Rotel DX-3 DAC and Headphone Amplifier Black

The Rotel DX-3 is a headphone amplifier that does not stop there, in fact it contains a DAC with ESS9028PRO chipset and a complete preamplification section, both balanced and unbalanced.

So the DX-3 is first of all a very refined DAC, using the PRO version of the ESS 9028 DAC, with eight channels in double differential configuration.

It has USB inputs for PC/MAC (up to 32-bit/384kHz and DSD 4X), coaxial and optical (24-bit/192kHz), Bluetooth aptX™ HD and of course RCA analog inputs. The integrated headphone amplifier is powered by a Rotel-developed shielded toroidal transformer and uses high-current output stages to ensure dynamics and low distortion.

Three front-panel selectable gain levels (Low, Mid, High) to suit all types of headphones, with dedicated 4.4 mm balanced and 6.35 mm unbalanced outputs on the front panel.

Volume management is handled by the NJW1195A audiophile-grade analog controller, with adjustment in precise 0.5 dB steps.

The DX-3 can therefore be used as a stand-alone DAC or as a preamplifier in addition to a headphone amplifier.

FEATURES

Unbalanced headphone output power: 765 mW (16 Ω) / 383 mW (32 Ω) / 41 mW (300 Ω)

Balanced Headphone Output Power: 2.8 W (16 Ω) / 1.4 W (32 Ω) / 150 mW (300 Ω)

Total Harmonic Distortion: < 0.004%

Frequency Response 20 Hz - 20k Hz, (+0 dB, -0.2 dB)

Output Impedance Unbal/Unbal: < 0.3 Ω/< 0.6 Ω

Signal-to-Noise Ratio: > 110 dB

Recommended headphone impedance: 16 Ω – 300

Output level unbal/bal: 1.6/3.5 V

Digital inputs: SPDIF LPCM 24-bit / 192kHz, PC-USB USB Audio Class 2.0: up to 32-bit / 384kHz, DSD (up to 4X, 11.2M Hz)

Roon Tested

Power supply: 230 V, 50 Hz

Power consumption st/by-ON: 0.5/30W

Dimensions (WxHxD): 215x76x247 mm

Weight: 3.2 kg