Unlike wireless earbuds and headphones, digital-to-analog converters (DACs) work with phones directly to produce high-class audio. While the wireless audio industry only dreams of producing high-quality audio, a wired audiophile-grade headphone connected to a DAC will elevate the listening experience to a whole new level, sounding much better than the sluggish, low-quality audio you hear on wireless headphones.

Also, you must have a DAC-with-Amp attached to your phone if you want to drive one of the biggest studio monitor headphones like the Beyerdynamic DT 990 Pro with an impedance as high as 250 ohms. Your phone’s 32-ohm 3.5mm output can deliver that kind of power.

Today, we list various DACs that can go well with Android phones and tablets. We have something for everyone — small USB-C-to-3.5mm converters that you can buy for pocket change to professional-grade amplifier DACs with lots of bells and whistles. Choose your weapon!

Our picks for top-quality DACs to get for Android devices in 2023

FiiO BTR5 2021

Best overall

A Swiss Army knife for the audiophile on the go

$110 $150 Save
$40

The FiiO BTR5 2021 is one of the most versatile DACs available. It combines high-end mobile DAC features like a balanced output and hi-res lossless audio support with advanced Bluetooth codecs such as LDAC, allowing it to double as a powerful wireless headphone receiver and a built-in battery for handling high-impedance headphones.

Pros

• Full MQA decoding
• Battery-supported high-impedance outputs
• LDAC Bluetooth support for wireless use

The FiiO BTR5 2021 has all the normal appeal of a mobile DAC and ample Bluetooth codec support, giving it extra functionality as a wireless headphone receiver. Support for high bit rate audio, full MQA decoding, and high impedance outputs are enough to land it on this list, but the added flexibility of Bluetooth support makes it even harder to pass up. In addition, the built-in 550mAh battery even makes it possible to use high-impedance headphones without your phone’s battery life taking a nosedive, even when it’s plugged in. All of these features make the BTR5 2021 a Swiss army knife for the audiophile on the go.

With a standard 3.5mm and a 2.5mm balanced jack, the BTR5 works great for most headphones already in your collection, as well as plenty of fancy in-ear monitors you can pick up down the road. It’s also capable of playing the highest resolution files available on lossless streaming services like Qobuz, Deezer, and Apple Music, so you’d have to make a real effort to find something it can’t handle.

ifi GO bar

Premium pick

Small, yet powerful enough to handle just about anything you throw at it

Despite being made from high-end components typically found in standalone players, the Ifi GO bar is one of the most compact DACs on the market, sporting multiple full-power outputs with support for high-impedance headphones and all the hi-res audio formats you need.

Pros

• Ultra-compact
• Supports a wide range of headphones
• Full power on all outputs

The Ifi GO bar is simultaneously one of the smallest portable DACs on the market and one of the most powerful. With playback modes optimized for super sensitive IEMs or even demanding cans with up to 600 Ohms of impedance, the GO bar is just as useful for popping in your favorite earbuds on the go or sitting down with your most demanding headphones for some critical listening.

While there is no shortage of DACs sporting multiple outputs, one thing unique to the GO bar is how these outputs are wired. With most balanced outputs, whether a 2.5mm TRRS connector or a 4.4mm Pentaconn jack, a second set of DAC and amp chips are used to process both audio channels separately. This normally means that the non-balanced jack will only have half the output power as the balanced jack, but since the GO bar handles this with a single DAC and amp set, the full power is always available no matter which output you’re using.

Jsaux Type-C to 3.5mm adapter

Best value

A simple and affordable way to add a higher-quality headphone jack

$9 $13 Save
$4

As the name suggests, the Jsaux Type-C to 3.5mm adapter is more of a headphone adapter than a traditional DAC, but it’s still likely to give you better quality than your phone’s built-in headphone jack — if it even has one. You won’t get the highest bit rate lossless codecs, but it’s a great way to dip your toes into the world of DACs.

