The Best Dac Amp Reviews & Buyers Guide in 2023

Sarah Davenport
Apr 1, 2023 7:00 AM

A Digital-to-Analog Converter (DAC) amp is a device that converts digital audio signals into analog audio signals for playback through speakers or headphones. When looking for the best DAC amp, there are several important factors to consider, including sound quality, compatibility, and convenience.

What is a dac amp?

A DAC (Digital to Analog Converter) amp is an electronic device that converts digital audio signals into analog signals that can be played through speakers or headphones. DAC amps are commonly used with digital sources such as computers, smartphones, and digital music players to improve the quality of sound.

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TOP Choice

Qudelix-5K Bluetooth USB DAC AMP with LDAC, aptX Adaptive, aptX

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WPL Score

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9.4
Brand
QUDELIX
Prime

Dual ES9219 HiFi DAC 2.5mm Balanced (4V RMS) 3.5mm Unbalanced (2V RMS)
Qualcomm QCC5124 Bluetooth Chipset HFP / HSP / A2DP / AVRCP LDAC / aptX Adaptive / aptX HD / AAC more

TOP Choice

FiiO K5 Pro Headphone Amps Portable Desktop DAC and Amplifier

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9.4
Brand
FiiO
Prime

AK4493 DAC chips for the ultimate in decoding performance, supporting up to 768kHz/32bit and native DSD
Equipped with XMOS XUF208 USB receiver chip+AKM AK4493 DAC+ Op-amps OPA1642 + flagship TI TPA6120 more

TOP Choice

FiiO K5Pro Amplifier Headphone Amps Stereo High Resolution Portable Desktop

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9.4
Brand
FiiO
Prime

[High-performance DAC&USB decoding chip]: The K5Pro ESS headphone amps achieves new heights in sound quality and comes with a high level of resolution sound. ES9038PRO with 32-bit processing, along with the XUF208 USB decoding chip with 768kHz and DSD256 inputs, and it also upportes mobile phone connectivity.
[Variety of inputs]: Supports coaxial/optical/RCA line-in inputs, with optical and coaxial inputs supporting up to 192kHz inputs, K5Pro ESS amplifier is convenient for connecting various music players and digital interfaces. more

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FiiO K3 Type-C USB DAC Headphone Amp

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9.2
Brand
FiiO

Features
Usb Type-C DAC: supports up to 384kHz/32bit more

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FiiO Headphone Amps Portable DAC USB Type-C coaxial 384kHz/32bit (E10K-TC

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9.0
Brand
FiiO

Easy to Operate Design: The refined E10K-TC is tiny enough to carry with you wherever you go but is also right at home on your desk to make your music sound great anywhere, the small yet easy-to-operate design makes it a perfect companion for listening
Impeccable XMOS Decoding: The E10K-TC comes with the flagship XMOS XUF208 for better USB decoding. Compared to the original E10K, the USB Audio class has been upgraded to 2.0, and PCM is now supported up to 32 bit/384kHz sampling rates to better capture the details in your music more

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Fosi Audio Q4 Headphone Amplifier Mini Stereo DAC 24-Bit 192

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9.0
Brand
Fosi Audio
Prime

Q4 DAC headphone amplifier is designed with RCA/PC-USB/optical/coaxial/ inputs and 3.5MM headphone outputs can fit with most home audio system and headphones. (Note: Q4 do not support Microphone). RCA output can be connected to amplifier or powered speakers on your desktop. Built-in Hi-Fi headphone amp chip can drive most 16 Ohm to 200 Ohm headphones.
Q4 Heaphone USB DAC Adopts the Texas Instruments NE5532 high-performance operational amplifiers chip combining excellent DC and AC characteristics. Q4 features very low noise, high output-drive capability, high unity-gain, and maximum-output-swing bandwidths, low distortion, high slew rate, input-protection diodes, and output short-circuit protection.Q4 has specified maximum limits for equivalent input noise voltage. more

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iFi Hip-dac2 - Portable Balanced DAC Headphone Amplifier for Android,

