The very best DAPs for 2023

Ask any audiophile, they usually’ll inform you an identical factor: premium sound high quality nonetheless comes from wired headphones—and if you wish to get essentially the most out of your funding whereas out and about, it’s best to look into DAPs, a.ok.a. digital audio gamers. With the loss of life of the headphone jack, getting an optimized on-the-go listening expertise isn’t as straightforward because it was once. It doesn’t matter you probably have entry to lossless audio in case you’re simply going to degrade it utilizing Bluetooth. For those who’re in search of that old-school iPod Contact expertise given contemporary life with the newest high-resolution know-how, there’s just one method to go: faucet the very best DAPs. 

These standalone gadgets have a sole objective: enjoying music. A few of these moveable music gamers do that with audio recordsdata that you want to load onto it your self. Others include working methods (most frequently Android-based) and assist streaming companies like Spotify or TIDAL. They will additionally vary broadly in price, some specializing in accessible funds pricing and others taking the type of real luxurious gadgets. All of them have the identical objective, although: to ship the utmost in sound high quality, exceeding what you can hope for from a smartphone and headphone adapter. For those who’re on the hunt for an aural improve, we’re right here to assist. We’ve collected top-tier choices, whether or not you’re in search of a devoted participant on a funds, a participant that caters to a specific streaming service, or simply need the very best DAPs cash should buy.  

How we selected the very best DAPs

Over my years working in tech journalism, I’ve developed a ardour for nice sound. As an residence dweller till 2019, I used to be restricted to in-ear screens and headphones, so I skipped proper over loudspeakers and as a substitute dove deep into the world of private audio tools. I’ve been fortunate sufficient to check dozens of various headphones and earbuds and a wide selection of gadgets that drive them. I’ve realized and skilled way over I ever anticipated to, however the depths of my audio geekery allowed me to develop a discerning eye to type the stupendous from the snake oil.

For this text, I researched the foremost digital audio gamers launched during the last a number of years. I started with an eye fixed towards options and parts: the on-paper specs that made sure choices stand out from others. I then in contrast these early decisions with actual consumer impressions on audio fanatic websites like Head-Fi and r/headphones, smaller communities like Fb’s ChiFi Audio Opinions, and retailers like Amazon. This refined the record as a result of what appears to be like good on paper doesn’t essentially translate into an important product. Lastly, I relied by myself first-hand expertise, in addition to the pedigree of the manufacturers producing every DAP.

The very best DAPs: Opinions & Suggestions

Even with these issues in thoughts, deciding on the very best moveable participant could be complicated with out doing a lot of analysis—which is strictly what we’re right here for. We’ve accomplished the digging, so that you don’t must. Listed here are the very best digital audio gamers obtainable at present throughout half a dozen key classes:

Finest total: FiiO M11 Plus

Why it made the reduce: The FiiO M11 Plus provides a wonderful stability of value and efficiency, making it the go-to choice below $1,000.

Specs

• Worth: $699.99
• Display dimension: 5.5-inch HD (1440×720) IPS panel
• Connectivity: Balanced (2.5mm/4.4mm), single-ended (3.5mm), Bluetooth 5.0 (SBC/AAC/aptX HD/LDAC)
• Music streaming: Sure
• Output energy: 588mW (balanced), 206mW (single-ended)
• DAC: ESS ES9068AS x2
• Battery life: 11.5 hours 

Execs

• Nice stability of options and value
• Latest {hardware}, snappy efficiency
• Helps balanced and single-ended headphones
• Android 10

Cons

• Mid-tier driving energy
• Battery life might be higher
• Somewhat cumbersome

The FiiO M11 Plus is the very best total alternative for a digital audio participant below $1,000. Positive, Chinese language private audio specialist FiiO makes the funds M11S on one finish of the spectrum and, on the opposite, packs the facility of a desktop amp into transportable kind with the $1,799 flagship M17. However with the approachable mid-priced $699 M11 Plus, the corporate has accomplished one thing equally spectacular: delivered a DAP that over-performs for its value and presents an excellent stability of options, sound high quality, and a premium feel and appear. Whereas it’s not the very best in anybody space, it culminates in the very best worth in its class. 

