Category: DACs
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Hidizs S3 PRO Ultra-Portable Hi-Res DAC/Amp Combo Review: The Best MQA Dac Under $100!
Best Buys, Budget, DACs, Headphone Amps, Headphones, Hi-Fi, Hi-Res Music, MQA, Portable Audio, Reviews, VideosTL;DR The Hidizs S3 PRO doesn’t have the most power, but what it lacks in power, it makes up in features and refinement. If you like MQA, this is the dongle to buy for less than 100 bucks. Intro Since Apple initiated the move away from smartphone headphone jacks, dongle DAC development has exploded. These…
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Create Your Own Personal Nirvana With This Budget Audiophile Headphone Setup!
Here at HI-FI Trends, we believe that high-end audio doesn’t necessarily mean high-priced audio. We say the designation “high-end audio” is an indication of design intent not price. Today, you can find a lot of capable budget components that are designed to satisfy audiophile sensibilities. Also with the current global economies of scale, you can…
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Audiophile Music Streamers Buying Guide (2023)
Learn how to pick the best music streamer for your system! Once derided in Audiophile circles, Network (Ethernet or Wi-Fi) Music Streamers have become an integral part of hi-fi systems. At the same time, they’re probably the most complex source you’ll come across since they have intricate network capabilities combined with the same tech present…
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Moondrop Releases Their First Portable DAC/AMP, The $189 Moonriver 2
Budget, DACs, First Impressions, Headphone Amps, Headphones, Hi-Fi, Hi-Res Music, News, Portable AudioToday, Moondrop unveiled their first portable USB DAC/Amp combo, the Moondrop Moonriver 2. On paper, it looks well-equipped, with top-notch audio components like dual Cirrus Logic CS43198 premium DAC chips (supports high-resolution 32-Bit/384kHz PCM and native DSD256 decoding) and fully balanced four-channel amp circuitry. This compact device also has dual Headphone ports (3.5mm SE+4.4mm Bal),…
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Best Home Audio DACs For Audiophiles On A Budget! (2022)
Best Buys, Bluetooth, Budget, DACs, Hi-Fi, Hi-Res Music, Home Audio, MQA, Preamps, Reviews, Software, Videos, WirelessIn today’s digital audio world, you need a good digital to analog converter or DAC to get the best out of your home audio hi-fi setup. The DAC takes the digital audio signal produced by your source (most likely a laptop or streamer) and converts it to an analog audio signal that can be amplified…
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Digital-To-Analog Converter (DAC) Buying Guide (2023)
Best Buys, Bluetooth, Budget, DACs, Headphone Amps, Headphones, Hi-Fi, Hi-Res Music, Home Audio, MQA, Music, Portable Audio, Reviews, Streaming, Videos, WirelessWhat to know when buying a Digital-to-Analog Converter or DAC/Amp Combo: In today’s digital audio world, you need a good digital to analog converter or DAC if you want to get the best out of your hi-fi setup. The DAC takes the digital audio signal produced by your source (most likely a laptop or smartphone)…
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iFi ZEN One Signature Review: A Captivating Digital To Analog Converter On The Cheap!
TL;DR The ZEN One Signature’s natural sound and remarkable array of features make it a great option for adding digital on the cheap. Intro Back in January, iFi announced the availability of their latest ZEN component (not to be confused with the lower-priced ZEN Air Line), the $349 ZEN One Signature. The One Signature is…
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Play All The Best Music Streaming Services On This Stellar Budget Audiophile System!
Best Buys, Bluetooth, Budget, DACs, Hi-Fi, Hi-Res Music, Home Audio, Integrated Amps, Music, News, Reviews, Speakers, Streaming, Videos, WirelessHere at HI-FI Trends, we believe that high-end audio doesn’t necessarily mean high-priced audio. We say high-end audio is a function of design not price. Today, you can find a lot of capable budget components that are designed to satisfy audiophile sensibilities. Also with the current global economies of scale you can get more for…
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HIFIMAN Deva Pro Review: These Wireless Planar Magnetic Headphones Are Wondrous!
Best Buys, Bluetooth, Budget, DACs, Headphone Amps, Headphones, Portable Audio, Streaming, Uncategorized, Videos, WirelessTL;DR If you’re looking for wireless audiophile headphones for less than $500, you won’t do better than these. Intro Back in 2020, when Hifiman released the $299 DEVA, a set of planar headphones with a BT dongle, I must admit I found them to be an inelegant wireless headphone option. I’ve never been a fan…
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Start Listening Right Away With This Super Affordable “Just-Add-Speakers” Hi-Fi System!
Best Buys, Budget, DACs, Hi-Fi, Hi-Res Music, Home Audio, Integrated Amps, Power Amps, Preamps, Reviews, Speakers, Streaming, Videos, WirelessSetup is quick and easy with this Best Streaming Amplifier/Best Bookshelf Speaker combo! Have you ever heard of the K.I.S.S. principle? K.I.S.S. started as a U.S. Navy acronym for “Keep It Simple Stupid,” meant to convey that most systems work best when you design them simply. When it comes to Hi-Fi, there are some advantages…
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Best Budget Amplifiers For Audiophiles (2022)
Analog, Best Buys, Bluetooth, Budget, DACs, Downloads, Hi-Fi, Hi-Res Music, Home Audio, Integrated Amps, Music, Power Amps, Preamps, Reviews, Streaming, Videos, Wireless5 of the Best Stereo Amplifiers Under $2000! If you’re looking to build an affordable high-end Hi-Fi system, then you should be looking at a quality 2-channel amplifier to be the heart of it all. If you want to get the most for your money, we recommend picking up a good Integrated Amplifier, which is a…
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iFi Audio’s New ZEN Air Series Offers Enchanting High-Fidelity Audio For Only $99!
