It’s hard to beat the simplicity of a DAC dongle. With no battery to charge, and a form factor that allows it to almost become part of your headphone cable, it’s no wonder that they’ve had an explosion in popularity. While there are a number of good options that have been out for a few years (you can check our previous guide from 2024) the latest batch has really stepped things up in terms of features and design, but what’s the best one for you?

Cayin RU3 - $85

Cayin RU3 is the perfect example of the evolution of ultraportable dongle DACs. For $85 you get a clean metal design with some nice design notes, three color options, three buttons with a small screen for configuration basic DAC features, and an Android app for more thorough configuration and EQ setup. RU3 offers solid sound quality for the price and very impressive power output considering the side and price.

RU3 features USB-C input, and comes with a short USB-C OTG for connecting to your phone or computer. The device has 4.4mm balanced and 3.5mm single-ended outputs, with volume control managed by two buttons on the side, with an additional button used to access menu mode.

CrinEar Protocol Max - $89.99

CrinEar Protocol Max is another take on the same basic idea as Cayin RU3: an ultraportable DAC dongle with a simple design and enhanced features through an app – except Protocol Max doesn’t actually have an app. Instead, Protocol Max has a web browser based configuration interface that lets you create parametric EQ settings, get presets, and configure other device settings.

On the device itself, you get volume control, a play/pause button, and an Eco/Boost switch to control the gain level. Protocol Max has a USB-C input and includes USB-C OTG and USB-C to USB-A cables for connection to a mobile device or PC. And for outputs you get 4.4mm balanced and 3.5mm single-ended headphone outputs.

iBasso DC04 Ultra - $149

iBasso created one of the all-time greatest DAC dongles with the DC-Elite, so their take on the recent trend of app-configurable ultra-portable DAC, the DC04 Ultra, is definitely worth checking out. DC04 Ultra features a similar setup to Cayin RU3, with volume control, a menu button, a small screen where you can configure some basic options, and more advanced features available through an Android App. And while you need the Android-only iBasso UAC app to create EQ presets, you can create and store up to three custom presets that can be used with any device. DC04 Ultra includes a USB-C OTG cable and a USB-A adapter in the box. Like most other new devices in this class, it has 3.5mm and 4.4mm outputs.

Campfire Audio Relay - $229

Campfire Audio is best known for their IEMs, but Relay is an excellent foray into the dongle DAC space. Relay doesn’t have an app or any particularly notable features, but it does provide some of the best pure sound quality in its class. Relay has the same basic setup and package as most of the other DACs on this list, with USB-C input and 3.5mm and 4.4mm headphones output. The most unique element is the AKM AK4493SEQ DAC it uses to achieve a sound that’s both musical and highly detailed. If you don’t plan on utilizing the more advanced features of DACs like the DC04 Ultra or Protocol Max, you’re going to get a notable upgrade in pure sound quality from Relay.

iBasso Nunchaku - $329

If you’re looking for tube sound in an ultra-portable form factor, there aren’t too many options out there, and iBasso Nunchaku is a clear stand out. Nunchaku features configurable tube or solid state output options, as well as some filter options. While rough handling can result in tube ringing, Nunchaku performs better than most other portable tube DACs in terms of general noise. For inputs and outputs, you get the standard USB-C input and 3.5mm and 4.4mm output.  It’s larger than many other dongles, and has a sturdy, substantial feel. 

Astell&Kern HC5 - $489

The promise of high-end dongle DACs has always been to seamlessly turn your phone into a high-end Digital Audio Player. So when one of the premier makers of high-end DAPs, Astell&Kern, goes all in on one, it’s going to demand your attention. HC5 takes a scaled down version of the SP4000’s signal chain and lets you plug it right into your phone. Along with the DAC configuration, HC5 also includes Astell&Kern’s Digital Audio Remaster (DAR) upsampling technology for even more exquisite sound.

For connectivity, HC5 features the usual suspects: USB-C for inputs (with included USB-C and Lightning cables) and 3.5mm and 4.4mm for headphone output. You can also use the OLED screen to configure the DAR mode, DAC filter, and USB UAC version.

So What’s the Best Dongle DAC for Me?

If you’re looking for maximum features and minimum price, it’s hard to beat Protocol Max and Cayin RU3. Protocol Max has stronger configuration features and better cross platform support, but RU3 is a bit simpler to operate. In terms of the stock sound, the two are very close, but Protocol Max is slightly warmer to my ears. In the same general class, iBasso DC04 Ultra is a notable upgrade in output power and maximum volume, with a similar feature set and slightly better user experience than RU3.

If you’re less concerned with EQ and apps, and more concerned with raw sound quality, Campfire Audio Relay and Astell&Kern HC5 both provide a big step up over the DACs in the $100 range, with HC5’s DAR mode seriously rivaling high-end DAPs at 3-4x its price. For less than half the price of HC5, Relay gives you a very natural, clean sound in its own right, but isn’t quite at HC5’s level.

Nunchaku is in a category all to itself. If you really want an ultra-portable tube option, it’s pretty much the best combination of sound quality, features, and usability out there – maximizing sound performance and minimizing the negative aspects of portable tube devices.