The M11 Plus provides a easy and pure sound that doesn’t shade the headphones you’re listening to. The facility from its THX AAA-78 amp module comes in the midst of the pack at solely 588mW over its balanced port and 206mW over single-ended. Nonetheless, it delivers sufficient drive for many full-size headphones to cheap quantity ranges and just about any in-ear monitor (IEM) you’d care to attempt. What issues most is that the pure energy you do get, with three acquire modes, is low distortion whereas additionally full of life.

Top-of-the-line components of the FiiO M11 Plus is its consumer expertise. It contains a large, 5.5-inch HD show that’s crisp and responsive. Beneath the hood, it makes use of a Snapdragon 660 chipset to energy its Android 10 working system. Neither of those is leading edge, however each are newer than what you’ll discover on most different DAPs at this value and permit this Android DAP to be snappy and responsive as you navigate recordsdata (as much as ultra-resolution DSD512/768kHz PCM) and/or streaming together with TIDAL (supporting as much as 8x MQA unfolding). That large display screen and quick tech do make an influence on battery life, nonetheless, with solely 11.5 hours rated by the corporate when listening over balanced (14 hours over 3.5mm). Nonetheless, Fast Cost 4.0 assist permits the M11 Plus to recharge fully inside 4 hours. 

Including to its record of excessive factors are devoted buttons for observe controls and quantity (together with a capacitive contact slider), a glass back and front, a leather-based case, and a pre-installed display screen protector for added safety. You’ve a DAP that appears, feels, and performs higher than absolutely anything else in its value bracket. Whereas FiiO makes that fancier flagship price exploring in case you solely personal hard-to-drive summit-fi headphones, the M11 Plus lives within the candy spot of the performance-to-price ratio.

Finest high-end: Astell&Kern A&ultima SP2000T

Why it made the reduce: The A&ultima SP2000T sits within the lap of luxurious, or at the very least the pants pocket of luxurious, that includes a refined design and top-of-the-line options befitting its ultra-high-end price ticket.

Specs

• Worth: $2,499.99
• Display dimension: 5-inch Full HD (1920×1080) panel
• Connectivity: Balanced (2.5/4.4mm), single-ended (3.5mm), Bluetooth 5.0 (together with LDAC)
• Music streaming: Sure
• Output energy: 6 Vrms (balanced), 3 Vrms (single-ended)
• DAC: ESS ES9068AS x4
• Battery life: 9 hours

Execs

• Attractive design 
• Excellent energy output
• Glorious format assist to take heed to absolutely anything
• Tube or solid-state amplification

Cons

• Extremely costly
• Middling battery life
• Sluggish efficiency

The Astell&Kern SP2000T is an amazing digital audio participant with an equally large price ticket. At $2,499, it’s truthful to have excessive expectations, and the SP2000T delivers—principally. The design philosophy appears to be “every little thing and the kitchen sink,” so in case you’re the form of listener who should have all of it and doesn’t thoughts paying for it, this could be a nice alternative. 

Astell&Kern makes all method of enviable audio equipment, every with a exactly engineered objective. As an example, the $1,299 KANN Max sacrifices some versatility to focus on 15V of ultra-high energy. The SP2000T solely hits half that output, so why are you paying a lot extra for it? The reply lies on the coronary heart of the amp and DAC association in its distinctively angular, sleekly aluminum chassis. It contains a quad-DAC system with separate channels for balanced and single-ended channels, permitting it to supply loads of ultra-clean headroom. On the identical time, it integrates each Korg Nutube 6P1 tube and solid-state amp choices that may be run independently to customise the sound (clear and crisp for solid-state or heat and musical for the tube amp) or concurrently to have the very best of each worlds in a hybrid mode. 

It additionally provides three totally different connection choices for balanced and single-ended headphones (2.5mm, 3.5mm, and 4.4mm) and helps Bluetooth audio, together with Sony’s hi-res LDAC codec. For those who favor to pay attention regionally, it options 256GB of inner storage for recordsdata (as much as DSD512/32-bit 384kHz PCM) with as much as one other 1TB obtainable with a MicroSD card. Merely put, moveable DAPs don’t come a lot better than this.

