As extra music streaming companies introduce lossless or high-definition audio to their choices, curiosity in DACs (digital-to-analog converters, or “headphone amplifiers”) has picked up tempo — a lot so we created this information. What was as soon as the reserve of audiophiles is slowly turning into a go-to gadget for many who need greater than what their cellphone and AirPods can ship. But they’re not with out caveats. For one, they’re usually costly, and typically they aren’t a lot smaller than the cellphone you’re attaching them to. Enter the Tea DAC by Khadas.

Khadas began out making media-friendly single board computer systems (SBC – suppose… media-specific Raspberry Pi kind issues) earlier than shifting on to desktop DACs. Tea is the corporate’s first cell DAC and it seems to be primarily focused at iPhone customers – although it’s additionally appropriate with Android. The cause I counsel it’s extra apt for Apple’s telephones is that it’s MagSafe appropriate. Combine that with the slim, iPhone-esque all-metal design and it solves one of many principal issues with cell DACs: Having one thing heavy hanging out the again of your cellphone.

With the Tea, it sticks to the again of your cellphone and the low profile makes it solely a bit extra noticeable than Apple’s personal MagSafe wallets. You can, after all, discover MagSafe succesful instances for Android, however your cellphone and funds will likely be an element.

Beyond the slick kind issue, the Tea doesn’t scrimp on its codec help. Over USB/Lightning, the Tea can deal with audio proper as much as 32bit/384kHz. Given that the majority mainstream music companies don’t supply something above 192kHz, streamers will likely be greater than coated. Similarly, the Tea can decode MQA (Tidal) together with DSD, AAC, FLAC, APE, OGG and all the usual codecs (WAV/MP3 and many others.). If you like to go wi-fi, the Tea additionally helps LDAC and AptX HD over Bluetooth.

Here I ought to point out that, for all its iPhone friendliness, Apple doesn’t supply both LDAC or AptX HD help in its flagship telephones. You can nonetheless use the Bluetooth performance in Tea, however you gained’t be capable to benefit from the higher-quality codecs. Though it does not less than imply you may cost your cellphone whereas nonetheless utilizing the DAC or you may wander round with the smaller Tea related to your headphones slightly than your cell. There are loads of Android telephones that do help LDAC/AptX HD, however you’ll must verify the producer web site to verify (most Pixels, Samsung flagships and OnePlus telephones supply LDAC/AptX HD decoding).

There are some things you gained’t discover right here, however most of these fall into the upper finish of audio. For instance, there’s solely an everyday 3.5mm headphone jack – no possibility for two.5 or 4.4mm balanced cans at this level (although rumor has it {that a} “Pro” model with that may be on the way in which). There’s additionally restricted suggestions about what codec/audio high quality you’re at the moment receiving, with only a easy color-changing LED indicating the format, which you’ll’t see except the cellphone is face down. Inputs are restricted to USB-C, so it’ll work along with your cellphone and PC, however no line in.

This places the Tea in an fascinating class. It’s completely succesful for those who need essentially the most out of their streaming service and even ought to enchantment to audiophiles searching for a discreet possibility that covers most bases. But at $199 it’s an inexpensive spend. Perhaps its most blatant competitor is the BTR5 from Fiio. That’s additionally a transportable DAC with high-res Bluetooth help together with an identical number of cabled codecs (additionally as much as 32bit/384kHz with MQA help). Oh, and the Fiio gives a balanced headphone possibility, too (2.5mm). When you think about that the BTR5 additionally sometimes retails for $159, it’s a must to actually need that slim, MagSafe design.

That’s to not undersell it although. I examined the BTR5 and the Tea aspect by aspect, and the sheer comfort of the Tea was apparent. With the Fiio, your cellphone feels tethered, nearly weighed down by the DAC. With the Tea, it’s just like utilizing a type of iPhone instances with a battery in it – a bit extra thickness, however you may nonetheless function the cellphone as you usually would.

The Tea additionally has a a lot greater battery capability – 1,160 mAh in comparison with the Fiio’s 550 mAh. This clearly isn’t an audio profit, however it quickly turns into one when you plan on listening for prolonged durations or being away from a charging possibility for various hours. Which, given the cell nature of those units seems like an inexpensive risk.

I’m, nevertheless, not an enormous fan of the consumer interface. The Tea has three buttons: One on the left and two on the appropriate. The single button works as an influence swap or to summon your digital assistant. The two buttons on the opposite aspect will both management quantity or skip tracks. You toggle between quantity and skip mode with a twin press of the facility button and the highest button on the opposite aspect. It works… nice, however it’s not very elegant. Also, when you go away it in monitor skip mode and go to regulate the quantity, you’re going to be on the following monitor earlier than you already know it. A minor, however irritating factor.

In wired mode, the Tea pumps out sturdy, loud, clear audio. It’s perhaps not fairly as loud as another DACs. Even the diminutive Firefly offers the Tea a run for its cash there. But, the sound you do get is clear and filled with achieve, and that’s the objective right here: Take a very good sign and let it’s heard with out colorization.

Beyond its major operate as a DAC, it additionally gained’t get in the way in which of taking calls. A pair of mics on the bottom of the Tea help you discuss with out having to fall again to the mic in your cellphone. What’s extra, the mics on the Tea are a number of leagues higher than the one on the iPhone, particularly when talking to it whereas it’s resting on the desk. You may set the Tea to cost through your cellphone when you’re working low on juice, or disable this characteristic to not tax the battery in your handset when you favor.

All in all, the Tea is a welcome addition to a rising class. At $199 it’s not the most affordable for the characteristic set, however its well-thought-out design and aesthetic additionally make it fairly handy and discreet. Unfortunately, if this all sounds up your alley, then you definitely’ll have to attend a bit longer. While Khadas clearly is production-ready, the corporate is selecting to go the Indiegogo route, with the marketing campaign slated to go dwell within the coming weeks.