The perfect DACs for Apple Music Lossless in 2026

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’ll be able to 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 beneath). At round $30, this dongle is the most effective bang in your buck in the case of upgrading the audio expertise in your iPhone, Android, PC or Mac. There’s even a Lightning model out there 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 could possibly deal with plenty of put on and tear. There’s even a small LED on the entrance that allows you to know should you’re listening to plain, excessive, or higher-resolution recordsdata 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 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 recordsdata out there on its music service, however it could possibly deal with the usual lossless (24bit/48kHz) format no drawback. As you’d anticipate, it’s out there in Lightning and USB-C variations relying on which Apple system you’re connecting it to.

Positive, essentially the most demanding listeners may lament the shortage of assist for the upper resolutions, and it may be slightly quiet with some headphones which can be high impedance (sometimes dearer “audiophile” fashions). For the overwhelming majority of customers, although, Apple’s dongle will do the job. In the event you’re unsure, test the guide in your headphones and search for Impedance (usually listed as Ohms) — something beneath round 150Ohms and you need to be high quality. Something above that, and also you may wish to take into account Fiio’s dongle as a substitute.

Whereas this information is primarily centered on Apple Music, many of the gear right here will unlock lossless audio irrespective of the place you hear. If Tidal is your platform of selection, you is perhaps 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 should you nonetheless wish to be sure to can take heed to music from shops or providers 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 akin to Aptx Adaptive and Aptx Lossless. iPhones don’t assist any of those natively, however with this small dongle, you’ll be able to unlock the complete potential of Bluetooth audio and the upper bitrates (and in idea audio high quality) Aptx Lossless provides. There’s a small caveat, although: you have to Bluetooth headphones that additionally assist one among these codecs such as these or these (or test 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 which of the six completely different Bluetooth “qualities” (codecs) you’re having fun with so you’ll know if 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 should 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. Word, there’s no Lightning choice right here, so should you’re on an older telephone you may 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 in regards to 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 provides 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 the whole lot Apple Music can ship. The built-in amplifier can simply go louder than it is best to most likely ever hear and there are different luxuries, too, akin to assist for inline microphones — so you’ll be able to nonetheless deal with calls and take conferences in your telephone. We additionally love that you would be able to tailor the sound to your desire through the Fiio Management companion app.

When you can squeeze a powerful 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 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 high quality with 3.5mm headphones, however some want the 4.4mm connector because it gives extra energy and potential sign advantages, particularly should you’re utilizing a headphone amp.

With the Moonriver T2i you could have 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 proper stage. In case your headphones have an in-line microphone, the excellent news is that this dongle will go that by means 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 vivid 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 vivid, strong sound that’s going to make any lossless/hi-res music actually shine.

Who mentioned a DAC must be a dongle? In the event you’re searching for 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 could have the whole lot you want to decode high-resolution music from nearly any supply with USB-C and Aux inputs for telephones together with commonplace Hello-Fi connections akin to 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 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 private home workplace or workspace, they’ll simply discover a residence in your lounge or den connecting to another music gamers you may 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 desires to have a phrase. At $650, that is positively within the high-end value vary, however the expertise and options it provides 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 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 variety to your telephone’s battery life. The Mojo 2 has an inner cell so received’t tax the one in your telephone or laptop computer. It’s sufficiently small to be moveable, 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 acquire reputation in gaming circles for its potential to mimic varied consoles, however that very same flexibility is what makes it attention-grabbing to the audio engineers at Chord.

In the event 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 will 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 plenty of its competitors on this regard. Though it’s value noting that you would be able to solely cost the Mojo 2 through microUSB. After all, there’s a cable supplied for this, however should you’ve absolutely made the change to USB-C, it’ll imply you need to guard the charging cable intently.