When you’ve been trying to soup up the sonics coming out of your laptop computer or cell system however haven’t had the money to decide to hi-res audio, British audio specialists iFi might have the answer with their tremendous reasonably priced new Uno moveable DAC and headphone amplifier.

Touted as a “first-rung audio improve” for these making their first, tentative steps into the realms of taking sound high quality severely, the Uno boasts a price range value of £79 / $79 (round AU$129 – AU$139).

For these new to the time period “moveable DAC”, you are not alone however don’t fret: a digital to analog converter mainly interprets a digital audio sign into an analog one, in order that your headphones or audio system can present a sound. All smartphones, tablets and (nearly all) computer systems could have one, however likelihood is it’s not the very best, with poor filtering and shielding making its output noisy and distorted, whereas it could even be incapable of offering high-bitrate listening, which is the place a devoted unit such because the Uno is available in. 

iFi claims that the tiny 8.Eight x 2.6 x 8.1cm unit supplies a extra “thrilling” listening expertise, with the system packing in its Quad DAC+ and Time Area Jitter Eliminator tech, each of which function on the corporate’s dearer fashions corresponding to the superb hip-dac.

This uncomplicated unit has a USB-C enter permitting it to hook up with Home windows PCs and Apple Macs in addition to smartphones and tablets, with the connection doubling up because the system’s energy supply, handily which means no additional cables.

There’s a 3.5mm headphone jack which features a switchable 6dB achieve stage to match your headphones too, plus RCA stereo outputs permitting you to attach the Uno to an amplifier or powered audio system.

There’s additionally fairly complete high-resolution audio help, with the Uno able to file playback as much as 32-bit/384kHz, plus out of the field compatibility with PCM, DSD256 and MQA information from Tidal. An illuminated ring surrounding the amount dial in the meantime modifications coloration in line with the enter format and pattern charge.

There’s additionally onboard EQ adjustment, with three preset modes for music, films and video games.

The Uno is about to be accessible direct from Uno (opens in new tab) by the primary week of December.

Evaluation: Uno could possibly be the primary selection for a price range increase to your audio 

With so many people now utilizing our computer systems and cell units as our predominant supply for listening to music, it’s no nice shock to search out devoted DACs rising in recognition.

A good DAC nonetheless often comes at a premium value (and sometimes in a chunky body), and whereas there have definitely been loads of examples of price range headphone amps and DACs in a compact type, up till this level the increase in efficiency has hardly ever been important sufficient to justify having them as a escape field over what’s in-built to your supply system.

Whereas its small dimension and form may sadly not nonetheless be fairly compact sufficient to make it conducive for listening on the go, iFi ‘s observe document nonetheless means we’ve received excessive hopes for the Uno being an ideal companion for a desktop PC, Mac or stationary pill and one which we will’t wait blast our audio system and cans with.