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Astell & Kern's latest mobile DAC brings 32-bit audio with fewer sacrifices
Astell & Kern has unveiled a new phone-friendly DAC that delivers 32-bit audio without as many compromises.
Khadas' Tea DAC is a compelling MagSafe accessory
DACs, or headphone amplifiers, have become more popular since the rise of lossless music streaming. Tea stands out as it's MagSafe compatible, so no more mega-dongle hanging off your phone.
THX's tiny Onyx USB-C DAC is $50 off at Amazon
THX's tiny USB-C DAC is on sale at Amazon for $150 through the end of November.
THX's Onyx is a tiny USB-C headphone DAC that supports master-quality audio
THX's first consumer hardware is a portable USB-C DAC that gives wired headphones a powerful audio upgrade for $200.
Analogue’s DAC lets gamers play their throwback consoles on CRT TVs
When you hear the term "DAC," you probably think of the gadgets that audiophiles use to convert digital audio data to headphone-compatible signals. Analogue's DAC, though, converts digital video data to analog signals, allowing gamers to play retro HDMI consoles (such as Analogue's own Mega Sg) on CRT TVs and analog video monitors.
These robotic 'trees' can turn CO2 into concrete
Climate change is killing our planet. The excess production of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gasses are filling the atmosphere and warming the Earth faster than natural processes can effectively negate them. Since 1951, the surface temperature has risen by 0.8 degrees C, with no sign of slowing. So now it's time for humans to step in and rectify the problem they created -- by using technology to suck excess CO2 straight from the air.
SteelSeries' gaming-friendly DAC is now available by itself
SteelSeries' GameDAC has been a solid way to boost the quality of gaming audio (and virtually any other audio), but there's been a catch: to use it, you've had to buy an Arctis Pro headset rather than bring your own cans. That won't be an issue after today. The company is now selling the GameDAC by itself for $130 (€150), letting you plug in virtually any 3.5mm headphone set to use with your PC or PS4. You'll want a high quality set if you're going to make full use of the device's fidelity. If you have one on hand, though, the ESS Sabre 9018 DAC inside promises more distinct sounds, tighter bass, better positional sound (through DTS Headphone:X 2.0) and 24-bit/96kHz support from compatible sound sources. An OLED screen and physical controls let you fine-tune the output on a PS4.
Qualcomm made a USB-C DAC to show off its hi-fi audio tech
If you're familiar with the name Qualcomm at all, you may know them best as the maker of Snapdragon processors that power many, if not most, of the market's leading smartphones. But Qualcomm doesn't just make CPUs and modems, and it can now add dedicated Hi-Fi DACs (or digital-to-analog converters) to its list of products. At its Tech Summit today, the company announced its first dedicated Hi-Fi audio DAC, which has a very memorable name -- AQT1000.
LG shrank its dual-screen V20 to make the Q8
If you hankered after LG's V20, but wanted it to be a bit smaller and a bit cheaper, then you should probably take a peek at the new Q8. It's the company's latest mass-market smartphone for the sort of folks who don't want to splash out mad stacks on a flagship. The 5.2-inch device is packing the same notable features as its predecessor, including the ESS Quad DAC, dual cameras and secondary / overflow display.
LG's V20 will sound great... with wired headphones
Some portions of the technology industry would like you to think that smartphones without headphone jacks are the future. LG feels differently, and has teamed up with high-end audio firm ESS to bake in a 32-bit HiFi Quad Digital-To-Analog converter into the forthcoming V20. Unlike standard DACs, this model is promised to cut ambient noise in half and make your tunes sound as if you're listening on some high-end separates. The bit that's worth noting, however, is that this new-fangled audio prowess will only work if you're rocking a set of cabled headphones.
USB-C and Lightning headphones aren't great news for everyone
The 3.5mm port is dying -- at least when it comes to smartphones. If the persistent Lightning headphone rumor wasn't enough to persuade you, the fact that Motorola beat Apple to the punch should be. Motorola's new Moto Z and Moto Z Force don't have that familiar circular hole for your cans to plug into, and it now seems inevitable that almost every phone within a few years will forgo the port in favor of a single socket for both charging and using headphones. This is a change that few people actually want. It's driven entirely by the makers of our phones and their desire to ditch what they view as an unnecessary port.
