Views 44,804 FiiO Q15 is a $399 USD portable DAC or Digital To Analog Converter, and Headphone Amplifier, with two headphone outputs, a smartphone mode, and with a huge driving power, but low noise for IEMs. Today we will review it and compare the new high-performance FiiO unit to other …
DAC or Digital To Analogue converter is a class of device that does just this – converts the data from the digital domain, or files, to the analogue domain, or variations of voltage and power that a transducer or IEM / Headphone can further convert to sonic waves.
You can find my reviews on DACs below, and also the best DACs here: https://amzn.to/3r3NuCj
B. DAC
FiiO K11 DAC Headphone Amplifier – Railgun Power Punch
Views 37,545 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 …
HIFIMAN EF600 DAC / Headphone AMP – Towering R2R Music Excellence
Views 46,014 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 …
FiiO BR13 Bluetooth DAC / PRE – Super Connectivity
Views 32,507 FiiO BR13 is a $59 USD Bluetooth DAC / Preamplifier, made under the sub brand Jade Audio from FiiO, which has a multitude of inputs, otuptus, and preamplifier function. As it is the most affordable entry-level bluetooth DAC, it currently does not have competitors, so today’s review will …
Audiophile-Heaven Awards – Best Products of 2023
Views 44,547 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 …
Arylic BP50 Bluetooth Preamplifier – Sleek Media Center DAC
Views 28,090 Arylic BP50 is a $109 USD Media Center DAC with Preamp function, featuring Bluetooth, USB and Line in, designed to be a Media Center DAC, and today we will be reviewing it, comparing it with other entry-level DACs, including Audioengine D1 (169 USD), SMSL C200 (219 USD), HIDIZS …
Drop + xDuoo TA-84 OTL Tube Amplifier / DAC – Clarity & Control Master
Views 31,930 Drop + xDuoo TA-84 is a $399 USD ($349 USD on Pre-Sale) OTL Tube Amplifier with Pre function, DAC function, and excellent build quality, currently sold on Drop, designed for desktop usage, which we will be reviewing today, and comparing to other high-quality DAC/AMPs, including FiiO K9 PRO …
SMSL AO300 DAC / HeadAMP / Integrated Stereo Amplifier – Class D Back In Game
Views 29,488 SMSL AO300 is a $289 USD DAC / Headphone Amplifier / Integrated Stereo Amplifier with a pre function, designed to run an entire speaker stereo system from just the amplifier, with everything else being a story of the past. This is literally the only unit you will ever …
FiiO K9 PRO ESS DAC / AMP – Sound Versatility Unbound
Views 42,552 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 …
JDS Labs Element III Mk2 Boosted DAC / H-AMP – Pure Music, Raw Power
Views 35,563 JDS Labs Element III MK2 is a $449 USD DAC/AMP designed for desktop and to power headphones, and to act as the DAC for your system and power other amplifiers, both for headphones and for speakers, or active speakers as well. The base version is priced at 449 …
Shanling H5 Portable DAC / AMP – Multi Tone Of Warmth
Views 36,532 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 32,876 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 28,226 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 …
Aune S9C PRO DAC Headphone AMP – The Silver Lining Of Flagships
Views 50,110 Aune S9C PRO Reference is a $699 USD high-end DAC / Headphone Amplifier and currently the flagship from Aune’s 2023 offering. It comes with 2 DAC chips, namely the ESS ES9068 DAC chips, it has up to 5 Watts of power over the balanced headphone output, a USB …
SMSL M300 SE DAC / Headphone AMP – High Resolution USB Power
Views 34,351 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 …
High-End Munich 2023 – An Audiophile Heaven For Your Ears
Views 67,289 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 …
Aune Flamingo BD Bluetooth Receiver DAC – Flame Of Passion Sound
Views 31,607 Aune Flamingo BD is a $ 169 USD Bluetooth Receiver that has a good selection of inputs, a Tube PRE section for the DAC, and a really interesting sound. Given the entry-level price point, it will be compared to other entry-level DACs, including SMSL C200 (219 USD), Pro-Ject …
EverSolo DAC-Z6 – Visualizing Music, Enjoying Headphones With Zidoo
Views 34,447 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 …
Astell&Kern Acro CA1000T Transportable Tube DAP – The Mightiest Music Player
Views 46,526 Astell&Kern Acro CA1000T is a $2299 USD Tube DAP or Digital Audio Player, with a display, microSD slot, insane-level 4 headphone outputs, volume wheel, separate charging and USB Data ports, RCA outputs, 4.4mm Line In, and Optical, Coaxial Input. The only players that really compete are other Astell …
SMSL DO300 Balanced DAC – Perpetual Upgrade Of S.M.S.L
Views 30,098 SMSL DO300 $549 USD is a high-end DAC for desktop systems with ES9039MSPRO DAC Chips from ESS, MQA Hardware Decoding, a Full Function Remote, and with a built-in power supply. It also has Bluetooth 5.0 and 11 high-end Dual OP-AMPs. It will be compared to other high-end desktop …
Fosi Audio K5 PRO DAC/AMP/EQ – More Versatile Than A MultiCooker
Views 23,566 Fosi Audio K5 PRO is a $79 USD DAC/AMP with EQ, mic input, headphone output, Coax / Optical and USB input. It will be compared to other entry-level DAC/AMPs, including SMSL C200 (219 USD), HIDIZS S9 PRO (119 USD), and Hiby FC5 (159 USD). Introduction Fosi Audio …
SMSL C100 DAC – Stereo Desktop HiFi, Type-C With MQA, Optical and Bluetooth Decoder
Views 26,670 SMSL C100 / S.M.S.L C100 is a $119 USD Hifi Stereo USB Desktop DAC designed by SMSL and sold by Aoshida Store, with a strong DAC decoder inside, namely the AK4493S DAC chip, and with MQA decoding abilities, Optical, Bluetooth, USB and coaxial input, and with a remote. …
JDS Labs El DAC II+ Balanced – Higher Resolution and Better Connectivity
Views 30,499 JDS Labs El DAC II+ Balanced is a $299 USD DAC designed by JDS Labs and part of their Element series of products. It will be compared to other high-end DACs, including SMSL DO200 MKII (469 USD), HIFIMAN EF400 (599 USD), Pro-Ject Dac BOX DS (430 USD). …
SMSL DO200 MKII MQA DAC – Exploring The Upgrade
Views 30,220 SMSL DO200 MKII is a 469 USD DAC, fully upgraded version of the original SMSL DO200 DAC that I reviewed previously on Audiophile-Heaven. A big part of today’s review will focus on what’s been changed from the original DO200, especially as the release dates are only months apart, …
HIFIMAN EF400 Balanced DAC/AMP – The R2R Music Magician
Views 51,409 HIFIMAN EF400 is a 599 USD balanced DAC/AMP with an R2R DAC inside, the Himalaya recipient of 2022 VGP Technology Award in Japan, and with a fully balanced design for the headphone output part. It will be compared to the best DAC/AMPs I reviewed on Audiophile-Heaven in the …