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Audioengine D1 32-bit Desktop DAC and Headphone Amp, Preamp, Laptop, Amplifier, Gamers and Musicians

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Amazon's Choice in Headphone Amps by Audioengine

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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

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This item: Audioengine D1 32-bit Desktop DAC and Headphone Amp, Preamp, Laptop, Amplifier, Gamers and Musicians
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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
  • Customer Reviews:

From the brand


Product Description

portable headphone amplifier desktop speakers amp
portable headphone amplifier desktop speakers amp

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.

portable desktop amplifier headphones output

heaphone amplifier amp desktop speakers

d1 portable headphone amplifier

The D1: A Master of All Trades

Play 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 Us

The 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:

  • USB C and S/PDIF optical inputs for the digital signal, analog output for the analog signal
  • Direct volume control from your computer, phone, or tablet
  • Accurate volume control without any imbalance at lower levels, which means it doesn’t get crazy loud when you turn it up just a touch
  • Separate outputs for headphones and powered speakers or AV receiver
  • Powered by USB C from your computer, phone, or tablet, so no additional cords necessary
  • Custom audiophile-grade RCA connectors and aluminum case, so it’s rock solid and built to last

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4.4 out of 5 stars
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4.4 out of 5 stars
995
Price $169.00 $149.00
DAC CD, 24 Bit, 32 Bit CD, 24 Bit, 32 Bit
Input Options USB, Optical USB
Output Options RCA, Headphones Headphones
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Customer reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars
995 global ratings

Customers 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

338 customers mention "Sound quality"263 positive75 negative

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

161 customers mention "Quality"127 positive34 negative

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

101 customers mention "Performance"79 positive22 negative

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

94 customers mention "Value"84 positive10 negative

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

63 customers mention "Ease of use"50 positive13 negative

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

54 customers mention "Size"49 positive5 negative

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

42 customers mention "Clarity"42 positive0 negative

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

43 customers mention "Volume control"23 positive20 negative

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

How the Audioengine DAC3 Balances Style and Portability with Audiophile-Approved Sound Quality
4 out of 5 stars
How the Audioengine DAC3 Balances Style and Portability with Audiophile-Approved Sound Quality
Pros:Compact and Portable: The small and lightweight design makes it highly portable, enhancing convenience for on-the-go use.Stylish and High-End Appearance: Constructed with a full aluminum alloy body, the device boasts a stylish and high-end look, elevating its overall quality.Impressive Sound Quality: With support for 32-bit high-resolution digital audio, it delivers clear and detailed audio, meeting the demands of audiophiles seeking top-notch sound quality.Cons:Single-Ended Output: Limited to a 3.5mm single-ended output, potentially restricting options for users who prefer balanced connections.Lack of 4.4mm Balanced Output: The absence of a 4.4mm balanced output might be a drawback for users who rely on balanced connections.Work Light Design: The prominent size of the work light, coupled with the inability to adjust or turn off its brightness, may be perceived as a slight inconvenience in certain environments.In summary, the Audioengine DAC3 excels in aesthetics, portability, and sound quality but has limitations in terms of connectivity options and the design of the work light.
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Top reviews from the United States

Reviewed in the United States on May 7, 2024
Style: PortableVerified Purchase
I've had the original Audioengine D1 since 2012, which has served me well for years. Technology has come a long way since then... Needless to say, the D1P blows it out of the water. I own two MOTU M4 audio interfaces, and to my surprise the D1P is a huge upgrade even from them. It's almost startling how much more full and well-rounded the same audio track sounds on the D1P when compared with the MOTU - it really breathes new life into the music! The headphone out from the MOTU is more shrill and less spacious in comparison, which is fatiguing on the ears. I am not noticing that at all from the D1P. It really exceeded my expectations. I didn't think that a different DAC would be so immediately and noticeably better than what I was used to.

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!
11 people found this helpful
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Reviewed in the United States on July 26, 2012
Style: DesktopVerified Purchase
I've been an audiophile for a little while, but have never really decided to start pouring money into a setup until now. I own a pair of AKG K240's and a pair of AKG K701's. K701's are notorious for being picky about their source and amp (being highly analytically reference headphones), and K240's shine for every day use, but also lack character without being properly driven. Unfortunately, since both lacked an amp for well over a year, I decided to invest in a DAC as a first step and slap on a headphone amp with it. Lucky for me, Audioengine's D1 was one of a few finds for DAC's, amongst FiiO, nuForce and HRT. I needed something that would be compact, as I wasn't ready to make a step towards a desktop DAC. As a college student, saving space is a prime requirement.

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.
35 people found this helpful
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Reviewed in the United States on December 15, 2012
Style: DesktopVerified Purchase
DAC stands for digital-to-analog converter, a device that turns the ones and zeros of digital music into electrical signals for reproduction by amplifiers and speakers. The Audioengine D1 is an outboard DAC, i.e., a component that resides in a box outside the computer, rather than on a PCI card or on the computer's motherboard. The purpose of an outboard DAC is to bypass the computer's cheap audio circuits and process digital audio directly from USB or optical ports. The advantage of an outboard DAC vs. one on a card is that you can take it with you and it's easier to hook up gear. So does the D1 best my Mac's audio?

