One of the best DACs for Apple Music Lossless in 2025

Fiio’s affordable KA11 dongle comprises a DAC with a most decision of 32bit/384kHz — which is properly above Apple Music’s top-tier “Hello-Res” lossless format (24bit/192kHz) — so you may make sure 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 under). At round $30, this dongle is the perfect bang on your buck with regards to upgrading the audio expertise in your iPhone, Android, PC or Mac. There’s even a Lightning model accessible for these with older iPhones and iPads.

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

Sure, it’s the Apple headphone adapter and (perhaps) love, however it’s value contemplating if you would like one thing tremendous light-weight and much more reasonably priced. Apple’s dongle doesn’t assist the bigger, Hello-Res information accessible 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 accessible in Lightning and USB-C variations relying on which Apple machine you’re connecting it to.

Positive, probably the most demanding listeners may lament the shortage of assist for the upper resolutions, and it may be slightly quiet with some headphones which might be high impedance (sometimes costlier “audiophile” fashions). For the overwhelming majority of customers, although, Apple’s dongle will do the job. When you’re undecided, examine the guide on your headphones and search for Impedance (typically listed as Ohms) — something under round 150Ohms and you have to be fantastic. Something above that, and also you may wish to contemplate Fiio’s dongle as an alternative.

Whereas this information is primarily centered on Apple Music, many of the gear right here will unlock lossless audio regardless of the place you hear. If Tidal is your platform of selection, you could be aware of the MQA codec, which the corporate used for its high-resolution audio till ultimately switching to FLAC in 2024. MQA may not be as widespread in streaming anymore, however when you nonetheless wish to be sure you can hearken to music from shops or providers that present it, the iFi GO Link can have you coated, together with the usual Apple Music excessive decision audio codecs, and the rest, 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 newest 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 total potential of Bluetooth audio and the upper bitrates (and in idea audio high quality) Aptx Lossless affords. There’s a small caveat, although: you have to Bluetooth headphones that additionally assist certainly one of these codecs such as these or these (or examine the product web page of the set you personal or are contemplating).

The BTD700 is easy to make use of, simply plug it in to your cellphone’s (or different machine’s) USB-C port, pair your headphones to it and off you go. An LED on the dongle lets which of the six totally different Bluetooth “qualities” (codecs) you’re having fun with so you’ll know if you’re listening to lossless audio. The useful half? When you’ve paired your headphones with the dongle, you gained’t have to re-pair when you join the BTD700 to a PC or Mac. This little adapter successfully provides 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 when you’re on an older cellphone you may need to reside with utilizing an adapter.

When you’re seeking to take issues to the following stage with out spending “high-end” cash, there’s loads to like in regards to the Melody DAC from Snowsky. In contrast to 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 implies the Melody can develop with you in case your audio journey takes you deeper into the world of audiophilia.

The wooden end provides it an aesthetic 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 all the things Apple Music can ship. The built-in amplifier can simply go louder than you need to most likely 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 that you would be able to tailor the sound to your desire by way of the Fiio Management companion app.

Whilst you can squeeze a formidable quantity of audio tech right into a headphone adapter, a barely greater machine 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 to be a boring, generic dongle.

Importantly, the Moonriver T2i builds on the success of the corporate’s Moonriver 2 DAC. The “2” partly refers to the usage of 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 fantastic with 3.5mm headphones, however some desire the 4.4mm connector because it supplies extra energy and potential sign advantages, particularly when 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 machine itself. When 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 (by way of companion software program) remove any worries about setting the music to the proper stage. In case your headphones have an in-line microphone, the excellent news is that this dongle will go that by way of to your cellphone or PC so that you gained’t want a separate machine 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 it is advisable 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 mentioned a DAC must be a dongle? When you’re in search of one thing slightly extra all-in-one then the SP3 BT active speakers from Fiio are an important choice. We like that, for a similar value as many standalone DACs, you have got all the things it is advisable decode high-resolution music from virtually 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 commonly obtain reward for his or her sound and premium construct high quality at an inexpensive value. 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 own home workplace or workspace, they will simply discover a dwelling in your front room or den connecting to another music gamers you may need (for vinyl you’ll nonetheless want a pre-amp).

When you’ve had some expertise with DACs and need to ratchet issues up a notch or three, then the Mojo 2 from British firm Chord desires to have a phrase. At $650, that is positively within the high-end value vary, however the expertise and options it affords make it value contemplating for severe 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 cell gadgets first, the Mojo 2 is extra of a hybrid machine. The cell dongles above all take their energy from the participant you join them to, which is handy, however clearly is much less type to your cellphone’s battery life. The Mojo 2 has an inside cell so gained’t tax the one in your cellphone or laptop computer. It’s sufficiently small to be moveable, however substantial sufficient to reside in your desk.

In contrast to most DACs that use off the shelf chips to deal with the digital-to-audio conversion, the Mojo 2 makes use of discipline programmable gate array (FPGA) expertise 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 acquire recognition in gaming circles for its capability to mimic numerous consoles, however that very same flexibility is what makes it fascinating to the audio engineers at Chord.

When you want one thing that’s capital L loud, then the Mojo 2 is not going to disappoint. Proceed with warning right here. It’s really highly effective sufficient to drive two pairs of headphones on the similar time and has two 3.5mm ports so you are able to do precisely that. The curious round buttons may also be used to vary sound profiles with an excruciating stage of element.

The Mojo 2 has customary USB-C, microUSB, optical and coax inputs so it’s extra versatile than quite a lot of its competitors on this regard. Though it’s value noting that you would be able to solely cost the Mojo 2 by way of microUSB. After all, there’s a cable offered for this, however when you’ve totally made the swap to USB-C, it’ll imply it’s a must to guard the charging cable carefully.