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Kiwi Ears Allegro BAL USB DAC/Amp Review

A USB DAC/amp dongle from Kiwi Ears that the page lists at 180mW+180mW per side (360mW total), PCM 32Bit at 44.1-384kHz, 0.005% total harmonic distortion and a 5uV noise floor. It is $42.49 in one option; the page gives no load for the power figure and names no output connector.

4.0Editorial rating: 4.0 out of 5Editorial rating · research-basedUpdated November 11, 2026
$42.49Price checked November 12, 2026
Check price at Linsoul

Our verdict

A USB DAC/amp dongle for someone who wants listed output power, total harmonic distortion and noise floor figures at $42.49, with PCM 32Bit at 44.1-384kHz. Look elsewhere if you need a stated output load or output connector, since the listing text gives neither. The main caveat is that the power figure has no load and the sound descriptions are the maker's claims.

Best for
Someone who wants a USB DAC/amp dongle with listed power, distortion and noise floor figures.
Skip if
You need to know the output connector or the load behind the power figure, which the listing text does not say.

Kiwi Ears' Allegro BAL is a USB DAC/amp dongle whose page lists an upgraded DAC/AMP chip with no model named, PCM 32Bit at 44.1-384kHz and an output of 180mW+180mW per side with 360mW in total. It also gives a total harmonic distortion of 0.005% and a noise floor of 5uV, and describes a CNC aluminum body with a 90 degrees connection. The price is $42.49, and there is one option.

Options and pricing

One option is listed at $42.49, and the page shows $49.99 crossed out beside it; that is the store's own comparison and we did not check it. With a single option there is no plug or color choice, and the listing text names no output connector, so confirm that before buying. It gives no cable length or box contents either.

How it compares

The DDHiFi TC35CM2 is $39.99 and the SMSL PO100 2024 is $41.99, both with no chip mentioned in their spec lines, while the TRN Black Pearl is $36.99 and its listing text mentions CS43131. This page names no DAC chip model either, and lists $42.49 with 180mW+180mW.

Shipping

  • Methods and costs. The store's shipping page offers Standard Shipping (4PX, Yanwen or Yun Express), free for most countries, and Express Shipping (DHL Express, FedEx or SF Express) at 15-50 USD depending on the country, free for orders over 270 USD in most countries (checked 2026-11-11).
  • Delivery times. It says an in-stock order ships within 3 working days, Standard takes about 2 weeks after shipping out (up to 1-3 months for some countries, and the store makes no refund for that transit time) and Express takes about 3-7 days. Festive seasons and other circumstances can change the timing.
  • Taxes and fees. The buyer pays any customs, import or processing fees. The page says Standard via YunExpress is tax-inclusive for some countries, that remote areas can carry extra Express charges, and that a parcel refused or left uncollected over taxes is deducted two-way freight and may be destroyed with no refund.
  • Where it ships. The page says the store can generally ship to most countries by Express and many by Standard, and to confirm Standard with the team for your country. It cannot ship to PO boxes or APO/FPO addresses and can only use Express to Hawaii. It does not name the US, Canada, the UK, Australia or New Zealand, so confirm before you pay.
  • Lost parcels. If a parcel has been in transit for at least 3 months, the page offers a one-time reshipment or a full refund for orders under $50 and a 50% refund for orders above $50.

Returns and warranty

  • Returns. The return page allows returning any non-customized product that is still factory sealed within 30 days of receiving it, with the buyer paying the shipping. Email [email protected] within that period; the store asks for the return to be shipped within 5 working days of the RMA instructions and in most cases processes a refund within 5 business days of inspecting it (checked 2026-11-11).
  • Opened items. A product opened within the first 7 days after delivery can be returned for the price minus a restocking fee of 35% of its retail value, including when it still works properly.
  • Refund or credit. The buyer can choose a refund to the original payment method (PayPal or card) or store credit; with no answer within 48 hours of confirmation the default is store credit, which can also be prioritized during promotions, final-sale events and for items 40% or more off retail.
  • Not returnable. Customized products, including faceplate designs, are non-refundable, and the page says the same applies to carry cases, cables, ear tips and other accessories, "due to hygiene purposes". If one item in a package is defective, incorrect or missing, the refund or replacement covers only that item.
  • Warranty. The page gives a 1-year warranty on products, excluding carry cases, ear tips and other accessories, and 3 months on cables and adapters, from the date of purchase. It covers factory defects that affect proper function, not damage from human error, negligence, accidents, dismantling, water, abuse or modification (checked 2026-11-11).
  • Not covered or limited. It does not apply to items bought elsewhere (AliExpress, Amazon, local dealers and the like), prize or giveaway items, normal wear or colour change, commercial use, or items that were stolen or went missing. Coverage is limited for products 40% or more off retail, for review units and for items repaired or modified by anyone Linsoul has not authorized.
  • Claims. Email [email protected] with the order number, the issue and photos and videos of the fault. The store may ask for the unit back for a replacement. It covers shipping for some defects reported within 7 days of delivery if the fault can be shown on video or photo; after 7 days the buyer ships it back. For wrong or missing items an unboxing video of the whole sealed parcel is required.

