Picking the best DAC (digital-to-analog converter) for you is a little like looking for a needle in a haystack. There are a lot of choices for a great DAC, from light and portable to big and heavy DACs that are part of home audio sets. It also does not help that aside from the longstanding stalwarts like Chord Electronics and Cambridge Audio, newer companies like iFi and Schiit have started to offer good quality and reasonably priced DACs as well. Due to this large and varied selection, it is a bit hard to choose which is the best one. Thankfully, we have this handy list of the best DACs for 2022 — with everything from portable DACs with just a single 3.5mm port to bulky box-like DACs with all the bells and whistles!
Inside This Article
- Best DACs
- Best DACs – Portable and Powered
- Premium Pick – Chord Electronics Hugo 2
- Best Choice – iFi xDSD Gryphon
- Best Value – Periodic Audio Rhodium
- Chord Electronics Mojo
- FiiO Q3
- Creative Sound Blaster X4
- iFi Zen DAC V2
- THX Onyx
- iFi Hip-dac 2
- Astell & Kern PEE51 USB-C Dual DAC Cable
- Hidizs S9 Pro
- iFi Go Blu
- FiiO BTR3K
- AudioQuest DragonFly Cobalt
- Best DACs – Home Audio Sets
- How to Choose The Best DAC For You
- What Next?
18 Best DACs in 2022
Before we get into the list of the best DACs, your first question would probably be — what exactly are DACs? DACs or digital-to-analog converters are, quite simply, everyday devices that transform digital audio signals (like MP3 or WAV) into analog signals that can be heard on phone speakers or headphones with the help of amplifiers. For those that want a more detailed answer, we have an introduction to DACs article where we explain their uses and types.
To summarize, there are only two things you need to know about DACs. First, while almost every modern device has a DAC, these internal units are usually of a lower standard and quality than external units. Second, there are three main types of DACs — portable, powered, and DACs that are part of home audio sets. We have split this list into these types to make the picking easier for you.
Best DACs - Portable and Powered
Portable and powered DACs are useful for those on the go or who love listening to music on a computer, respectively. Portable usually offers a single port while powered DACs are a bit bulkier and have their own power source.
Integrated Amplifier: Yes
Sampling Rates: 32-bit/768kHz
Input: Coaxial, optical, Micro USB, Bluetooth
Output: 3.5mm, 6.35mm, RCA
Our premium pick for the best DACs out there is a portable one, the Chord Electronics Hugo 2. Small and light enough at just 450g, this cassette-like device is a masterpiece of modern engineering. Not only does it have the standard coaxial and optical inputs, but it also has an HD micro USB audio input. Aside from that, this handy DAC also has Bluetooth connectivity. This connectivity allows it to take music from your smartphone without using a wire. It also has several output forms with 3.5mm, 6.3mm, and RCA jacks available. Whether you are an audiophile on the go or a session musician, you cannot go wrong with the Hugo 2.
Integrated Amplifier: Yes
Sampling Rates: 32-bit/768kHz
Input: USB Type-C, SPDF (digital), 4.4mm, 3.5mm, Bluetooth
Output: 3.5mm, 4.4mm
A tremendous device for a reasonable price, the iFi xDSD Gryphon packs quite a punch for such a small DAC. Our best choice DAC, the Gryphon, has almost everything a serious audiophile needs and is more than enough for the casual listener. It has five different input types, including Bluetooth connectivity, that blows away most of its competition. This is without mentioning its core 32-bit Burr-Brown chipset that usually graces the boards of more expensive flagship DACs. If you want to listen to music, any DAC will do, but if you want to listen to music the right way, the Gryphon is for you!
Integrated Amplifier: Yes
Sampling Rates: 32-Bit/384kHz
Input: USB Type-A/USB Type-C
Output: 3.5mm
The Periodic Audio Rhodium is pretty bare-bones. It has one input connection that plugs into either a USB Type-A or Type-C port (with included adapter) and one output port, a 3.5mm jack. But, you cannot rule the Rhodium out despite its shortcomings and weaknesses. This is due to its high maximum sampling rates of 32-bit/384kHz, which can play high-fidelity music without any fuss.
