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Audioengine D1 32-bit Desktop DAC and Headphone Amp, Preamp, Laptop, Amplifier, Gamers and Musicians
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Return this item for free
We offer easy, convenient returns with at least one free return option: no shipping charges. All returns must comply with our returns policy.
Learn more about free returns.- Go to your orders and start the return
- Select your preferred free shipping option
- Drop off and leave!
Purchase options and add-ons
Brand | Audioengine |
Mounting Type | Desktop |
Interface Type | USB |
Product Dimensions | 3.75"L x 3.5"W |
Material | Aluminum |
About this item
- HEADPHONE AMPLIFIER AND USB DAC AMP - Play high-resolution 32 bit music from Apple Music, Amazon Music and Tidal with stunning clarity you'll notice immediately. An desktop amp and digital audio converter allows you to hear the detail in music the way the artist intended
- PROFESSIONAL FEATURES - USB and optical audio inputs for computers, RCA line-output, precise front panel volume control, and audiophile-quality components inside and out. The D1 can be powered by a phone or tablet yet still drives high-performance headphones
- HI-RES AUDIO - Our headphone amp has a 32 Bit ESS ES9018 DAC, ES9601C SABRE driver, and CT7601CR USB streamer or audio bridge
- WHAT’S INCLUDED - D1 headphone amplifier and DAC, USB cable, setup guide, microfiber product bag
- WHY CHOOSE THE D1 - Great for desktops, professional components that last, veteran owned US Company based in Texas, guaranteed for 3 years, customer service with real people - not voicemail
Frequently bought together
![Audioengine D1 32-bit Desktop DAC and Headphone Amp, Preamp, Laptop, Amplifier, Gamers and Musicians](https://cdn.statically.io/img/images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/61DDPj7YURL._AC_UL116_SR116,116_.jpg)
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Product details
- Is Discontinued By Manufacturer : No
- Language : English
- Product Dimensions : 1.48 x 1.38 x 0.39 inches; 5 ounces
- Item model number : D1
- Batteries : 2 Lithium Polymer batteries required.
- Date First Available : December 6, 2011
- Manufacturer : Audioengine
- ASIN : B006IPH5H2
- Country of Origin : China
- Best Sellers Rank: #55,119 in Electronics (See Top 100 in Electronics)
- #62 in Headphone Amps
- Customer Reviews:
From the brand
![white black speakers desktop speakers computer speakers Bluetooth speakers subwoofers receivers](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/S/aplus-media-library-service-media/8072606e-167c-4a50-9025-4db4a880baed.__CR0,353,3590,1533_PT0_SX1464_V1___.jpg)
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Gamers, Music and Movie Lovers
Award winning professional hardware sold at consumer prices.
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Subwoofers Add More Audio
Complete your sound stage by adding one of our subwoofers and hear the audio you've been missing.
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Hear More Audio via 24 bit
Audiophiles know - Hi-Fi audio files and professional equipment enhance music, gaming, movies, podcasts and more.
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Speaker Stands Enhance Audio
Improve your sound stage by elevating your speakers at 15 degree angles on stands to enhance your audio by up to 20%.
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Wood vs Plastic vs Metal
Enclosures made of wood offer less distortion than metal or plastic, which leads to greater clarity and more enjoyment.
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13 Step Hand Painted Process
Our piano gloss finishes will impress. They look great anywhere in the home or office and are built to last.
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Superior Craftsmanship
Real wood that lasts. The variety in the wood grain makes each bookshelf speakers set unique. Quality inside and out.
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Professional Components
Our amplifiers, Bluetooth receivers, and Wi-Fi products are built with ease of use in mind. Most are plug and play out of the box.
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How did we get our start?
Founded in 2005, our founders worked in the tech industry for many years with companies like Harman, Apple, Gibson Guitars, and Alesis.
What makes our products unique?
We take professional components used in high end audio equipment and sell them at consumer prices.
What problem are we solving?
