DODOCOOL DA134 Hi-Res Type-C To 3.5mm Audio Adapter DAC 24bit 192khz With In-Line Remote
I confess that I acquired the Dodocool DA134 DAC solely out of idle curiosity and did not expect anything special from it, but after the first listening my skepticism literally evaporated and I started full-scale testing the device.
Specifications:
USB: SA9123
DAC: AK4430ET
Sound resolution: up to 192 kHz / 24 bit
Inputs: Type C
Outputs: 3.5 mm
Dimensions: 68 mm x 19 mm x 9 mm
Weight: 22 g
OS: Windows 10; MAC OS; Android, iOS
The device is based on a fully-fledged dedicated AK4430 DAC
Inside we find the SA9123 USB chip and a single crystal, with a frequency of 48 kHz. The device is powered directly from the source, while it consumes about 5 volts 0.05 amperes - which, by the standards of analogues, is very humane.
Unpacking and packaging
The package is a small cardboard box with the Hi-Res certification logo.
On the reverse side of the manufacturer posted technical specifications.
Design / Ergonomics
Case DA134 is completely made of metal and is placed in the palm of the average male hand.
Of course, he is not such a baby as Tempotec Sonata HD, but he is also far from a full-fledged DAC.
On the bottom of the device we find good protection against a break and a cable with a USB Type C plug. In fact, there is a similar device with Lighting, but technically it is slightly different.
From the opposite end we have a 3.5 mm jack for connecting headphones.
The need for a headset unit is not here, because on the body there are volume control buttons and play / pause. The buttons are comfortable, do not rattle, but are pressed with a nice clear click.
There is also a yellow Hi-Res sticker and the manufacturer's logo.
All other faces of the device are completely empty.
As a result, the Dodocool DA134 is certainly far from the most compact DAC, you still need to get used to its dimensions, but it carries all the necessary management functionality, and inside it is based on a fully-fledged AK4430 chip. The stock volume, as for a smartphone, it is just huge. In most cases, I listened to 18-20% out of 100. But you have to understand that some high-resistance and super tight full sizes may not be enough for him. So, too, do not need to overdo it. The sound of the DAC shows itself somewhere at the level of solutions is 5-6 times more expensive: a deep textural sound with a good middle, moderately dynamic bass and smoothed HF.
