The most effective DACs for Apple Music Lossless in 2025

Fiio’s inexpensive KA11 dongle accommodates a DAC with a most decision of 32bit/384kHz — which is nicely above Apple Music’s top-tier “Hello-Res” lossless format (24bit/192kHz) — so you may make certain that you’re getting each final little bit of high quality out of no matter you’re listening to. Better of all, the KA11 is highly effective, too, with a better quantity output than Apple’s on headphone adapter (extra on this beneath). At round $30, this dongle is the perfect bang on your buck on the subject of upgrading the audio expertise in your iPhone, Android, PC or Mac. There’s even a Lightning model obtainable for these with older iPhones and iPads.

We notably just like the simplicity of Fiio’s KA11 because it’s plug-and-play without having to cost it. It’s solely barely larger than a typical headphone adapter and it comes with a rugged, woven cable, so it may well deal with a number of put on and tear. There’s even a small LED on the entrance that allows you to know in case you’re listening to straightforward, excessive, or higher-resolution information so that you could be assured you’re getting essentially the most out of your music in actual time.

Sure, it’s the Apple headphone adapter you recognize and (perhaps) love, but it surely’s price contemplating if you would like one thing tremendous light-weight and much more inexpensive. Apple’s dongle doesn’t assist the bigger, Hello-Res information obtainable on its music service, however it may well deal with the usual lossless (24bit/48kHz) format no drawback. As you’d count on, it’s obtainable in Lightning and USB-C variations relying on which Apple system you’re connecting it to.

Positive, essentially the most demanding listeners would possibly lament the dearth of assist for the upper resolutions, and it may be a little bit quiet with some headphones which might be excessive impedance (usually costlier “audiophile” fashions). For the overwhelming majority of customers, although, Apple’s dongle will do the job. Should you’re undecided, examine the guide on your headphones and search for Impedance (usually listed as Ohms) — something beneath round 150Ohms and you ought to be superb. Something above that, and also you would possibly need to contemplate Fiio’s dongle as an alternative.

Whereas this information is primarily centered on Apple Music, a lot of the gear right here will unlock lossless audio irrespective of the place you hear. If Tidal is your platform of selection, you is likely to be accustomed to the MQA codec, which the corporate used for its high-resolution audio till finally switching to FLAC in 2024. MQA may not be as frequent in streaming anymore, however in case you nonetheless need to ensure you can hearken to music from shops or providers that present it, the iFi GO Hyperlink could have you lined, together with the usual Apple Music excessive decision audio codecs, and anything, as much as 32-bit/384kHz.

Sennheiser’s BTD700 is a wi-fi adapter that plugs into your cellphone, upgrading its Bluetooth capabilities with the most recent high-resolution codecs reminiscent of Aptx Adaptive and Aptx Lossless. iPhones don’t assist any of those natively, however with this small dongle, you may unlock the complete potential of Bluetooth audio and the upper bitrates (and in concept audio high quality) Aptx Lossless presents. There’s a small caveat, although: you’ll need Bluetooth headphones that additionally assist considered one of these codecs reminiscent of these or these (or examine the product web page of the set you personal or are contemplating).

The BTD700 is straightforward to make use of, simply plug it in to your cellphone’s (or different system’s) USB-C port, pair your headphones to it and off you go. An LED on the dongle lets you recognize which of the six completely different Bluetooth “qualities” (codecs) you’re having fun with so you’ll know whenever you’re listening to lossless audio. The useful half? When you’ve paired your headphones with the dongle, you received’t have to re-pair in case you join the BTD700 to a PC or Mac. This little adapter successfully offers something with a USB-C port an audio improve, and there’s even a low-latency mode for gaming. Observe, there’s no Lightning choice right here, so in case you’re on an older cellphone you may need to dwell with utilizing an adapter.

Should you’re trying to take issues to the subsequent degree with out spending “high-end” cash, there’s quite a bit to like in regards to the Melody DAC from Snowsky. Not like a easy dongle, the Melody has onboard controls and two headphone jacks. A kind of is for normal 3.5mm headphones, however the different is for 4.4mm “balanced” headphones, which suggests the Melody can develop with you in case your audio journey takes you deeper into the world of audiophilia.

The wooden end offers it a cultured really feel and though it’s mild, it nonetheless delivers that high quality “Hello-Fi” really feel. As for sound high quality, there’s assist for 384K/32bit pattern charges, which covers every little thing Apple Music can ship. The built-in amplifier can simply go louder than you must in all probability ever hear and there are different luxuries, too, reminiscent of assist for inline microphones — so you may nonetheless deal with calls and take conferences in your cellphone. We additionally love you can tailor the sound to your desire through the Fiio Management companion app.

