It will work fine with a computer, but because the Hip-dac2 doesnt draw its power from the computer, youll have to keep recharging the battery or leave the unit connected to a USB power supply. The technical storage or access is required to create user profiles to send advertising, or to track the user on a website or across several websites for similar marketing purposes. However, this information should be available from the source device. The latter should be a plus, ideally, because most electronics contain many recyclable materials, but the methods of recycling these products may have their own adverse impacts. In addition to the more than 1,500 headphones and audio accessories she has reviewed for Wirecutter, Lauren has also reviewed high-end home audio equipment for publications such as Home Entertainment, Home Theater Magazine, and Sound & Vision, and she has written about audio for such publications as Fast Company, Forbes, the Los Angeles Times, and Time. A DAC is a digital-to-analog converter, a device with a chip that does just what the name implies, taking the digital streaming signal and rendering it into an analog format for playback. In our measurements, the S3 Pro performed surprisingly well for its price. For PC/Android users, if you like the design, the Spectra X is okay, but our picks are more powerful and can decode more formats. After a new round of testing, we have all-new picks: The EarMen Eagle is our top pick, the iFi Hip-dac2 is our upgrade pick if you need more power, and the Hidizs S3 Pro is our budget pick. It offers loads of power for the price (124.9 mW into 32 ohms), but we read reports of intermittent connectionsand we experienced the same problem ourselves. In two separate tests, the S3 Pro was the only amp that Lauren singled out for comment, praising it for seeming to have a little more dexterity in the bass than the other under-$100 models. Its maximum output measured 56.6 milliwatts into 32 ohms, substantially better than what we saw from our previous top pick, the AudioQuest DragonFly Red, and only about 1.5 decibels less (a barely noticeable difference) than the EarMen Eagle could muster. It still offers a nice mix of power, sound quality, and convenience, but its been around for several years now, and many newer models offer more power for the same price or even less. DragonFly Black, the most affordable model of the award-winning DragonFly family, has been praised by Darko.Audio as the quintessential everyman hi-fi product, while its more sophisticated sibling, DragonFly Red, combines significantly improved performance with still exceptional value. The S3 Pro has a standard 3.5 mm headphone jack and an integrated cable tipped with a USB-C connector, and the package includes a USB-CtoUSB-A adapter. Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, This iFi model also supports MQA, a controversial technology, embraced by some audiophiles, that promises to improve performance when youre streaming MQA-processed audio from Tidal. Play YouTube or Vimeo videos. Even if you havent invested in a pair of expensive cans like the Focals, a DAC like the DragonFly Cobalt will still make a remarkable difference if youre using a standard studio model, such as Sonys MDR-7506 headphones. But more concentrated listening deserves the better reproduction a DAC can offer, and the compact and terrific-sounding DragonFly Cobalt is one of the best DACs weve ever tried, even if its on the pricey side. In our own tests, in which we do everything we can to eliminate bias and compare all of the contenders fairly, weve heard extremely tiny, and musically insignificant, differences among these models. Our comprehensive tests help you buy the very best for your money, with our advice sections giving you step-by-step information on how to get even more from your music and movies. The Hip-dac2 requires you to connect it to your audio device by plugging in a male USB-A connector, which is a little unusual, but it comes with the necessary cables to connect to USB-A and USB-C devices. Even most cheap headphone amps have low-enough output impedance that this isnt a problem. While the chips used in DragonFlys Black and Red are unbeatable for the price, the minimum-phase slow roll-off filter in the 9038 results in naturally expressive sound that is always emotionally engaging and never fatiguinga beautiful combination of warmth and detail that we find equally exciting and soothing. The most substantial upgrade, though, is only evident when you plug the DragonFly Cobalt in; its in the performance. From the balanced output, it produced 246.1 milliwatts into 32 ohms, 37.7 mW into 250 ohms, and 15.7 mW into 600 ohms. Click here to download the latest Device Manager available for your operating system. Its not perfect, but its close. Lauren likened the experience of comparing amp/DACs to tasting two batches of muffins: Say one batch has 1/16 teaspoon more salt in it than the other. Italian Jazz Soundtracks at Their Finest (1959-1969), streaming in 24-bit/96kHz on Qobuz. Successfully combating this noise is absolutely