest version of BTR5 has the 2021 monicker, support for MQA, and it is priced at 130 USD, which is a bit more than the 110 / 120 USD that the original costed at …
Burson Funk Amplifier for Speakers, Headphones & IEMs – Let’s Jazz
Views 62,357 Burson Funk is a high-end amplifier for Stereo and Headphones, with a starting price of 550 USD, and depending on the configuration, able to reach 750 USD. It will be compared to other amplifiers, like Aune S6 PRO, Hagerman Tuba, and Audio-GD Master 19. Introduction I have …
Palab M1 Mini DAC/AMP – Beats The Chord In Music
Views 44,880 Palab M1 mini is a DAC/AMP made by Palab, and it is no secret that it is a mighty good one, with a price tag of 500 USD, MQA decoding abilities, and a Balanced output. The main comparisons included in today’s review will be with really capable competitors, …
xDuoo MT-602 Tube Headphone Amp – Freak Trickster
Views 62,538 MT-602 is a headphone amplifier with tubes on a budget, priced at 100 USD, and it comes with two 6J1 Tubes, runs in class A, and will be compared to JDS Labs Atom AMP+, Soundavo HP-1 DAC-AMP, and xDuoo TA-10 Headphone AMP, also with tubes. Introduction xDuoo …
Tempotec E35 Sonata DAC/AMP – Glass Design Amplified
Views 50,521 Tempotec E35 Sonata is a DAC/AMP with the price tag of 80 USD, driverless operation, dual DACs, and 80mW of power at 32 OHMs. It will be compared to iBasso DC-01 (50 USD), FiiO M3 PRO (70 USD), FiiO BTR5 (110 USD). Introduction Tempotec has been a …
iBasso AMP12 Module for DX300 – Accelerate Towards The Future
Views 58,958 iBasso works on refining their DX300 DAP, and that starts with the best module available for it right now, which is AMP12, the natural evolution of the original module it comes with. Somehow, the default amp module was already better than what we had available for DX220 so …
JDS Labs Atom AMP+ – Uber Amplified Maximus
Views 75,046 JDS Labs Atom AMP+ is an amplifier made by JDS Labs from the USA, and priced at 100 USD at the moment of writing this review. I did not review many amplifiers in this price range, so the comparisons will include the original JDS Labs Atom, xDuoo TA-10, …
Keces S3 DAC / Balanced AMP / Preamp – My Favorite Warm Performer
Views 75,642 Keces S3 is a high-end top of the shelf DAC / Balanced Headphone Amplifier made in TAIWAN, and priced at 1300 USD. The comparison list will include Audio Analogue AAdac, Wells Milo, iBasso DX300, and Mytek Brooklyn DAC+. The pairing list will include HIFIMAN Arya, Rosson RAD-0, and …
Qualiton APR204 Preamplifier – Rev My Engine
Views 54,461 Qualiton APR204 is a Preamplifier made by a Hunarian company, the country known as Romania’s Best Friend, so I’ll be extra cautious to be perfectly neutral and objective towards it. The APR204 Preamplifier is priced at 2300 EUR, or 2300 USD, and it will get paired with a …
Earstudio HUD100 MK II DAC/AMP – All Grown Up
Views 41,588 HUD100 MK II is a DAC/AMP made by Earstudio as a response to their original, which was criticized by many including me in the full written review I posted before. The MK II is totally different, and it comes with more driving power, and a lower price point, …