The average consumer is missing audio they're unaware exists. Better hardware and hi-fi audio files open a whole new sound experience for listeners.
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A veteran owned company with engineering, design and phone support all based in the USA.
Product Description
![logo](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/S/aplus-media-library-service-media/d1c7a9e7-1fc9-4ec2-9a06-471e246ab34c.__CR833,0,3333,1000_PT0_SX600_V1___.png)
![portable headphone amplifier desktop speakers amp](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/S/aplus-media-library-service-media/67019e3b-616a-4aa4-a14f-ce994250839a.__CR0,0,970,600_PT0_SX970_V1___.jpg)
![portable headphone amplifier desktop speakers amp](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/S/aplus-media-library-service-media/0ca5feef-82e4-49c4-92d8-775dcb3b9e47.__CR0,0,970,600_PT0_SX970_V1___.jpg)
Why choose the D1 Desktop/Headphone Amplifier?
Introducing Audioengine D1 Premium 32-Bit DAC (digital-to-analog converter), our 2nd generation, top-of-the-line DAC and headphone amplifier that's the perfect audio upgrade for your computer desktop. D1 lets you bypass your computer's sound card or headphone output and send audio through USB C or optical. D1 is the perfect digital interface between your computer and music system making it easier than ever to enjoy all your favorite tunes.
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The D1: A Master of All TradesPlay high-resolution music 32 bit music from Apple Music, Amazon Music and Tidal with stunning clarity you'll notice immediately. Professional hardware at affordable prices. |
Designed for Audiophiles, Priced for the Rest of UsThe D1 is a great companion for music lovers. It converts digital music and other audio back to analog witch ensures you get the experience the artist intended. |
Features:
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Compare Personal Amplifiers:
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Customer reviews
Customer Reviews, including Product Star Ratings help customers to learn more about the product and decide whether it is the right product for them.
To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. It also analyzed reviews to verify trustworthiness.
Learn more how customers reviews work on AmazonCustomers say
Customers like the sound quality, quality and performance of the electronic signal converter. They mention that it sounds better, is built well and is impressive. They appreciate the performance, saying that it works beautifully and is well worth the price. Customers also like the ease of setup and use, saying it's very easy to connect to their MacBook Pro via USB and that they have zero issues with the setup.
AI-generated from the text of customer reviews
Customers like the sound quality of the electronic signal converter. They mention that it sounds better, it improves computer music sound, and that any flaws in sound quality are easily detected. They also say that it has tighter bass, distinguished highs and mids, and louder output. Customers also say it's an excellent option for car audio, and mention that the details and sound separation are superb.
"...It can get LOUD, with plenty more juice then my cans need. The impact on my phone's battery life is negligible...." Read more
"...Now through the D1, there's a notable increase in volume, but almost a noticeable balance between the heavy beats and the strong mids in the rhythm...." Read more
"...With half the burn-in period under my belt I would describe the sound as detailed and fairly smooth with no hint of harshness...." Read more
"...vital role in my setup as far as powering my headphones and giving me good clean audio. There is ZERO hissing or white noise even at high volume...." Read more
Customers like the quality of the electronic signal converter. They mention it's built well, impressive, and loaded with great technology. They also appreciate the wholesome warmth and the satisfying sound of good monitor speakers. They appreciate the excellent RCA connections and the fact that the DAC supplies plenty of power.
"...The volume knob feels great, with the perfect amount of resistance. It can get LOUD, with plenty more juice then my cans need...." Read more
"...Smaller, even. Aluminum housing with soft-touch ends, excellent RCA connections, and an amazing pot for the volume control only made it seem a lot..." Read more
"...LAST BLURB: A solid unit that's easy on desktop space and has great sound and sturdy construction." Read more
"...The build quality is very nice and you can feel the difference immediately if you've ever held cheaper no-name DACs...." Read more
Customers like the performance of the electronic signal converter. For example, they mention it works beautifully, provides outstanding results, and is shocked at its performance. Some say it works perfectly with their iPhone, MacPro, Windows 11, and Tidal. It also works great as an external DAC and can be used as an amplifier.
