― Love For Music & Technology ―
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
Views 68,713 Pro-Ject designed many DACs over the years, but the DAC BOX DS will surely remain in the history of mankind as one of the kindest, smoothest and most peaceful sounding DACs to ever exist. It is priced at 430 USD at the moment of writing this full written …
Views 41,681 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, …
Views 76,989 Smyth A16 Realiser is a really unique product that deserves a longer and more complex review than my typical takes. It is priced at around 4000 USD at the moment of writing this full review, it is basically a DAC / AMP / DSP processor for 3D sound. …
Views 68,564 Soundaware A1X PRO is the kind of Streamer that will go straight to your heart once you get to hear it, but first, we should talk about the price, which is 700 USD. This kind of price is not so huge even for DAC/AMPs nowadays, but A1X PRO …
Views 75,059 AAdac is the masterpiece DAC made in Italy by Audio Analogue, and is meant mainly to be combined with their amplifiers, and CD players, which have a similar aesthetic. It is priced at 3500 EUR or about 4000 USD, and is part of their Pure Line, so it …
Views 64,060 Hilidac Atom PRO is a USB DAC priced at 70 USD, usually made for Type-C based devices like smartphones, and with a 3.5mm output. I haven’t explored too many comparable DAC/AMPs in this price range, so for now I will be comparing it to iBasso DC-01, FiiO M3Pro, …
Views 42,735 There’s something about those affordable DAC/AMPs that makes me smile every time I hear one. They tend to be great value, but also mostly designed nicely with the user in mind. HP-1 DAC is the same, and for 130 USD you can have the ultimate DAC/AMP for an …
Views 17,951 How about we return to the good old times of retro DAPs, with no touchscreen, and we delve into a review of Acmee MF-01, something still based on the legendary Muses02 OP-AMPs. It is priced at around 100 USD, and we will compare it to Hiby R2, FiiO …
Views 34,361 Earmen Sparrow is like a tiny thumb drive that can actually drive IEMs and Headphones. It costs 200 USD, being one of the more pricey DAC/AMPs that exists in this tiny shape, and it has a type-C port, and a driving power of 4.0 V on the Balanced …
Views 36,922 It is time to look into the most versatile of the midrange portable DAC/AMPs, namely the xDuoo XD-05 Plus. This one sports almost an entire WATT of power, and it will be compared to iFi xDSD, FiiO Q5s, Earmen TR-AMP, and paired with HIFIMAN Deva, FiiO FA9, and …
Views 37,227 FiiO BTA30 is the offspring of their successful BTR5 and BTR3K Bluetooth receivers. It also has all the bluetooth codecs, and is priced pretty pocket-friendly at 90 USD at the moment. It comes with SBC, aptX, aptX LL, aptX HD, and LDAC, and it will get compared to …
Views 44,296 An exquisite idea, HIFIMAN R2R2000 is a DAP that promises to bring R2R to portables. It is a limited run unit, and it has support as a music player, but can also act as a USB DAC/AMP, has a type-c input, and is priced at 2500 USD for …
Views 58,071 SDA-2 from Singxer is the Next Level of a Midrange DAC/AMP with balanced XLR outputs at the back, Hi-Res processing, a Balanced Headphone Output, and a price of 700 USD. It will get compared to the Mytek Brooklyn DAC+, M2Tech Young MK III, and Denafrips Ares II. For …
Views 56,585 iFi Hip DAC is a very pocket-friendly DAC/AMP from the UK-based producer iFi, and it comes with a full feature set, including a beautiful design, and is priced at 150 USD, making it one of the most affordable DAC/AMPs out there. It will be compared to Earmen TR-AMP, …
Views 44,547 CEntrance DACport HD is a class-A portable DAC/AMP for smartphones, priced at 180 USD, making it one of the more expensive DAC/AMPs out there. It will be compared to Earstudio HUD100, FiiO BTR5, Periodic Audio Nickel AMP. It will also get paired with FiiO FA9, HIFIMAN Deva, MAS …
Views 48,987 Denafrips is a name that will bring a smile to many music lover’s faces, especially when they have such an awesome product, but today we’re putting it to the wall, we’re going to see just how good it actually is, and if the Ares II is worth its …
Views 77,039 Bluetooth Box E is a Bluetooth receiver like BTR5 from FiiO, but this one’s for desktop. It has a really good build quality, and a pocket-friendly price of about 80 USD, the only part that everyone’s hesitant about being the actual sonic performance. We’ll compare it to BTR5, …
Views 44,649 M3PRO is not exactly a linear upgrade from the original FiiO M3K, that I reviewed quite a while ago. Given its pocket-friendly price point of 80 USD, it does replace the original M3K, and it will get compared to M3K, FiiO BTR5, and Earmen TR-AMP. The pairings list …
Views 53,037 BTR3k is the more affordable Receiver mady by FiiO, priced at 60 USD, and it will be paired with Fischer AMPs FA-4E XB, IMR R2 Aten, and Dita Fidelity. For the comparisons, it will be compared extensively throughout this review with BTR5, and also with iBasso DC01, FiiO …
Views 34,555 BTR5 is probably the most complete Bluetooth DAC/AMP on the market right now, and it costs 110 USD at the moment of making this review. This means that it will get compared to Earstudio HUD100, Lotto Paw S1, and Topping E30, all of which are close enough in …
Views 29,246 When you need something tiny, something that’s practical, you know that there will be some sacrifices. HUD 100 is smaller than BTR5, it has a nimble body, and it is priced at 140 USD, and for that price, HUD100 has two headphone outputs, one in low gain and …
Views 30,808 Momentum 3 is a Headphone with a lot of life and a powerful impact, a nice amount of reach in the lows, and a good amount of features. It is priced at 400 USD, although the price is lower in most of the Europe, including Romania (350 USD …
Views 66,169 SW1X is a company that’s not well known right now, but it ought to be, after I’m done with this review, because it costs a LOT of money, all while having a very specific usage scenario, but doing what it does really well.Given its price of about 2400 …
Views 50,873 If you’re curious what’s the point of the title, it refers to Lotoo’s 6000 series of DAPs, which I will be reviewing in the future as well (hopefully). The Lotoo Paw S1 is a nice DAC/AMP made for Android Smartphones, which is made to work wired, quite different …
Views 89,346 FiiO K5 PRO gives a nice boost to your desktop setup, by having a Desktop-Class DAC, a Heavy Duty Headphone Amplifier, and a friendly price point of just 150 USD. This makes it very easy to recommend for pairing with a large selection of Headphones, including Ultrasone Signature …
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