Before you buy

Linsoul says it was founded in 2016 by the Crazy HiFi team to bring Chinese HiFi makers closer to listeners worldwide, and that it now sells other makers' products alongside four brands of its own, THIEAUDIO, Kiwi Ears, ZiiGaat and Tripowin (checked 2026-11-11).

This product is from one of those brands, so Linsoul is both the seller and the brand's owner: its descriptions of the product are the brand owner's own claims.

We have not read any independent review of this product or of the store. Ratings and owner reviews shown on the store's own pages are the store's and were not verified.

What we liked

  • The page lists output power as 180mW+180mW per side, with 360mW in total
  • The page gives PCM 32Bit at 44.1-384kHz
  • A total harmonic distortion of 0.005% and a 5uV noise floor are listed
  • The body is described as solid CNC aluminum with a 90 degrees USB-C connection

Worth noting

  • The 180mW+180mW power figure comes with no load, so it cannot be matched to a headphone impedance
  • The listing text names no output connector and no DAC chip model
  • The page gives no weight, size or cable length
  • The page's hi-res and sound wording is the maker's claim and was not checked here

Questions before you buy

What output power does the Allegro BAL list?

The page lists 180mW+180mW per side, with a total of 360mW, but gives no load, so the figure cannot be matched to a headphone impedance.

What sample rates does it list?

The page lists PCM 32Bit at 44.1-384kHz and calls the DAC/AMP chip upgraded without naming a model.

What distortion and noise figures does it list?

The page lists a total harmonic distortion of 0.005% and a noise floor of 5uV, and says the distortion is lower than in its predecessors.

Can I return it if I change my mind?

The return page allows returning a non-customized product that is still factory sealed within 30 days of receiving it, with the buyer paying shipping. An opened product returned within 7 days carries a 35% restocking fee. Refunds go to the original payment method or to store credit, which is the default if you do not choose.

How long does shipping take?

The shipping page says in-stock orders ship within 3 working days. Standard Shipping takes about 2 weeks after shipping out, up to 1-3 months for some countries, and Express takes about 3-7 days. Standard is free for most countries; Express costs 15-50 USD and is free over 270 USD (over $499.99 for large items such as headphones and desktop DAC/AMPs).

Does Linsoul ship to the US, Canada, the UK, Australia and New Zealand?

The page says Linsoul can generally ship to most countries by Express and many by Standard, and to ask the team about Standard for your country. It names no restriction for the US, Canada, the UK, Australia or New Zealand, but it does not list them either, and it can only use Express to Hawaii.

What warranty does it have?

The page gives a 1-year warranty on products from the purchase date for factory defects, not for human error, accidents or modification. Coverage is limited for items 40% or more off retail and for review units, and it does not apply to items bought from other sellers.

Sources & verification

What this review is based on and the day we last read it. Specs and claims from the maker are the maker’s own; the verdict and the rating are ours.

From the store

  • Kiwi Ears Allegro BAL product page: specs, options and price (the buy buttons go there)Specs, options and the listed priceRead November 11, 2026
  • Linsoul shipping pageStandard and Express shipping, costs and times, import taxes, lost parcels, couriers, trackingRead November 11, 2026
  • Linsoul return policy and warranty page30-day returns of sealed items, 35% restocking fee on opened ones, 1-year and 3-month warranties, exclusions, how to claimRead November 11, 2026
  • Linsoul support FAQThe same shipping, return and warranty rules in question form, plus order changes and cancellationsRead November 11, 2026
  • About LinsoulFounded in 2016 by the Crazy HiFi team; names its own brands; the awards listed there are the store's own accountRead November 11, 2026

What we couldn’t verify

  • The page gives 180mW+180mW and 360mW with no load, so the power figure is unverified; the listing text also names no output connector or DAC chip model.
  • The page's descriptions of the highs, bass and soundstage, and its hi-res performance wording, are the maker's claims and were not checked here.
  • The crossed-out $49.99 is the store's own comparison and was not checked here.
  • We have not read an independent review of this product or the store, and the store's own ratings were not verified. We read the store's catalog description only: a specification table or image shown just on the live page was not read.
  • The shipping page names no US, Canada, UK, Australia or New Zealand times or fees: its figures are general and we could not confirm them for these countries.
  • Linsoul owns this brand, so the store's descriptions of it are the owner's own claims, which we could not check independently.

Spotted an error or something out of date? Tell us and we’ll fix it and update the date.

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