"...The device is beautiful, solid, and just works flawlessly. The volume knob feels great, with the perfect amount of resistance...." Read more
"...Electrohouse became quicker, almost. Dubstep beats no longer drained out all the mids and highs...." Read more
"...The volume knob works fine for adjusting the volume of my M-Audio BX5 D2 monitors but a tiny twist of the knob causes volume to go from soft to..." Read more
"...The cord is useless and the decision to include such a short cord just boggles my mind and makes me question Audioengine's commitment to its..." Read more
Customers like the value of the electronic signal converter. They mention that it's well worth the price, and worth every penny for better sound. Some say that it is a good little product and an awesome piece of equipment.
"...My headphones actually sound like they're worth the money I paid out for them!..." Read more
"...The price is fine, considering what you're getting." Read more
"...But what I got was an appreciably better sounding system. The DAC1 is an amazing value at just $169 and while the Focal speakers are hardly cheap at..." Read more
"...In my opinion, it was worth the cost...." Read more
Customers like the ease of use of the electronic signal converter. They say it's very easy to connect to their 2009 MacBook Pro via USB and their Rokis. They have zero issues with the setup in Windows 10. They also mention that it'll plug and play straight out of the box.
"...Hook up was easy: a pair of RCA/TRS cables to my M-Audio BX5 D2 monitors and the included USB cable into my Cinema Display...." Read more
"...was via Toslink optical from Apple TV to D1 DAC and was very easy to setup...." Read more
"...It's super easy to set up...just plug into PC using USB and plug into powered speakers (like the A2s) with red/white audio cords...." Read more
"...Installation is fairly simple. It connects to the computer by USB cable which supplies the digital audio and power...." Read more
Customers are impressed with the size of the electronic signal converter. They say it takes up almost no room, and is very impressed for the size. Some customers also say it fits very neatly into their mid-century stereo.
"...The bass, which before, always felt just fine, tightened up a lot, and became much more focused and responsive...." Read more
"...I just love the portability; can easily bring along with me anywhere. Nice gold plated RCA connectors. The gain dial turns smoothly...." Read more
"...In summary, the Audioengine DAC3 excels in aesthetics, portability, and sound quality but has limitations in terms of connectivity options and the..." Read more
"...It’s tiny. About double the size of my thumbnail. Very light. If you need a DAC(YOU DO) this fits the bill if it fits your budget." Read more
Customers appreciate the clarity of the electronic signal converter. They mention that it's crystal clear, and they never lose any clarity from the instruments. They also appreciate the transparency, greater mid level articulation, and tighter sound. Customers also mention that the music is clean, well-focused, and that they can distinguish different instruments more clearly.
"...which before, always felt just fine, tightened up a lot, and became much more focused and responsive...." Read more
"...The next day I was shocked at the improvements: smooth natural and transparent and easily besting my Mac's DAC...." Read more
"...Each instrument and voice sounded so distinct, solid and smooth. Sound staging was also very good...." Read more
"...The crystal clarity combined with the spatial recreation/sound-staging has totally spoiled me...." Read more
Customers have mixed opinions about the volume control of the signal converter. Some find it excellent, smooth, and offers more flexibility and control, while others say it's too sensitive and difficult to use.
"...with soft-touch ends, excellent RCA connections, and an amazing pot for the volume control only made it seem a lot better...." Read more
"...The volume is a simple rocker switch that I sometimes find difficult to use...." Read more
"...It’s a solid device with a small foot print, the volume knob is smooth and works very well...." Read more
"...In OS X (I'm running Mountain Lion 10.8.2), one cannot digitally control the volume of the D1...." Read more
Reviews with images
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Top reviews
Top reviews from the United States
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I kept my iPhone 6S+ for almost 9 years, because I just could not give up the headphone jack, mainly for listening to Tidal in the car. I bought an Apple dongle for my new phone - it just could not compare. I had to turn the volume up much louder for still inferior sound compared to my old phone. Well, with the D1P, I don't miss my precious headphone jack anymore. My car's speakers sound better than ever, and so do my Sennheisers. Look, Mom, I'm gain-staging while I drive!