If that’s not enough, the Rhodium can also serve as a lightweight headphone jack adapter for audiophiles disenfranchised after smartphone companies started taking 3.5mm jacks off their phones. Those wondering about the best budget DAC should take a look at the Rhodium before anything else.
Integrated Amplifier: Yes
Sampling Rates: 32-Bit/768kHz
Input: Micro USB, 3.5mm, Optical (TOSLINK)
Output: 2x 3.5mm
Mojo is another lightweight offering from Chord Electronics that was released in 2015. While already more than five years old, the Mojo still has its, well, Mojo. With a max sampling rate of 32-bit by 768kHz, it can still confidently play high-fidelity beats all day long. It may not have the extra outputs the other DACs have, but the two 3.5mm jacks it supports are good enough for most applications. Aside from its sampling rate and output jacks, the Mojo also has a few nice features like its eight-hour battery life, a separate Micro USB charging port, and its protective and hardy aluminum case.
FiiO Q3
Integrated Amplifier: Yes
Sampling Rates: 32-bit/768kHz
Input: USB Type-C, 3.5mm
Output: 2.5mm, 3.5mm (headset), 4.4mm
A surprising entry and a good runner-up for our best choice pick is the FiiO Q3. We consider this as one of the best DACs out there due to a few reasons. First of which is its maximum sample rate of 32-bit/768kHz which gives the Chord Mojo a run for its money. Another reason is its input and output ports which both have 3.5mm connectivity. If that was not enough, it also has a USB Type-C input port and balanced 2.5mm and 4.4mm outputs.
The FiiO Q3 has a decent battery life of 8.5 to 10 hours, depending on which ports are in use. Regardless of its battery life, its 1800mAh battery does only need a little over 2 hours to fully charge.
Integrated Amplifier: Yes
Sampling Rates: 24-bit/192kHz
Input: 3.5mm (microphone and line-in)
Output: Optical (TOSLINK), 4 x 3.5mm (4 pc sound system), 3.5mm (headphones/earphones)
Easily one of the most versatile items on this list of the best DACs, the Creative Sound Blaster X4 has a long list of compatible devices. The X4 works with a whole host of devices, including PC, Mac, Android, iOS, PS5, PS4, Nintendo Switch, and even set-top boxes! Not only that, but it also has the Creative App to use as a control app with extra features like an equalizer, different sound modes, Super X-Fi to recreate a 7.1 virtual surround sound experience. Sadly, it does have one downside; its maximum sampling rate is only 24-bit/192kHz. These rates should be good enough for gaming and gamers, especially when combined with a good pair of gaming headsets.
Integrated Amplifier: Yes
Sampling Rates: 32-bit/384kHz
Input: USB Type-B
Output: 6.3mm, 2x 4.4mm, RCA
Zen DAC V2 is the upgraded version of the Zen model that adds a few new features at a competitive price. While the Zen DAC V2 is not as light as the other portable DACs, we have included it in this list because of its array of features like the unbalanced 6.3mm and balanced 4.4mm outputs. Other features include the analog volume control dial, a “True Bass” setting, and its 32-Bit/384kHz max sampling rate. We suggest the Zen DAC V2 for intermediate audiophiles who want something more than the base offers without breaking the bank.
THX Onyx
Integrated Amplifier: Yes
Sampling Rates: 32-bit/384kHz
Input: USB Type-A/USB Type-C
Output: 3.5mm
Quite similar to our best value pick, the THX Onyx is a bit more refined. With a higher build quality standard and from a more well-known brand, the Onyx does not just rely on its branding. It is better than other USB-based portable DACs due to its chipset centered on ESS Technology’s ES9281PRO. The Onyx combines this with a sleek streamlined design and magnetic cable docking, ensuring there would not be any messy tangles when you aren’t using it.