Pros

• Very affordable
• Portable
• Supports lossless CD-quality audio

Cons

• Lacks support for hi-res codecs
• Only supports 3.5mm headphones
• No advanced features

The Jsaux Type-C to 3.5mm adapter isn’t the first thing that comes to mind when you hear “DAC,” but there’s still a DAC chip doing the hard work of turning your ones and zeros into music. While it’s nowhere near as powerful as the other DACs on this list, unless your phone is one of the increasingly rare ones that still comes with a headphone jack, it’s still good enough to give you a boost in quality over most Bluetooth options.

This adapter, plus something like the Moondrop Chu IEMs, is a hard-to-beat budget combo that outclasses Bluetooth buds costing nearly ten times as much. While having a good DAC can be a serious audio quality upgrade, this option is still closer to a baby step and will give you a good idea if a higher-quality choice is right for you. It won’t give you access to anything fancy like DSD files or even high-bit-rate FLACs, but it’s enough to try out lossless CD-quality files, and that’s a great place to start.

FiiO BTR7

For dedicated audiophiles

A nice step up for serious audiophiles

The FiiO BTR7 is a more advanced version of the versatile and affordable BTR5, sacrificing some portability to pack in a larger 4.4mm balance jack, more battery capacity, and a larger screen. It’s a pricier package but well worth it for dedicated audiophiles.

Pros

• Bluetooth support
• 4.4mm balanced output
• Larger battery to support high-impedance headphones

The FiiO BTR7 has all the same features as the BTR5, along with some spec bumps for the audiophile elitist crowd. With a larger display, bigger battery, and a 4.4mm balanced output instead of the BTR5’s 2.5mm port, it’s easy to see where the extra cost comes from. Some improvements are clearly from the land of diminishing returns and also make the BTR7 less portable than the BTR5, so it clearly isn’t for everyone.

The 4.4mm Pentaconn jack is quickly becoming more common than the 2.5mm 4-pole connector found on the BTR5, so that upgrade makes the BTR7 a bit more tempting for anyone who doesn’t already have a collection of balanced cables or cans. If you have your eyes on any of those headphones, like the Sony MDR-Z7M2, the BTR7 is one of the best pocket DACs you can choose.

Helm Audio Bolt

Ultra-portable

Small but powerful entry-level DAC with support for the most common formats

At the size of a 3.5mm USB adapter, Helm Audio’s Bolt is one of the most portable USB DACs you’ll find, yet it still delivers support for the most important hi-res audio formats, including Tidal’s MQA audio.

Pros

• Barely larger than a basic 3.5mm adapter
• Supports popular hi-res audio formats
• Non-removable USB cable

Cons

• No on-board volume controls
• No balanced output

The Bolt by Helm Audio is a powerful entry-level DAC with a focus on the files you’re most likely to encounter. It doesn’t have a balanced output and isn’t suggested for headphones over 150 Ohms, but those features aren’t exactly common for casual music listening. If you want to make the most of your Tidal HiFi Plus subscription, the Bolt is one of the most affordable options on the market.

While it doesn’t have volume controls, the Bolt automatically increases power to the amp whenever it detects higher resistance from harder-to-drive headphones; however, this makes it a lot less convenient to adjust the volume if your phone is in your pocket. While the integrated USB cable makes the Bolt less flexible, it’s still very small — barely any larger than a Type-C to 3.5mm adapter.

Moondrop Dawn

A budget DAC

A proper DAC that offers good bang for your buck

The Moondrop Dawn punches well above its price tag, with support for DSD256 audio, although it’s a bit awkward to travel with due to its blocky design and non-removable USB cable. It also includes a 3.5mm headphone jack wired like a balanced audio output.

Pros

• Support for hi-res DSD256 audio
• 3.5mm balanced audio output

Cons

• Awkward design
• May not work with higher-impedance headphones

Moondrop is a leader in affordable audio, and the Dawn is another great example of that. It delivers well above its price tag with support for files up to 32bit 768kHz or DSD256, but it’s still a budget DAC at the end of the day. The square body can be a bit awkward to pocket, and the integrated USB cable doesn’t help on that front, either. There’s also no listed maximum suggested impedance, but that’s unlikely to be an issue if you’re in the market for an entry-level DAC.

