Outputs: 3.5mm singled-ended | Inputs: Accessible in USB-C and Lightning variations | Max file assist: 32-Bit/384kHz | Bluetooth: No

In the event you’re on the lookout for the only method to take heed to Apple Music Lossless, then the corporate’s personal $8 dongle is difficult to beat in phrases or high quality to cost. But it surely has a most decision of 24-bit/48 kHz. If you wish to break into Hello-Res Lossless then the KA11 from Fiio — with assist for audio at an eye-watering 32bit/384KHz — is the best approach. At $30, it’s additionally fairly inexpensive, too.

Fiio’s years of expertise making moveable hi-fi has been distilled into this tiny little dongle. Accessible in each Lighting and USC-C fashions (love the colour of the Apple mannequin), the KA11 packs numerous punch for one thing so small. On prime of the assist for very excessive audio resolutions, the KA11 additionally has a a lot larger output than most adapters — together with Apple’s. The result’s a lot louder music than your cellphone provides for many headphones, and with a greater DAC like this, you’ll discover a major enchancment in your audio system. If you have already got a pair of high-priced headphones with a low sensitivity (as many larger finish fashions are usually) then the KA11 will possible nonetheless have the ability to drive them. You would possibly even think about pairing it with a headphone amp for much more energy.

This little dongle isn’t restricted to telephones: the USB-C mannequin is suitable with laptops and PCs, too. In actual fact, it’s possible a good improve over the built-in sound for nearly something you plug it into. That’s true for the entire merchandise really helpful on this information, however you could be stunned to seek out that one thing this small may give your PC’s audio system a severe enhance. If there was a minor adverse, it might be that the KA11 doesn’t assist headset microphones, so if you happen to have been hoping to have the ability to deal with calls together with your headphones then bear that in thoughts.

With the KA11 being so small, there are not any bodily controls, so that you’ll alter quantity instantly on the cellphone or pc. The one suggestions you’ve got is a single LED that may change coloration relying on the audio it’s receiving (yellow signifies Hello-Res). Fiio additionally has a cellular app to entry further settings for its cellular merchandise which, proper now does embody the KA11, however solely on Android at time of publication.

Outputs: Bluetooth | Inputs: USB-C | Max file assist: 24-Bit/96kHz | Bluetooth: Sure | Weight: 0.16 ounces

Whereas most Android units assist some type of aptX, your PC won’t. You probably have an iPhone, it positively doesn’t assist aptX and neither will any Macs — Apple units solely supply customary Bluetooth with AAC encoding (320 kbit/s max bitrate). If you wish to be sure you’re getting extra bits (as much as 430 kbit/s) out of your music, throughout all of your units, Inventive’s BT-W5 Bluetooth adapter is each sensible and inexpensive.

The BT-W5 provides aptX, aptX HD and aptX Adaptive (which helps as much as 24-bit/96 kHz) and it’ll robotically select the very best one to your headphones. When you pair them with the adapter you may plug the BT-W5 into any music supply with USB-C for improved Bluetooth audio — there’s even a low latency mode good for streamers or enjoying video games on Change, for instance, with none lag.

You probably have an iPhone with a Lightning connector, the BT-W5 gained’t work with out an adapter, however it’s a neat method to get essentially the most out of your headphones with out having to improve every little thing else. The BT-W5 can bear in mind as much as 4 units of headphones, too, so if in case you have a pair for the commute and one other set for the health club, simply plug within the dongle and also you’re all set.

Outputs: 1x 3.5mm single-ended, 1x 4.4mm balanced | Inputs: USB-C | Max file assist: 32-Bit/384kHz | Bluetooth: No | Weight: 1.1 ounces

When you can squeeze a formidable quantity of audio tech right into a headphone adapter, a barely greater machine affords a good step up in each specs and options. Moondrop’s Moonriver T2i DAC is barely bigger than a pack of gum, and it has a classy design that doesn’t seem like a boring, generic dongle.

Importantly, the Moonriver T2i builds on the success of the corporate’s Moonriver 2 DAC. The “2” partly refers to using twin DAC chips right here, which delivers a “balanced” sign. Every channel can deal with as much as 32bit/384KHz decision and there are two headphone ports. One for normal 3.5mm headphones and one other for 4.4mm connections — making use of that balanced output. If that is your first step into the world of Hello-Fi DACs, you’re completely high quality with 3.5mm headphones, however some favor the 4.4mm connector because it offers extra energy and potential sign advantages, particularly if you happen to’re utilizing a headphone amp.

