USB-DAC amplifier: overview, specifications, views and reviews

In any process of life, whether driving a car or cooking, there are both amateurs and scrupulous professionals. Meticulous and hungry for the highest quality in their business. The same goes for listening to music. There are those who simply enjoy the melodies in inexpensive headphones that come with the phone, and someone buys expensive amplifiers and cables with a golden section. They listen to every note, look for flaws in the sound and with all their heart they hate the MP3 format. Alas, you can not always sit at home with your favorite acoustics, but you want to listen to music in good quality. For this purpose, portable amplifiers have been created that can be connected to the phone, thereby achieving a higher sound quality. Today's article is devoted to this category of people. We offer a brief overview of portable USB-DAC amplifiers for headphones and compact speakers.

Creative Sound Blaster

Creative has more than once pleased fans with high-quality audio equipment and continues to do so to this day. Sound Blaster E5 is an updated USB-DAC amplifier for headphones and small speakers. This model is equipped with a quad-core DSP-processor and a proprietary equalizer for fine-tuning the sound. When connected to a computer, Sound Blaster functions as a full-fledged sound card with its driver, mixer and other charms, which are so fond of "audiophiles" of all colors. This DAC can be used even as a headset. To do this, it built in two microphones and a Bluetooth-module. This, by the way, is the only model from Creative, which is not only equipped with a powerful "stuffing", but it also boasts well-tuned drivers. Therefore, worry about the sound quality is not worth it, it is more than worthy here, especially considering the cost of $ 200.

Reviews

Previous developments Creative often scolded for the fact that the company's engineers are trying to cram into their devices all, and more, without looking at the quality of individual components. This portable USB-DAC amplifier has not become an exception in terms of a set of features, but with a large reservation on quality. Users appreciated it and named it the best development of the company in its price segment. Critics with IXBT called the Sound Blaster E5 an ideal combination of price and quality.

Ironically, this kind of things was influenced by the users themselves. Pressure from the audience and professional musicians has done its job. Creative engineers largely rethought their device and created a successful product. Negative feedback has concerned only the design of the case. These types of USB-DAC amplifiers for headphones and speakers are usually more compact and ergonomic.

Oppo HA-2

The Chinese company Oppo with variable success tries itself in new directions, whether it be sound or smartphones. With smartphones, they somehow did not ask, but in terms of sound, everything is fine. Oppo HA-2 - this is the most that neither is a real "audiophile" external USB-DAC amplifier. The role of the DAC in this gadget is played by the mobile DSP-processor ESS Sabre32 9018. This is the best processor of its kind, living only in expensive amplifiers and other Hi-End technology. Record characteristics are only half the battle. Chinese engineers did the impossible and made it sound like no one product of competing brands from the same category. In this case, Oppo placed the entire "stuffing" in a compact and stylish body, which immediately stands out against the competition due to the leather coating on top of the metal. This is without a doubt the best Chinese external USB-DAC amplifier.

Reviews

The opinion of professionals is confirmed by the townsfolk. Oppo HA-2 is the most desired gadget in the class. A lot of tests were conducted, both on budget equipment and on Hi-End class columns. The verdict was the same: you must take it! Fans of quality sound deeply imbued with Oppo's work in this area, although they did not expect such a stunning success. Those who have at least a little understanding of what the DSS ESS Sabre32 9012 represents, appreciated the work of engineers from Oppo and called it a virtuoso, because to make this processor play as it should - the task is not simple. This fact confirms the general dislike for Chinese handicrafts, working on the same processor, but giving out a completely faded and uninteresting sound.

Denon DA-10

Greetings from Japan. Denon DA-10 - a typical representative of the amplifier with USB-DAC from Japan. As in the case with other models of the company, the heart of the amplifier was the TI PCM1795 chip. The chip is capable of converting analog audio at the frequency of 192 kilohertz by the method of pulse-code modulation. The body of the device is made of plastic with decorative aluminum inserts. Nothing interesting, it looks too simple and even slightly tasteless. And it's bad for the damage resistance.

