The best DACs for Apple Music Lossless in 2026

Fiio’s inexpensive KA11 dongle comprises a DAC with a most decision of 32bit/384kHz — which is nicely above Apple Music’s top-tier “Hello-Res” lossless format (24bit/192kHz) — so you may make certain 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 the next quantity output than Apple’s on headphone adapter (extra on this beneath). At round $30, this dongle is the perfect bang in your buck in terms of upgrading the audio expertise in your iPhone, Android, PC or Mac. There’s even a Lightning model obtainable for these with older iPhones and iPads.

We notably 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 might probably deal with loads of put on and tear. There’s even a small LED on the entrance that allows you to know for those who’re listening to straightforward, excessive, or higher-resolution recordsdata so that you could 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, nevertheless it’s price contemplating in order for you one thing tremendous light-weight and much more inexpensive. Apple’s dongle doesn’t help the bigger, Hello-Res recordsdata obtainable on its music service, however it might probably deal with the usual lossless (24bit/48kHz) format no downside. As you’d count on, it’s obtainable in Lightning and USB-C variations relying on which Apple machine you’re connecting it to.

Certain, essentially the most demanding listeners may lament the shortage of help for the upper resolutions, and it may be a bit quiet with some headphones which can be excessive impedance (usually costlier “audiophile” fashions). For the overwhelming majority of customers, although, Apple’s dongle will do the job. For those who’re undecided, verify the handbook in your headphones and search for Impedance (usually listed as Ohms) — something beneath round 150Ohms and try to be high-quality. Something above that, and also you may wish to contemplate Fiio’s dongle as an alternative.

Whereas this information is primarily targeted on Apple Music, many of the gear right here will unlock lossless audio regardless of the place you hear. If Tidal is your platform of selection, you may be accustomed to the MQA codec, which the corporate used for its high-resolution audio till finally switching to FLAC in 2024. MQA won’t be as frequent in streaming anymore, however for those who nonetheless wish to be sure you can hearken to music from shops or companies that present it, the iFi GO Hyperlink 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 help any of those natively, however with this small dongle, you may unlock the complete potential of Bluetooth audio and the upper bitrates (and in idea audio high quality) Aptx Lossless gives. There’s a small caveat, although: you have to Bluetooth headphones that additionally help considered one of these codecs akin to these or these (or verify 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 machine’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 once 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 for those who join the BTD700 to a PC or Mac. This little adapter successfully offers something with a USB-C port an audio improve, and there’s even a low-latency mode for gaming. Word, there’s no Lightning possibility right here, so for those who’re on an older telephone you may need to dwell with utilizing an adapter.

For those who’re seeking to take issues to the following stage with out spending “high-end” cash, there’s rather a lot to like concerning 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 suggests the Melody can develop with you in case your audio journey takes you deeper into the world of audiophilia.

The wooden end offers it an aesthetic really feel and though it’s mild, it nonetheless delivers that high quality “Hello-Fi” really feel. As for sound high quality, there’s help for 384K/32bit pattern charges, which covers every thing Apple Music can ship. The built-in amplifier can simply go louder than you must in all probability ever hear and there are different luxuries, too, akin to help for inline microphones — so you may nonetheless deal with calls and take conferences in your telephone. We additionally love that you may tailor the sound to your choice through the Fiio Management companion app.

When you can squeeze a powerful quantity of audio tech right into a headphone adapter, a barely larger machine 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 like a boring, generic dongle.

Importantly, the Moonriver T2i builds on the success of the corporate’s Moonriver 2 DAC. The “2” partly refers to using 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 normal 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 desire the 4.4mm connector because it offers extra energy and potential sign advantages, particularly for those who’re utilizing a headphone amp.

With the Moonriver T2i you have got a pair extra sensible benefits. For one, there are bodily quantity controls on the machine itself. For those who 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) remove any worries about setting the music to the right stage. In case your headphones have an in-line microphone, the excellent news is that this dongle will cross that by way of to your telephone or PC so that you received’t want a separate machine for calls.

Most significantly, the sound that comes out of the Moonriver T2i is brilliant and daring. You’ll hear audiophiles discuss sound stage, element and width, all you might want to know is that this DAC ticks off all of the buzzwords and serves up brilliant, sturdy sound that’s going to make any lossless/hi-res music actually shine.

Who mentioned a DAC must be a dongle? For those who’re on the lookout for one thing a bit extra all-in-one then the SP3 BT energetic audio system from Fiio are an excellent possibility. We like that, for a similar value as many standalone DACs, you have got every thing you might 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 repeatedly obtain reward for his or her sound and premium construct high quality at an inexpensive value. For Bluetooth listening, there’s help 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 property workplace or workspace, they will simply discover a residence in your lounge or den connecting to every other music gamers you may need (for vinyl you’ll nonetheless want a pre-amp).

For those who’ve had some expertise with DACs and need to ratchet issues up a notch or three, then the Mojo 2 from British firm Chord needs to have a phrase. At $650, that is undoubtedly within the high-end value vary, however the expertise and options it gives make it price contemplating for critical 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 machine. The cellular dongles above all take their energy from the participant you join them to, which is handy, however clearly is much less type to your telephone’s battery life. The Mojo 2 has an inside 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) expertise 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 achieve recognition in gaming circles for its means to mimic varied consoles, however that very same flexibility is what makes it attention-grabbing to the audio engineers at Chord.

For those who 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 can 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 loads of its competitors on this regard. Though it’s price noting that you may solely cost the Mojo 2 through microUSB. In fact, there’s a cable offered for this, however for those who’ve totally made the swap to USB-C, it’ll imply you need to guard the charging cable carefully.