Shanling UA4 USB DAC: BIG SOUND in a Small Shell!

Shanling UA4 Review!
It’s a tiny little portable DAC, but it’s putting out a HUGE sound. A new ESS chip reduces power, and smooths out out some of the sound. The amp is punchy. There’s a CUTE little screen, and it’s surprisingly affordable!

Let’s take it for a spin! Continue reading “Shanling UA4 USB DAC: BIG SOUND in a Small Shell!”

ifi Audio xDSD Gryphon Portable DAC Review: GOLD STANDARD

iFi Gryphon review! This might be one of the best audio products I’ve ever reviewed. It’s certainly one of the most flexible DACs I’ve ever tested. Gryphon delivers fantastic performance cabled or over Bluetooth, has solid battery life, and a number of settings to tweak and customize.

I can’t praise this enough. Let’s chat! Continue reading “ifi Audio xDSD Gryphon Portable DAC Review: GOLD STANDARD”

Ikko ITX01: A Laptop Hub with A HI-RES AUDIO DAC!

Ikko ITX01 Review!
I’m NERDING out on this one HARD! What if we took a really nice laptop hub, and added a premium DAC? It’s such a silly little idea, but it’s EXACTLY what I’ve been hoping someone would make. If your laptop has a mediocre headphone jack, this hub will add additional ports, memory card readers, AND improve that audio playback!
This is a totally new DAC chip, so let’s check it out!

Continue reading “Ikko ITX01: A Laptop Hub with A HI-RES AUDIO DAC!”

Fiio BTR7 Bluetooth Headphone DAC: Delicious Audio Overkill!

Fiio BTR7 Review!

It’s a LITTLE Bluetooth adapter, but it delivers a BIG sound! This little DAC has a pair of incredible THX amps on tap, and it’s one of the most powerful solutions I’ve ever used. Is it maybe TOO good? Can it get TOO loud? Let’s take a listen!

Fiio BTR7 on Amazon https://amzn.to/3TjNknC Continue reading “Fiio BTR7 Bluetooth Headphone DAC: Delicious Audio Overkill!”

What I mean when I talk about “weak” headphone amps on phones…

A quick test to show some of the differences in playback when we talk about different earbuds and different amps. Not all headphone jacks are created equal! Better DACs and amps improve our listening experience. Let’s see how that works!

SomeGadgetGuy DAC buying guide! https://somegadgetguy.com/2021/08/10/apple-music-lossless-amazon-music-hd-spotify-premium-tidal-masters-but-your-phone-doesnt-have-a-headphone-jack-dac-buying-guide/ Continue reading “What I mean when I talk about “weak” headphone amps on phones…”

Apogee Groove USB DAC in 2021: Tiny Stick, HUGE AMP!

Apogee Groove 2021 Review! It’s new to me!

The Groove has been out for a while now, but it deserves a second look today!

Originally built as an enthusiast travel solution, now more consumers are getting interested in higher quality audio streaming. In a world where LG has left the smartphone market, what does it cost to pair a HUGE amp with a “Quad Sum DAC”? Continue reading “Apogee Groove USB DAC in 2021: Tiny Stick, HUGE AMP!”

THX Onyx AAA DAC: Overkill for Apple Lossless?

Naw. This thing is great!

I didn’t soapbox TOO much in this review, but it is kinda frustrating how many techies shrugged on the ESS DAC in LG phones. Replacing that headphone solution with an external device is NOT cheap.

Still, I’m happy the spirit of that mobile audio lives on, and THX has a killer solution for folks looking to jump start their audiophile journey. Continue reading “THX Onyx AAA DAC: Overkill for Apple Lossless?”

Periodic Audio Rhodium: Revenge of the USB DAC?

Periodic Audio Rhodium USB DAC Review!

I know I have a fair number of cabled audio fans watching these reviews. We never got those great mainstream options we’d wanted to get for USB audio adapters. I’d always hoped a high profile audio manufacturer would step in with a DAC or an adapter, but sadly, these options seem to slide more boutique.

Well, Periodic Audio is a nerd-core boutique label, so let’s take a listen to what the Rhodium has to offer! Continue reading “Periodic Audio Rhodium: Revenge of the USB DAC?”