HP-DAC1 Digital to Analog Converter/Headphone Preamp DAC with S/PDIF, Line, USB Input for PC/Laptop

This is my 3rd DAC (currently have Fiio and Topping), and I did some research to look for a new DAC/Preamp before purchased this one from the brand Soundavo, after compared the outlook design, spec, feature and price with other brand (like Cambridge Audio), I decided to gave it a try and tested it. I’m using it with my laptop via the USB port connection to play back the music from the iTune liberty direct to my Dynaudio Focus 60 XD powered speakers, I was so impressed for the sound performance that compared with my other DACs, the high/mid range are so smooth and detail, and the low frequency also depth enough for listening the classic rock and disco music. For using it as a headphone preamp, I have few headphones (Sennheiser, Audio Technical and Sony), they all has different impedances and outputs, but this HP-DAC1 delivers to all my headphones in very great sound stage, very transparent so you could hear the different characteristic from each headphone. This DAC has different inputs options, you could use it as “preamp” for choosing the Line In to run with power amplifier and speakers. You also can do direct thru S/PDIF (optical) for connecting the Media Player. The digital output on the DAC is also a plus function as a digital-to-digital convertor, allow you to transfer the audio from USB to any amplifier or powered speaker has S/PDIF input, so there is no sound quality lose if you prefer to do everything in digital. From the price point, feature, chassis design, build quality and sound, I really like what everything this DAC does, you can't find a better option for this price !!

[11-month update at the end of the review] My Schiit Modi II was showing signs of malfunction (wouldn't be recognized that it was connected via USB for a few minutes, and sometimes would disconnect on its own after it was) so went looking for a replacement. The HP-DAC1 has effectively replaced my Schiit Modi and Magni combo unit. Both this and the Modi/Magni sound very identical with both my Fostex TH-X00's (25 Ω) and HD650's (300 Ω). They both get plenty loud with the knob turned around the middle of its travel on the HP-DAC1. Speaking of volume knob, thats the one things i wish was improved. Its VERY light to the touch. We'll see how its quality is in a years time if its holds up or not. Absolutely love the myriad of connection options it has. One's with * have been tested by me. You could: -*Connect via USB in from a PC and use on-board amp to listen to headphones -*Connect via USB in from a PC but use this purely as a DAC and use the Analog RCA output to another amp (volume pot will control volume of this output btw) -*Connect via USB in from a PC but use this purely as a DAC and use the Optical output to another amp (you don't need the supplied wall-wart to do this as well, USB 5V is sufficient to power the unit alone [but only in this mode]) --When doing USB in, you cannot output via RCA output and Headphone output at the same time. However you CAN output via Headphone output and Optical output at the same time. Volume pot does not affect volume of optical output however. -Connect via Analog RCA inputs and use on-board amp to listen to headphones -Connect via Analog RCA inputs and use this purely as a volume control and use Analog outputs to another amp -*Connect via Optical input and use on-board amp to listen to headphones -*Connect via Optical input but use this purely as a DAC and use the Analog RCA output to another amp (volume pot will control volume of this output btw) --*You can do both the above at the same time (note that volume knob will affect Analog RCA and Headphone out simultaneously, so watch out if you use the RCA outputs to record anything) NOTE: A reviewer mentioned that the Optical input are pass-through'ed to the Optical output and from what I can tell this is not possible. NOTE: This is a DAC, not a ADC. Will not convert Analog RCA to Optical output. In essence, the Optical output is ONLY used for USB input (as scripted on the rear of the unit) There's a "CLIP" indicator on the front of the unit. According to the manual when this is active you should set the REC.GAIN on the back to -6dB or -12dB. All this in a (relatively large) aluminium box. I wish it came in black