When you can squeeze a formidable quantity of audio tech right into a headphone adapter, a barely larger system affords an honest step up in each specs and options. Moondrop’s Moonriver T2i DAC is barely bigger than a pack of gum, and it has a classy design that doesn’t appear like a boring, generic dongle.

Importantly, the Moonriver T2i builds on the success of the corporate’s Moonriver 2 DAC. The “2” partly refers to using twin DAC chips right here, which delivers a “balanced” sign. Every channel can deal with as much as 32bit/384KHz decision and there are two headphone ports. One for normal 3.5mm headphones and one other for 4.4mm connections — making use of that balanced output. If that is your first step into the world of Hello-Fi DACs, you’re completely superb with 3.5mm headphones, however some favor the 4.4mm connector because it supplies extra energy and potential sign advantages, particularly in case you’re utilizing a headphone amp.

With the Moonriver T2i you have got a pair extra sensible benefits. For one, there are bodily quantity controls on the system itself. Should you ever felt that the 16 ranges of loudness on the iPhone (I simply counted) weren’t sufficient, then the 100 steps of adjustment on the Moonriver T2i (through companion software program) remove any worries about setting the music to the proper degree. In case your headphones have an in-line microphone, the excellent news is that this dongle will go that by means of to your cellphone or PC so that you received’t want a separate system for calls.

Most significantly, the sound that comes out of the Moonriver T2i is vivid and daring. You’ll hear audiophiles speak about sound stage, element and width, all that you must know is that this DAC ticks off all of the buzzwords and serves up vivid, strong sound that’s going to make any lossless/hi-res music actually shine.

Who stated a DAC must be a dongle? Should you’re on the lookout for one thing a little bit extra all-in-one then the SP3 BT energetic audio system from Fiio are a terrific choice. We like that, for a similar worth as many standalone DACs, you have got every little thing that you must decode high-resolution music from nearly any supply with USB-C and Aux inputs for telephones together with customary Hello-Fi connections reminiscent of optical, RCA and coaxial.

These audio system didn’t make it to our testing bench, however the SP3 BTs often obtain reward for his or her sound and premium construct high quality at an inexpensive worth. For Bluetooth listening, there’s assist for each Aptx Adaptive and HD together with Sony’s rival LDAC making these audio system one thing of an audio swiss-army knife. Whereas these audio system will make an ideal companion to your private home workplace or workspace, they’ll simply discover a dwelling in your front room or den connecting to some other music gamers you may need (for vinyl you’ll nonetheless want a pre-amp).

Should you’ve had some expertise with DACs and want to ratchet issues up a notch or three, then the Mojo 2 from British firm Chord needs to have a phrase. At $650, that is positively within the high-end worth vary, however the expertise and options it presents make it price contemplating for critical audiophiles. However the brains behind the Mojo 2 have been making digital to analog converters just about since there was digital music to even convert. That have is what makes the Mojo 2 a favourite amongst music followers.

Most choices on this information are designed for cellular units first, the Mojo 2 is extra of a hybrid system. The cellular dongles above all take their energy from the participant you join them to, which is handy, however clearly is much less sort to your cellphone’s battery life. The Mojo 2 has an inner cell so received’t tax the one in your cellphone or laptop computer. It’s sufficiently small to be transportable, however substantial sufficient to dwell in your desk.

Not like most DACs that use off the shelf chips to deal with the digital-to-audio conversion, the Mojo 2 makes use of area programmable gate array (FPGA) know-how to create its personal customized “chip.” It’s additionally highly effective sufficient to behave as each a DAC and a preamp, driving even power-hungry headphones with ease. We’ve seen FPGA achieve recognition in gaming circles for its means to mimic varied consoles, however that very same flexibility is what makes it fascinating to the audio engineers at Chord.

Should you want one thing that’s capital L loud, then the Mojo 2 won’t disappoint. Proceed with warning right here. It’s truly highly effective sufficient to drive two pairs of headphones on the identical time and has two 3.5mm ports so you are able to do precisely that. The curious round buttons can be used to vary sound profiles with an excruciating degree of element.

The Mojo 2 has customary USB-C, microUSB, optical and coax inputs so it’s extra versatile than a number of its competitors on this regard. Though it’s price noting you can solely cost the Mojo 2 through microUSB. In fact, there’s a cable supplied for this, however in case you’ve absolutely made the change to USB-C, it’ll imply it’s a must to guard the charging cable intently.