Listening to music on the street, at work or at leisure is increasingly difficult, as many cell phones no longer have a “P2” output (3.5mm) to connect wired headphones. Currently, two solutions for listening to music in the best possible way in a portable way are USB Bluetooth DAC/amps (headphone adapters) and DAPs (Digital Audio Players).
Why not just use your smartphone to listen to music?
Those who want a sound quality superior to that delivered by Bluetooth TWS in-ears, usually look for in-ear or on-ear headphones to be used in conjunction with the smartphone. The reason for this is the price, because due to the various components of a True Wireless headset (DAC, amplifier, battery, Bluetooth receiver, audio processing chip, speaker), the project ends up being considerably more expensive than an in-ear wired.
If your cell phone has a “P2” (3.5mm) output for headphones, it is very likely that the output power provided by the device is very low compared to any USB DAC/amp. Who dictates this capacity is the amplifier that is soldered to the smartphone board. For a headphone to play, it is necessary to convert the digital signal into analog through a DAC (Digital to Analog Converter or Digital to Analog Signal Converter) and there is an amplification of the signal, for whom the speaker diaphragm of the headset vibrates and generates sound.
Both a USB DAC/amp and a DAP (Digital Audio Player) have better signal amplification and consequently can provide better sound quality when connecting a wired headphone to them. Thinking regarding it, I will put here the points that I consider important to decide which of the two is more interesting to use.
Portable Bluetooth USB DAC/amp or DAPs (Digital Audio Players)?
The USB DAC/amp is a device that has gained considerable popularity thanks to the Chinese headphone market. There are from desktop solutions, which are fixed (connected to the socket or via USB on the computer), to portable solutions, which have an internal battery. The portable DAC/amp format is what we will consider in this article, where we will discuss in which cases a USB DAC/amp is or is not more advantageous than a DAP (Digital Audio Player).
What are the advantages and disadvantages of using a portable USB DAC/amp?
Currently, portable USB DAC/amps, also known as “dongles” or “headphone adapters”, deliver an “absurdly high” output power considering their size compared to DAPs (Digital Audio Players) and smartphones. Due to the fact that there is no expenditure on screen, processor, Bluetooth antenna, Wi-Fi antenna, internal storage unit, operating system development, etc., the production cost of a portable USB DAC/amp is considerably less than a DAP or cellular. For this reason, it is possible to obtain great audio quality for little money when buying a portable USB DAC/amp to be used in conjunction with a smartphone, computer or tablet.
A disadvantage of the portable USB DAC/amp (“dongle”) is the cable, which can end up breaking when used in conjunction with cell phones, as most of the time the device is dangling in the pocket. This problem is alleviated when purchasing models that have a removable USB cable, but it is not completely solved. For this reason, it is more interesting to look for USB DAC/amp models that have Bluetooth, such as the ones mentioned in this list dedicated to them, as this way it is possible to connect to a smartphone or notebook without the need for a cable connecting them.
When using a portable DAC/amp that has Bluetooth, you can usually hang it on your clothes with the clip that comes with it, or keep it in your pocket. Being the size of a cigarette lighter, this type of device is extremely convenient and portable. However, as it will still be connected to the cell phone via Bluetooth, all the audio from the device will be played in the headset and that’s where one of the advantages of having a DAP (Digital Audio Player) comes in.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of using a DAP (Digital Audio Player)?
The biggest advantage of a DAP (Digital Audio Player) is the experience of interacting with music. As they are devices that were designed and developed with a single purpose: listening to albums and playlists with quality, there is no interference, either from applications or caused by hardware (audio signal transmission). In the players there are no notifications from instant messaging applications, emails or social networks, providing greater immersion when listening to the tracks of a musical work.
Another point in favor of DAPs is the implementation of a circuit designed to have the best possible transmission of the digital/analog signal and a housing with protection once morest EMI (Electromagnetic Interference) / RFI (Radio Frequency Interference). This assists in producing a “cleaner”, “clearer”, sharper sound. However, it is important to remember that this same care exists in USB DAC/amps.
There is also a fact that most people often overlook, but which can be important for those who enjoy listening to music files locally, the availability of space for storing the library of albums and playlists. On a cell phone it is more difficult to reconcile the space of photos and videos with music and for this reason, DAPs manage to offer a better storage capacity, considering the joint use of a micro SD card. However, if you use streaming services almost exclusively, this argument may fall apart.
Depending on the person’s routine, a DAP may be worthwhile. However, most of the time players are considerably larger than a portable USB DAC/amp, being slightly smaller than a cell phone, as it has a larger screen. In addition, there is still the fact of weight, which is usually twice that of smartphones.
There are a few size and weight exceptions to DAPs, such as the Shanling M0 Pro and Hiby R3 Pro Saber, which made our list of the best Digital Audio Players of the year. In the case of these, it might be worth thinking a little more regarding buying a USB DAC/amp or a DAP.
Conclusion
If having a distraction-free device with dedicated internal memory for music doesn’t weigh too much on your overall music listening experience, a portable USB DAC/amp with Bluetooth is sure to be the best choice. The reason for this is that its price is considerably lower than most DAPs, it has enough output power for the vast majority of portable headphones (in-ears and on-ears), and it is small and light. However, there is still a middle ground, as mentioned above, which are the compact players, although it is not yet known whether companies will continue to launch them or not, as “dongles” are increasingly dominating the market.