but the sanded-silver looks good too. The front panel buttons feel quite good and chunky to depress, are illuminated nicely but aren't too bright (i had to put tape over the Modi/Magni white LED's to sleep at night so this is a nice change for me). Also importantly for me there is a power button on the unit. (see Note under this paragraph for updated info) The Modi didn't even come with a power switch, not only that but my PC's USB ports would stay active even after shutting down so the Modi would almost never actually turn off (probably why its failing, it would stay on practically 24/7). But now i can extend the life of the HP-DAC1 with its power switch that actually functions (and lights a dim red when on standby or USB-powered mode). (Note: The power button turns the headphone amplifier and related electronics (RCA input, Optical input, headphone amplifier) inside on and off. However as i mentioned, my PC even when off will send power via USB. And this HP-DAC1 will still be "on" when getting power via USB in. No matter what the power button on the front is set as, the USB in will output via Optical output. Which means my earlier assumption that the power button turning off everything on this unit is incorrect. I was hoping it would but sadly there are still electronics inside the unit that will be powered on as long as there is a USB input signal. The power button will be illuminated red in this mode.) For the price listed on Amazon, this thing is a steal. Even at retail price of about USD 150 this thing is very, very good. The manual it comes with could be more detailed and better written. It doesn't tell me exactly how the inputs and outputs work. It just says that it can digitize this or that signal, but in the most vague way possible. Eg. the first point it says "Connect an analogue signal source whose signals you want to digitize AND/OR listen to via headphones to the Line IN jacks". This would leave you to believe that the HP-DAC1 is capable of using the analog RCA input and "digitize" it to the optical out, but again this is not possible no matter what combination of settings i tried. On a personal note, i wouldn't mind spending double if this was made in the USA. But that's just me. I will try to update this review in about a year if i find anything else new or if this unit otherwise fails prematurely. PS, here's the specifications that are listed in the manual: S/PDIF playback resolution : 24 bit / 96 kHz (max.) USB playback & recording resolutions : 16/24 bit @ 32 / 44.1 / 48 / 96 kHz Frequency response : 20 Hz - 20 kHz (+/- 0.5 dB) SNR : -95 dB (A-weighted) / line our (RCA) Max. line output level : 7.5 Vrms (THD <1 %) Line output impedance : 100 Ω THD : Line input < 0.01 % / Digital input < 0.05% Headphone output level : 1% THD @ 1 kHz (max.), 224 mW (32Ω), 241 mW (56Ω), 130 mW (300Ω), 76 mW (600Ω) Operating Voltage : 15 V DC / 0.4 A / 6 W [Update after 11 months 3/2021] It hasn't been exactly one year since ownership but its been close. I have nothing new to add in terms of reliability, it has thankfully survived every night of playtime and work. In my original review I had mentioned the volume pot being very light to turn and it still is the case. But it otherwise hasn't changed much (I was afraid it would start to sound scratchy when adjusting it by now). The one negative I have noticed so far while using this product is that I had to use a black Sharpie to mark where the physical volume knob was pointing to. There's a small detent pointing to where the volume is but its just a small divot on the knob and extremely hard to tell in almost any light condition beyond perfect. At the very least you can tell by touch since it is a physical detent. Also of note, you have to understand that while this product works as described, it wont be powering headphones that need beefy amps. My HD650’s (300Ω) are about the limit of what the HP-DAC1 can handle comfortably before the volume is only adequate. It is much happier with headphone below 100Ω~150Ω as it would allow the user more headroom for wanting to play it loudly from time to time. My HD650’s get plenty loud but if I want to play it loudly the knob is almost pegged (however with the Fostex and HD-DAC1 near max volume, its un-listenably loud). I will say though that the sound has never distorted at any volume level.

