Best Audiophile Gifts 

Audio gear has quietly become more thoughtful. Speakers, headphones, and other audio gear are perfect to gift to someone. However, some audiophiles want to listen to their favorite song or album and feel transported to the time and place it was recorded. For these types of music fans, any random pair of speakers or headphones won’t be sufficient. They crave audio equipment that allows them to hear music the way it was meant to be heard. 

This article focuses on essential DACs to give to your loved ones. 

What is DAC?  

DAC stands for digital-to-analog converter. A digital-to-analog converter takes the digital (D) music from your phone or computer and converts (C) it into analog (A) sound you can hear. All phones and PCs have them, but since handsets moved to USB-C, Lightning or Bluetooth for music, the task of converting that signal was generally outsourced to either your adapter or your wireless headphones. 

Why Do You Need DAC?  

DACs can be used with phones, laptops, and desktops but tend to be much simpler than a regular external audio interface. One basic distinction is that DACs are usually for listening only, whereas an audio interface might have ports to plug in microphones and instruments (but an external audio interface is also technically a DAC). Some high-end DACs even include XLR outputs for better connectivity with professional audio equipment. 

Whether you listen through wired earbuds, studio headphones, or a home speaker setup, the right DAC can bring out far more texture in your music. Lossless audio can be confusing at first, especially with different formats and file sizes to consider, but you do not need a complicated setup to enjoy it.  

Many DACs work across iOS, Android, Mac and Windows, and several are small enough to carry every day. In this guide, we picked the best DACs so you can upgrade your listening experience without wasting money. 

Best budget DAC 

FiiO KA11 USB-C to 3.5mm Audio Adapter 

Fiio’s affordable KA11 dongle contains a DAC with a maximum resolution of 32bit/384kHz. At around $30, this dongle is the best bang for your buck when it comes to upgrading the audio experience on your iPhone, Android, PC or Mac. There’s even a Lightning version available for those with older iPhones and iPads. It’s plug-and-play with no need to charge it. It’s only slightly bigger than a typical headphone adapter and it comes with a rugged, woven cable, so it can handle a lot of wear and tear. There’s even a small LED on the front that lets you know if you’re listening to standard, high, or higher-resolution files so you can be confident you’re getting the most out of your music in real time. 

Best DAC for Tidal/MQA 

iFi GO Link 

If Tidal is your platform of choice, you might be familiar with the MQA codec. MQA might not be as common in streaming anymore, but if you still want to make sure you can listen to music from stores or services that provide it, the iFi GO Link will have you covered, along with the standard Apple Music high resolution audio formats, and anything else, up to 32-bit/384kHz 

Best DAC for Bluetooth Headphones 

Sennheiser BTD 700 Bluetooth USB Dongle 

Sennheiser’s BTD700 is a wireless adapter that plugs into your phone, upgrading its Bluetooth capabilities with the latest high-resolution codecs such as Aptx Adaptive and Aptx Lossless. iPhones don’t support any of these natively, but with this small dongle, you can unlock the full potential of Bluetooth audio and the higher bitrates (and in theory audio quality) Aptx Lossless offers.  

The BTD700 is simple to use, just plug it in to your phone’s (or other device’s) USB-C port, pair your headphones to it and off you go. An LED on the dongle lets you know which of the six different Bluetooth “qualities” (codecs) you’re enjoying so you will know when you’re listening to lossless audio. Once you have paired your headphones with the dongle, you will not need to re-pair if you connect the BTD700 to a PC or Mac. 

Best Portable DAC 

FiiO Snowsky Melody 

Melody has onboard controls and two headphone jacks. One of those is for regular 3.5mm headphones, but the other is for 4.4mm “balanced” headphones, which means the Melody can grow with you if your audio journey takes you deeper into the world of audiophilia. The wood finish gives it a classy feel and although it’s light, it still delivers that quality “Hi-Fi” feel. As for sound quality, there’s support for 384K/32bit sample rates, which covers everything Apple Music can deliver. The built-in amplifier can easily go louder than you should probably ever listen and there are other luxuries, too, such as support for inline microphones, so you can still handle calls and take meetings on your phone.  

