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FiiO
FiiO K7
Best overall desktopA desktop DAC/amp with serious power and balanced output for shockingly little - drives almost anything.
The spiritual successor to the M-DAC: an ES9038Q2M chip, four S/PDIF inputs, USB for computers and flash drives, balanced XLR out and a proper current-feedback headphone amp, with an OLED screen and a remote.
| DAC | ESS ES9038Q2M |
| Resolution | 32-bit/768 kHz PCM, DSD512 over USB |
| Outputs | RCA, XLR, headphone, 12 V triggers |
| Bluetooth | aptX HD |
A desktop DAC/amp with serious power and balanced output for shockingly little - drives almost anything.
A resistor-ladder DAC at a chip-DAC price: 192 thin-film resistors, a fully balanced amp with real power, Bluetooth in, and a ten-band EQ, all in one desk box.
The desktop DAC and headphone amp most people should start with, now with USB-C and a 4.4mm balanced output.