The SP2000T is a brilliant machine with dual-band Wi-Fi, which suggests you’ll have entry to all your favourite streaming companies, in addition to use the machine as an endpoint to entry a Roon music server. Therefore, you’ll be able to entry a consolidated library of advanced-resolution audio when in your native community. It additionally natively helps full MQA decoding, along with broad format assist for standalone music recordsdata, so that you’ll by no means must compromise on audio high quality. Sadly, A&Ok compromised for you, because the {hardware} powering the software program could be sluggish. This could make sorting by means of albums and artists on streaming companies a drag, which can be particularly irritating if that’s the way you prefer to take pleasure in your music. 

Finest for TIDAL: iBasso DX240

Why it made the reduce: iBasso calls this its “pocket MQA participant,” and for a superb purpose: This participant helps full 16x MQA decoding to realize peak sonic efficiency.

Specs

• Worth: $949.99
• Display dimension: 5-inch HD (1080p) panel
• Connectivity: Balanced (2.5mm), single-ended (3.5mm), Bluetooth 5.0 (together with aptX HD/LDAC)
• Music streaming: Sure
• Output energy: 878mW (balanced), 281mW (single-ended)
• Battery life: 11 hours

Execs

• Full 16x MQA decoding
• Huge and exquisite HD display screen
• A number of energy 
• Swappable op-amps
• Quick efficiency

Cons

• Further thickness means extra bulk
• Fairly costly
• No native 4.4mm audio jack (however the elective, interchangeable AMP8MK2 provides 4.4 TRRRS & 3.5 TRS ports and discrete high-voltage, high-current output for demanding headphones and multidriver in-ear screens)
• No Google Play Retailer

The iBasso DX240 is an extremely well-rounded DAP. At $949, it doesn’t come low cost, however it’s exhausting to argue that this participant doesn’t provide quite a bit, notably in case you’re an everyday listener of TIDAL. Not like many competing gamers, the DX240 provides full 16x MQA decoding. Meaning Grasp High quality Authenticated tracks streamed over dual-band Wi-Fi will play at their full decision with zero sacrifices: precisely what essentially the most discerning TIDAL followers demand (in any case, the HiFi Plus tier prices $19.99 a month, so why waste bits or bucks).

Just like the FiiO M11 Plus, it contains a quick Snapdragon 660 processor and 4GB of RAM to make sure Android 9.0 runs easily, even whereas swiping by means of playlists. There’s additionally 64GB of built-in storage and the choice so as to add a MicroSD card for much more. For those who’re listening to your native library (32-bit/768kHz PCM and native DSD512 decoding supported), you’ll be able to swap over to iBasso’s MangoOS for even higher efficiency (sure, this can be a dual-OS DAP).

Much more curiously, audio-centric tinkerers can bodily swap out the amp module to tailor sound (identical to within the firm’s flagship $1,599 DX320, the place the AMP13 provides a tube component considerably just like the Astell&Kern SP2000T above, although extra concerned to implement). The corporate sells a number of totally different plug-and-play playing cards that go into the underside of the DX240, introducing discrete amplifiers that alter the sonic signature and efficiency, in addition to output energy and plugs (together with the AMP8MK2 so as to add a balanced 4.4mm choice). For those who’d fairly not change out precise circuitry, the working system helps your alternative of graphic or parametric EQ.

Regardless of being a powerful bundle, there are just a few caveats to recollect. At 19mm thick, it’s a bit bulkier than many different DAPs, so sliding it right into a pocket with a telephone is perhaps problematic. Regardless of operating Android, this DAP additionally doesn’t assist the Google Play Retailer. As an alternative, it comes pre-loaded with APKPure, a widely known various, however it’s nonetheless disappointing on a music participant that prices virtually a thousand {dollars}.  

Finest below $500: Shanling M3X

Why it made the reduce: The Shanling M3X delivers quite a bit for much less and, whereas launched in 2021, stays the only option below $500 since then. 