Dawn may lack a balanced output, but the 3.5mm jack is still wired the way a balanced output is wired. This may be a cost-saving measure since Moondrop also sells a version of the Dawn with the same internals and a 4.4mm balanced Pentaconn jack, but the result remains the same. Physically separating the audio processing for both channels can lead to less interference, although being concerned with that is well into diminishing returns.

HiBy FC3

Compact cool

Strong DAC engine under aluminum facade

Compact and cool, the HiBy FC3 is a DAC for Android worth its salt. This DAC has the ES9281 chip capable of decoding high-resolution audio. It supports up to PCM 32-bit/384 kHz and DSD128 DoP. You can listen to MQA as well with this MQA 8x dongle. This plug-and-play device works with any Android phone with USB-C output as well as Windows 10 and Mac PCs. The standard 3.5mm output enables you to plug in all your audio hardware.

Pros

• Compact yet powerful
• Aluminum build
• DSD128 support

Cons

• 32 Ohms output
• Finicky driver for Windows

Need DSD128 and MQA decoding under 50 bucks and in a compact form? The HiBy FC3 has you. This small in-line DAC can effortlessly process raw digital audio signals from any Android phone or PC with USB-C output. It then converts that to an analog signal understood by wired headphones or speakers, easily accessible via a standard 3.5mm port.

The brushed aluminum body and no-frills design has its plus point. The device is small and fits easily inside any pocket. Available in silver and red, the DAC has a female USB-C port on one side and a female 3.5mm port on the other side. The advantage of this kind of design is the lack of wires, which is the weakest point of these devices. It also has a handy volume rocker on the side.

The HiBy FC3 is powered by the USB-C port itself and requires no extra power. Even then, it supplies 70+70mW of power at the output, which is pretty awesome. Shame it’s only 32 ohms, but it can drive some big boys. It has an RGB LED indicator on the side that changes color according to what it’s decoding.

Speaking of which, this wonder boy can convert pretty much anything you throw at it. You can use it to play your standard FLAC, mp3, and mp4 files, stream PCM 32-bit/384 kHz and DSD 128, and even unfold MQA files should you require. The ES9281PRO chip at the heart of the device is pretty powerful, with 124 dB SNR and -112 dB noise with low total harmonic distortion.

EverSolo H1

Best for Tidal

Powerful decoder in a compact body

With the ESS ES9281AC Pro chip, the EverSolo H1 is a capable in-line DAC with a headphone amplifier in a compact body. Working with Android phones, tablets, and PCs that have a USB-C output, the DAC supports PCM 32-bit/384 kHz, DSD256, and MQA Master recording. It has a very low noise floor with 130dB SNR for 20 Hz to 20 kHz and total harmonic distortion as low as -109 dB. Additionally, the fight-grade aluminum body provides a strong yet small shell.

Pros

• Works great with Tidal HiFi
• Low noise floor
• DSD256 support

Cons

• No volume control
• Apple compatibility issues

Built strong and small (only 10 grams), the lake blue-colored EverSolo H1 is one of the best in-line DAC-with-headphone amplifiers on the market. It has standard female USB-C and 3.5 mm ports at opposite ends, and a tiny colored LED indicating what it is currently decoding. The aviation-grade aluminum shell looks and feels premium and can take a beating, too.

At its heart is the ESS ES9281AC Pro chip with Japanese sound certification. This capable chip can convert PCM 384 kHz 32-bit audio, or DSD256 up to 11.2896 MHz. It can also unfold MQA files and supports master recording streams. Its frequency response is listed at 20Hz to 40kHz, but machine tests show that it’s capable of decoding sub-20Hz signals as well.

The device’s 3.5mm output can cope with headphones with 16 ohms to a whopping 300 ohms and matches its own impedance smartly with output impedance. As such, the output power varies from 13 to 62 mW. That hardcore decoding and amplification comes with quality, too. With 130 dB SNR, the total harmonic distortion stands at attention at -109 dB.