If you're starting to get into CD-quality music streams, HiRes or other Studio quality audio, this is a great DAC/pre-amp to start with. It will likely enable you to hear the music more clearly, experience a wider and deeper soundstage than what your laptop, phone and even some of the basic streaming player's DACs (eg. Sonos or some of the USB based DACs). As a DAC, you still need to supply your own streamer/player/source. For me, that was an 11th gen Intel based Dell Inspiron 7000 2in1 connected via USB - and I must say I was impressed for the price point. Like most HiFi/audio gear, the initial timeframe before the device is fully broken is typically not representative of the ultimate audio performance. That said, after about 50 hours of streaming Quboz through it, this little DAC provided good clarity and a somewhat airy, wide and deep soundstage. The highs are a little bright for some recordings. For 3-8 times the price, there are DACs that will provide more detail, a bit more separation, a bit more control (in terms of available filters and sound profiles) and better imaging. But it's hard to argue at this price point. The grey-painted case is a bit non-descript - reminding me of old IBM PCs. But the brushed aluminum face plate gives it a bit of a vintage feel together with the lit, clear push button switches for input selection. The volume knob is smooth in operation (though personally, I prefer one with a some detents and friction in rotation) and nicely machined. Overall, a utilitarian look and feel. Again, the $300+ DACs tend to be better finished and have better industrial design. For me, I'm discerning enough with the lack of some detail compared to the higher priced DACs that I'm willing to spend the 3-8 times more for the (diminishing return?) extra HiFi experience. But if you fit into the description of the first sentence of this review, it's hard to go wrong with this.

EDITED 05/15/2021: I meant to edit this a while ago. I contacted Soundavo about my wonky unit, they told me that this isn't normal and I definitely have a defective unit. Gladly sent me a new one without charging shipping, provided a free shipping label to send the defective unit back, and the new unit performs MUCH better. There is still hissing, but not until whatever you are using is far too loud to listen to without your ears suffering damage. There is also still some distortion when changing volume but ONLY while something very loud is playing such as music, and I don't find that to be an issue. The big issue for me originally was the creeping distortion that would set into the DAC in usb mode while nothing was playing, and that is gone entirely in this unit. I think Soundavo's Quality Control may not be 100%, but their customer service is incredible. This unit still sounds stellar for the price, and I'll live with the quirks of it. ORIGINAL 2 STAR REVIEW: I purchased this DAC/AMP in May 2020 on a whim, it seemed to have everything I need. -Decent DAC. USB and SPDIF input, pretty good options for the price! -Decent Headphone Amp, not incredibly powerful but pretty clean. Until it isn't. -PREAMP OUTPUT! This is the big one for me. Used the pre-out to a Subwoofer that had a High Pass Filter, then connected that to a power amplifier, and then that to my speakers. This proved to be a pretty darn good desktop 2.1 system for a while! -USB to SPDIF converter? I didn't use this feature, but it's pretty neat to see on a budget device. Allows you to use this device - Sound wise, this is pretty darn good. It doesn't do anything exceptional, but it DOES have an incredibly wide soundstage. Noticeably wider than anything I've used, and I'm addicted to it. Here's where the negatives start. - The unit I received has weird dark scuffing on the top. Doesn't affect performance, but it's certainly not aesthetically pleasing. - with the USB connection, after a few minutes of no sound playing, the sound seems to start to slowly distort? I once left it on for an hour while I cooked, and I went to play some music through my headphones after and it was nothing but distortion. Unplugged, then re-plugged in the USB cable and it was fixed. Very weird behavior, no USB DAC i've used before does this. - The DAC itself isnt super clean, with the pre-out it gets hissy at around 2 o'clock on the dial. - I don't believe the Headphone Amp is as powerful as the specs suggest. I have a pair of 300 ohm headphones that just doesn't get loud before the amp distorts. Disappointing. - A new problem that has developed is that the Dial is now VERY noisy. Every time i change the volume, even with nothing playing, there is very loud static playing. Not sure what the deal is. - This is a very small issue, but the headphone jack is very tight. This is actually really good for build quality, but trying to plug in and take headphones out of the unit causes it to move around a lot on my desk. Slight annoyance, not even a real issue. If Soundavo could work the bugs out of this unit, make it Black, give it a more powerful/cleaner amp, i would gladly pay $200 for this. I wanna recommend it for $129, but my unit is just too odd. Not a bad unit, but something here is off. Proceed with caution!