Specs

• Worth: $369
• Display dimension: 4.2-inch (1280 x 768) panel
• Connectivity: Balanced (4.4mm), single-ended (3.5mm), Bluetooth 4.2 (together with LDAC, LHDC, aptX HD, aptX, SBC)
• Music streaming: Sure
• Output energy: 240mW (balanced), 101mW (single-ended)
• Battery life: 23 hours

Execs

• Affordably priced for its characteristic set 
• Good energy output
• Ergonomic and straightforward to make use of 
• Nice battery life 
• Full x16 MQA decoding

Cons

• App efficiency could be sluggish 
• System-wide EQ is poor

Shanling has lengthy produced nice entry-level ultra-compact DAPs (the $129 M0 Professional, for instance). For these delving past dabbling with a conveyable participant, the M3X has been a fan favourite since 2021, and that doesn’t appear poised to vary anytime quickly. Its small 4×3-inch body slips simply into the pocket, and its well-placed controls are simply manipulated with out trying. It helps commonplace 3.5mm headphones and people who use balanced 4.4mm cables (which has largely turn out to be the usual connection for balanced IEMs). The construct high quality can be glorious, with a glass back and front (display screen protectors pre-installed) and extruded aluminum sides.

Like our decide for the very best total DAP, the Shanling M3X is de facto concerning the sum of its components. Beneath $500, it’s simply exhausting to seek out such a superb mixture of options. Its provides nice energy output for the worth, glorious construct high quality, and even helps the Google Play Retailer by default. Meaning you’ll be able to browse Fb or examine your e-mail whereas having fun with your favourite songs. And obtain any music streaming service, after all.

The place the M3X exhibits its extra inexpensive value is its chipset. Not like the pricier DAPs on this record, it solely contains a Snapdragon 430 chipset and 2GB of RAM, so really shopping the net is useful however will pale compared to a smartphone that’s a number of years previous. The system-wide EQ can be bog-standard Android fare, which suggests a noticeable quantity drop and a poor diploma of management.

Nonetheless, these shortcomings don’t maintain the M3X again very a lot. This participant pulls options from DAPs double and triple the worth. Living proof, the M3X helps full 16x MQA decoding, identical to the practically $1,000 iBasso DX240. Whereas, due to provide chain points, it might go out and in of inventory, the M3X is price maintaining a tally of in case you’re in search of the very best inexpensive DAP. 

Finest funds: Hidiz AP80 Professional-X

Why it made the reduce: The Hidiz AP80 Professional-X can’t stream music, however it provides a extremely customizable sound with a lot of versatility.

Specs

• Worth: $189.99
• Display dimension: 2.5-inch
• Connectivity: Balanced (2.5mm), single-ended (3.5mm), Bluetooth 4.1 (together with AAC, aptX, LDAC, UAT codecs)
• Music streaming: No 
• Output energy: 190mW (balanced), 70mW (single-ended)
• Battery life: 9 hours (balanced), 13 hours (single-ended)

Execs

• Supremely pocketable 
• Good output energy at this value
• Very user-friendly EQ
• 8x MQA decoding

Cons

• Performs native recordsdata solely in regular mode
• Comparatively low battery life
• No onboard storage

The Hidiz AP80 Professional-X is in contrast to some other DAP on this record and is great worth for its funds value. Coming in at $189, it’s the solely digital participant unable to connect with main music streaming companies. However don’t let that idiot you, because the AP80 Professional-X has quite a bit going for it that makes it effectively price contemplating for music lovers on a funds.

A lot of the magic of the AP80 Professional-X comes from its simplicity. It runs the HiBy OS, which doesn’t have entry to the Google Play Retailer however is quick and responsive, avoiding the pitfall of sluggishness plaguing so many digital audio gamers. It could settle for MicroSD playing cards as much as 512GB, holding as much as a few thousand albums (together with recordsdata as much as 32-bit/384kHz PCM and DSD256). And it delivers these recordsdata with loads of energy throughout its 3.5mm single-ended (70mW) and a couple of.5mm balanced (190mW) connections. 