What we like most about this DAC-with-amplifier is how well it works with the Tidal HiFi music streaming service. In Tidal, you can clearly hear the difference between standard, HiFi, and MQA tracks with this DAC. It can achieve astounding sound clarity with true reach up to 40kHz. We also like the headphone plug/unplug detection feature that automatically cuts off the signal so there is no audible “POP,” protecting your sensitive equipment.

Maktar Spectra X2

A mighty pen

Powerful pencil-sized DAC-with-amp

It’s proven again that size does not guarantee power. The Maktar Spectra X2 is a small pencil-sized DAC-with-amplifier that’s awesome for its size. The plug-and-play device sports an ESS Sabre 9118 chip, which is well-known for its performance and delivery, supporting PCM 32/384 or even DSD256. The USB-C powered amp can increase output impedance up to 150 ohms.

Pros

• Power takes precedence over size
• Distortion-free
• Strong build

Cons

• Integrated cable
• No input-type indicator

The name Maktar may not be familiar to you, but NextDrive should be if you’re into the audiophile universe. They teamed up with Maktar to get the holy MFi certification — and made no delay in rolling out their masterpiece of a device: the Spectra X2 DAC-with-amplifier. Although originally built for iPhones and iPads only, this is the Android version.

This device may look like your average USB-C-to-3.5mm converter, but it is anything but. With an ESS Sabre 9118 chip, the Spectra X2 is as capable as it is efficient. The XtraSOUND technology in the circuitry produces nearly distortion-free sound at the output. The chip is also well-known for its low power consumption and compatibility. It works with both Android and Apple devices (a lightning port version is also available) and can decode PCM 32-bit/384 kHz and DSD256 11.2 MHz. All of that gets converted into analog audio at the output with a 120 dB (or more) signal-to-noise ratio; it also commands a THD+N at -105dB or less.

The Maktar Spectra X2 looks humble and simple — a black aluminum tube with a short male USB-C (or lightning) cord hanging off one end and a 3.5mm female port on the other end. We would, however, recommend you go for a model with a detachable cable option since that’s the weakest link of the chain and goes out first. There’s a tiny LED on the body to indicate the power.

What we like most is the power of its amplifier; completely USB-C powered, the device can drive headphones up to 150 ohms of impedance. The Sabre 9118 chip is an SoC that combines the DAC and amp together on the same hardware, so the power draw is very low and saves your smartphone’s battery. With common headphones and earphones of 32 ohms impedance, the output power would reach 15 mW, which is more than sufficient for most IEMs.

Hidizs S9 Pro

Highest sampling rate

Decodes the best quality audio beyond CD/DVD

Experience all the details you want well beyond CD quality with the Hidizs S9 Pro. This little beast of a DAC-with-amp can decode PCM up to a whopping 768 kHz per 32 bits and DSD512 from native hardware. With an ESS 9038Q2M DAC-with-amp at the core, it has both 3.5 mm and 2.5 mm balanced outputs. The quality craftsmanship of the device is as eye-pleasing as it is sturdy.

Pros

• 768 kHz PCM
• DSD512
• Up to 300 ohms output

Cons

• Some compatibility issues
• Provided cables are trashy

Gone are the days of having to go through the hassle of setting up big players and lugging them around. Nowadays, you can just plug in a little box the size of a battery to your smartphone and enjoy studio-grade sound right from your pocket. You can even drive your big amplifiers from these. The Hidizs S9 Pro is one such Swiss Army knife for audiophiles and purists.

With an ESS 9038Q2M SoC DAC-with-amplifier at the core, the S9 Pro has earned the Hi-Res certification easily. The powerful chip can decode extremely high-quality audio, such as 32-bit 768 kHz PCM or native DSD512, at a whopping 22.5792 MHz sampling rate. Provided you can find the files to play, this will be pure nirvana!

Not only is the S9 Pro’s input powerful, but its output is equally impressive. With 100 mW of power at its 3.5mm output, you can plug in heavy-duty headphones with up to 300 ohms of impedance. What’s more, you also get a 2.5mm balanced output right below that — at twice the power!

The device is decidedly very well constructed and comes in black, white, and copper colors. The latter is an especially real beauty that signals premium quality like SOS. The CNC aluminum craftsmanship is truly fine, making it a device you can use and show. That being said, there are some compatibility issues with Samsung phones, and the provided USB-C cable, for some reason, has very low quality.