Let me start off by saying I’m a 69 year old “vinyl head”. I have a really nice pure tube analog system that I play my records on. I have a collection of over 3000 albums, and have never really got into the digital music craze. But that being said, I do have a Tidal account on my iPad and an Onkyo cd player since there are some albums/artists that I cannot find on vinyl so I download them to Tidal and/or buy them from iTunes and rip them to a blank cd. One of my favorite recordings is the original London production of Les Miserables. I play the iPad through an aux input on the back of my amp using a 3.5mm to dual rca analog y-cable and the cd player using dual rca to rca analog cable to another aux input. They both sounded ok but it wasn’t anything that would blow my socks off impression wise. Now I’ve read that a stand alone DAC sounds much better than built in ones. After doing some research on several models, I decided that I would take a chance on the Soundavo. I figured I wouldn’t be out much money and if I didn’t like it, I could return it. It arrived on time and was packaged well. I hooked it up to my tube amp and decided to do an a/b comparison using both versions of Les Miserables (cd and Tidal). First I played both versions through my amp with out the Soundavo hooked up. Again they sounded ok. I then hooked my cd player to the Soundavo using an optical digital cable. All I can say is WOW!!! The music REALLY opened up!!! I could hear notes I never picked up on before. Everything was more pronounced, deeper, clearer. I closed my eyes and it was as if I was in the audience listening to a live performance. I then ran my iPad through the Soundavo using the same 3.5mm to rca cable into the analog input on the Soundavo. Again WOW!!! The sound was so much better, not muffled sounding like the iPad produced. And the stereo separation was incredible compared to what the iPad’s DAC is capable of doing. The volume control on the Soundavo is buttery smooth, and the choice of input types for the Soundavo is impressive. This is the best $120 I could have spent. Does it compete with much higher priced units? I have no idea. Is it a good unit in its price range? Good God, yes!!! I encourage everyone who is looking for a quality well built and great sounding DAC to look no further than the Soundavo. It is well worth the money. (And this is coming from an old fart vinyl lover!!!) UPDATE: I was so impressed with the Soundavo that I purchased a second one to use with my bedroom setup which consists of Klipsch R 51M speakers and a 3.5 wpc Tube Depot Tubecube 7 class A tube amplifier. Everything I stated above is true about this one. When streaming music from my iPad through the Soundavo, it just sparkles and comes alive. I like to fall asleep listening to Classical or mellow Jazz. With the Soundavo I’m hearing instruments more clearly and musical notes I’ve never picked up on before. It is well worth the price. Paired with the Tubecube 7 amp, it makes for a winning combination. Side note: Don’t let the 3.5wpc for the Tubecube 7 fool you as being very low powered. Paired with high efficiency speakers like the Klipsch it will fill a medium size room with exquisite music. Tube power is much different than solid state power. Generally speaking this would be the equivalent of 15 -20 watts of solid state. Most people normally only listen to about 1-3 watts of power. If anyone is interested in testing the waters of tube amplification the Tubecube 7 is a good place to start. It can be purchased through Tubedepot.com and retails for $179 95 + $8.95 for a 3 prong electrical cord designed for American voltage.