Audioengine's HD6 powered speakers pack Bluetooth and a built-in amp
If you're not familiar with the name Audioengine in regards to speakers and other audio gear, allow us to introduce you. The company may not be a big-name brand, but it has a knack for stellar sounding tech. Adding to its arsenal this week, Audioengine debuted the HD6 powered speakers. Inside the dapper wood veneers and magnetic speaker grilles, there's a built-in amplifier, 24-bit optical input from the company's D1 digital-to-analog converter (DAC) and high-fidelity Bluetooth with aptX. Audioengine says it took pieces from some its best-selling gear and combined them with its signature sound inside the new retro-styled cabinets. All of the usual connections and remote control are there as well, making the HD6 a solid option for handling the audio from your mobile device, turntable, television and more. In addition to the aforementioned walnut and cherry wood finishes, you'll also have the option of satin black. The Audioengine HD6 speakers are available now for $749, so get ready to empty your piggy bank.
Apogee Groove improves headphone audio, for a price
It's been awhile since I've spent much time with Apogee's audio gear. In my early Engadget days, I reviewed both the Jam and MiC, two portable recording accessories that turned the iPad into a tracking center for guitars, vocals and podcasts. Earlier this year, the company revealed the Groove, putting years of pro audio experience to work improving subpar headphone audio. The diminutive metal device sits comfortably between your go-to headphones and laptop, providing a massive sound boost despite being about as small as a pack of gum. So, what's the catch? Well, if you're familiar with Apogee, you know its gear isn't cheap. Does the Groove provide enough oomph to warrant its $300 price tag? That depends on your listening habits.
Apogee's tiny USB headphone amp is now available for $295
When it was announced back in January, Apogee promised to deliver its Groove USB headphone amp and digital-to-analong converter (DAC) this spring. Well, the company kept its word as the audio accessory is now available for $295. What does a few hundred dollars buy you? Groove touts up to 24 bit/192kHz audio thanks to a Quad Sum DAC that puts four converters on each channel to keep the audio sounding top notch. There's also a feature called Constant Current Drive that adapts to the frequencies of your headphones to make them sound better. On the front of the aluminum frame, volume controls and LEDs easily handle level changes and muting. What's more, the add-on is USB powered, so you won't have to futz with another cable or batteries -- just think of it a set of super-sized (and super powerful) in-line controls. The folks at Apogee have a knack for building stellar audio gear, so we're anxious to see how this gadget stacks up.
Onkyo's music player is also DAC and headphone amp for your phone
The chatter surrounding high fidelity listening devices and services picked up over the last year or so (thanks, Neil Young), and Onkyo hopes its new 3-in-1 device will lure you to the land of high definition. The company's aluminum-wrapped DAC-HA300 is not only a portable music player for audiophiles, but it also serves as both a headphone amp and digital-to-analog converter (DAC) for iOS and Android devices, or even your office workstation. With its primary function, the PMP can wrangle up to 128GB of tunes via a microSD card for 192 kHz/24-bit listening, while also serving as a headphone amp for that set of cans you take along on the daily.
Apogee's USB headphone amp is an audio boost in a tiny package
If you're looking to improve the sound coming from your laptop while working on the go, Apogee may have the fix. At this week's NAMM trade show, the company announced Groove: a small USB digital-to-analog converter (DAC) and amp that aims to boost quality without taking up a considerable amount of extra room. In fact, the unit appears to be about the size of a thumb drive. Groove works with both Mac and PC, tackling up to 24 bit/192kHz audio for both headphones and powered speakers with on-board controls for muting and volume adjustments. The add-on is USB powered, so there's no need to worry about batteries or changing, and the aluminum frame houses Quad Sum DAC tech that uses four converters per channel to keep tracks crisp and clear. There's no word on pricing just yet, but the accessory is set to arrive this spring, and when it does, we'll be taking it for a test drive.
Philips, not Beats, announces first Lightning-equipped headphones (update)
Back at WWDC, Apple announced a new spec for its Made For iPhone program: the ability to use a Lightning cable to connect headphones with iOS devices. With that in mind, and Apple's recent purchase of Beats, many (myself included) assumed that Dr. Dre and Co. would be the first to unveil a set of cans featuring the newfangled feature. Nope. Today, Philips announced that its Fidelio M2L set that will digitally connect with the diminutive jack rather than the 3.5mm port, with a built-in 24-bit digital to analog converter (DAC) to boost sound quality. In addition to the higher-resolution audio, using the Lightning connector will also cut down on crosstalk and noise. Unfortunately, the increased quality appears to be the only spot Philips leveraged the port's abilities as there's no mention of controls and the like. If these look familiar, you might remember the Fidelio M1BT that debuted last year carrying similar stylings. Ready to take the leap? Well, you'll have to wait until December, but when the M2L headphones arrive, they'll set you back €250 (around $323 converted).
