Rotel’s New Headphone DAC/Amp Is A Sleek Desktop Buddy

If you’re in the market for high-quality wired headphones or in-ear monitors (IEMs), investing in a headphone amplifier is a wise choice. One notable option is the newly released Rotel DX-3. It marks the company’s inaugural headphone amplifier and integrates top-notch amplification technology with advanced digital-to-analog conversion capabilities. Set to hit the shelves in Europe and the U.K. in March, it will be available in both black and silver. The expected launch in the U.S. will follow shortly after, with a price tag of $1,499.

What stands out about the DX-3 is its compact design. Measuring 8.5 inches in width, 3 inches in height, and 9.75 inches in depth, it’s slightly larger than the Wiim Ultra network music streamer, making it an ideal fit for desktop setups. Its aluminum exterior houses a vibrant color display, dual headphone outputs (4.4mm balanced and 6.35mm unbalanced), a three-position gain switch, a source selection button, and an oversized diamond-textured volume knob.

Internally, the DX-3 boasts impressive components. The digital-to-analog conversion is managed by the ESS Sabre ES9028PRO chip, an 8-channel DAC providing four dedicated channels for each side (left and right).

This DAC can handle an impressive array of formats, supporting PCM up to 32-bit/384kHz and native DSD up to DSD256. Digital audio can be input via optical, PC-USB, coaxial, or through Bluetooth, with compatibility for AAC, aptX, and aptX-HD codecs.

If you’d like to access the analog amplification path, the DX-3 offers dedicated stereo RCA outputs.

According to Rotel, the amplification leverages a “custom-built, ultra-low noise toroidal transformer featuring high-current drivers and quality capacitors.” The power control utilizes an audiophile-grade NJW1195A fully differential analog controller to ensure precise adjustments down to 0.5dB. The three-step gain option allows users to tailor the output to their headphones’ specific impedance and sensitivity.

Moreover, the DX-3 can serve as a standalone DAC or preamp, with options for unbalanced RCA or XLR balanced analog outputs. It also comes with an aluminum remote control, enabling you to adjust settings from a distance.

While the DX-3 lacks networking features like Ethernet or Wi-Fi, Roon users can still stream their favorite content through the PC-USB input, which is recognized as a Roon endpoint.