NOTE: This is an edited review I strongly recommend that you do not overlook this Soundavo HP-DAC 1 because as time goes on, you will become addicted to the sound qualities of this remarkable budget DAC. As is the case with most audio components (other than tubes), it is often recommended to keep the gear on all the time. The power consumption is minimal, and the sound will mature and warm as time goes on. Such is the case with the Soundavo DAC. After a period of time - a few weeks - the Soundavo came into its own, with audiophile level qualities. I've had the Soundavo now (edited) for well over a year now, and I must say that what I'm hearing eclipses most of my other DAC's which happen to be the iFi Zen DAC (both versions I and II), the Fiio K3 and K5, the Micca OriGen G2, the FX-Audio DAC X6 Mk II, Sabaj D3, and the Schiit Modi 3 (both I and II). I now find that the overall sound qualities of the Soundavo (after a good warm-up/burn-in) resembles the characteristics of good "tube" sound - that is smooth and silky (provided you have good source material). The sound staging is very wide on my powered Presonus speakers (and all the headphones I use), the mids and highs are much smoother, have more depth, and the "air" around the instrumentation can be uncanny at times. Other audiophile qualities that come into play are: 1. A smooth, yet dynamic sound with impressive bass capabilities (when bass is present in the source material). 2. Exceptionally musical sounding with a realistic sense of presence (these qualities alone are key). 3. No listening fatigue (of course, this is also dependent on other equipment such as your speakers or headphones, etc.). Now do note (and I'm repeating myself here), this is a DAC that "may" (or may not) appear unexceptional at first. However, as time goes on, it begins to punch far, far above its weight. The sound I'm getting now is something I'd expect from DAC's costing well over $200 - $400. It is well constructed with a multitude of inputs, and can drive most headphones without any issues at all. My previous personal reference standard in the budget to mid-priced DAC category was iFi ZenDac, but that has since changed because this Soundavo with its tube-like sound qualities, while remaining dynamic, accurate, with punchy bass, and a superb sound-stage, has sprinted to the front of the line. The Soundavo HP-DAC1 comes highly recommended, and I strongly suggest you pick one up - and then do the following: 1. Yes, the DAC will sound nice upon first listening, but initially, some of you may prematurely believe that there may be nothing exceptional about the sound. Have patience folks! 2. Keep the DAC on all the time, playing as much music as you can through it. What I did was to plug in a set of new headphones, put on a demonstration/burn-in piece of music lasting 8 hours, and just let it run. This killed two birds with one stop - burning in both the DAC and new headphones. I did this for several days and what a remarkable difference it made. As I mentioned, I leave my DAC's (well, all of my audio gear for that matter) on all the time. I give it an easy 5 stars given how inexpensive it is and how it sounds (high price vs performance ratio).

Test gear: Win10 PC, USB connection to DAC, Grado SR80e with about 20 hours (my nth pair of these), foobar 2000. Source 1) The Lounge Lizards No Pain For Cakes (title track, CD) This track excels in dynamics of solos from acoustic instruments in a jazz combo setting, an early DDD. The dynamics are fully preserved, best I've heard from any headphone thru a few different headphone amps and amp/dacs. The stage placement accuracy is very stable, and freq response seems flat. Every instrument is recognizable from the quietest passage to the loudest solo passage. Best I've heard from any amp/phone combo. 2) Megadeth Skin o'my teeth (FLAC from original CD, not the crappy remaster with too much compression) The new Grado's don't have the best low end, but this was very satisfactory. The big thing with this disk is the mastering of the drums, and the close mic'ing of Dave's crappy voice. All instruments stayed solid throughout the track. Dave's voice track stayed clear throughout the mix, including during cymbal crashes and drum fills. The drums (other than the weakish kick on the new Grados) staged great and levels were consistent, cymbals very discernible. Great amp/dac, better than my original Aune I use at work. Keeper at twice the $$$. ==== Three years later, still works. But... As a USB DAC, it "only" supports 24 bit 96KHz. The product details mentions 24/192 DAC, but the USB interface doesn't support that. On the Soundavo website is does state the correct interface spec, but not above in the Amazon product descriptions. Wasn't a big deal when I bought it, but with the advent of Amazon Ultra HD (and TIDAL etc), this might matter to some who have better hearing than this 60ish part time rock musician. Not sure I can tell the difference between 96KHz and 192KHz, but maybe you can? Technically, this does force Amazon to down sample, which is irritating in theory...

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