FX-Audio DAC-X6 Headphone amp Mini HiFi 2.0 Digital Audio Decoder DAC Input USB/Coaxial/Optical Output RCA/Headphone Amplifier 24Bit/96KHz DC12V (Black)

I am now on my second FX Audio DAC-X6, the first has faithfully worked at my desk every day, for hours a day, for over two years now. The second is now located in my bedroom powering headphones for watching TV quietly in bed, it works just as perfectly as the first.From a DAC perspective, these are flawless. I have never actually used coaxial in because I don't think I have ever seen a device have a native coaxial output and I've never needed two optical inputs (using a SPDIF to Coaxial converter) but USB and Optical are both fantastic. I have my TV inputting to Optical, my computer inputting to USB and switching between them with a physical switch is flawless and easy. I hate DAC/Amps where you need to press the power button repeatedly to switch inputs and focus on a tiny LED to tell you what you're on. This is quick, easy, and can be reliably switched without looking every time. The line outs on the back go to a speaker amp for my speakers without any trouble at all.From an Amp perspective, this thing has a TON of power and that is in default gain (see below). I rotate Audio Technica M40X and Sennheiser 598s and it powers both to LOUD volume, on default gain, at 10-11 o'clock on the dial. I don't think I have ever gone beyond 12. Harder to drive headphones may go past 12, but it'll have no problem powering them. If for some reason you have REALLY hard to drive headphones, this amp actually has a gain switch, inside on the board.If you search FX Audio DAC X6 gain jumpers, you'll get the instructions fairly quickly but essentially what you do is pull the 4 screws off the front out, slide the board out of the case and in the middle, near the back of the headphone jack, you'll see two jumpers, one on either side. If you switch those jumpers to the two innermost prongs rather than the two outermost prongs, you get high gain and let me tell you, high gain puts a ton of power out. My headphones can't even go past 9 o'clock in high gain without being too loud but if you do happen to have something tough to drive, don't give up on this amp without trying the gain jumper adjustment, I bet your issue will be solved.I have "better" DAC/Amp combos, I have receivers, I have plenty of "audiophile" gear but there is a reason this is my default DAC/Amp, it is just reliable, good and cheap. Tons of power, great input options, physical switches and an analog volume pot with detents so you never need to look at the thing to change input or volume and know exactly where you are and what you're doing. Oh and you can leave headphones plugged in and receiving volume without interrupting the line outs (which some DAC/Amps still somehow get wrong). Perfect piece of kit. If you're even a little interested in audio equipment, just buy it. I promise you'll get use out of it somewhere and it won't let you down.

Alright - so right off, allow me to say that I gave it 5 stars due to two factors - the price (which is only $69.95 as of this writing - a pittance really) and the audio performance that punches a bit above its weight.To set up this review, I am reviewing this DAC mostly as a result of listening to various self-powered active speakers around my desktop PC. I am not a headphone user (as of yet). The speakers I am using are the Edifier S3000 Pro's, the Edifier R2000DB's, the Edifier R1850DB's, the Edifier S350DB's, and the JBL 1 Series 104's. I also have 5 to 6 other DAC units that I switch back and forth thanks to the likes of the most excellent manual (lossless) GoHiFiAudio S1 RCA audio switcher (sold here on Amazon). Cables used were: 1) USB cables were the Audioquest Pearls, Kabel Direct cables, and Amazon basics cables. 2) RCA cables were the World's Best Cables and the Blue Jeans Cables LC-1's. In addition, just recently I added the unbelievably superb iFi Purifier 3.0 USB conditioner which really cleans up and reclocks your dirty USB lines.Since I spend a good 6 - 8 hours daily working, communicating, and photo processing in Photoshop (yes, in addition to being an audiophile, I'm a photographer also). While there, I listen to a variety of music centered around classical, big band, jazz, Latin jazz, and other larger orchestral styles. And I'm quite serious about the quality of the music to be sure.Now enter the FX-Audio X6. So why in the heck would I buy such a budget unit if I'm an audiophile? Quite simple, and that involves cost vs performance ratio measurements. I wanted to see how low you can go price-wise and still get relatively superb sound. I also purchased another DAC unit which I've come to enjoy and that is the similarly price ($69.99) SABAJ D3. So between the two, some interesting comments can be made.Sound-wise, the FX Audio X6 has an expansive sound quality to it, with more of a laid back sound stage, yet at the same time handling dynamics quite skillfully and providing that sense of "immediacy" that transports you to the live performance. The SABAJ unit has a more up front sound and although it also has a good depth profile, the FX Audio's depth goes further back from front to rear. Additionally, the imaging (instrumental separation) is quite good in both units and I cannot fault either unit. I must say however, that periodically - depending on recording - the imaging on the FX-Audio can be a bit strange (but only rarely). In one recording that I was listening to - Schubert's Trout Quintet - there was a passage where the violin on the left of the stage sounded as if it was recorded in a separate booth all by itself and sounded quite unnatural (when compared to the rest of the musicians playing the piece). I had wrongly assumed it was just the recording, but when I played the same piece through both my Schiit Modi 3 and the SABAJ D3 DAC's, all sounded well and the instrumental placement was where it was supposed to be.Bass reproduction was exemplary with tight bass - not bloated at all. Bass transients were tight, although presented a bit further back on the soundstage. Again, the other DAC units I use had a more up-front sound quality to them. The only other DAC that I currently have that has a more laid back signature (similar to the FX-Audio X6) is the Soundavo HP-DAC1. Mids and highs are exceptional and the full crescendo of a symphony orchestra is presented with both weight and clarity, whereas some other DAC's I've tried in the past got a bit muddy when that occurred. And things sounded even better once I added the awesome iFi Purifier 3.0 USB conditioner into the mix - remarkably so.Now, I can't go any further without stating that any good audio gear benefits by a warm-up/break-in period. The sound I'm hearing now (having owned the FX Audio for over a month now) sounds much better (warmer) than it did when I first turned it on. So whatever you do, don't make any judgements until your unit has been warmed up for several days to a week. I keep my DAC's on all of the time and that can make a world of difference. It has been my experience that most budget DAC's tend to sound a bit bright or harsh, if you will, upon first turning them on. So just give it some time.There are so many DAC's out there now - I'd say almost a 100 or so and many are budget DAC's. What ever you do, don't assume that budget equates to below standard, as that is most certainly not the case. There are some excellent units out there for well below $100 - those being the likes of the FX AUDIO X6, the SABAJ D3, and a half dozen others. It's uncanny really. Also please note that many budget DAC's sound very, very familiar. It is only as time goes on and the units become properly broken in that small differences begin to arise. And such was the case with the FX AUDIO and the SABAJ units. Other than the depth scenario, they pretty well sound very similar.Typically once I acquire and evaluate different DAC units, I wind up selling those were just so-so, or less than stellar, but I must say that both the FX AUDIO X6 and the SABAJ D3 are worthy "keepers," and they will be staying in my system. In fact, as I write this personal review, I am listening to my Edifier S3000Pro active speakers fueled by the FX AUDIO X6 - to Beethoven's Piano Concerto 5 - and the sound is absolutely sublime. I feel as though I'm there in the symphony hall. And isn't that one of the best compliments you can pay to a unit?As is usually the case, YMMV and I can only discuss experiences I have with my system.