The new Rotel headphone DAC/amp is presented as a stylish desktop companion.
The company's first headphone amplifier has an attractive design and features impressive specifications.
If you have chosen to invest in a high-quality set of headphones or IEMs, it is highly recommended to consider acquiring a headphone amplifier to enhance them. A standout example is the recent DX-3 from Rotel, marking the company's first foray into the headphone amplifier market. This model combines a premium amplification circuit with state-of-the-art digital-to-analog conversion.
The DX-3 will be available in March in Europe and the UK, in black or silver, and is expected to arrive in the United States shortly after, with a price tag of $1,499. While this amount may seem considerable, an amplifier with the features of the DX-3 can offer lasting performance for decades, adapting to your needs and your system over time.
One of the highlights of the DX-3 is its design and dimensions. With a width of 8.5 inches, a height of 3 inches, and a depth of 9.75 inches, its size is slightly larger than that of the Wiim Ultra, a music streaming device optimized for desktop use. Made of aluminum, the DX-3 features a color display, two headphone outputs (one balanced 4.4mm and one unbalanced 6.35mm), a three-position gain switch, a source selection button, and a large diamond-textured volume control.
Inside the DX-3 are its most crucial components. The digital-to-analog conversion is handled by an ESS Sabre ES9028PRO chip, an 8-channel DAC with four dedicated channels per side (left/right). This DAC can decode PCM up to 32-bit/384kHz and supports native DSD up to DSD256. Digital audio can be supplied through optical, PC-USB, coaxial, or wirelessly via Bluetooth, with support for AAC, aptX, and aptX-HD codecs.
For those wishing to skip the DAC, the DX-3 has a dedicated analog amplification path with stereo RCA connectors. Rotel claims that the amplifier uses a toroidal transformer manufactured in-house, designed for low noise levels, along with high-current drivers and superior quality capacitors. Power is managed by a fully differential analog controller, the NJW1195A, which offers precise adjustments of just 0.5dB. The three-level gain control allows users to adjust the output power to match the specific impedance and sensitivity of their headphones.
The DX-3 can function as a standalone DAC or preamplifier, with unbalanced RCA or balanced XLR analog outputs. It also includes an aluminum remote control, providing the convenience of operating the amplifier from a distance allowed by the headphone cables. However, it lacks networking functionalities, as it does not include Ethernet or Wi-Fi. Nevertheless, Roon users can stream their favorite sources to the DX-3 using the PC-USB input, which is recognized as a Roon endpoint.