by Peter |
Last Updated: July 17, 2022 Check out our product review of the best portable usb dacs. We tried 10 models and can tell you the absolute best varieties.
In Hurry? Checkout Our Top Pick Of Best Portable Usb Dacs.
Our Top Pick
9.7/10 our score
Best Portable Usb Dacs
| Rank | Product Name | Score |
|---|---|---|
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1
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USB C DAC-USB C Headphone Adapter-Portable 32 Bit Headphone Amplifier-Type C to 3.5mm Jack Adapter-Premium Sound Enhancer for Google Pixel 3 4XL Samsung Galaxy S20 Note 10 10+(USB Type C)
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9. 7
|
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2
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Original Portable HD Gaming USB DAC for Logitech G Pro Gaming Headset - Black
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9. 5
|
|
3
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EarMen Eagle High-Performance Portable USB DAC and Headphone Amp - PCM, DxD, and DSD
|
9. 1
|
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4
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FiiO Headphone Amps Portable DAC USB Type-C coaxial 384kHz/32bit (E10K-TC Black)
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8. 8
|
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5
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iFi Hip-dac2 - Portable Balanced DAC Headphone Amplifier for Android, iPhone with USB Input Only/Outputs: 3.5mm Unbalanced / 4.4mm Balanced – MQA Decoder
|
8. 6
|
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6
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FiiO JadeAudio KA3 Headphone Amps Tiny Amplifier USB DAC High Resolution Supports 32bit/768kHz and DSD512 Headphone Outputs 3.5mm/4.4mm for Smartphone/Laptop/PC/Player
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8. 2
|
|
7
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MoonDrop MOONRIVER 2 2*CS43198 DSD256 Decoder 3.5mm 4.4mm AMP 32Bit/384kHz Portable USB DAC Amplifier
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8. 0
|
|
8
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HiBy FC3 USB DAC HiFi Audio Headphone Amplifier dongle dac PCM DSD MQA 8X RGB Indicator Volume Control Plug and Play Supports Microphone 3.5mm Output Black
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7 .7
|
|
9
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Headphone Amplifier Portable USB DAC Balanced High Resolution DSD512 ES9038Q2M 32bit 768kHz 3.5mm&2.5mm Output for Phone/Player/Nintendo Switch/Laptop/PC - SHANLING UA2
|
7. 4
|
|
10
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Portable USB DAC Headphone Amp DSD512 ES9038Q2M RT6863 3.5mm Unbalanced&4.4mm Balanced Output for Phone/Player/Nintendo Switch/Laptop/PC - SHANLING UA5
|
7. 2
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1. USB C DAC-USB C Headphone Adapter-Portable 32 Bit Headphone Amplifier-Type C to 3.5mm Jack Adapter-Premium Sound Enhancer for Google Pixel 3 4XL Samsung Galaxy S20 Note 10 10+(USB Type C)
1
9.7/10 our score
Features
- Premium Quality DAC Dongle- Built in a USB Audio Class 2.0 DAC Realtek‘s High Definition Audio Codecs,ADC support two channels mic mix input
- HI-RES GOOD SOUND - the higher sampling rate 384kHz/32bit results in better restoration of the original virtual signal, further improved sound quality, and listening to high quality music anytime and anywhere. more accurately restore the original sound performance of the studio.
- USB C Headphone DAC Adapter - TRRS 3.5 to usb c DAC upgrade the record sample rate to 48khz/16bit two channels mix input，High Definition Audio lossless output，provides dynamic adaptive adjustment, easy to promote HiFi headphones, stereo earbuds up to 35mW 32Ohm. enjoyment of the On-The-Go headphones dac dongle.
- USB C Earbuds Aux Adapter with mic - Built with high-quality materials to ensure superior durability， Compact size and Minimalist design: weighing only 0.14 oz, easy to carry， 0.5mm longer than normal, be effectively match a mobile phone with a protective case
- Wide Compatibility - Works with a wide range of USB-C (Thunderbolt 3) iPad Pro MacBooks android devices Xbox PS5 game consloes and even Windows 10 laptops chromebook
2. Original Portable HD Gaming USB DAC for Logitech G Pro Gaming Headset - Black
2
9.5/10 our score
Features
- Original Portable HD Gaming USB DAC for Logitech G Pro Gaming Headset - Black
- In original manufacturer's packaging
- Genuine Logitech Gaming part.