What to look for in a DAC for Android phones

The present trend is wireless technology, and it looks like the future is completely wireless, but there will always be a small but loyal niche that favors quality over portability. If you’re into audiophile-grade sound, and you want your mobile to drive your headphones, you need a good DAC. However, there are a few things you have to consider first.

Source

If the core is rotten, the apple will follow. You cannot expect good sound if your audio source has bad quality, no matter how many expensive chips you throw into the mix. (Note: Sony’s DSEE technology is trying to alter this.) In short, you need some good-quality audio source (files or streaming services) to get good-quality sound at the end of the pipeline.

There are two ways you can do this. Traditionally, you may download the lossless files themselves on your phone, which takes up lots of space and needs processing power to decode them. Or, you can use an audio streaming service that offers lossless audio for an eye-watering subscription fee.

If you choose to download the FLAC or MQA files, you can go to HDTracks, NativeDSD, or Tidal. If you want to stream them, there’s Apple Music or Qobuz. Spotify’s new lossless tier may be worth checking out too. And keep wishing for a YouTube Music lossless upgrade.

Hardware

The converter chip isn’t the only boss in the room with DACs. In most DACs worth their salt, there will be an Amplifier chip as well. This is responsible for upscaling the analog audio signal at the output, making sure you can actually hear it with your high-quality studio headphones.

Most phones can handle 30–40 ohms of impedance with their 3.5mm port, but a capable DAC would push that to 80–100 ohms that can run the big guns. Make sure your headphone’s impedance value is at least equal to the output impedance of the DAC. Unfortunately, small passive DAC cords — effectively type-C-to-3.5mm converters — won’t have this.

Balanced audio

If you are looking to get the best possible sound quality from your DAC, you may want to consider using balanced audio. Balanced connections use two signal wires and a ground wire, which can help to reduce noise and interference. This is especially beneficial if you are using long cables or if there is a lot of electrical noise in your environment.

In addition to the noise reduction benefits, balanced outputs also have the advantage of being able to drive more demanding headphones. This is because the vast majority of balanced outputs are wired with two DAC chips through two amps. This gives them more power and headroom, which can be necessary to drive high-impedance headphones.

Whether or not you can hear the difference between balanced and unbalanced audio is a matter of debate. Some audiophiles swear by it, while others say that it is a waste of money. Ultimately, the best way to decide is to try it for yourself and see if you can hear a difference.

The right DAC for the right Android phone

To get top-notch sound quality through a DAC without breaking the bank, the Jsaux adapter is a great choice. It’s super small, so you won’t easily lose it, and it beats Bluetooth quality. For a similar-sized gadget that offers a big upgrade, check out the Bolt by Helm Audio. It’s not much bigger than the Jsaux and offers a plug-and-play experience. Plus, it’s got some fancy tech for MQA unfolding, perfect for Tidal HiFi Plus subscribers.

If you want something in between the Jsaux and Bolt in terms of price and size, the Moondrop Dawn is a solid middle-ground option.

Now, if you can’t bear to give up Bluetooth entirely, the BTR5 is the ultimate audio gadget. It handles heavy-duty files like a pro, has a balanced output, and can even work as a top-notch Bluetooth receiver while your phone charges. That’s why it’s our top pick. Its one weakness is that it’s not great with high-impedance headphones. If that’s your thing, go for the GO bar.

While all these gadgets work with your computer in a pinch, the iFi GO Bar is in a league of its own. It’s like a full-on desktop DAC-with-amp setup, packing a punch with a max rating of 600 ohms. It’s pricier, but it’s a powerhouse. Alternatively, if all you want is better sound with a DAC, the more affordable options on this list can do the job, too.

FiiO BTR5 2021

Best overall

A Swiss Army knife for the audiophile on the go

$110 $150 Save
$40

The FiiO BTR5 2021 gives you everything you’d want in a high-end mobile wired DAC, plus a full collection of advanced Bluetooth codecs that turn it into a powerful wireless headphone receiver.