Integrated Amplifier: Yes
Sampling Rates: 32-bit/384kHz
Input: USB Type-A
Output: 3.5mm and 4.4mm
Another upgrade from a venerable original, iFi’s Hip-dac 2 is the second iteration of the Hip-dac. Still containing a Burr-Brown DAC chipset at its core, the Hip-dac 2 can still handle the rigors of modern high-fidelity sounds. The main upgrades from its previous version are its full-fledged MQA decoder and the updated GMT clock. Aside from its internals, the Hip-dac 2 retains the stylish design that makes it seem like an old-school whiskey flask due to its volume control dial. We consider the Hip-dac 2 a mid-tier model that can take a lot of beating with on-the-go use.
Integrated Amplifier: Yes
Sampling Rates: 32bit/384kHz
Input: USB Type-C
Output: 3.5mm
One of the best DACs is the portable Astell & Kern PEE51 USB-C Dual DAC Cable. This DAC looks more like a normal USB Type-C cable with a slightly bulkier end. A good competitor to our best value pick, the Periodic Audio Rhodium, the PEE51 loses out due to its marginally higher price. Stats-wise, when compared, the two are quite similar and even have the same max sampling rates.
Integrated Amplifier: Yes
Sampling Rates: 32-Bit/768kHz
Input: USB Type-C
Output: 2.5mm, 3.5mm
The S9 Pro is a highly portable and lightweight DAC from the Chinese firm Hidizs. While relatively new compared to older brands on this list, Hidizs joined the first wave of companies going after the portable high fidelity music market. After securing its own niche, it continued to innovate its product line with the S9 Pro as its newest offer. With a chipset based on the ESS9038Q2M chip made by California-based ESS Technology, there is no question about the S9 Pro’s reliability. When it comes to audio output, the S9 Pro has a nice two-piece set of single-ended 3.2mm and balanced 2.5mm jacks to choose from.
iFi Go Blu
Integrated Amplifier: Yes
Sampling Rates: 24-bit/96kHz
Input: USB Type-C, Bluetooth
Output: 3.5mm, 4.4mm
One of the entry to mid-tier DACs from iFi, the Go Blu has a few great things going for it. The first thing you have to look at with the Go Blu is its input. While it does have a USB Type-C port, most Go Blu users get it for its Bluetooth 5.1 connectivity. This gives most users one less wire to juggle when using the Go Blu on the go. Bluetooth combined with its 450mAh gives you 8 full hours of uninterrupted music listening. Its main downside, though, is its maximum sampling rate of just 24-bit/96kHz. While it may not have the most high-fidelity music, the iFi Go Blu is definitely a must for the roaming audiophile.
FiiO BTR3K
Integrated Amplifier: Yes
Sampling Rates: 16-bit/48kHz
Input: Bluetooth
Output: 2.5mm, 3.5mm
This entry is another FiiO product but with Bluetooth capability. While BTR3K barely reaches our mark for the best DACs, the FiiO BTR3Ks best feature is similar to the previous iFi Go Blu. There is not a lot to say about the BTR3K since its idea is the same as the Go Blu, the Bluetooth connectivity. Their main difference, however, is the price. Usually sold below the $100 mark, the BTR3K is one of the more affordable options. If you want a budget-friendly, portable, and (almost) wireless listening experience, the BTR3K digital-to-analog converter might be the one for you.
Integrated Amplifier: Yes
Sampling Rates: 24-bit/96kHz
Input: USB Type-A
Output: 3.5mm
The AudioQuest’s DragonFly Cobalt is definitely one of the oddest stragglers on this list and is one of the less able entries. Capable of only having a maximum sample rate of 24-bit/96kHz, the Cobalt is a cut below most of its competitors in both DAC category types. This lowered sample rate is made up for by its 2.1v output that can bust the music out for even the most power-demanding headphones.
Best DACs - Home Audio Sets
For a bigger audio component like your audio system at home, you also need a bigger a more powerful DAC. Now that we covered the portable and powered DACs, let us move on to the best DAC home audio sets!