crucial to the preservation of the lowest-level musical details, particularly when it comes to high-res audioand especially when applied to a portable-audio device such as DragonFly. However, with the more typical R&B, rock, and pop mixes we played, the Eagle played plenty loud enough through the HE6se. Like all previous DragonFly models, Cobalt uses Gordon Rankin's precedent-setting StreamLength asynchronous-transfer USB code. As MQA Renderers, DragonFlys Black, Red, and Cobalt complete the unfolding process, allowing music lovers to enjoy a wider selection of high-res music. The Cobalt enters the market at a new premium price point for the companys range of portable digital-to-analogue converters, but backs up its asking price with the clearest, tidiest and most dynamic presentation weve heard from a unit this small. But we experienced connection problems with some source devices. The proctor matched the output levels by running a 1-kilohertz tone through each amp and measuring the output in millivolts using an NTi Audio Minilyzer ML1 audio analyzer. It was powerful enough to work okay with the 600-ohm Beyerdynamic DT 880 headphones in our tests, but it barely worked at all with the HiFiMan HE6se headphones we used. Plays all music files: MP3 to MQA and High-Res, Compatible with iOS devices (requires Apple Camera Adapter/Connection Kit), Compatible with Android devices (requires DragonTail or other USB Adaptor for Android Devices), Asynchronous transfer ensures digital timing integrity. He regularly gigs on double bass (and occasionally ukulele) with Los Angelesarea jazz groups. There are a couple of practical improvements too, namely the 10 per cent smaller enclosure and included DragonTail USB-A (female) to USB-C (male) adaptor for use with the growing number of electronics with connectivity for the latter. The Hip-dac2 is roughly the width of a typical smartphone but shorter (3 inches) and thicker (9/16 inch). I then connected each headphone amp to the Pixel 4a, connected the headphones to the amp, and matched the volume to the original playback volume of the phone, using a GRAS 43AG ear-and-cheek simulator and the sound-pressure level meter built into the Room EQ Wizard PC app. The whole unit measures only about 3 inches long. For what its worth, this EarMen amp also handles higher file resolutions than the AudioQuest model does: 32 bits/384 kHz for the Eagle versus 24/192 for the DragonFly Red. New, more advanced ESS ES9038Q2M DAC chip with a minimum-phase slow roll-off filter for more natural sound. If you need a powerful amp/DAC with mic pass-through, consider the THX Onyx. Cobalt features the same ESS Sabre 9601 headphone amp and bit-perfect volume control that give DragonFly Red its unique combination of power and grip over the music. People make a lot of claims about headphone amp/DACs and their ability to improve the sound quality of headphones. There are elements shared with the former What Hi-Fi? The package includes a USB-AtoUSB-C adapter for use with most Android phones, and the Eagle is also compatible with Apple iOS devicesthough in that case you need to buy an adapter, which adds to the cost. How is this possible? Questyle M12: This especially compact amp/DAC came within a fraction of a milliwatt of the THX Onyx on our 250- and 600-ohm power tests, which is impressive for a model at this price. We use cookies to optimize our website and our service. The DragonFly Cobalt uses a Sabre ES9038Q2M 32-bit audio DAC with a 140dB dynamic range and a Sabre 9601 headphone amplifier. The technical storage or access is strictly necessary for the legitimate purpose of enabling the use of a specific service explicitly requested by the subscriber or user, or for the sole purpose of carrying out the transmission of a communication over an electronic communications network. AudioQuest claims 1.2 volts or 4.5 mW, which is really more suitable for efficient earbuds. Successfully combating this noise is absolutely crucial to the preservation of the lowest-level musical details, particularly when it comes to high-res audioand especially when applied to a portable-audio device such as DragonFly. Surprisingly, the S3 Pro offers almost the same digital-file compatibility as the bigger, pricier Hip-dac2 does: standard PCM digital audio at resolutions up to 32 bits/384 kHz, and both DSD and MQA support. The XBass button boosts the bass, a feature that some people will enjoy even if we didnt. To do this, I set up my custom-built switcher, which enabled us to have four amps set up with four computers as sources and allowed each listener to compare the different amps without knowing their identities. Connecting to an iOS device requires a Lightning-to-USB adapter. But its not as powerful as the iFi Hip-dac2, and its availability has become spotty. All this goodness is packed into a sleek new case that measures just 2.26" x 0.73" x 0.47" (57.5mm x 18.6mm x 11.9mm), making the latest DragonFly 10% smaller and even a bit more pocket-friendly. Our only real complaint is nothing to do with the sound, only the quality of the DragonTail