What We Like: Amazing design and features. Read our in-depth reviewīest High-End DAC 2. But if you want fine-grained control, with a near-professional piece of equipment, check out the Benchmark DAC3 HGC, below. Although RME aren't a household name in audio yet, they've released some solid products that come highly recommended. Regardless, this is a minor set-back in comparison to all the pros of the ADI-2. The only thing we didn't like was the fiendishly complicated menu system, which relies on a multitude of unintuitive controls to navigate. While we still found ourselves turning to the Hugo 2 for most listening, the ADI-2 has a huge amount of charm to it. The ADI-2 may not have Bluetooth, like the Chord Electronics Hugo 2, but this German-made wonder is a fantastic wired solution. Honestly, for this price, we don't think you’ll find a better DAC - definitely not one as enjoyable as this. The audio quality is intricate and detailed, relying on RME's Stead圜lock system to reduce unwanted noise. The ADI-2 is an absolutely gorgeous machine, with a terrific display that gives you full control over your sound.

With their ADI-2 DAC FS, Germany's RME cements their place as the best DAC-maker on the planet. What We Don't: Horrendously complex menu system, no Bluetooth. What We Like: Outstanding sound quality and interface. Best DAC/Amp Combo: Chord Electronics Mojoīest Overall DAC 1.

The Perfect Portable DAC: AudioQuest DragonFly Cobalt.

Best Budget DAC Under $200: Schiit Modi 3+.

Best High-End DAC: Chord Electronics Hugo 2.

And to complete your system, check out our lists of the best headphone amps and stereo amps. You do it by upgrading the device's DAC (Digital-to-Analog Converter), which takes the digital signal and turns it into sound you can actually hear. And in this article, we'll explain the best way to harness these ones and zeros in order to help a regular music lover drastically improve the quality of their audio playback. It would be a funny thing to travel back forty years and try to explain to a NASA scientist about the near-unlimited power of ones and zeros. These days, a simple smartphone is more advanced than anything NASA could have even dreamed of when shooting their first shuttles up in space only a few decades ago.

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