Venture Electronics Odyssey HD (several terminations available) $10-30 USD Sound quality: S/N 104 dB, THD 90 dB, 24bit/96kHz (all mfg data, not 3rd party verified) Standby power (current): 1.5 mA (mfg data) Output power: ? (power consumption is 15mA) Plussound USB-C 3.5mm mini adapter (preorder) Other: AK4493 DAC chip, only balanced 2.5mm output (not standard stereo single-ended 3.5mm)
Volume control: hardware 64-levels with provided iBasso software appp (via UAC 2.0) Output power: 113 mW Ohm (mfg claim) (balanced amp, 2.5mm balalanced out), 1.9V (32Ω) (preliminary data from mfg) Potentially good adapters - but no proper information on them yet (will fill in later, when / if new information arrives on them): S/N (SINAD) ratio: 110 dB (83 dB at 50mV SNR) Output Power: 37mW Ohm balanced output (tested), 340mW into 32Ohm (tested) Volume control: digital (in-line control buttons) Sound quality: excellent (for a dongle/adapter)
Line-in mic support (in Android): has multiple different firmware and with firmware D it has in-line mic support Sound quality: apparently good (for a dongle/adapter) Output power: 60mW Ohm (mfg rating, not tested by 3rd party)
Hidizs Sonata HD Dac Cable II aka TempoTec Sonata HD ~ $35 USD Sound quality: good (for a dongle/adapter) So, what are the highest quality and best bang for your buck USB-C to 3.5mm Digital output DAC adapters (small size)? Unfortunately, the output power and sound quality of these DACs is mostly mediocre or downright poor (here's looking at you Google with your useless Pixel adapters). Many phones don't even offer analog output anymore on their USB-C output, so the only option is to have a dongle/adapter with a built-in DAC. Now that 3.5mm headphone output is nearing extinction in smartphones, it's time to start compiling the list for the best USB-C to 3.5mm adapter DACs.