The device is beautiful, solid, and just works flawlessly. The volume knob feels great, with the perfect amount of resistance. It can get LOUD, with plenty more juice then my cans need. The impact on my phone's battery life is negligible. Jiggling the cables around creates no loss of signal, not even the tiniest click or pop. Is that a DAC in your pocket, or are you just happy to see me? Dreams really do come true… Thanks, Audioengine!
After doing plenty of research, almost all of it positive for the Audioengine, I bought it and had it delivered overnight. It had an integrated headphone amp, a volume control, and was USB based. It had an optical toslink input (great for gaming consoles) and RCA output, for eventually working into a full system. I didn't think it would be this small! I was expecting something with the footprint of a 3.5" HDD, but instead it's as big as a stick of deodorant. Smaller, even. Aluminum housing with soft-touch ends, excellent RCA connections, and an amazing pot for the volume control only made it seem a lot better. The headphone jack in front is a little odd; they decided to go with the common 1/8" (3.5mm) TRS jack, instead of the more robust 1/4" (6.35mm) TRS jack. I suppose it's more accessible seeing as many people do not use 1/4" TRS jacks, except for audiophiles. The D1 being more of a compact unit, this makes sense. I suppose it's the same argument as buying a DAC at this price that has XLR connectors versus TRS. The markets just don't really coincide.
But I digress.
I plugged it into my laptop and it automatically initialized, installing drivers. I plugged in my K240's and was rather underwhelmed. All it really did at the time was tone down some of the sibilant highs in my electronic music. That said, it wasn't burned in. So, I left my headphones in and let it play at a moderate volume (note my K240's have seen hundreds of hours of use). Six hours of work later, I take a listen and something definitely feels different. I unplugged from the DAC and plugged into the laptop headphone jack, then back to the DAC. There it was. A remarkable tightening of the low end. When instruments couldn't be told apart, when the music felt almost hollow from the laptop, the D1 filled in that gap. Each hi-hat, each drum hit, each synth key. That hollow nature could be best described as if someone had put low pass filters on the music, like they were playing miles away. Now I am center stage. This was only with 6-10 hours of burn-in! I plugged in my K701's and also noticed a wonderful improvement in instrument separation and bass response. Music just felt richer and fuller!
I then decided to plug in my 2.1 computer stereo system into it. I've owned this system for almost six years now, an old pair of Harman/Kardon satellites and a subwoofer that comes as a single system. I think it came with a Dell I had back in the day. The bass, which before, always felt just fine, tightened up a lot, and became much more focused and responsive. Tracks like Kanye's "Power" have a lot of bass, and normally played through the laptop, it was fine. Now through the D1, there's a notable increase in volume, but almost a noticeable balance between the heavy beats and the strong mids in the rhythm. Despite similar volume levels, though the D1, the floor shook! Electronic music picked up a lot more precision, and it helped reduce the harsh sibilance/treble in some of my drum & bass tracks. Electrohouse became quicker, almost. Dubstep beats no longer drained out all the mids and highs.
Now I'm at 25 hours of use, continuous, too. It's not even warm. I'm very pleased to see how the D1 is responding to my collection of music, and how it seems to improve with every second. My headphones actually sound like they're worth the money I paid out for them! I've used them to great effect in games, what with every footstep clearly audible, and its placement more accurate.
Now, some greivances I have:
-- Because the D1 is strictly powered via USB, an adapter has to be used if you want to plug it into the wall. Besides the USB and the optical toslink ports, there's no other way to attach an input. You basically either NEED a computer or another powered source that has optical toslink. Unfortunately, you cannot just slap an auxiliary 3.5mm male to 3.5mm male between the D1 and say, your mobile phone, and expect it to play.
-- You don't get a USB to AC adapter.
