News

USB DAC Group Test

Hi-Fi Choice  |  Jan 13, 2015

Six essential convertors for music at home and on the go inside our January 2015 issue.

Bit perfection – unleash hi-res music from your computer with these six USB DACs

PRODUCT

Denon DA-300USB

PRODUCT

ADL X1

PRODUCT

Hegel HD12 DSD

PRODUCT

Henry Audio

USB DAC 128 mkII

PRODUCT

iFi Nano iDSD

PRODUCT

LH Labs Geek Out M

ORIGIN

China

TYPE

USB and S/PDIF

DAC/headphone

preamp

WEIGHT

1.5kg

DIMENSIONS

(WxHxD)

170 x 57 x 182mm

FEATURES

● 32-bit/192kHz

DAC

● Format support:

PCM 44.1-192kHz;

DSD64; DSD128

● Inputs: USB-B

port; S/PDIF coaxial;

2x Toslink

● Output: stereo

RCAs

DISTRIBUTOR

D&M Audiovisual,

UK Ltd

TELEPHONE

02890 279830

WEBSITE

denon.co.uk

ORIGIN

Japan

TYPE

Hub/batterypowered

USB DAC/

headphone preamp

WEIGHT

147g

DIMENSIONS

(WxHxD)

68 x 118 x 17mm

FEATURES

● 24-bit/192kHz

DAC

● Format support:

PCM 44.1-192kHz

● Quoted battery

life: up to 7.5hours

● Inputs: 3.5mm

jack; USB-A port;

mini USB-B port

● Outputs: 3.5mm

analogue/optical;

3.5mm headphone/

line level jack

DISTRIBUTOR

Sound Fowndations

TELEPHONE

01276 501392

WEBSITE

soundfowndations.

co.uk

PRODUCT

Hegel HD12 DSD

ORIGIN

Norway

TYPE

USB and S/PDIF

DAC/headphone

preamp

WEIGHT

3.5kg

DIMENSIONS

(WxHxD)

210 x 60 x 260mm

FEATURES

● 24-bit/192kHz

DAC

● Format support:

PCM 44.1-192kHz;

DSD64 (PC only)

● Inputs: USB-B port;

S/PDIF coaxial;

2x Toslink

● Output: stereo

RCAs; XLRs

DISTRIBUTOR

Hegel Music

Systems

TELEPHONE

0047 22605660

WEBSITE

hegel.com

ORIGIN

Norway

TYPE

Hub-powered

USB DAC

WEIGHT

310g

DIMENSIONS

(WxHxD)

114 x 33 x 128mm

FEATURES

● 24-bit/192kHz

upsampling DAC

● Format support:

PCM 44.1-192kHz

● Inputs: mini USB

port

● Outputs: stereo

RCAs

DISTRIBUTOR

Henry Audio

TELEPHONE

+47 90639918

WEBSITE

henryaudio.com

ORIGIN

UK/China

TYPE

Hub/batterypowered

USB DAC/

headphone preamp

WEIGHT

163g

DIMENSIONS

(WxHxD)

68 x 87 x 28mm

FEATURES

● 32-bit/384kHz

DAC

● Format support:

PCM 44.1-384;

DSD64; DSD128;

DSD256; DXD384

● Quoted battery

life: up to 10hours

● Inputs:

Asynchronous

USB port

● Outputs: stereo

RCAs; S/PDIF

coaxial; 3.5mm

headphone

DISTRIBUTOR

Select Audio

TELEPHONE

01900 601954

WEBSITE

ifi-audio.com

ORIGIN

USA

TYPE

Hub-powered USB

DAC/headphone

preamp

WEIGHT

25g

DIMENSIONS

(WxHxD)

35 x 64 x 12mm

FEATURES

● 32-bit/384kHz

DAC

● Format support:

PCM 44.1-384kHz;

DSD64 and 128

● Output: 2x 3.5mm

jack

DISTRIBUTOR

Anthem AV

Solutions

TELEPHONE

01825 750858

WEBSITE

anthemavs.co.uk

X