If you spend most days at your computer listening to music, why not listen to better quality audio? Many of today's music streaming services (except for Spotify) offer lossless quality tracks that are significantly higher-resolution than the compressed audio you'd get over Bluetooth. All you need is a good pair of wired headphones (which don't have to be that expensive) and a desktop DAC/amp to drive them.
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iFi Uno Read More -
iFi Zen Air Read More
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Schiit Fulla E Read More
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FiiO K5 Pro Read More
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Audioengine D1 Read More
What Does a Desktop Amp/DAC Actually Do?
A desktop DAC/amp is a simple and (sometimes) affordable component that connects to your desktop computer or laptop and effectively helps your audio sound more like hi-fi. The headphones you’re using continue to be the most important piece of the hi-fi puzzle, but a good headphone amp comes in a close second.
Without a headphone amp, the sound coming from your computer or smartphone’s audio jack simply isn’t very good. It’s flat and grainy and doesn’t deliver the expansive soundstage that higher-resolution music files promise. A good headphone amp with a built-in digital-to-analog converter (DAC) can change that. Also, because the audio is more accurate and less harsh on your ears, you can listen to music longer. It’s a win-win.
Looking online, you’ll find some great and expensive DACs, but there are also good options for $200 or less. These are the ones that we recommend.
How We Tested
We've tested most of the desktop DAC/amps that are in this guide and paired them with a variety of wired headphones and listened to high-resolution tracks from Apple Music, Amazon Music Unlimited and Tidal. The below are our favorites.
To learn more about our testing methodology and how we evaluate products, head here.
iFi Audio Uno
- Inputs: USB-C
- Outputs: headphone (3.5mm), RCA
- Max audio resolution: up to 32-bit/384kHz
iFi Audio's Uno is a great DAC/amp because of its small size and reasonable price, as well as the fact that it supports most popular high-res audio files (PCM, DSD and MQA). It has a single 3.5mm headphone jack and a tactile volume knob that makes a wonderful "click" sound when you power it on/off. There's an EQ button for switching between three preset EQ modes (music, videos and gaming). There's also a power match button that, when clicked, matches the power needed to drive your headphones.
iFi Audio Zen Air
- Inputs: USB-B
- Outputs: headphone (6.35mm), RCA
- Max audio resolution: up to 32-bit/384kHz
Released in 2022, the Zen Air is a DAC/amplifier that's more than twice the size of the company's Uno (above); it takes the same form factor as iFi Audio's Zen DAC V2, but is more affordable thanks to its mostly plastic design. It's a fairly simple component to use as it just has a large volume knob, a button for power matching and an XBass+ button for increasing the bass. The one caveat is that it only has a 6.35mm headphone jack, meaning you'll need to have a 6.35mm adapter (but most quality wired headphones come with those).
Schiit Fulla E
- Inputs: USB-C, optical, microphone
- Outputs: headphone (3.5mm)
- Max audio resolution: up to 24-bit/192kHz
Schiit Audio is small California audio company that makes a variety of high-performing DACs and amplifiers, and it sells them direct to customers which helps make all their stuff really affordable. The Fulla E, for example, is a simple-yet beautiful headphone DAC/amp that costs just over $100. It has a wonderful large and tactile volume knob and a mic jack for gaming. The Fulla E plugs directly into your laptop or desktop and you can use it as a DAC/amp with wired headphones or as a DAC/preamp for a nice pair of powered monitors.
FiiO K5 Pro
- Inputs: USB-C, optical
- Outputs: headphone (6.35mm), RCA
- Max audio resolution: up to 32-bit/768kHz
The FiiO K5 Pro is a powerful desktop headphone amp/DAC combo (featuring AKM’s AK4493EQ DAC chips) designed for higher-end headphones. It has multiple gain switches, depending on how much power your headphones crave, and it supports high-resolution up to 32-bit/768kHz as well native DSD. It has a neat volume dial that actually glows different colors (RGB) depending on the sampling rate you're listening to: blue (48kHz and below), yellow (above 48kHz) and green (DSD). The one caveat is that it does require a separate power supply.
Audioengine D1 (2nd-Generation)
- Inputs: USB-C, optical
- Outputs: headphone (3.5mm), RCA
- Max audio resolution: up to 24-bit/96Hz (192kHz with optical)
Audioengine introduced its original D1 desktop DAC/amp back in 2012. This second-generation model — released in 2023 — looks identical, but comes with an improved DAC (ESS ES9018) and headphone amplifier and it's significantly more versatile thanks to its newer USB-C connection. It works as a plug-and-play desktop DAC/amp just like before, but this new model can also work as portable headphone amp for your smartphone or tablet. Its USB-C connection allows it to draw power from your smartphone or tablet without needing a separate power source.
Schiit Audio Hel Plus
- Inputs: USB-C, optical, microphone
- Outputs: headphone (3.5mm)
- Max audio resolution: up to 32-bit/384kHz
The Hel Plus (or Hel+) is essentially a higher-end and more expensive version of the company's Fulla E. It is four times more powerful than the Fulla E with gain controls, making it perfect for more demanding headphones. It also supports high-end mics and has a convenient microphone volume wheel, making it ideal for more serious gamers. Like the Fulla E, the Hel Plus is a plug-and-play amp/DAC that's super easy to use.
