Skip to main content

Digital Trends may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site. Why trust us?

What is a DAC and why would you need one?

If you want to get serious about sound, then it’s time to talk about digital-to-analog converters, or DACs, as they’re more easily referred to. These components play a vital role in digital sound, and adding or upgrading a DAC could lead to a significant improvement to your audio … especially if you are using hi-res or lossless audio formats. Here’s what you need to know.

What is a DAC?

An ESS DAC chip on a motherboard.
S.M.S.L.

As we mentioned above, DAC stands for “digital-to-analog converter.” These devices became a vital part of our music technology around the time we started making the switch from analog formats such as vinyl records and cassette tapes to the digital sound files and formats that we commonly use today.

Records store recorded sound waves as tiny grooves etched into the vinyl. If you run a tiny needle (stylus) through those grooves, it vibrates, bringing those sound waves back to life with a little help from an amplifier and your speakers. Cassettes do something similar.

Digital audio, however, is more complicated. It stores sound waves as a series of zeros and ones, the same digital building blocks used for everything from spreadsheets to video games. To turn those “bits” back into something you can actually hear, you need a dedicated piece of hardware — the DAC.

At its core, a DAC is simply a microchip that has been designed to read the zeros and ones of digital music and turn them into analog electrical impulses that can then be amplified and sent to your headphones or speakers so you can hear them. If it’s easier, you can think of it like the digital music equivalent of a turntable’s stylus.

What’s an external DAC?

Cambridge Audio DAC Magic 200M.
Cambridge Audio

Because so many kinds of devices are now capable of playing digital music, DACs can be found in everything from smartphones to gaming consoles. If a device can play sound you can hear through a built-in speaker, or via a headphone jack, it has a DAC.

But just like vinyl aficionados will be the first to point out that not all turntable styluses are created equal, neither are all DACs.

A DAC isn’t the only component that ensures your digital music sounds its best, but it can play a big role. Some DACs are limited — they can’t accurately decode all digital music files at their full quality. Others won’t be able to play some file types at all. Then there are the really nuanced aspects of DACs, things like distortion, noise, and sensitivity, each of which can impact what you hear.

That’s a problem for listeners who want to get the most out of their music. You could have a hi-res music file downloaded onto your device, or a subscription to stream hi-res audio from a streaming music platform such as Tidal, Amazon Music HD, Qobuz, and Apple Music. But a low-quality DAC won’t be able to process these files properly, or won’t be taking as many samples to ensure audio accuracy according to the music file, so the results will be significantly less than you could be hearing.

That’s why even though your phone or computer almost certainly has its own DAC, you might still want to buy an external DAC.

A collection of five portable headphone amp/DACs.
Simon Cohen / Digital Trends

External DACs come in various shapes and sizes depending on your use. You may want to connect them to your TV, game console, or computer to improve your sound at home, or choose a compact DAC to connect to your smartphone or digital music player when on the go with headphones (more on this below). Their advanced capabilities, customization options, and ability to convert a wide range of digital audio formats will draw the best from your audio files and streams.

A common usage example could be connecting your laptop to an external DAC via a USB cable to play some hi-res files you have stored on your hard drive or high-quality audio from Apple Music. The DAC in some MacBooks, for example, is limited to 24-bit/48kHz, meaning that, while it can still process high-quality sound, it falls short of supporting very high-resolution audio that can reach a bit depth of 32-bits and a sampling frequency of up to 192kHz or higher. That’s especially frustrating for Apple Music subscribers who have access to the highest lossless tier of 24-bit/192kHz tracks.

An external DAC can read those lossless files or streams directly, bypassing the MacBook’s internal DAC, thus unlocking the music’s full potential. Depending on the DAC you choose, it can come with a wide range of digital inputs and analog outputs (e.g. RCA, balanced XLR, optical, HDMI, etc.). Just choose a DAC that’s compatible with your setup. to accommodate not only your computer and amplifier/receiver but all of your other audio gear too.

Are there portable DACs to use on the go?

Chord Mojo 2 with headphones and iPhone 13 Pro
Andy Boxall/Digital Trends

Yes, most definitely. Getting the most out of your smartphone’s sound might require a portable DAC, too. While you could connect wired headphones to your iPhone via Apple’s lightning-to-3.5mm adapter, that accessory’s built-in DAC can only output up to a maximum of 24-bit/48kHz, so you will, again, need a more capable external portable DAC/amp to unlock the higher resolution lossless tier. Some Android devices that still have headphone jacks have internal DACs capable of better quality, so it’s best to check out your device’s specs first before you spend the money on a portable DAC.

A couple of solid portable DACs on the market include the $59 pocket-sized iFi Go Link, or you can spend a bit more money and pair a unit like the the impressive Chord Mojo 2 with a high-quality set of wired headphones.

What makes a good external DAC?