adaptor. Cobalt employs ESS's new flagship ES9038Q2M DAC chip. Heres why you can trust us. Like the critically acclaimed DragonFly Red, Cobalt has the robust 2.1-volt output to drive almost any headphone, uses a bit-perfect digital volume control for outstanding signal-to-noise ratio, enables seamless compatibility with Apple and Android devices, and is an exceptionally competent and affordable MQA Renderer. The only drawback is that its price is rather high, although we have recently seen it on sale for 25% off, at which it becomes a good deal. Our initial round of testing included the HiFiMan HE1000 V2, Shure SE535, and Sony MDR-7506, while our latest round employed the AKG K371, Beyerdynamic DT 880 (600-ohm version), Etymotic Evo, HiFiMan HE6se, and Sendy Peacock. The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Ultimately, it was the PHA-1As larger, heavier build and shorter battery life that nudged this model out of the winners circle. It struggles to remain connected to any of the phones we try it with, a combination of loose fitting and the weight of the Cobalt dragging it out every time we move. Lauren also found it to have lower-end bloat and a more 2D sound quality than most of the other DACs. The cable comprises four flexible, relatively thin strands twisted together, so its conceivable one of them could be nicked or even severed by a key in your pocket. The output impedance is 0.5 ohm. Because this category is so large, with new brands appearing often on Amazon and elsewhere, its impossible for us to offer comprehensive coverage of headphone amp/DACs. The EarMen logo on the top lights up in cyan when the amp is idling and in green when music is playing. Depending on how its measured, it produces up to almost four times as much power as our previous top pick, the AudioQuest DragonFly Red, yet it typically costs about 35% less. If you want a budget amp/DAC to drive headphones under 250 ohms, the 29512 will work just fine. Once upon a time, the only instance in which wed have paid this kind of money for a USB stick was if we were being blackmailed. In both senses there is measurable progress. This round brought the total number weve tested for this guide to 33. In addition, the Eagle lacks an internal battery and must get its power from your mobile device, but our tests showed that the battery drain is not significant. Micca OriGen G2: Though technically portable, this 5-inch-long amp is really more of a desktop model, with a large volume control on top, an optical digital input in addition to USB, and dual headphone outputs. Many albums recorded before about 1995 and never remastered are similarly quiet, so we wanted to make sure that any amp we recommended would be usable with all the recordings you might want to play, through any headphones you might want to use. Still, even those lower-resolution files will sound better with the Cobalt. An external DAC is an essential purchase for anyone looking to stream hi-res music from services like Apple Music, Qobuz, or Tidal, and the DragonFly Cobalt combines portability with incredible quality. You can read more about headphone impedance and sensitivity on Shures website. But it may not have enough power to drive headphones with a higher impedance (which is specified in ohms and defines how much resistance the headphones have to the flow of electrical current) or a lower sensitivity (which is specified in decibels and defines how loud the headphones play with a given amount of power). In today's fast-paced digital world, longevity in a hi-fi component is increasingly rareat any price. The Jabra Elite 85h Bluetooth headphones sound great, and theyre a pleasure to wear and use, which is why they are our top pick. Because we know that not all headphones are created equal, and may not respond in the same way to a headphone amp/DAC, we tested our contenders using specifically chosen headphones, including over-ear models with different driver types and widely varying sensitivity, and earphones using balanced armatures. Here are the criteria we developed to determine which headphone amps to call in and test, as well as which ones should ultimately become our picks: With the above criteria in mind, we searched for new portable headphone amps to test by going through dozens of audio-company and retail sites; scanning reviews in audio publications such as Sound & Vision, What Hi-Fi, SoundStage Xperience, and Stereophile; and checking out audio forums like Head-Fi and AVS Forum. *At the time of publishing, the price was $130. The Eagles downsides are minor. As for Android and PC-laptop use, the Spectra X fares fine on 32-ohm gear. We didnt find anything distinctive in the character of its sound, which is a good thing. The added depth and detail from the Cobalt is immediately apparent, especially on a track like The Mainline Song that features elaborate train sound effects and a choir. As with the EarMen Eagle, only a -inch (3.5 mm) headphone jack is provided for output. Microchip's superb PIC32MX274 microprocessor draws less current and increases processing speed by 33%.