Audioengine 32-bit D1 Portable Desktop Headphone Amp and DAC, Preamp, USB/Optical Inputs, Hi-Res Audio Playback (2nd Gen)

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For your PC, just plug that bad boy in via USB. No drivers. No hassle. No headache. It’s really that simple. A headphone amplifier allows you to increase the maximum output of your smartphone, laptop, and other music sources so that your headphones can deliver the output level you want.

When we came inside from playing all day, dinner was ready and we watched the Braves on TBS for the nightcap before going to bed. I hear that I should have the ambition to remove the Roon core to a dedicated NUC, instead of the pc. I intend to do that one day (also haven't bought lifetime yet) and either put it in the closet with my Synology NAS where my music resides, or put it somewhere in reach of the A5+'s so I can use it as a streamer on the secondary inputs of the A5+'s, or through a new DAC that has an extra free input... The volume pot is nice to have even if it looks like a gumdrop. Like all AudioEngine stuff, it is grey. While it doesn’t play in its ballast, making the slightest of changes isn’t as simple as it should be. The volume pot seems to suddenly jump up by a decibel or more. That is to say that unlike an analogue pot, volume neither eases up, nor eases down. Users of sensitive earphones should be careful. Do steer clear of trying to use it with anything over 300 Ohms, but I found it to power an HD600 and 650 with relative ease. In actuality, there will be very few scenarios in which you’re going to even have a very high impedance (Over 300 Ohm) headphone at your disposal, as most people simply won’t ever have a need for one (nor will they want one given how difficult some are to drive).

Fickle Friends – Paris

While your computer, DVD, Bluray, smartphone, MP3 player, and other devices may already have a DAC on board, there are still rare instances when an external DAC is recommended. Note: With the DAC Magic 100 (another of my favorite DACs) I had no issues. With the D1 I ended up having to change the output device from “Audioengine D1” to “TV/Amplifier.” No big deal. Your mileage may vary. Switching it to TV/Amplifier allowed the sound to come through the headphones. I’m not sure why it was being difficult, or why the sound wouldn’t come through even though the settings were right. If you have any insight into this, let me know! ERGONOMICS SCORE: A+

The problem is that since this update, there are more versatile options for around the same price or less. The AK HC3 is Astell & Kern’s latest portable headphone amp/DAC dongle device – and thanks to a combination of wide-ranging compatibility and deft audio quality, it’s well worth a spot in our list of best DACs.It is important to note that the USB audio input will only work with a computer. If you are attempting to use your D1 with a different device, the USB port is only used for power and not audio. If you think of D1 as a desktop decoder, the power has some issues driving passive speakers. The power of the headphone amplifier of OPA2134 low-noise operational amplifier used by D1 drives couple hundred impedance headphones, which also seems to make people worry about its power. So I bought an Audioquest Dragonfly Red to troubleshoot an issue I was having with the D1 DAC + Roon. It's affordable and can serve me on the go later. The headphone amplifier, based around a TI NE5532 low noise op-amp, should be able to drive most standard headphones. I had more than adequate volume with AKG K701s, Ultimate Ears In Ear Reference Monitors, and Grado RS-1 headphones, as well as Shure SE215 and HiFiMAN RE-272 in-ears.