Analog, Best Buys, Bluetooth, Budget, DACs, First Impressions, Headphone Amps, Headphones, Hi-Fi, Hi-Res Music, Home Audio, MQA, Music, News, Videos, WirelessWe’ve been fans of iFi Audio’s products for a long time now. They always offer an excellent mix of innovation, value, and, most important, sound quality. Given this, iFi is introducing the ZEN Air Series, a new line of four products that promise quality and performance close to their award-winning ZEN series but at an…
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Spin CDs and Stream To Your Heart’s Content With This Brilliant Affordable Audiophile Setup!
Best Buys, Bluetooth, Budget, DACs, Hi-Fi, Hi-Res Music, Home Audio, Integrated Amps, Power Amps, Preamps, Reviews, Streaming, Videos, WirelessWhile streaming is probably the audiophile’s primary music source nowadays, I know many like to spin CDs as well. (I personally like to head out to the local Goodwill on the weekend, find some 99-cent gems in the used CD section, then play them at home on my system.) To truly enjoy a well-recorded CD,…
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HIFIMAN Electronics To Debut Two Brand New R2R Dac/Amplifiers At CanJam NYC 2022
If you’re heading out to CanJam NYC 2022 this weekend (Feb. 26-27), HIFIMAN Electronics will be demoing two new DAC/Amplifiers, both with the company’s low energy, high sampling HIMALAYA R2R DAC module which supports PCM (max 24Bit resolution). The new models include: HM800 (SRP: $299): A portable, fully balanced DAC/Amp that is approximately the size…
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Meze Audio To Showcase Their Enchanting Flagship Headphones At CanJam NYC 2022
DACs, Headphone Amps, Headphones, Hi-Fi, Hi-Res Music, Home Audio, News, Portable Audio, Shows, VideosThis upcoming Saturday and Sunday (Feb. 26th and 27th), Meze Audio will be displaying their latest Flagship headphones, the Meze Elite and Meze Liric, at Head-Fi’s CanJam NYC 2022. CanJam is the largest multi-city audio show dedicated to Headphones in the world. If you’ve wanted to hear Meze’s latest top-of-the-line home and portable headphones, then…
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Best USB DAC Amp Combos For Audiophiles On A Budget (2022)
Best Buys, Bluetooth, Budget, DACs, Headphone Amps, Headphones, Hi-Fi, Hi-Res Music, Home Audio, MQA, Music, Portable Audio, Reviews, Streaming, Videos, WirelessGive your Budget Audiophile Setup a boost without spending a ton of cash! In today’s digital audio world, you need a good digital to analog converter or DAC to get the best out of your hi-fi setup. The DAC takes the digital audio signal produced by your source (most likely a laptop or smartphone) and…
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Best Powered Bookshelf Speakers Under $1000! (2022)
Best Buys, Bluetooth, Budget, DACs, Hi-Fi, Hi-Res Music, Home Audio, Integrated Amps, Power Amps, Preamps, Reviews, Software, Speakers, Streaming, Videos, WirelessBuying a pair of Powered Bookshelf Speakers is a quick and easy way to start an affordable hi-fi system. With these speakers, a good portion of the work has been done for you, as the amplification is provided and matched to the speakers, plus in some cases, matched sources are provided as well. All you…
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The Long-Awaited Chord Mojo 2 DAC/Headphone Amp Is Here: Release Date, Features & Price!
Today Chord Electronics unveiled the Mojo 2, a sequel to one of the first and most highly esteemed portable DAC/Amps ever made. The latest Mojo boasts a new lossless “UHD DSP” EQ that allows you to make tone adjustments without signal degradation, and according to Chord, this means you can match it to the tuning…
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Zorloo’s Zophia Hybrid Wired/Wireless Earphone Is Hot On Kickstarter!
Bluetooth, DACs, Headphone Amps, Headphones, Hi-Fi, Hi-Res Music, Home Audio, MQA, News, Portable Audio, Streaming, WirelessZorloo, a company mostly known for its excellent USB DACs like the Ztella and Ztella II, is back again with a new True Wireless/Wired product called the Zophia Wire.less Earphone. It launched today on Kickstarter and so far it has garnered tons of interest with its novel design. The Zophia can work as either true…
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How To Build A Brilliant Budget Audiophile System In 5 Steps!
Analog, Best Buys, Bluetooth, Budget, DACs, Deals, Hi-Fi, Hi-Res Music, Home Audio, Integrated Amps, Music, Power Amps, Preamps, Reviews, Software, Speakers, VideosYou CAN build a wonderful budget audiophile setup! If you’re reading this, then that means you most likely care about music. Not just music, but high-quality reproduction of music. That’s basically what Hi-fi (short for high fidelity) is all about. It’s about putting together a group of audio components to make a recorded piece of…
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