A number of companies create excellent DACs, such as the comprehensive DacMagic 200M from Cambridge Audio. DACs can have many different designs and features, but important things to look for may include:

  • A volume knob capable of making adjustments to volume
  • A built-in amp (many DACs require additional amplification)
  • Compatibility with a broad number of audio formats and digital inputs, including lossless, hi-res formats, hi-res Bluetooth codecs if you want to stream audio wirelessly, and so on
  • Outputs that match the speakers you use — that could include a basic 3.5mm jack, RCA, XLR, and more.
  • Switches that allow you to adjust gain (baseline volume) and other important audio settings
  • The ability to apply audio filters
  • Larger DACs like the Cambridge DacMagic 200M may also show you the current sample rate coming into the device, so you know that the DAC is sampling the audio data frequently enough to be very accurate — sometimes up to nearly 200,000 samples a second

How much do DACs usually cost?

For a good-quality DAC, you can expect to pay $59 to $100 at minimum for a small, portable version. Larger DACs or those with more features can easily cost up to $300 or more. On the high end, professional, or very high-quality DACs can reach into the thousands of dollars.

antelope-zodiac-dac

Do I need certain types of music files to use with a DAC?

Just make sure your DAC supports the audio formats that you use. External DACs are typically designed with a wide variety of formats and resolutions in mind, so compatibility is rarely an issue, but it’s always a good idea to double-check. A good example of a format that is not always supported is MQA. If you need full MQA decoding, make sure the DAC you buy clearly states in the specs that it will do this.

My headphones aren’t great — will a new DAC still make a difference?

It could … but you’ll probably get better results from upgrading your headphones now, and investing in a DAC to complement them later on. Some headphones, particularly gaming headphones, can come with their own DACs, too, if you don’t mind purchasing a bundle. If you aren’t sure if you need a headphone upgrade or a DAC, consult an expert to talk about the headphones you have, and if a DAC would be a good accessory. And if you’re looking for the best headphones to take advantage of hi-res audio, take a look at our list!

I use wireless (Bluetooth) headphones. Do I need a DAC?

If your headphones or earbuds are wireless, they already have a built-in DAC. Music stays digital as it passes over the wireless Bluetooth link and only gets converted to analog once it reaches your earbuds or headphones. However, if your wireless headphones also have a wired analog input jack (which many models offer) you can use them with an external DAC to get even higher music quality from your source device, albeit without the convenience of a wireless connection.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
Tyler Lacoma
If it can be streamed, voice-activated, made better with an app, or beaten by mashing buttons, Tyler's into it. When he's not…
This 65-inch Samsung 4K TV is $220 off at Best Buy
The Samsung 70-inch Class 7 Series 4K TV in a living room.

Best Buy is the place to shop for TV deals. We saw a lot of fantastic discounts during Memorial Day weekend, and Best Buy has extended a few past that official sale. For instance, this 65-inch Samsung TU690T 4K TV is down to just $450 from its usual $670. That's a nice discount of $220, bringing this mid-priced TV into budget TV territory. This deal has been live for a while now, but don't get too comfortable with it. It could end at any moment.

Why you should buy the Samsung 65-inch TU690T 4K TV
As one of the best TV brands around, it's always worth considering buying a Samsung TV. In the case of this Samsung 65-inch TU690T 4K TV, while the best TVs may have moved onto OLED or QLED technology, this is still a very fine example of 4K.

Read more
Get these Philips water-resistant wireless earbuds for $18
philips t2206 true wireless earbuds deal woot june 2023 lifestyle image

Regular readers will know roughly what kind of headphone deals unfold each day and will get why we're stunned by being able to buy true wireless earbuds for just $18. The earbuds in question are Philips T2206 True Wireless Earbuds so they're not exactly the very best, but they are incredibly cheap. The deal is available at Woot where the earbuds normally retail at $50 so you're saving 64% off the regular price. If you have a Prime membership, you also get free standard shipping included in the deal. Sound tempting? Let's take a look at what else you need to know.

Why you should buy the Philips T2206 True Wireless Earbuds
In an ideal world, you might want the very best headphones but there's invariably a catch. The obvious one is money -- amazing headphones aren't cheap -- but you might also be someone that's prone to losing their earbuds frequently and it's pretty painful to spend hundreds of dollars on earbuds that you soon misplace. That's where the Philips T2206 True Wireless Earbuds come in. At this price, they're bordering on disposable.

Read more
This 55-inch Samsung 8K TV is now cheaper than some OLED TVs
samsung 55 inch qn700b neo qled 8k tv deal best buy june 2023 resized promotional render

It's rare that we see TV deals on 8K screens. Even rarer still is a deal that's so good that it works out cheaper than some OLED TVs. That's the case over at Best Buy right now with the Samsung 55-inch QN700B Neo QLED 8K TV available for $1,000. Usually priced at $1,600, you save $600 on this deal making an 8K TV infinitely more appealing. While 8K content is still a little thin on the ground, you're suitably future-proofed by going for this TV. Want to know more? Keep reading or you can get straight to making a purchase by tapping the buy button below.

Why you should buy the Samsung 55-inch QN700B Neo QLED 8K TV
It's easy to assume that the best 8K TVs cost thousands but the Samsung 55-inch QN700B Neo QLED 8K TV demonstrates that isn't the case anymore. This TV uses Quantum Mini LEDs to give you a super precise image. It's able to use individual zones of light in your picture so you gain fantastic color and contrast at all times. Thanks to Samsung's Neural Quantum Processor Lite 8K, the TV uses 20 neural networks to provide you with the most immersive picture yet.

Read more