Moondrop Moonriver T2i 

It is slightly larger than a pack of gum, and it has a stylish design that doesn’t look like a boring, generic dongle. Moonriver T2i builds on the success of the company’s Moonriver 2 DAC. The “2” partly refers to the use of dual DAC chips here, which delivers a “balanced” signal. Each channel can handle up to 32bit/384KHz resolution and there are two headphone ports. One for standard 3.5mm headphones and another for 4.4mm connections, which makes use of that balanced output. If this is your first step into the world of Hi-Fi DACs, you are totally fine with 3.5mm headphones, but some prefer the 4.4mm connector as it provides more power and potential signal benefits. 

There are physical volume controls on the device itself. If you ever felt that the 16 levels of loudness on the iPhone weren’t enough, then the 100 steps of adjustment on the Moonriver T2i (via companion software) eliminate any worries about setting the music to the perfect level. If your headphones have an in-line microphone, the good news is that this dongle will pass that through to your phone or PC so you won’t need a separate device for calls. The sound that comes out of the Moonriver T2i is bright and bold.  

Best Desktop Speakers with DAC 

FiiO SP3 BT HiFi Bluetooth Active Desktop Speakers 

If you are looking for something a little more all-in-one then the SP3 BT active speakers from Fiio are a great option. Many standalone DACs have everything you need to decode high-resolution music from almost any source with USB-C and Aux inputs for phones along with standard Hi-Fi connections such as optical, RCA and coaxial. 

For Bluetooth listening, there’s support for both Aptx Adaptive and HD along with Sony’s rival LDAC making these speakers something of an audio swiss-army knife. While these speakers will make a perfect companion to your home office or workspace, they can easily find a home in your living room. 

Best Premium DAC 

Chord Electronics Mojo 2 

At $650, this is definitely in the high-end price range, but the experience and features it offers make it worth considering for serious audiophiles. The Mojo 2 has an internal cell so won’t tax the one in your phone or laptop. It’s small enough to be portable, but substantial enough to live on your desk. 

Unlike most DACs that use off the shelf chips to handle the digital-to-audio conversion, the Mojo 2 uses field programmable gate array (FPGA) technology to create its own custom “chip.” It’s also powerful enough to act as both a DAC and a preamp, driving even power-hungry headphones with ease. 

The Mojo 2 has standard USB-C, microUSB, optical and coax inputs so it’s more flexible than a lot of its competition in this regard. Although it’s worth noting that you can only charge the Mojo 2 via microUSB. Of course, there’s a cable provided for this, but if you’ve fully made the switch to USB-C, it’ll mean you have to guard the charging cable closely. 

How Should You Choose the Best DAC?  

The best DACs tend to be lightweight, making them more suitable for mobile use, although it still gets a little tricky with the iPhone as you still might need to add another dongle to make it play nice with Lightning. Also, not all DACs support all the higher audio resolutions like DSD. Most standalone DACs require external power or an onboard battery, though some can use the power from whatever you plug them into, in which case expect a hit to your battery life. 

Final Thoughts  

It has never been easier to be a music fan than right now. We all carry smartphones that give us access to practically every song ever recorded via our streaming service of choice. All it takes is a few keystrokes, and you can listen to whatever you want through whatever pair of dinky headphones you have on hand. 

Audio gear that once felt niche or aspirational now looks within reach. That’s not because audiophiles have lowered their standards, but because brands are competing harder, tuning better, and filling gaps that used to exist between budget convenience and serious sound.  

Buying audio gear today goes beyond chasing specs or brand prestige. It’s about fit, how someone listens, where they listen, and how long they live with the sound. And that’s what makes a good New Year gift. 

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