-- No indication of what the DAC is getting as far as signal. The HRT has multiple LEDs which indicate incoming signal (sample frequency). If you're using this DAC, you better be pretty confident of the signal entering it.
My grievances are rather petty, and being a compact system, my first gripe isn't really applicable.
Some things to note that the D1 does:
-- Increase bass response, while cleaning it up. Less boomy, rattly bass and more controlled, tighter bass which leads to a cleaner, efficient sound.
-- Neutral/flat response. You don't get a really bass heavy feel nor do the mids or highs feel like they are overreaching.
-- Play lossless audio PROPERLY. The stock Windows audio mixer downmixes channels before playing them, which is why it's possible to hear your Skype "new message pop" over your music while you shoot people in a game. Depending on how you set up your system, you can have all audio channels sent directly to the DAC, or if you're like me, have foobar2000 with kernel streaming play all my music directly to the D1. 24 bit, 96 khz vinyl rips never actually sounded like vinyl until today! If I ever get my hands on 24 bit, 196 khz audio, I'll need optical toslink.
Remember to practice your Google-Fu and find out how to properly use your D1 instead of using it purely to convert downmixed digital audio to analog. Use it to play super-high quality FLAC's, AIFF's, and OGG's. Computer audio is rather complicated.
Looking for a DAC? Look no farther. Your answer is right here.
BUILD: Out of the box my first impression was it's tiny. However, it's well made with metal case, gold plated connections and great fit and finish. Hook up was easy: a pair of RCA/TRS cables to my M-Audio BX5 D2 monitors and the included USB cable into my Cinema Display. My Mac Pro (OS 10.5) immediately recognized the new device and switched system audio to Audioengine D1. However some apps can override system audio preferences and you may have to select D1 from within the app, especially if you have multiple DAC units online.
SOUND: I have tracks of me playing classical guitar, so I listened to those first since I knew exactly how they should sound. And what a disappointment: bright, harsh, random clicks and a wee bit of distortion! I was ready to return the unit but decided to read the manual: "give it 40 to 50 hours break-in before doing any critical listening." Hmm, I have other components that definitely sounded better--smoother--after a week or two or burn-in so I engaged iTunes shuffle and left the house for the day. The next day I was shocked at the improvements: smooth natural and transparent and easily besting my Mac's DAC. Incidentally, the D1 has a much hotter signal than my Mac and I had to turn down the volume to avoid burning my ears.
Besting the Mac's build-in DAC was expected but a relief after the initial harsh tones at hookup. With half the burn-in period under my belt I would describe the sound as detailed and fairly smooth with no hint of harshness. And the detail is almost overwhelming: zaps, scrapes, coughs, etc., in the background of live concerts are extremely vivid whereas they were barely audible with my iPod or computer DAC. Also, the reverb tails of studio reverb are much more prominent--almost too prominent (will be going easier on the wet mix). So, yes, lots of detail you normally miss with a cheaper DAC. While that's great for a clean studio recording, it may not be so enjoyable for noisy stage and club recordings.
I compared it side by side with my MOTU Ultralite ($600 recording interface) and was pleasantly surprised. I auditioned both DACs with M-Audio BX5 speakers. I can't say the D1 sounds better than the Ultralite but it's in the same ball park sonically. The Ultralite is a little more dynamic, smoother (sweeter mids) and has a flatter EQ profile whereas the D1 has a wee EQ bump in the bass and slightly more edgy treble. Both are highly revealing of background detail compared to the built-in Mac DAC. However the Ultralite has a lot more gain in the preamp section albeit the D1 is no weakling. The D1 is not ideal DAC for mixing but perfect for what I bought it for, causal listening.
RFI RESISTANCE: I live in the inner city and am surrounded by cellphone and radio station transmitters. RFI is a major problem in my condo and every piece of gear needs shielding or it becomes a classic rock station. I am happy to report the D1 greeted me with complete radio silence and is well shielded. Good show Audioengine designers!