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9.0
Brand
iFi
Prime

✅PORTABLE DESIGN - Your music will never stop with 6-8 hrs of battery life (depending on use) and a slim, lightweight design perfect for carrying in your pocket wherever life takes you.
✅HIGH RESOLUTION AUDIO - From Spotify to Tidal MQA to MP3 and beyond, play any high res audio format with native digital to analog conversion so you can listen to any song the way the original recording was intended more

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Audioengine D1 Portable Desktop Headphone Amp and DAC, Preamp, USB/Optical

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9.0
Brand
Audioengine
Prime

LEVEL-UP YOUR LISTENING: You deserve better sound. Play high-resolution music from Apple Music, Amazon Music and Tidal with stunning clarity you'll notice immediately. An external DAC allows you to hear the detail in music the way the artist intended. The D1 is a premium digital-to-analog converter (DAC), headphone amplifier and preamp that’s perfect for your desktop or on the go.
TRULY USEFUL FEATURES: USB and optical audio inputs for all your sources, computer/phone/tablet support, RCA line-output, precise front panel volume control, and audiophile-quality components inside and out. The D1 can be powered by a phone or tablet yet still drives high-performance headphones. more

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FiiO Headphone Amps Portable DAC USB Type-C coaxial 384kHz/32bit (E10K-TC

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9.0
Brand
FiiO
Prime

Easy to Operate Design: The refined E10K-TC is tiny enough to carry with you wherever you go but is also right at home on your desk to make your music sound great anywhere, the small yet easy-to-operate design makes it a perfect companion for listening
Impeccable XMOS Decoding: The E10K-TC comes with the flagship XMOS XUF208 for better USB decoding. Compared to the original E10K, the USB Audio class has been upgraded to 2.0, and PCM is now supported up to 32 bit/384kHz sampling rates to better capture the details in your music more

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Topping DX3 Pro+ ES9038Q2M Bluetooth 5.0 LDAC Audio Decoder DSD512

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WPL Score

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8.8
Brand
Fanmusic
Prime

Bluetooth 5.0 LDAC transmission ：DX3Pro+ has the certification of Hi-Res Audio Wireless and LDAC. It uses newest QCC5125 chipset to support LDAC/AAC/SBC/APTX/APTX LL/APTX HD protocol. To get even better sound quality from Bluetooth, we abandon the built-in DAC of QCC5125 and connect its digital signal to ES9038Q2M to decode.
NFCA circuit ：The new DX3 Pro+ has the NFCA circuit optimized for this unit, giving the ultra low noise and distortion. It pairs with high sensitivity IEMs and power hungry high impedance headphones nicely. more

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Sound BlasterX G6 Hi-Res 130dB 32bit/384kHz Gaming DAC, External USB

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8.8
Brand
Creative
Prime

UPGRADE YOUR GAMES ON PS4, XBOX ONE, NINTENDO SWITCH, AND PC | Get immediate increased enjoyment over basic motherboard and controller audio! Apart from incredible audio quality, the Sound BlasterX G6 boasts gaming-centric features such as Sidetone volume control and easy-to-reach profile buttons
INDUSTRY-LEADING AUDIO PROCESSING TECHNOLOGY Enjoy full audio customization and enhanced audio realism with immersive 7.1 surround virtualization, accurate cues, bass boost and in-game voice communication enhancements. It also has Scout Mode than enhances in-game audio cues, letting you hear your enemies before they hear you more

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FiiO JadeAudio KA3 Headphone Amps Tiny Amplifier USB DAC High

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8.8
Brand
FiiO
Prime

[Get lossless sound]: KA3 headphone amps equipped with the powerful and proven ESS ES9038Q2M, supporting 32bit/768kHz and DSD512.
[Get dual headphone outputs]: KA3 mini amplifier comes equipped with 2 headphone outputs, a 3.5mm single-ended and a 4.4mm balanced output, both powerful to easily drive a variety of your headphones. more