If you wish to take heed to streaming companies, you’ll want a smartphone or laptop. When linked to an internet-enabled supply, the AP80 Professional-X can act as a DAC, receiving that audio and sending it by means of (full with 8x MQA decoding) to your headphones. It features equally to a dongle DAC or a wi-fi Bluetooth receiver (supporting AAC, aptX, LDAC, UAT codecs) however with all of the options and enhanced sound high quality of this way more refined participant. It additionally provides expansive sound customization with sliders devoted to particular descriptors, like “bass extension” and “observe thickness.” It’s a novel, user-friendly contact different DAP producers might study from.

At $189, the AP80 Professional-X provides rather a lot, however it’s not with out its sacrifices. It doesn’t include onboard storage to start importing your recordsdata instantly. The battery life can be solely so-so. However with a one-hour full recharge time, downtime shouldn’t be a lot of a problem.

Issues to think about earlier than shopping for among the best DAPs

Like most issues inside the audio passion, selecting the best DAP isn’t so simple as discovering what’s common and assuming it’ll give you the results you want. Costs scale into hundreds of {dollars}, and unsurprisingly, these costly merchandise are likely to get rave suggestions. Primarily based on optimistic suggestions alone, you may assume you could spend upwards of $1,000 to have an important expertise. As an alternative, the a lot wiser alternative is to work backward from the options you want after which discover the very best digital audio participant that matches your funds. Right here’s what to search for earlier than committing to a purchase order: 

Connectivity 

The very first thing to think about with any DAP is what connectivity choices it provides. Some DAPs are restricted solely to single-ended (commonplace 3.5mm) connections. Others provide 4.4mm or 2.5mm balanced connections—ports that cut up the sign into left and proper channels for lowered distortion, improved readability, and elevated energy supply. Even when your present headphones use a regular 3.5mm jack, it’s price contemplating whether or not a balanced earphone could also be in your future. Since balanced outputs have a tendency to supply extra energy, it’s a helpful choice in case you’re listening to harder-to-drive headphones. 

One necessary factor to bear in mind is that, on account of their dimension, the very best hi-res gamers usually lack assist for the big 6.35mm jacks which are widespread to over-hear headphones. It’s nonetheless potential to make use of a DAP with cans like these, however you’ll want an adapter to make the connection. This versatile choice from Sennheiser is a superb alternative and is available in at just below $20.

Connectivity doesn’t cease on the wire, nonetheless. Some DAPs additionally assist Bluetooth to ship and/or obtain audio, in addition to Wi-Fi for higher-resolution/bandwidth audio. If you need your machine additionally to drive true wi-fi earbuds or the very best moveable audio system, you’ll must be positive it helps Bluetooth as a characteristic (whereas acknowledging that Bluetooth isn’t the highest-fidelity choice, although the LDAC codec is a stable listening expertise and aptX Lossless, whereas solely on the NuraTrue Professional at present, has potential).

Output energy

Proper up there with connectivity choices is how a lot energy the moveable DAP can produce. This isn’t often a problem for small, easy-to-drive in-ear screens, however is a serious consideration in case you’re contemplating over-ear headphones. Audiophile-grade cans usually require the additional energy of a devoted headphone amplifier to sound their greatest, and a DAP that doesn’t produce sufficient energy to drive them is sure to disappoint.

This data is often discovered on the specification record for many gamers and is rated in milliwatts (mW) or volts RMS (VRMS). It’s usually rated in opposition to a sure resistance measured in ohms: [email protected]Ω, for instance. The quantity of output energy can even range between the balanced and single-ended (3.5mm) outputs, so it’s necessary to think about which port you’ll be utilizing and never simply assume the very best potential output energy is what you’ll be getting. 

Since headphones have an extremely big selection of energy calls for, it’s unimaginable to supply particular recommendation with out understanding which shall be used. Usually, 50mW of output energy is enough for many earphones. Headphones could be extra demanding. To be protected, run your headphones by means of a headphone energy calculator to seek out out precisely how a lot energy output try to be focusing on.

