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 …
Desktop Equipment is mainly made to be used at home or at your main desk, and it is not generally intended to be portable. This includes Speakers, DACs, AMPs, even Headphones, and desktop equipment is generally larger and / or needs access to a power outlet to work. HIFI products are generally considered desktop equipment, although you can find some which can be used portably.
You can find the best desktop equipment here: https://amzn.to/3QiOhdd
Desktop
Aperion Audio RST MKII – 3-Inch Aluminum Ribbon Super Tweeter Precision Master
Views 34,845 Aperion Audio RST MKII is a $649 USD / 649 EURO pair of supertweeters, designed for bringing some extra high-end extension, air and clarity to any speaker system. The price is for a pair, and sadly I don’t really have anything similar to compare them to, but what …
SMSL AO300 DAC / HeadAMP / Integrated Stereo Amplifier – Class D Back In Game
Views 29,487 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 …
Aune S17 PRO Headphone Amplifier / PRE – Symmetrical Class A Magic
Views 33,585 Aune S17 PRO is a $699 USD high-end Headphone Amplifier and Preamplifier, with a superb design, made to be paired with other Aune products such as the S9C PRO, with an incredibly high driving power, two gain stages, and a temperature probe that will remind you what’s happening …
SVS Prime Wireless Pro Powered Speakers – Hifi Magic All Inclusive
Views 39,389 SVS Prime Wireless Pro is a $899 USD (internationally, without VAT), 4999 RON (Romania, AVstore, final price) pair of high-end speakers with a package that includes literally everything you may require, including the speakers, 200W Active Power (50W x 4 , 4 – Way stereo integrated amplifiers), Wireless …
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 …
SMSL AO200 MKII Stereo Amplifier – Everything’s Improved in Part II
Views 33,731 SMSL AO200 MKII is a $249 USD Desktop Stereo HIFI Amplifier, with a separate subwoofer output, 160W per channel, Treble and Bass adjustment to compensate for room and speaker limitations, and with a remote for volume and settings adjustment. Today we will review it, exploring in-depth what it …
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 …
Matrix Mini-i PRO 4 Music Streamer / DAC / AMP – Does It All, Does It Well
Views 42,993 Matrix Mini-i PRO 4 is a $959 USD Music Streamer, high-end DAC, and headphone amplifier / driver with a really smooth, high-end design, a versatile design that can do a lot of things, from music streaming, USB DAC function, Balanced and RCA outputs that work at the same …
HIFIMAN Ananda Nano Headphones – Refinement Of The Planar Art
Views 47,189 HIFIMAN Ananda Nano is a $599 USD pair of over-the-ear Planar Magnetic Headphones with the new Nano diaphragm, which is a direct update from the Ananda Stealth that we reviewed before, and which should be a huge sonic upgrade from it. We will be comparing it with other …
Ricable Invictus Speaker Reference Cable – Purified Copper Music Flow
Views 33,702 Ricable Invictus Speaker Reference Cable is a $1518 USD pair of high-end speaker cables, with a reference sound, exceptional design, super nice connectors, and a huge promised increase in quality for your listening setup, also handmade in Italy. Ricable is the first hifi cable manufacturer to offer a …
Sennheiser HD 660S2 Dynamic Headphones – Magnificent Musicality
Views 46,042 Sennheiser HD 660S2 is a $599 USD pair of high impedance dynamic headphones, which are a retuning of the Sennheiser HD 660S that I reviewed a few years ago. It will be interesting to explore this new version, how it compares to the old Sennheiser HD 660S, but …
JDS Labs Atom AMP+ Hevi – Refinement of a Classic
Views 38,337 JDS Labs Atom AMP+ Hevi is a $114 USD special edition release with the event of over 40.000 Atom AMPs and DACs sold since 2018, the new Atom AMP+ Hevi takes on the quest to solve what everyone has been wanting from JDS Labs. A new casing made …
Meze 109 PRO Dynamic Headphones – Romanian Sound Art
Views 32,955 Meze 109 PRO is a $799 USD pair of High-End Open-Back Dynamic Headphones with an open-back design, dynamic driver, and a demonstration of Meze’s commitment to deliver pure emotion and go beyond a faithful reproduction of sound. They will be compared to other high-end headphones, including iBasso SR3, …
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 …
iBasso DX320 MAX TI DAP Music Player – Ultimate Portable Flagship Dream
Views 50,094 iBasso DX320 MAX TI is a $ 3499 USD Music Player or DAP designed to be the ultimate companion to your audio journey. It features Android 11, Class A Amplification, 6GB or RAM, 4 ROHM DACs (BD34301EKV) and both a Single Ended and a Balanced headphone output. It …
AIYIMA A07 PRO Hifi Stereo Amplifier – Wired and Bluetooth 300W Mini AMP
Views 29,805 AIYIMA A07 PRO is a $ 89 USD new entry in the series of super affordable speaker amplifiers for desktop made in China, with a Class D design, and with an outrageously high power output. Since the price point is rather low, it can only be compared to …
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 …
Fosi Audio BT20A PRO HIFI Stereo Amplifier – Entry Sonic Punch
Views 31,825 Fosi Audio BT20A PRO is a $ 99.99 USD HIFI Desktop Speaker Amplifier, with Bluetooth 5.0, promising 300w x2 Power for Speakers, and running in Class D, with a line out too. It will be compared to other speaker amplifiers from the price range, including AIYIMA A07 PRO …
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 …
Cleer Scene Bluetooth Speaker – Music Punch Packed Tight
Views 22,691 Cleer Scene is a $ 99.99 USD Bluetooth Speaker with IPX7 Waterproofing, a snazzy design, and USB Type-C charging. It has dual 48mm passive radiators, and today it will get a full review, and be compared to other Bluetooth speakers, including Tronsmart Bang Mini (89 USD), Tronsmart Force …