Sampling Rates: 32-bit/768kHz
Input: Coaxial, Optical (TOSLINK), USB Type-B, Bluetooth
Output: RCA, XLR
Our best audiophile DAC by far is the DacMagic 200M by Cambridge Audio. While it does not have the 2.5mm, 3.5mm, or 4.4mm output jacks the portable and powered DACs have, it really is not meant to have any of them. Designed to be part of a home high-fidelity audio system or attached to a desktop computer, the DacMagic 200M is a complete package. Using its ESS Technology “Sabre” DAC chipset, the DacMagic 200M can confidently handle any type of music file thrown at it.
RME ADI-2PRO
Sampling Rates: 32-bit/768kHz
Input: USB Type-B, XLR/6.35mm, XLR, 6.35mm, SPDIF, AES
Output: XLR/6.35mm, XLR, 6.35mm, RCA, AES
One of the best DACs ever made by the German company RME, the ADI-2PRO has graced many professional musicians’ desks and sound systems. While it does cost an arm and a leg, the ADI-2PRO more than makes up for it with its quality and connectivity options. It’s one of the most advanced DACs out there; not only does it support USB Type-B, but it also has input/output capable plugs like XLR, AES, and RCA. If you want to be a professional musician or producer, the ADI-2PRO would not be a bad purchase.
Sampling Rates: 32-bit/384kHz
Input: USB Type-A, USB Type-B, Coaxial, Optical (TOSLINK), XLR, RCA, AES
Output: 6.3mm, Coaxial, Optical (TOSLINK), XLR, RCA, AES
When the original M-DAC was due for an upgrade, Audiolab obliged its fans and made the M-DAC Plus. Creating a bigger machine than the already monstrous M-DAC, the Plus version added a fair bit of additional connections. A few of the things added include an additional AES port for digital input and the USB Type-A connector. Aside from this, the M-DAC Plus is pretty much the same; you cannot surpass perfection after all.
Sampling Rates: 24-bit/192kHz
Input: USB Type-C, Coaxial, Optical (TOSLINK)
Output: RCA
The last item on our list of the very best DACs in 2022 is the Schiit Modi. While people can laugh at the brand name, you cannot do the same for the Modi. While it does only have a max sampling rate of 24-bit/192kHz, it more than makes up for it with the amount of high-tech connectors it has. The TOSLINK optical connector alone makes it one of the more advanced entries for its price range, even if its only output is the RCA connectors.
How to Choose the Best DAC
There are quite a few advantages and disadvantages to each DAC, so bear these things in mind when picking one.
Price
First things first — you have to think about the price. DACs are going to be a little more expensive than your average office mouse or generic earphones. Converters are technologically precise items with a strict level of quality control. That said, there are a lot of price points for DACs, going from budget-friendly beginner options to more expensive options for the dedicated audiophile. Your chosen converter should be at a good price point between your needs and your wallet.
Inputs and Outputs
Another factor to think about when buying a DAC is its input and output connections. Most of the bigger and more expensive home audio set converters have tons of input and output choices, but portable and powered ones do not. Before buying it, make sure that your chosen DAC supports the devices and connectors you want to connect to it.
Sample Rates
Sample rates are where picking the best DAC gets a little technical. DACs have different maximum sample rates that they support. Generally, the max sample rates are expressed in bit and kHz and show how much and how fast the DAC can convert signals. For simplicity’s sake, the higher the bit and kHz are, the better the DAC and the music it will play. Remember that the converter cannot make bad-quality audio better than it is. With bad audio, chances are, it will sound worse since you can clearly notice the sounds the recording lacks and other imperfections.
Integrated Amplifiers
Finally, the last thing to bear in mind when looking for the best DAC is whether it has integrated amplifiers or not. Since the converter only converts digital to analog signals, it usually needs an amplifier to boost this signal. Most portable DACs already have this integrated into the system, but this is not standard, especially for home audio sets.
What Next?
There you have it — the best DACs you can find. While you may get the best converters through this list, you would have to pair it with a decent speaker or headphones to get the best music experience. Depending on your preference, we have a few suggestions you might want to look at, as our guides to the best gaming earbuds or the best open-backed headphones if you are in a quiet environment.
