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4 Best Headphone Amp With USB DAC
4 min. read
Updated onOctober 4, 2023
updated onOctober 4, 2023
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What are the best headphone amps with USB DAC?
AudioQuest – DragonFly
Combining award-winning performance and exceptional value,AudioQuest DragonFly is a compact USB sized headphone with USB DAC that connects to a computer, smartphone, and tablets to offer clean, clear and natural sound.
AlthoughDragonFly natively supports resolutions up to 24-bit/96kHz, it is fully capable of playing any MP3 file and other high-resolution files. To connect the device with your smartphone or tablet, you need to use an OTG cable.
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FiiO K1 Portable
If you are looking for a budget DAC with a headphone amplifier, check outFiiO K1. It is an extremely portable device with a significantly low price tag than the DragonFly.
WhileFiiO K1 is may not be on par with DragonFly, it still offers clear three-dimension sound. If you are not an audiophile, you probably won’t even notice the difference between the two.
If you like numbers, theFiiO K1 supports TI PCM5102 DAC with support for 24-bit/96kHz sampling rate. The device connects via the USB-A port to any computer. Unfortunately, FiiO K1 does not work with smartphones or other smart devices, unlike the DragonFly.
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EarStudio ES100 MK2
EarStudio makes some truly excellent amps and DACs and the ES100MK2 is their latest product for the audiophiles. It is a portable high-resolution USB headphone amp with USB DAC for a reasonable price.
The unique aspect ofEarStudio ES100 MK2 is that it works with USB input as well as Bluetooth connection. The Bluetooth receiver is designed to deliver studio-quality sound to wireless headphones.It also comes with a built-in battery offering up to 14 hours of Playback.
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FiiO E10K
What we like about theFiiO E10K is that it has found a middle ground between the cheap headphone amp with USB DAC and the above $100 headphone amps. It is a portable amp with an internal DAC chip capable of handling PCM files up to 24-bit/96kHz.
FiiO E10K comes with an optimized low-pass filter and selectable bass boost circuit that are designed to offer low noise floor at all the levels. You can easily connect the device to your laptop using the Micros USB connector.
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Final thoughts on headphone amps with USB DAC
The external amp for headphones allows you to make the most out of your premium headphones by reducing noise and offering clean and clear sound. Go through the list and find the right amp with USB DAC that meets your requirements.
Radu Tyrsina
Radu Tyrsina has been a Windows fan ever since he got his first PC, a Pentium III (a monster at that time).
For most of the kids of his age, the Internet was an amazing way to play and communicate with others, but he was deeply impressed by the flow of information and how easily you can find anything on the web.
Prior to founding Windows Report, this particular curiosity about digital content enabled him to grow a number of sites that helped hundreds of millions reach faster the answer they’re looking for.
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Radu Tyrsina
