The perfect DACs for Apple Music Lossless in 2025

Fiio’s affordable KA11 dongle comprises a DAC with a most decision of 32bit/384kHz — which is effectively above Apple Music’s top-tier “Hello-Res” lossless format (24bit/192kHz) — so you possibly can ensure 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 the next quantity output than Apple’s on headphone adapter (extra on this under). At round $30, this dongle is one of the best bang to your buck in the case of 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 larger than a typical headphone adapter and it comes with a rugged, woven cable, so it might probably deal with loads 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 plain, excessive, or higher-resolution information so that you might 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 (possibly) love, but it surely’s value 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 accessible on its music service, however it might probably deal with the usual lossless (24bit/48kHz) format no downside. As you’d count on, it’s accessible in Lightning and USB-C variations relying on which Apple machine you’re connecting it to.

Certain, essentially the most demanding listeners may lament the shortage of assist for the upper resolutions, and it may be a bit 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. If you happen to’re unsure, test the handbook to your headphones and search for Impedance (usually listed as Ohms) — something under round 150Ohms and try to be advantageous. Something above that, and also you may need to contemplate Fiio’s dongle as a substitute.

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 alternative, you may be acquainted with the MQA codec, which the corporate used for its high-resolution audio till finally switching to FLAC in 2024. MQA won’t be as widespread in streaming anymore, however in case you nonetheless need to be sure to can take heed to music from shops or providers that present it, the iFi GO Link may have you lined, 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 telephone, upgrading its Bluetooth capabilities with the most recent high-resolution codecs corresponding to Aptx Adaptive and Aptx Lossless. iPhones don’t assist any of those natively, however with this small dongle, you possibly can unlock the complete potential of Bluetooth audio and the upper bitrates (and in principle audio high quality) Aptx Lossless affords. There’s a small caveat, although: you will want Bluetooth headphones that additionally assist considered one of these codecs such as these or these (or test 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 telephone’s (or different machine’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 totally different Bluetooth “qualities” (codecs) you’re having fun with so you’ll know whenever you’re listening to lossless audio. The helpful 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. Be aware, there’s no Lightning choice right here, so in case you’re on an older telephone you might need to reside with utilizing an adapter.

If you happen to’re seeking to take issues to the subsequent degree with out spending “high-end” cash, there’s lots to like concerning 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 an aesthetic really feel and though it’s gentle, 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 thing 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, corresponding to assist for inline microphones — so you possibly can nonetheless deal with calls and take conferences in your telephone. We additionally love you could tailor the sound to your choice through the Fiio Management companion app.

When you can squeeze a powerful quantity of audio tech right into a headphone adapter, a barely larger 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 traditional 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 advantageous with 3.5mm headphones, however some choose 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 might have a pair extra sensible benefits. For one, there are bodily quantity controls on the machine itself. If you happen to 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) eradicate 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 cross that by way of to your telephone or PC so that you received’t want a separate machine for calls.

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

Who stated a DAC must be a dongle? If you happen to’re searching for one thing a bit extra all-in-one then the SP3 BT active speakers from Fiio are an important choice. We like that, for a similar worth as many standalone DACs, you might have every thing it’s good to decode high-resolution music from virtually any supply with USB-C and Aux inputs for telephones together with commonplace Hello-Fi connections corresponding to optical, RCA and coaxial.

These audio system didn’t make it to our testing bench, however the SP3 BTs recurrently obtain reward for his or her sound and premium construct high quality at an affordable 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 property workplace or workspace, they will simply discover a dwelling in your lounge or den connecting to some other music gamers you might need (for vinyl you’ll nonetheless want a pre-amp).

If you happen to’ve had some expertise with DACs and want 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 undoubtedly within the high-end worth 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 sort to your telephone’s battery life. The Mojo 2 has an inside cell so received’t tax the one in your telephone or laptop computer. It’s sufficiently small to be moveable, however substantial sufficient to reside 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 subject 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 achieve reputation in gaming circles for its capacity to mimic numerous consoles, however that very same flexibility is what makes it attention-grabbing to the audio engineers at Chord.

If you happen to 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 alter sound profiles with an excruciating degree of element.

The Mojo 2 has commonplace USB-C, microUSB, optical and coax inputs so it’s extra versatile than loads of its competitors on this regard. Though it’s value noting you could 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 you must guard the charging cable carefully.