Affordable and high-quality DACs.
Even though most people don’t know it, they're actually using at least a single digital-to-analog converter (DAC for short) each day. How is that possible? Because all devices that produce digital audio, regardless if it’s an MP3 player, TV set, gaming console, or smartphone, need to have a DAC for you to hear the output music.
DACs come in a broad range of sizes and are aimed at different types of consumers, with some products being designed for headphones and others for home theater speaker systems. Whether you need the best phone DAC or one for your PlayStation, this article will help you find what you’re looking for. Look at the products below, read more about how a DAC works, and pick the option that suits your taste and budget the best.
Inputs: USB Type C | Outputs: 3.5 mm | Bluetooth: No | Max sample rate support: 24-bit / 96kHz PCM
The AudioQuest Cobalt USB Digital-to-Analog converter is one of the most feature packed professional converters on the market. It is capable of hooking up to a laptop or personal computer with ease. A single cable can be used to connect the converter to an audio source or an audio monitor, and it is equipped with two levels for greater compatibility and convenience. You can also use the onboard volume control for equalizer control and monitoring.
The AudioQuest Dragonfly Cobalt USB-C adapter was designed to work with USB phones and computers alike. Simply plug the USB-C adapter into your USB port on your computer, and you are ready to enjoy your favorite high quality sound from your phone, without the hassle of needing to use the adapter. The adapter also eliminates the need for a separate phone jack, making it easier to route wires throughout your desktop computer system.
Inputs: USB Type C | Outputs: 3.5 mm | Bluetooth: No | Max sample rate support: 32-bit / 384kHz PCM
CLIPTHAT DAC is a phone dialer system that makes use of a special piece of equipment called a clip-type dac, or day-to-clip that connects to your computer via USB cable or wireless modem.
The beauty of the CLIPTHAT is that it gives you all the benefits of a telephone call without having to use a bulky phone handset. The ergonomically-designed clip-type dac comes with two different configurations: a low-power "quiet" mode; and a high-gain "loud" mode for making long phone calls. To control what happens during each call, the software contains an amazingly intuitive user interface.
Inputs: Bluetooth, Coaxial, Toslink | Outputs: Coaxial to RCA 3.5mm Audio Output | Bluetooth: Yes | Max sample rate support: 24 bit / 192 kHz PCM
There is one product that everyone in the world seems to be raving about; the MYPIN Converter DAC. The reason for this is because it is a wireless device and also it converts analog signals into digital data, so then you can send and receive data from any computer with a USB connection! In addition, if you are on a budget then you will find that the MYPIN Converter DAC fits that need perfectly.
It does not require any sort of software installation. It comes preinstalled with Windows and also with Mac compatibility so it will work on Macs as well as PCs. One of the best features of this converter is that it has a PIN Code Reader, which means you can actually see what the number is before you have to key it into the converter box.
Inputs: USB Type C | Outputs: 3.5 mm | Bluetooth: No | Max sample rate support: 32 bit / 768 kHz PCM
The FiiO Q5S High Resolution DAC is another one of the many popular ear phones on the market. In addition to the stunning appearance, it also provides high levels of sound quality as well as a lot of memory for all of your data.
The FiiO Q5S headphone amplifier is a bit more powerful than the standard. However, the FiiO Q5S headphone amplifier provides better power and noise immunity than the standard. It also provides high frequencies, such as bass, for superior sound quality. The headphone amplifier circuitry allows the power of the low frequencies to be sent to the earphones, resulting in better sound than with earphones alone.
| IMAGE | NAME | FEATURES | |
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AudioQuest Dragonfly
Stylish
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CHECK PRICE → | |
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CLIPTHAT
With Hi-Res
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CHECK PRICE → | |
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MYPIN DAC
Bluetooth 5.0
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CHECK PRICE → |
Dedicated DACs usually look like boxes with a USB input and several analog ports. The USB connection serves for both streaming data and receiving the voltage required for the DAC to work properly. Some models also require mains power, so keep that in mind when looking at DACs like the Schiit Yggdrasil that needs a dedicated amplifier.
DAC/Headphone amps offer analog ports for speakers and typically have another output for headphones and headsets. Such products also commonly feature hardware volume control that can also be adjusted with software, meaning you can increase or decrease the nominal output that is sent to the cans. The majority of options covered in this post have headphone amps, which is reflected in their description.
Portable converters can be used with smartphones and tablets, typically by connecting to their mini-USB ports, and they come with headphone preamps as well. Possibly the best phone DAC in the portable category is the Chord Electronics Mojo.
Finally, some DACs only have Optical or SPDIF digital ports and they’re used for A/V receivers, TVs, and so on.
Most DACs are USB-supplied units that can replace the built-in headphone/line output. They are typically plug-and-play devices, meaning you don’t have to install any drivers or firmware for your phone or PC to detect and use them. Some models do require you to install drivers but you can do that within a couple of minutes so that shouldn’t be much of a drawback. After you’ve connected a DAC, it should be displayed among your available playback options in the Settings/Preferences menu. Choose it from the offered list and set it to your preferred option for playback. Afterward, disconnect the devices you’re currently using (headphones, speakers, etc.) and connect them to the dedicated DAC you have just installed.
If you’ll spend a couple of hours on a forum where audiophiles discuss various devices and streaming services, and you’re bound to hear the term MQA mentioned several times. It’s short for Master Quality Authenticated, which is a file format available only on the Tidal streaming platform. It lets you stream high-res files online without dedicating a lot of bandwidth or losing quality. The technology behind how Tidal manages to achieve such high-quality streaming is hard to explain. In simple terms, they “fold” the large source file using different software until it’s small enough to be transferred via a standard WiFi connection.
