- Rotel DX-3 is a headphone amplifier that can also act as Desktop DAC
- Wireless APTX -Adaptiv and HD as well as wired headphones support
- It costs $ 1,499.00 // £ 1,399.00 (approx. AU $ 3,065)
Huge specification. Small footprint. That’s the track for the new Rotel DX-3, a compact headphone amplifier and standalone DAC that promises audiophile quality sound to the best wired headphones-but not only Wired headphones.
Inspired by Rotel’s hometown of Tokyo, where the space is on a prize, DX-3 is very small: only 215 mm x 76 mm x 247 mm (8½ x 3 x 9¾ inches). But it also boasts lots of power and lots of connectivity.
Rotel DX-3: Key Functions and Pricing
Rotel describes the DX-3 as “The Ultimate Desktop Audio Companion” with input including PC-USB (32-bit/384kHz) with DSD 4x support, coaxial and optical (24-bit/192kHz) and an RCA analog connection to input.
The headphone amplifier supports high, low and medium -sized impedance models and comes with user selection of amplifier amplifier; There are both 4.4 mm balanced and 6.35 mm connectors on the front panel, and there are XLR balanced and RCA outputs on the back so you can use DX-3 as an independent DAC and Pre-amp. But it also supports the best wireless headphones as well as cable associated options thanks to support for Wireless APTX ADAPTIVE / HD and AAC Bluetooth.
I would assume that this is considered an optional extra for the sake of convenience, as it seems to be a shame to have all this audio power and then press it into compressed wireless tech – Event APTX is rather limited compared to the full quality of what is offered here.
Inside, there is an ESS SABER ES9028PRO eight-channel DAC and Rotel’s own Ultra-Lave Noise Toroid Transformer. It contains high quality high -quality power drivers and capacitors to deliver what Rotel says is “the ultimate solution, rhythm and timing and on an immersive sound phase”.
The volume is controlled by an Audiofil quality NJW1195A fully differential analog Controller that delivers 0.5 dB steps and the analog and digital power supplies are fully insulated from each other to seem to ensure minimal interference. There are also specially constructed low pass filters with a full-balanced, completely differential signal path for even further nose and distortion reduction.
Rotel DX-3 is available in the UK now and is launched globally “shortly after”. Its official price is $ 1,499 / € 1,499 / £ 1,399 / around AU $ 3,065.