Tubecore wants you to hack and mod its beautiful, modular speaker
Let's be honest: Wireless speakers are a dime a dozen. The options are seemingly endless, and new ones arrive on an almost daily basis. Companies have begun to push the boundaries of design as of late, making options that are an aesthetic step above the larger outfits. Tubecore's Duo certainly does that, but it's also so much more.
Improve your Mac audio with the Audioengine D3 DAC
Audioengine recently released a premium 24-bit DAC (digital to analog converter) that lets you bypass your Mac headphone jack and send the audio through a USB port. The result is an audible and sometimes dramatic improvement in music quality. The D3 is US$189.00, a very reasonable price as high-quality DACs go. The D3 DAC allows you to stream bit-perfect native 24-bit/96 KHz HD audio. Installation is simple. The hardware unit looks like a small thumbdrive, and its aluminum housing is a perfect match for a Mac laptop. There are no drivers to install; you simply select your sound system in the preference pane and the DAC is recognized as an output device. Plug in some high-quality headphones or powered speakers and you are ready to go. There are two small LEDs on the D3 -- one shows power from the USB bus; the other shows the presence of a data stream above 48K. For listening, volume is controlled from the volume control on your Mac. Because the D3 essentially replaces the Apple sound system, anything with audio will come through the D3, such as a game, a movie or any sound file Apple supports. I gave the D3 a spin on some Apple lossless audio files and everything sounded excellent. Comparing the quality to the output of my built-in headphone jack was a challenge, because the D3 output is "hotter" than the regular Mac output. Adjusting for that, the audio through the D3 sounded cleaner. Quick transients like plucked strings and percussion had more of a bite to them. The sound of massed violins sounded less "electronic". Bass was deeper, but also more clearly defined. I also listened to some high-definition files from Reference Recordings, which were running at 96 KHz. The sound was obviously improved through the D3. MP3 files sounded about the same through the Apple headphone jack on my MacBook Air and the D3. As an aside, a lot of the high-definition files I have are in FLAC format, which iTunes does not support, but the Apple Store came to the rescue with an OS X app called FLACTunes FLAC Converter ($3.99). You drag your FLAC files onto the app window, and they are converted to Apple lossless format and placed in your iTunes library. My listening tests were done with B&W P3 headphones, Sennheiser HD600 headphones and Emotiva Airmotiv 4 powered studio speakers. The more challenging the music, the more the contrast to the basic Apple audio. If you want the best quality from your digital files, the Audioengine D3 is worth serious consideration. Unlike some DACs, the headphone amp is built-in, and under some very challenging musical files, I never heard distortion or breakup. Another popular product with similar features is the AudioQuest DragonFly DAC. I have not tested the DragonFly, but users give it good reviews. The Audioengine D3 is available direct from the company with a 30-day return privilege, and all the usual online shopping sites like Amazon or B&H Photo. I'll have to return my review sample, but certainly will buy one to use for my laptop and desktop Mac. It's that good.
Reveel: a portable headphone amp that promises to enhance your music
Have you ever been to a concert and bought a keep-sake CD? Did you find it somehow didn't quite conjure up the same heady, ethereal experience? Musician Barry Stephen Goldfarb evidently did, inspiring him to create Reveel -- a small device that claims to recreate the authentic live sound. By using proprietary technology, Reveel adds aspects back into the sound that you find in a live environment (room phase, etc.), but lose in a studio recording. Goldfarb was particularly frustrated when recording his own music "revealed" a slightly different sound to how he experienced. Seven years later, we have the final version of Reveel, launched at Expand today. The device sneaks in between your media player and headphones, acting as a middleman via the 3.5mm input and output, working its magic on the audio as it goes. It's rechargeable (via micro-USB), and also serves as a headphone amp, too. If you think your CD collection just can't cut it compared to the real-life sound, then you can check Reveel out starting today for $119.95.