For those who plan to take heed to a mixture of in-ear and over-ear headphones, take into account in search of a DAP with high- and low-gain modes for much less hiss and extra fine-tuned quantity adjustment. A really high-output participant may fit nice for a demanding pair of audiophile headphones however might make listening to delicate multidriver earbuds tough with very sensitive quantity controls. Having the ability to swap between low- and high-gain modes could be game-changing to the flexibility of a DAP.

Help for streaming companies and file sorts

Digital audio gamers are available in two varieties: easy music-file gamers and sensible gadgets supporting on-line streaming. For those who’re a die-hard fan of lossless audio with a deep catalog of hi-res audio recordsdata, you’ll most likely be proud of a regular “dumb” DAP that has the only real job of creating your music sound nice. 

For those who’re a fan of TIDAL or Spotify, you’ll want a DAP that may connect with the web and has a show able to navigating these apps. Meaning operating some model of Android and, often, a extra sophisticated and costly machine.

Sensible audio gamers usually really feel like smartphones designed round enjoying music, which could be each good and unhealthy (in case you’re in search of that form of convergence machine, try one thing with an upgraded built-in DAC/amp, just like the ASUS ROG Telephone 6). On the plus facet, DAPs that assist streaming companies provide you with entry to large music libraries and the flexibility to choose up the place you left off throughout totally different gadgets. The draw back is that, because the focus is on audio high quality, the precise laptop facet of the machine is commonly a number of generations previous, together with the working system. Many sensible DAPs really feel sluggish in comparison with equally priced smartphones.

The opposite factor to think about is what file codecs the machine can play again. To stream the very best high quality tracks from TIDAL, your DAP should assist decoding these recordsdata. TIDAL’s high streaming tier options MQA, or Grasp High quality Authenticated, tracks that use a proprietary compression algorithm that just some gamers can totally decode, often at an extra price. Likewise, in case you’re enjoying native recordsdata, you’ll need to make certain the machine helps the format of your library (FLAC, ALAC, DSD, WAV, and many others.).

Battery life

Lastly, the very last thing to think about when buying a DAP is how lengthy you’ll be able to count on it to play between recharges. Considerably counterintuitively, the fancier DACs usually provide worse battery life on account of their massive screens, Android working methods, and extra highly effective digital sign processing choices/amplifier output. Any DAP price investing in will final at the very least by means of a workday of listening. For those who don’t thoughts plugging in in a single day, this may probably be enough. 

Together with this, look intently at how lengthy the participant takes to recharge. The Hidiz AP80 Professional-X is available in on the low finish for battery life however takes solely an hour to completely recharge, which suggests a fast plug-in all through the day will probably shut the hole in usability for prolonged listening periods. For those who do anticipate having to plug in, additionally you’ll want to examine if the machine can nonetheless be used whereas charging. 

FAQs

Ultimate ideas on the very best DAPs

Deciding on a DAP could be intimidating. With costs extending into tons of of {dollars} and past, the stress to make the best choice is excessive. However, with a concentrate on options, it’s potential to seek out the best match that may allow you to take pleasure in your music to the fullest on the go. The very best DAPs present room to develop and discover the passion even additional. With care, they even are likely to retain resale worth, supplying you with a one-up on that subsequent inevitable improve. 

Why belief us

Common Science began writing about know-how greater than 150 years in the past. There was no such factor as “gadget writing” after we revealed our first difficulty in 1872, but when there was, our mission to demystify the world of innovation for on a regular basis readers means we might have been throughout it. Right here within the current, PopSci is totally dedicated to serving to readers navigate the more and more intimidating array of gadgets available on the market proper now.

Our writers and editors have mixed many years of expertise overlaying and reviewing client electronics. We every have our personal obsessive specialties—from high-end audio to video video games to cameras and past—however after we’re reviewing gadgets exterior of our speedy wheelhouses, we do our greatest to hunt out reliable voices and opinions to assist information individuals to the perfect suggestions. We all know we don’t know every little thing, however we’re excited to dwell by means of the evaluation paralysis that web purchasing can spur so readers don’t must.