One of the best DACs for Apple Music Lossless in 2025

Fiio’s affordable KA11 dongle accommodates 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 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 a better quantity output than Apple’s on headphone adapter (extra on this under). At round $30, this dongle is the most effective 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 greater than a typical headphone adapter and it comes with a rugged, woven cable, so it may well deal with a variety of put on and tear. There’s even a small LED on the entrance that allows you to know if you happen to’re listening to plain, excessive, or higher-resolution information so that you may be assured you’re getting essentially the most out of your music in actual time.

Sure, it’s the Apple headphone adapter you realize and (possibly) love, but it surely’s value contemplating in order for you one thing tremendous light-weight and much more inexpensive. Apple’s dongle doesn’t help the bigger, Hello-Res information accessible on its music service, however it may well 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 system you’re connecting it to.

Certain, essentially the most demanding listeners would possibly lament the dearth of help for the upper resolutions, and it may be a bit quiet with some headphones which are high impedance (usually costlier “audiophile” fashions). For the overwhelming majority of customers, although, Apple’s dongle will do the job. In the event you’re unsure, verify the guide to your headphones and search for Impedance (typically listed as Ohms) — something under round 150Ohms and try to be advantageous. Something above that, and also you would possibly wish to think about 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 irrespective of the place you pay attention. 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 ultimately switching to FLAC in 2024. MQA may not be as frequent in streaming anymore, however if you happen to nonetheless wish to be sure to can hearken to music from shops or companies that present it, the iFi GO Link could 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 telephone, upgrading its Bluetooth capabilities with the newest high-resolution codecs similar to Aptx Adaptive and Aptx Lossless. iPhones don’t help any of those natively, however with this small dongle, you may unlock the complete potential of Bluetooth audio and the upper bitrates (and in idea audio high quality) Aptx Lossless gives. There’s a small caveat, although: you have to Bluetooth headphones that additionally help one in all these codecs such as these or these (or verify 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 telephone’s (or different system’s) USB-C port, pair your headphones to it and off you go. An LED on the dongle lets you realize which of the six totally different Bluetooth “qualities” (codecs) you’re having fun with so you’ll know while you’re listening to lossless audio. The useful half? When you’ve paired your headphones with the dongle, you received’t must re-pair if you happen to 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. Notice, there’s no Lightning choice right here, so if you happen to’re on an older telephone you might need to dwell with utilizing an adapter.

In the event you’re trying to take issues to the subsequent stage with out spending “high-end” cash, there’s rather a lot to like concerning the Melody DAC from Snowsky. Not like a easy dongle, the Melody has onboard controls and two headphone jacks. A type 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 offers 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 help for 384K/32bit pattern charges, which covers the whole lot Apple Music can ship. The built-in amplifier can simply go louder than you must in all probability ever pay attention and there are different luxuries, too, similar to help for inline microphones — so you may nonetheless deal with calls and take conferences in your telephone. We additionally love which you can tailor the sound to your choice through the Fiio Management companion app.

When you can squeeze a formidable quantity of audio tech right into a headphone adapter, a barely greater system affords a good 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 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 want the 4.4mm connector because it supplies extra energy and potential sign advantages, particularly if you happen to’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. In the event 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) get rid of any worries about setting the music to the right stage. In case your headphones have an in-line microphone, the excellent news is that this dongle will move that by way of to your telephone 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 vibrant and daring. You’ll hear audiophiles speak about sound stage, element and width, all you want to know is that this DAC ticks off all of the buzzwords and serves up vibrant, strong sound that’s going to make any lossless/hi-res music actually shine.

Who stated a DAC must be a dongle? In the event you’re searching for one thing a bit extra all-in-one then the SP3 BT active speakers from Fiio are an amazing choice. We like that, for a similar value as many standalone DACs, you have got the whole lot you want to decode high-resolution music from virtually any supply with USB-C and Aux inputs for telephones together with commonplace Hello-Fi connections similar to optical, RCA and coaxial.

These audio system didn’t make it to our testing bench, however the SP3 BTs frequently obtain reward for his or her sound and premium construct high quality at an affordable value. For Bluetooth listening, there’s help 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 house in your front room or den connecting to every other music gamers you might need (for vinyl you’ll nonetheless want a pre-amp).

In the event you’ve had some expertise with DACs and wish 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 undoubtedly within the high-end value vary, however the expertise and options it gives make it value 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 cell gadgets first, the Mojo 2 is extra of a hybrid system. The cell dongles above all take their energy from the participant you join them to, which is handy, however clearly is much less form 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 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 discipline 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 acquire 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.

In the event you want one thing that’s capital L loud, then the Mojo 2 won’t disappoint. Proceed with warning right here. It’s really 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 may also be used to alter sound profiles with an excruciating stage of element.

The Mojo 2 has commonplace USB-C, microUSB, optical and coax inputs so it’s extra versatile than a variety of its competitors on this regard. Though it’s value noting which you can solely cost the Mojo 2 through microUSB. In fact, there’s a cable offered for this, however if you happen to’ve totally made the swap to USB-C, it’ll imply you need to guard the charging cable intently.