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, as well …
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
HIFIMAN EF400 Balanced DAC/AMP – The R2R Music Magician
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 past, including …
Shanling UA3 Dongle DAC AMP – Hi-Res DSD Supporter
Shanling UA3 is a 110 USD portable USB DAC / AMP with an AKM AK4493SEQ DAC chip and Dual Ricore RT6963 AMP Chips. With two headphone outputs, one that’s a 3.5mm Single Ended Output and one that’s a 4.4mm Balanced Output, Shanling UA3 will be compared to other high-end dongles, …
Dan Clark Aeon 2 Noire – True Flow Music Design
Dan Clark Audio Aeon 2 Noire is an 899 USD pair of headphones with a full black design, in-house designed and created planar magnetic drivers, and a multitude of cables available for you upon purchasing them. They will be compared to other high-end headphones, including Sendy Audio Peacock (1500 USD), …
iBasso DX170 DAP Music Player – Relaxed Warm Music Key
iBasso DX170 is a 449 USD DAP or Music Player made by ibasso, with Dual Cirrus CS43131 DAC Chips, DSD setup, a 5″ IPS Display, and 3200mAh battery. It will be compared to other high-end DAPs and music players, including Shanling M3X (350 USD), iFi Audio xDSD (400 USD), QLS …
SMSL C200 DAC / Headphone AMP – Super Resolution
SMSL C200 is 219 USD a DAC / Headphone AMP / Bluetooth Receiver with Hi-Res and DSD Playback abilities, sold and supported by Aoshida Audio, with both a 6.35mm and a 4.4mm output, Hi-Res Wireless Audio support, and with 4 x OPA 1612A OP-AMPs to support the headphone output. It …
HIFIMAN HE1000 V2 Planar Magnetic Headphones – Music Magic
HIFIMAN He1000 V2 is a 2999 USD Planar Magnetic Headphone designed for the music lover that really knows what they want, and which is the world’s first headphone with a diaphragm that is only nanometers in thickness. It comes with a three-year stellar warranty by HIFIMAN, and it also can …
Hiby FC4 Dongle USB DAC/AMP – Balanced Driver
Hiby FC4 USB DAC / AMP is priced at 99 USD, and it is a dongle with MQA support, as well as two headphone outputs, one that’s 4.4mm and balanced, and one that’s 3.5mm in size and single ended. It will be compared to other high-quality dongle DAC/AMPs including ddHIFI …
iBasso AMP13 Amplifier Module For DX320 – Portable NuTube AMPs
iBasso AMP13 is a 269 USD Amplifier module for their DX320 music player, with NuTube AMPs, and it has only 3.5mm single ended outputs, one with low noise and one that has a maximized power output. It will be compared to AMP11MK2s, the original module that DX320 comes with, and …
AIYIMA Audio D03 Stereo HiFi Amplifier – Power Class High, Price Class Minimal
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 my first …
iBasso DC06 Dongle DAC AMP – Square Performance
iBasso DC06 is a 119 USD Dongle DAC / AMP, with Dual ES9219C DACs, 320mW in 32 OHMs, Balanced output and support for decoding MQA as well as DSD up to 256x. It will be compared to other popular Dongle DAC/AMPs in the price range including ddHIFI TC44C (119 USD), …
Aune X1S GT BT DAC / AMP / Streamer – Flow Of Music
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 is a …
Arylic S50 Pro+ Streamer / DAC – More Performance, Less Cost
We have a new high-performance budget Streamer / DAC from Arylic, and their S50 PRO+ is priced at 219 USD, and will be compared to Arylic A50 (220 USD), allo Audio Revolution DAC (260 USD), and Pro-Ject DAC Box DS (430 USD). Introduction Aryllic is one of those companies …
Sivga SV023 Dynamic Headphones – Pinch And Punch
Sivga SV023 is a 499 USD pair of high-end dynamic headphones, with a large 50mm Be or Beryllium Played drivers, and which will be compared in today’s review with other high-end headphones, including HIFIMAN Edition XS (500 USD), Sendy Audio Apollo (500 USD), Avantone Pro Planar (450 USD), and Dan …
S.M.S.L SMSL HO100 – Relaxing Listen
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+ (100 USD). …
S.M.S.L SMSL DO100 – DAC Done Well
S.M.S.L SMSL DO100 is a DAC priced at 284 USD, with DSD support, Type-C USB Input, LDAC Bluetooth, and Hi-Res JAS certification, and will be compared with Khadas Tone2 PRO (250 USD), allo Audio Revolution DAC (260 USD), and Pro-Ject DAC BOX DS (430 USD). Introduction S.M.S.L is a …
Soundavo NSA-250 Streaming HIFI Amplifier – Power Hidden In The Network
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). Introduction Soundavo …
STE Ag W16 IEM Cable – Silver Brings Fresh Information
STE AG W16 Cable for IEMs is a 580 USD option for those who are looking to improve their IEMs, designed with an ergonomic build, extremely similar to the STE Cu W16, which I reviewed in the past. Given the price point, STE AG W16 will be compared to other …
Matrix Audio Element i Streamer / DAC / Headphone AMP – Music Connections
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 (1400 USD), …
Questyle M15 Dongle DAC / AMP – Window To Music
Questyle M15 is a Dongle DAC / AMP priced at 250 USD, sporting an ES9281AC Sabre DAC Chip, with two headphone outputs, one 3.5mm SE and one 4.4mm Balanced, and with two gain levels. It will be compared with the best DAC AMPs around the price point, including iFi hip-dac2 …
NHT C3 3-Way Bookshelf Stereo Speakers – Music For Life
NHT C3 is a high-end premium speaker priced at 624.99 USD per piece or 1249.98 USD for a stereo setup, with a 3-way design, sealed Box Design, and with a beautiful aesthetic. It will be compared to Buchardt S400 (1800 USD), Aurender S5W (3000 USD), and Audioengine A5+ Wireless (500 …
Jade Audio FiiO KA1 Dongle DAC / AMP – Tails Of Sonic Speed
Jade Audio / FiiO KA1 is a dongle DAC / AMP priced at 49 USD, with a type-C connector, Type-A adapter included in the package, RGB status indicator, and with an ES9281AC PRO DAC Chip. It will be compared to other entry-level Dongle DAC / AMPs in the price range, …
IMR Acoustics PRO Dark Matter (God Particle) – Universal Utopia Sounds
IMR Acoustics PRO Dark Matter is an IEM priced at about 700 GBP or Great Britain Pounds, or about 910 USD, handmade by pros for pros, with two drivers, one dynamic and one bone conduction in its design. Given their price point, Dark Matter resides in the territory of flagships, …
Ambient Acoustics MAD24 – Insanely Musical
Ambient Acoustics MAD24 is an in-ear monitor priced at 3499 USD, designed with 24 balanced armature drivers, under the Main Audio Destination naming scheme, and which is quickly gathering recognition in the Audiophile World. Given the price point, they have to be compared to pretty much every single other flagship …
Auris BluMe PRO – Receiver, DAC, Bluetooth, OLED & LDAC
Auris BluMe PRO is a high-end Bluetooth Receiver / DAC priced at 169 USD, with Bluetooth 5.0, LDAC support, and with RCA Analogue, Coaxial and even optical output, perfect for giving wireless abilities to literally any system out there. If you’re the kind who likes good deals, you can sign …