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FX-Audio DAC-X6 Mini HiFi 2.0 Digital Audio Decoder DAC Input

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8.6
Brand
KGUSS
Prime

Unique Design: Compact and adaptable, connect to active speakers via RCA to improve sound quality, or for use as a powerful headphone amp.NOTICE:DAC-X6 volume adjustment only works on headphones. Headphone and RCA output will emit sound at the same time when the DAC-X6 is working. You can turn off your active speakers or amplifiers according to your needs
A variety of input and output modes: The amps can be PC-USB, optical fiber, coaxial three inputs, can be connected to TV set-top box, DVD, DCD; output mode has RAC, 6.35mm headphone port 2, can be connected to power amplifier, tube vacuum amp, active speaker more

Most Saving

Syba Sonic 24bit 96KHz USB DAC Stereo Headphone Amplifier 2

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8.6
Brand
Syba
Prime

The Cm6533 Intelligent Noise Reduction Chip Filters Noise And Noise, And The Sound Quality Is More Full, And The High-Fidelity Sound Quality Is Restored.
The Recording Standard Of The Studio With Higher Than Cd Sound Quality Is Up To 24Bit/96Khz, So You Can Enjoy The Audio Quality Of The Fever. more

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FiiO JadeAudio KA1 Headphone Amps Tiny Amplifier USB DAC High

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8.2
Brand
FiiO
Prime

[Supports high resolution sound]: KA1 mini headphone amp supports up to 32bit/384kHz PCM and DSD512 high-end decoding.
[Compatible with Android/Windows]: KA1 tiny amplifier can support multi-devices, supports smartphone/portable player/tablet/computer. more

Last update on 2023-04-01 / Affiliate links / Images, Product Titles, and Product Highlights from Amazon Product Advertising API

FAQs

Source: cheapaudioman

What is a DAC amp used for?

A DAC amp is used to convert digital audio signals into analog signals, which can then be played through speakers or headphones. It's often used to improve the sound quality from digital sources like computers or smartphones.

What are the benefits of using a DAC amp?

A DAC amp can improve the sound quality of digital audio sources by reducing noise and distortion, and providing a cleaner and more detailed sound.

What should I look for when buying a DAC amp?

When buying a DAC amp, look for one with a high-quality DAC chip and a good analog output stage. Also, consider the connectivity options, such as USB, coaxial, or optical inputs.

How does a DAC amp differ from a regular amplifier?

A DAC amp is a type of amplifier that includes a DAC (digital to analog converter) to convert digital audio signals into analog signals. A regular amplifier only amplifies analog audio signals.

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Conclusions

In conclusion, the best DAC amp will depend on your individual needs and preferences. However, the Chord Mojo, the DragonFly Black, and the Fiio Q5s are all excellent options that offer high-quality sound and versatility at an affordable price. It is important to consider your budget, compatibility with your devices, and your specific needs when choosing a DAC amp.

2 ratings

Sarah Davenport

Whilst the entirety of Splendour in the Grass 2019 was a dream, my favourite music memory took place on a late night flight to Byron. Leaving Melbourne in the warmest jacket I could find (which would surprisingly still leave me cold during Byron’s winter nights), I was metaphorically and literally above the clouds. I took a glance at the full moon as Tame Impala’s ‘Let It Happen’ started playing through my headphones and fell into some sort of trance. Anyone who’s heard ‘Let It Happen’ knows the journey it takes you on. It’s nearly eight minutes of letting the universe take its course, letting it go and frankly, letting it happen. I’d heard it hundreds of times before the flight, but not like this. All the issues I was dealing with back down on earth seemed so minuscule when in the sky and for the first time in a long time, while having a staring contest with the full moon, nothing else mattered. It was just me, the moon and the realisation that it was up to me to make the most out of every situation life throws at me. The next time I heard ‘Let It Happen’ was at Tame Impala’s Splendour set and I cried the whole way through. Every listen after that flight brought me back to that moment of self realisation, giving me the breath of fresh air we all need from time to time.