- PRO QUALITY AUDIO
3. EarMen Eagle High-Performance Portable USB DAC and Headphone Amp - PCM, DxD, and DSD
3
9.1/10 our score
Features
- EarMen Eagle is a high-performance pocket-friendly USB DAC and Headphone Amp. It plays all 32bit/384kHz formats including PCM, DXD and DSD, and is compatible with iPhones, Android, MacOS and Windows with no need to manually install any drivers. Just plug and play.
- Featuring Audiophile SABRE DAC - Powered by ESS ES9281, which provides high-end audio performance with distortion plus noise (THD+N) less than 0.002%, ensuring Sonic Purity and Natural Sound.
- Low-Noise Design - EarMen Eagle uses Super LOW ESR tantalum capacitors, high grade components in the power-supply, and 4 layer gold plated PCB technology to reduce noise to a minimum. This improves super fine details, especially in Hi-Res audio tracks where you can feel and hear the difference.
- Gold plated PCB - EarMen Eagle’s PCB is 4 layer gold-plated and manufactured in-house using CNC drilling and pattern plating techniques. This produces a PCB that is unmatched in terms of quality and performance, guaranteeing minimal loss of sound quality.
- Design - After many years of experience in the audio industry, our engineers have used their knowledge to develop a device that will provide you with great sound. The EarMen Eagle is light-weight, but with robust aluminum enclosure and beautiful glass design details giving it a premium look. Its compact design lets you use EarMen Eagle wherever you want.
4. FiiO Headphone Amps Portable DAC USB Type-C coaxial 384kHz/32bit (E10K-TC Black)
4
8.8/10 our score
Features
- 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
- Quality Chips to Delight your Ears: The DAC is the PCM5102, with improvements to the flatness and delays of the internal digital filter meaning better sound quality and less audio delay. A high current amp circuit ensures good output power with great transient response
- 2 Gain Levels and BASS Boost: The E10K-TC comes with high/low gain adjustment as well as a bass boost. High gain is for higher impedance headphones that may need the extra volume, while the bass boost satisfies different listener's preferences when listening to various types of music
- Low Noise Floor: Optimized active low pass and BASS circuit design ensure low noise floor in any situation, so your music is truly played back faithfully
5. iFi Hip-dac2 - Portable Balanced DAC Headphone Amplifier for Android, iPhone with USB Input Only/Outputs: 3.5mm Unbalanced / 4.4mm Balanced – MQA Decoder
5
8.6/10 our score
Features
- 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
- POWERFUL AMPLIFIER - Suited to your style, listen to in ear monitors or drive over the ear headphones with 400 mW max power output from the on-board amplifier
- EASY CONNECTIVITY – Connects directly to your smartphone with the USB Input, and works with balanced 4.4mm or S-Bal 3.5mm headphone plugs for ultimate convenience and versatility
- UPGRADED - The hip-dac2 has been upgraded to give you an even more pleasurable portable audio experience, it now is a full MQA decoder and has an upgraded GMT Clock.
6. FiiO JadeAudio KA3 Headphone Amps Tiny Amplifier USB DAC High Resolution Supports 32bit/768kHz and DSD512 Headphone Outputs 3.5mm/4.4mm for Smartphone/Laptop/PC/Player
6
8.2/10 our score
Features
- 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.
- Compatible with lots of systems: KA3 portable USB DAC compatible with various OSes like Android/iOS/Windows/Mac, you could use it connect with your smartphone/computer/player.
- Practical and beautiful RGB touch: Besides exuding elegance, the RGB light indicator usefully indicates the current sampling rate. Blue light: 48kHz and below sampling rate, yellow light: 48kHz and above sampling rate, green light: DSD
- Low noise floor: Clean sound for a great sound, featuring abundant power with high signal-to-noise ratio, low distortion, and almost 0 noise – this is true high-fidelity sound.