As for sound, then everything is much better. The ASIO driver is fine tuned. And although this device is slightly limited in capabilities and not as well-built as other models from Hi-End-class, it copes with its main task much better than competitors, and for this Denon company can only be praised.

Reviews

The owners of the amplifier confirm the words of professional critics. Denon DA-10 is very simple, yet reliable and convenient. The sound of this USB-DAC amplifier is often compared with that of expensive devices. Moreover, many seriously put them in a confrontation, where Denon often wins. Users also noted the concern of the manufacturer about the potential buyer and the love of Apple. Complete with the amplifier comes a large two-piece case with a pocket for a smartphone and a set of wires for the iPhone and iPad. Provided that such devices are usually used with smartphones and middle-class headphones, you can regard the Denon DA-10 as a good thing.

FiiO E18 Kunlun

Another Chinaman. This is not so impressive in terms of sound. Yes, it has the same chip as the Denon DA-10, but the sound, alas, is not the same. Indeed, the FiiO E18 sounds not so "juicy" as its competitors, but otherwise it's just superb. The first thing that catches your eye is design. The exterior design is really impressive. The case of the device is completely made of black metal.

At the same time, it remained very thin and easily fit into the pocket of jeans, for example. Every detail, even the smallest, looks beautiful and confident. Nothing creaks or crunches. In a word - perfect. To adjust the volume, we use the proprietary mechanism in the form of a wheel, giving the device even more elegance.

Reviews

In general, as expected, the owners of the gadget and professional critics are more shocked by the design decisions, rather than the engineering ones. Considering this model, in general, very few people speak about sound, because it does not stand out strongly against the background of competitors. This does not mean that it is bad, it is just like everyone else. Where more attention is earned by the fact that FiiO E18 does not work with devices from Apple. The amplifier was specially designed for Android-phones and even knows how to charge them. Yes, it is not only a sound amplifier, but also a sound card and a portable battery for a smartphone. One way or another, the amplifier has already found its audience, and it remains for you to decide what is more expensive: sound or design.

Venture Craft Go DAP BXD

But this is not just an amplifier, but a whole designer. And very strange and sometimes frightening. Let's start with the less terrible, with the fact that under the "hood". Here we have the converter PCM5100A - the solution is unusual, but bearable, no one will be very upset. As an amplifier for headphones, MAX9722A is involved - a time-tested and beloved amplifier, a frequenter of high-end Hi-End audio equipment. Then some contradictions begin.

Firstly, the device has a USB port, but you can not connect it to the player, for this you must necessarily use a coaxial or optical cable. Secondly, the amplifier is tuned using PCBs. That is, you can change the damping factor of the amplifier by opening the case and replacing one of the boards or rearranging one of the jumpers. The decision is extremely non-standard and is clearly made for loyal fans who have not played enough in Lego.

Reviews

As it turned out, there are many such admirers. Fans who want to plunge headlong into the world of music, really "hooked" such a strange development. Users understand that this is far from convenience, but there is in this design a kind of romance that attracts both home-grown engineers and people living in electronics. Surely this was the bet. This asceticism is rarely present in modern devices. For many, it's like a breath of fresh air. The only thing that confused some of the owners of the amplifier - the discrepancy between the characteristics that the manufacturer claims, and the real ones. And it's not even that the manufacturer overstated them, as it often happens. It's quite the opposite. Tests have shown that the equipment of the amplifier cope even better than what the representatives of VentureCraft say. It is likely that this fact frightened off a dozen or so potential buyers.

Results

On this, perhaps, everything. Above presented USB-DAC-amplifier models represent a gold five, which can be seriously considered for purchase even today. The most interesting in the class were: Creative Sound Blaster and Oppo HA-2. The first amplifier pleases (for the first time) a competent balance between the capabilities of the device and the sound quality that it can present to users. The second is impressive with an incredibly advanced technical equipment and steep design. It is these two models that should be paid attention first. If you want to save, then without looking to order Creative's creativity, if still in the priority of quality, then dig into the model from Oppo. In both cases you will not regret.