USB-C dongle DACs, portable DAC/amps and Bluetooth DAC/amps for phones and laptops, compared by DAC chip, outputs, power and price.
Fosi Audio DS3 USB DAC/Amp — read reviewA Fosi Audio USB DAC/amp with an ES9039Q2M chip, an XMOS USB processor, 3.5mm and 4.4mm jacks, 32-band PEQ and gaming-oriented 7.1 processing, listed at $84.99 in black or silver. The page claims up to 220mW; it suits gamers and listeners who want a 32-band PEQ.
DUNU DTC800 Dual CS43198 DAC/Amp — read reviewA DUNU portable USB DAC/amp with dual CS43198 chips, dual SGM8262 op amps and 3.5mm and 4.4mm outputs, listed from $98.99. The page claims up to 450mW at 32Ω, a 20 gram body and a detachable Type-C cable; it suits buyers who want a stated power figure at 32Ω.
HiBy FC5 2025 USB DAC/Amp — read reviewA portable USB DAC/amp with dual CS43198 chips, a 1.1-inch OLED display and both 3.5mm and 4.4mm outputs, listed at $99 in Black. The page claims up to 245mW at 32Ω. It suits listeners who want an on-device readout and a choice of 3.5mm or 4.4mm plugs.
xDuoo LINK10 USB DAC/Amp — read reviewA USB DAC/amp with two CS43131 chips and both 3.5mm and 4.4mm outputs, listed at $99. The page rates it at 300mW at 32Ω and 270mW at 150Ω and names a UAC 1.0 mode for consoles such as Nintendo Switch. It suits buyers who want power figures at two loads.
MUSE HiFi M3 Ultra Tube DAC/Amp — read reviewA portable DAC and headphone amp with two JAN6418 vacuum tubes and an ES9028Q2M chip, listed at $104.99 against a crossed-out $109.99. The page gives 460mW on 3.5mm and 480mW on 4.4mm at 32Ω. It suits buyers who want a tube stage and both plugs in a 55-gram body.
SHANLING ONIX XI1 DAC/Amp — read reviewA portable DAC/amp with two CS43198 chips, two SGM8262 amplifiers, a 0.87-inch OLED and physical volume keys, listed at $119.99 with a case. The page gives up to 500mW at 32Ω on the balanced port. It suits buyers who want on-unit controls; the page text never names the input connection.
TANCHJIM Luna USB DAC/Amp — read reviewA portable USB DAC/amp with two CS43198 chips and switchable Class AB and Class H amplification, listed from $129.99 for the Standard version and $198 for the Asano Tanch edition. The page gives up to 285mW at 32Ω. It suits buyers who want selectable amp modes and two-level gain.
AFUL ICEBORNE USB DAC/Amp — read reviewA DAC/amp with two CS43198 chips in a 3D-printed resin body the page calls hand-crafted, listed at $144.99 against a crossed-out $149.99. The page gives up to 300mW per channel at 16Ω and noise-floor figures for both outputs. It suits buyers who want a resin build and per-port noise numbers.
TFZ OSHUN DECO Portable DAC/Amp — read reviewA USB DAC/amp with two CS43198 DAC chips, two SGM8262 amplifier chips and both 3.5mm and 4.4mm outputs, listed at $145.90. It suits IEM and headphone owners who want a 10-band PEQ app, per the page.
FiiO QX11 Portable DAC/Amp — read reviewA portable USB DAC/amp from FiiO with two ES9069Q DAC chips, a Desktop Mode listed at 800mW+800mW and a separate Gaming mode, shown at $159.99 against a crossed-out $169.99. It suits listeners who also game and want a built-in microphone.
FiiO BTR17 Bluetooth DAC/Amp — read reviewA Bluetooth V5.4 portable DAC/amp from FiiO with a QCC5181 chipset, dual ES9069Q DAC chips, a THX AA78+ amplifier chipset and a Desktop Mode of up to 650mW per channel, listed at $199.99. It suits phone and PC users who want LDAC and a color display.
xDuoo LINK3 USB DAC/Amp — read reviewA portable USB DAC/amp from xDuoo with two ES9039Q2M DAC chips, a microSD slot listed up to 2TB and an output of up to 1000mW per channel in Super Power mode, listed at $219. It suits listeners who want 3.5mm and 4.4mm outputs and a TFT display.
Moondrop Moonriver 3 DAC/Amp — read reviewThe third-generation Moondrop portable DAC/amp, with two CS43198 DAC chips, 3.5mm and 4.4mm outputs, a physical volume knob and an output listed at 4Vrms/500mW. Listed at $219.99, plus case-only options at $9.99 and $12.99; it suits IEM owners who want app-based PEQ.
MUSE HiFi M5 Ultra Tube DAC/Amp — read reviewMUSE HiFi's M5 Ultra pairs two JAN6418 tubes with an ES9038Q2M chip, Bluetooth and USB inputs and 3.5mm and 4.4mm outputs, priced at $290. It suits buyers who want selectable tube or transistor amplification; the page text gives no output power.
MUSE HiFi M6 Double Nixie DAC/Amp — read reviewWith a Nixie tube volume display, two JAN6418 amplifier tubes, an ES9039 series chip and Bluetooth V5.2, the MUSE HiFi M6 Double is priced at $390. The page text gives no output power or weight.
xDuoo XD05 Bal2 Balanced DAC/Amp — read reviewTwo ES9038Q2M chips, a 5000mAh battery and swappable op-amps define this xDuoo portable balanced DAC and headphone amp, listed at $429. It suits buyers who want 6.35mm and 4.4mm outputs with 1500mW stated at 32Ω.
Cayin RU9 NuTube DAC/Amp — read reviewPriced at $499.99, this Cayin portable DAC and amp has a Korg NuTube 6P1 stage, two AK4493SEQ chips and three timbre options. It suits buyers who want 3.5mm and 4.4mm outputs and Bluetooth V5.1; the page text gives no battery size.
Cayin C9II Portable Headphone Amplifier — read reviewA portable headphone amplifier from Cayin with a Gen5 NuTube 6P1 circuit, Classic, Modern and Solid State timbres, three amplification modes and adjustable anode voltage, priced at $2,399. The page text gives no output power, battery or weight.
QULOOS MUB5 R2R DAC/Amp — read reviewA 19+5 segmented R2R ladder with 178 matched resistors is the DAC design of this QULOOS portable DAC and headphone amp, priced at $1,300. It has four input types, 3.5mm and 4.4mm outputs and line-out; the page text names no load for its output power and gives no sample rates.