7. MoonDrop MOONRIVER 2 2*CS43198 DSD256 Decoder 3.5mm 4.4mm AMP 32Bit/384kHz Portable USB DAC Amplifier
7
8/10 our score
Features
- Compatible with 4.4mm balanced headphones and 3.5 headphones
- The MOONRIVER 2 transmits data and supplies power through a USB type-C interface
- 131dB high signal-to-noise ratio
- MOONRIVER 2 adopts two CS43198 decoder chips
- Support to CD lossless 16Bit/44.1kHz encoding, 24Bit/192kHz encoding at high-definition mastering level, 32Bit/384kHz encoding, DSD256 ultra-high-definition audio source
8. HiBy FC3 USB DAC HiFi Audio Headphone Amplifier dongle dac PCM DSD MQA 8X RGB Indicator Volume Control Plug and Play Supports Microphone 3.5mm Output Black
8
7.7/10 our score
Features
- Portable high resolution Audio headphone amplifier&USB DACThe built-in ES9281pro DAC chips is behind the all-format HiFi decoding power of the FC3. Support for PCM up to 32bit/384kHz and DSD128 DoP. Hi-Res audio quality Certified by the Japan Audio Society for high resolution audio.
- MQA authenticated dongle FC3 includes MQA Renderer technology, bringing unprecedented detail to Hi-Res albums, delivering studio sound. Combined with applications such as Tidal/HiBy Music to realize MQA 2x unfold. After subscribing to MQA function in HiBy Music app, you can use the FC3 to unfold MQA audio up to 8x!
- Type-C USB DAC Headphone AmpThe interface of HiBy FC3 is Type-C digital input and 3.5mm output, which supports connection to computers, mobile phones, music players and other devices.
- plug and play No charging required, Use as your computer's sound card. FC3 can be used for Mac OS/Win10 and above systems without driver (For the system under Win10 needs to download the driver later use).when connected to a mobile phone, open the Exclusive HQ USB Audio Access mode of the HiBy Music App, which can directly output digital audio signals to obtain the sound quality of hifi.(For iOS system devices need to purchase Lightning to Type-C short cable)
- aluminium alloy body, With its simple elegant lines, classic and durable. There are 30-step hardware volume buttons control on the side for more convenient volume control.with RGB indicator light，light comes up in different colours according to the currently playing music format / sample rate.High output power, 70+70mW@32Ω is a high output power for a USB headphone dongle, to power all sorts of HiFi headphones. Low power consumption stops the drain on your smartphone and keeps your music going.
9. Headphone Amplifier Portable USB DAC Balanced High Resolution DSD512 ES9038Q2M 32bit 768kHz 3.5mm&2.5mm Output for Phone/Player/Nintendo Switch/Laptop/PC - SHANLING UA2
9
7.4/10 our score
Features
- Portable USB DACUA2 headphone amp equipped with ESS ES9038Q2M DAC, supporting 32bit/768kHz and DSD512.
- Balanced OutputsAmplifier comes equipped with 2 headphone outputs, 3.5mm single-ended and 2.5mm balanced output, both powerful enough to easily drive a variety of your headphones.
- Suited for Most DevicesPortable headphone DAC compatible with various OS like Android/iOS/Windows/Mac/Nintendo Switch, you could use it connect most video device.
- High-Resolution Amplifier:ES9038Q2M DAC Chip & RT6863 Amp Chip designed to deliver high-resolution audio formats up to 768kHz, offering a totally portable yet excellent sounding setup with your device!
- Clean output for a great sound, featuring abundant power with high signal-to-noise ratio, low distortion, and almost zero noise – this is true high-fidelity sound.
10. Portable USB DAC Headphone Amp DSD512 ES9038Q2M RT6863 3.5mm Unbalanced&4.4mm Balanced Output for Phone/Player/Nintendo Switch/Laptop/PC - SHANLING UA5
10
7.2/10 our score
Features
- Double ES9038Q2M Chip and native DSD512: Equipped with 2*ES9038Q2M chip & 2* Ricore RT6863, UA5 headphone amplifier is capable of decoding up to 32 bit / 768kHz PCM and native DSD512.
- OLED displayAdding wheel for independent volume control, monochromatic OLED display for access to all extra setting, reliable 4.4mm balanced connector for robust connection and even special hybrid battery power mode.
- Hybrid Battery Mode220mAH battery dedicated to powering its analog audio circuit of DACs and amplifiers. Offering up to 6 hours of clean power and consistent sound quality for any device.
- Fully Balanced SystemIn-house developed FPGA system and highly precise crystal oscillator, portable headphone amplifier can process all data with improved accuracy and enhanced performance of both PCM and DSD.3.5mm connector can be used as an USB to coaxial SPDIF converter between smartphone and high-end home DAC.
- Ultra-Low Noise OutputExtremely black background with zero unwanted noise is crucial for a proper high-fidelity sound, designed for a low noise floor with all devices.