IO: Digital audio may be routed to the D1 either through the USB input or the optical (SPDIF). The USB is more universal and closer at hand on most desktops. The optical input requires an expensive cable and, for me, a very long one as my Mac Pro is under the desk! Most users will be happy with the convenience of the USB hookup, and that is fine long as your audio source is 24-bit and 96KS/s or less. If you are one of the rare individuals requiring 192KS/s, you will need to use the optical input.
The D1 has a good quality headphone output via a mini (3.5mm) stereo output jack. It has no problem driving my Sennheiser HD580 headphones although I mainly use it with Shure 400 series earbuds. The volume knob works fine for adjusting the volume of my M-Audio BX5 D2 monitors but a tiny twist of the knob causes volume to go from soft to painfully loud with many earbuds.
Finally, I found the D1 short on outputs: a pair of RCA and a mini stereo jack and that's it. Also, it can only handle a single input source (the USB input is disabled when an optical cable is plugged in). A second USB input would have been handy for a visiting iPod or Tascam portable.
GOTCHAS: There are a few minor gotchas. First, as mentioned above, finer gradations of volume control would be welcome. Also, system volume and mute controls don't work from the keyboard or Apple IR remote and must be controlled directly from the D1. Audioengine could easily write a driver to fix that if they wanted to. MOTU allows Core Audio volume control with their devices (or you can use device controls). I miss being able to mute with a simple button tap. And, finally, that bright LED light on the front panel needs a filter or disable switch (other than turning it off).
LAST BLURB: A solid unit that's easy on desktop space and has great sound and sturdy construction.
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Risultato: spariti fruscii e ronzii di fondo dovuti a micro interferenze che inevitabilmente pc e tv generano (ma anche i cavetti analogici di collegamento). Il che si apprezza quando si ascolta l'hi-fi a volume medio alto e la musica è "lieve", esempio passaggi di voce e pianoforte, o chitarra acustica, che avvengono - grazie al DAC - in un silenzio di fondo gradevolissimo. Se invece parliamo di musica ritmata, disco, pop, rock, etc, i fruscii e ronzii verrebbero coperti dalla musica chiassosa stessa e l'utilità del DAC, sotto questo punto di vista, non verrebbe percepita rispetto a un normale collegamento analogico (es uscita cuffie del pc).
Inoltre la qualità del suono migliora, si percepiscono i singoli strumenti, i dettagli della voce, mentre con un collegamento analogico il tutto sembra più impastato. Attenzione però: non aspettatevi mutamenti clamorosi, si tratta di sfumature per audiofili, che percepirete solo collegando contemporaneamente la stessa fonte, allo stesso volume, allo stesso amplificatore, con entrambi i modi: attraverso il cavo analogico (es uscita cuffie del pc) e attraverso il DAC (es uscita usb del pc). Provate a switchare gli ingressi dell'ampli sull'una e sull'altra fonte e finirete col notare le sfumature di cui dicevo.
Roba x audiofili, però: gran parte delle persone, se non adeguatamente sollecitate a prestare attenzione, non noterà a mio avviso differenze. Dipende peraltro dall'impianto, dal pc, dal tv. Io posso dire solo della mia esperienza.
Infine: la sorgente sonora dev'essere qualitativamente alta. Se si parte da un mp3 (per definizione file di scarsa o scarsissima qualità) il DAC servirà a poco o nulla, a mio parere.
Il DAC ha una comoda uscita frontale per le cuffie: se collegata, viene automaticamente esclusa la porta di uscita rca stereo.
![](https://images-eu.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/S/amazon-avatars-global/default._CR0,0,1024,1024_SX48_.png)
El aparato en sí, está realizado en materiales solidos, de buena calidad. El tacto del control del volumen es suave y preciso, dando esa sensación de producto bien terminado. Además lo he probado y funciona tanto con Windows 7 como con Ubuntu.
Totalmente recomendable.
![](https://images-eu.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/S/amazon-avatars-global/default._CR0,0,1024,1024_SX48_.png)