Measurement-Led Design
Topping designs to measurements, and the DX3 Pro+ produces distortion and noise figures that are, by any objective standard, beyond the threshold of audibility.
That matters because it removes a category of doubt. Whatever you are hearing, it is not the converter or the amplifier adding audible distortion, which means differences you hear between recordings are in the recordings.
It is also worth being straightforward about the limit of that argument. Once measurements are beyond audibility, better measurements do not sound better, and the remaining reasons to choose between units are power, features, build and price rather than fidelity.
Power And Gain
It provides substantially more output power than a laptop or a phone, with switchable gain, which means it can drive high-impedance dynamics and moderately insensitive planars properly.
Gain switching is genuinely important here as with any capable amplifier — high gain with sensitive earphones wastes the volume range and can make the noise floor audible even on a unit with an excellent noise figure.
For the most demanding planar headphones, dedicated high-power amplifiers go further, and for everything short of that this has sufficient headroom.
Bluetooth Input Is More Useful Than It Sounds
It accepts Bluetooth as an input, which means a phone can play to a desktop system without cables. That is a genuine convenience on a desk where the primary source is a computer and the secondary source is whatever is in your pocket.
Bluetooth is lossy and the quality is below a wired connection, and for casual listening the convenience frequently outweighs the difference.
Having it built in means one fewer box and no separate receiver, which for a device intended to be a desktop hub is the right integration.
Build, Screen And Practicalities
It has a small display showing input, volume and sample rate, which is more useful than it appears because it confirms what the unit is actually receiving rather than leaving you guessing.
The case is aluminium and compact, the volume control is a rotary encoder with a remote, and the build quality is good for the price without being luxurious.
It has line outputs as well as headphone outputs, so it can act as the centre of a small desktop system feeding active speakers.
Against The Alternatives
Against separates, this is one box and cannot be upgraded by halves.
Against the iFi, this measures better and has Bluetooth and a display, and the iFi has the analogue bass circuit and external power.
Against much more expensive units, the honest position is that measured fidelity is already beyond audibility here, and what more money buys is power, features and build rather than sound.
The Verdict
A measurement-led unit with performance beyond audibility, enough power for most headphones, a useful display and Bluetooth input in one compact box.
It cannot be upgraded by halves, the most demanding planars want a dedicated amplifier, and Bluetooth is a convenience rather than a quality route.
Once measurements are past audibility, spending more buys power and features rather than fidelity — which is worth knowing before reading further up the price list.
En un coup d'œil
Avantages
- Distortion and noise figures beyond the threshold of audibility
- Plenty of power with switchable gain for most headphones
- Bluetooth input for playing from a phone without cables
- Display confirms input and sample rate rather than guessing
Inconvénients
- One box; cannot be upgraded by halves
- Most demanding planars want a dedicated high-power amplifier
- Bluetooth input is lossy
- Build good rather than luxurious
Questions fréquemment posées
Do better measurements sound better?
Up to the threshold of audibility, yes — audible distortion and noise are real problems. Beyond it, no. This unit is past that threshold, which means further improvements in figures do not produce audible improvements, and remaining differences are power, features and build.
Is the Bluetooth input worth using?
For casual listening from a phone, yes — the convenience usually outweighs the quality difference. It is lossy and below a wired connection, and having it built in saves a separate receiver on a desk that probably has enough boxes already.
Will it drive any headphone?
Most, comfortably, with switchable gain covering sensitive earphones through high-impedance dynamics. The most demanding planar headphones want a dedicated high-power amplifier, and short of those this has sufficient headroom.
Spécifications
| Configuration | Combined DAC and amplifier |
| Measured performance | Beyond audibility thresholds |
| Gain | Switchable |
| Inputs | USB, optical, coaxial, Bluetooth |
| Display | Input, volume, sample rate |
| Line outputs | Yes |
| Remote | Included |
| Case | Aluminium, compact |
Résumé
Performance past audibility, enough power for most headphones, a useful display and Bluetooth in one box. Beyond this, money buys power and features, not fidelity.
Vérifier le prix sur Amazon