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.
23 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

Sergi
5.0 out of 5 stars This device turned my Bluetooth speakers into a premium version.
Reviewed in Canada on January 5, 2023
Style: DesktopVerified Purchase
My bookshelf Bluetooth speakers have analog RCA input along with Bluetooth. And I was always wondering how they would sound with the signal via RCA inputs. And it worked! With this DAC connected, (how I understand) I eliminated sound-degrading Bluetooth transmission, substituted speakers' DAC with this premium one and sent pre-amplified signal directly to speakers' amplifier. The result is awesome - I got a premium version of my speakers! Even when listening to a less sophisticated music as a popular genre track in mp3 quality I hear an improvement in sound quality, like my speakers are 30% better - better bass, better treble and deeper, clearer sound. But when it comes to music like modern jazz and a track is higher than CD quality, OMG. It will now take longer before I'm spending on new speakers. Rich in sounds music, when quality of recording is high, appreciates if a device is capable of reproducing 24bit/96kHz sound. Apparently, I can not get such a high quality sound from my relatively inexpensive speakers, but, for sure, they get the best possible input signal.I have to mention it's not always just plug-and-play and get good sound. In the beginning I couldn't figure out why this DAC was not providing good sound being connected to my Chromebook - I just had devices connected to other USB ports and the Chromebook, probably, didn't have enough resources for all. In a Windows computer there are a few things to be checked if something is going wrong - specifically, Sound and Power Options settings in the Control Panel. By the way, a streaming service I use shows my Chromebook is able to process 24bit/48kHz sound quality at max, but it's above CD-quality anyway. And when this DAC is connected to the Windows desktop, my streaming service says music (selected tracks) will be played with 24/96 quality. A tip: "Power on" light on the D1 is the power on/off button too :)
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Baptiste MOINE
5.0 out of 5 stars Parfait
Reviewed in France on March 1, 2024
Style: DesktopVerified Purchase
Très discret et esthétique. Ergonomie au top avec son bouton d'allumage à LED. Je recommande.
Cliente Amazon
5.0 out of 5 stars Accessorio per fanatici dell'hi-fi
Reviewed in Italy on February 15, 2023
Style: DesktopVerified Purchase
Ho acquistato questo DAC per portare il segnale digitale di un pc e di un tv "fuori" dal pc e dalla tv, lasciando che la trasformazione da segnale digitale ad analogico, prima di essere mandato all'amplificatore hi-fi, avvenisse a cura di questo apparecchio esterno dedicato e non del DAC all'interno del pc e della tv.
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.
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Sergio
5.0 out of 5 stars Gran calidad de sonido
Reviewed in Spain on March 3, 2016
Style: DesktopVerified Purchase
Para los que vamos buscando mejorar poco a poco el sonido, una de las primeras dudas que siempre surgen es, ¿merece la pena un DAC? Y si que lo merece, al menos este en concreto. No he probado otros, siempre había escuchado la música que reproducía la tarjeta de sonido del ordenador y sin duda alguna este "aparatito" la mejora con creces. Tanto con los altavoces como con unos cascos buenos, el sonido es más claro, más preciso y enérgico.
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.
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Mike B
5.0 out of 5 stars Very pleased so far with my Audioengine D1 USB / optical / DAC.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 29, 2017
Style: DesktopVerified Purchase
My Audioengine D1 USB / optical / DAC was delivered and works exactly as I expected. I am very pleased so far. It has a good air of "quality manufacture and robust construction". It is very easy and logical to use, and the performance / sound quality is very good with no noise. I have experimented, trying to "catch it out" and very occasionally after unplugging and re-plugging the supplied USB cable (between laptop and D1), I have encountered mild "playback stutters", but turning power off (the button on the D1), then back on, always seems to overcome the problem. I can now play all my mp3 collection from my Toshiba Laptop (ripped from my CD collection at the highest bit rate allowed by the Microsoft Software). My “HiFi” speakers are either side of my TV, so I can also play sound from "Youtube" and “catch-up TV” from the Toshiba through them from my laptop to accompany watching their pictures via hdmi. The sound quality from both "Youtube" and “catch-up TV” is very good. "Plug and play" with the D1 so far works seamlessly on my laptop with MS Windows 8.1. The power button LED is bright (white), but because of the cabling, it faces away from me so I don't see it (hence the dim glow is good for letting me know if the unit is "powered up"). The D1 "on-off power button" is actually very convenient, as is the "volume" knob (during play of, for example, an mp3, if the D1 is switched off using its "on-off power button", the music is then automatically switched to the laptop's speakers, then on re-powering the D1, the laptop speakers are switched off, and the output to my "HiFi" speakers is gently re-applied). The operation has exactly the logic I would expect. BACKGROUND TO MY REQUIREMENT: I was happy enough using an old Dell laptop PC as an mp3 player via its internal (DAC) sound card through my Cambridge analogue amp and some old "Acoustic Research" speakers (my entire ripped CD collection is on the Dell hard drive). However, the Dell battery failed, so I can now only run it from the mains power supply and the noise pick up from the analogue cables was terrible (I had the cables connected to the headphone output on the Dell). I have all the same mp3 files on the hard drive of my Toshiba laptop, but for an unknown reason, I got nothing when I tried to drive my Cambridge amplifier from the headphone output on the Toshiba. By contrast, the D1 is powered from a USB connection with the laptop (no internal rechargeable battery), and uses the USB as the digital source, hence, I can use it on either my old Dell laptop or my Toshiba laptop. The D1 does have a headphone amp, but no balance or frequency controls (only headphone output adjustment via the D1 knob). But the main reason I wanted the D1 was for its stereo-phono outputs to connect my existing analogue cables to my Cambridge amplifier. My Cambridge amplifier then gives very good gain / balance / frequency control. The D1 gives me future options for use of USB or optical inputs.
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