With the Moonriver T2i you’ve got a pair extra sensible benefits. For one, there are bodily quantity controls on the machine itself. In the event you ever felt that the 16 ranges of loudness on the iPhone (I simply counted) weren’t sufficient, then the 100 steps of adjustment on the Moonriver T2i (by way of companion software program) get rid of any worries about setting the music to the proper degree. In case your headphones have an in-line microphone, the excellent news is that this dongle will cross that by means of to your cellphone or PC so that you gained’t want a separate machine for calls.

Most significantly, the sound that comes out of the Moonriver T2i is vibrant and daring. You’ll hear audiophiles speak about sound stage, element and width, all you must know is that this DAC ticks off all of the buzzwords and serves up vibrant, strong sound that’s going to make any lossless/hi-res music actually shine.

Outputs: 1x 3.5mm singled-ended, 1x 4.4mm balanced | Inputs: 1x microUSB, 1x 3,5mm coaxial, 1x optical, 1x USB-C | Max file assist: 32-Bit/768kHz | Bluetooth: No | Weight: 10.8 ounces

In the event you’ve had some expertise with DACs and wish to ratchet issues up a notch or three, then the Mojo 2 from British firm Chord desires to have a phrase. At $650, that is positively within the high-end worth vary, however the expertise and options it provides make it value contemplating for severe audiophiles. However the brains behind the Mojo 2 have been making digital to analog converters just about since there was digital music to even convert. That have is what makes the Mojo 2 a favourite amongst music followers.

Most choices on this information are designed for cellular units first, the Mojo 2 is extra of a hybrid machine. The cellular dongles above all take their energy from the participant you join them to, which is handy, however clearly is much less form to your cellphone’s battery life. The Mojo 2 has an inner cell so gained’t tax the one in your cellphone or laptop computer. It’s sufficiently small to be moveable, however substantial sufficient to stay in your desk.

In contrast to most DACs that use off the shelf chips to deal with the digital-to-audio conversion, the Mojo 2 makes use of subject programmable gate array (FPGA) know-how to create its personal customized “chip.” It’s additionally highly effective sufficient to behave as each a DAC and a preamp, driving even power-hungry headphones with ease. We’ve seen FPGA acquire reputation in gaming circles for its skill to mimic varied consoles, however that very same flexibility is what makes it attention-grabbing to the audio engineers at Chord.

In the event you want one thing that’s capital L loud, then the Mojo 2 won’t disappoint. Proceed with warning right here. It’s truly highly effective sufficient to drive two pairs of headphones on the similar time and has two 3.5mm ports so you are able to do precisely that. The curious round buttons can be used to vary sound profiles with an excruciating degree of element.

The Mojo 2 has customary USB-C, microUSB, optical and coax inputs so it’s extra versatile than numerous its competitors on this regard. Though it’s value noting which you can solely cost the Mojo 2 by way of microUSB. In fact, there’s a cable supplied for this, however if you happen to’ve absolutely made the swap to USB-C, it’ll imply you need to guard the charging cable carefully.

Outputs: 1x 3.5mm singled-ended, 1x 4.4mm balanced | Inputs: 1x USB, 1x optical, 1x coaxial, 1x AUX | Max file assist: 32-Bit/384kHz | Bluetooth: No | Weight: 2.51 kilos

In the event you do most of your listening at dwelling, the K7 from Fiio is a good place to start out. The world of desktop DACs and headphone amplifiers might fill its personal information, however the K7 is each succesful, feature-filled and fairly priced. It features as each a DAC and a headphone amp, making it a stable all-in-one resolution for audiophiles constructing a house audio system.

With phono, coaxial, optical and USB inputs, the K7 from Fiio is ready to deal with music and audio from virtually any excessive constancy supply. Most conventional desktop audio interfaces assist playback of as much as 24 bit/48 kHz, the K7 can deal with information all the best way as much as 384 kHz at 32-bit – good for individuals who demand a greater DAC for high-resolution information, whether or not you are listening by way of headphones or a full audio system.

On the entrance you’ll discover two inputs: a 1/4-inch jack and a 4.4mm balanced headphone port together with an enormous ol’ quantity dial. Whereas its Hello-Fi aesthetic won’t be essentially the most razzle-dazzle, it does have an RGB LED across the dial to offer it a pop of coloration (it additionally modifications coloration relying on the “high quality” of your audio supply).

There are two variations of the K7, and if you happen to plonk down one other $50 you get Bluetooth receiver performance. This doesn’t imply you may join wi-fi headphones, fairly you may take heed to music from wi-fi sources, comparable to your cellphone whereas sustaining a bodily connection to your PC. In case your cellphone can serve up music in higher-resolution codecs like aptX HD, aptX Adaptive or LDAC (or if it could possibly’t, learn in regards to the BT-W5 above) you may take heed to it by means of the K7.