DAC3 Headphone Amplifier Presale Archives — Audioengine Skip to Content

Using Third-Party Software

  1. Audirvana:
    • Audirvana is a high-quality audio player for macOS that automatically switches the sample rate to match the source audio.
    • It provides a direct mode that bypasses macOS's audio processing, allowing for bit-perfect playback.
    • To use Audirvana:
      1. Download and install Audirvana from the official website.
      2. Open Audirvana and go to the preferences.
      3. Ensure the option to automatically adjust the sample rate is enabled.
  2. Roon:
    • Roon is another powerful music player and library manager that supports automatic sample rate switching.
    • It offers advanced features for managing your music collection and provides high-quality playback.
    • To use Roon:
      1. Download and install Roon from the official website.
      2. Open Roon and go to the settings.
      3. In the audio settings, configure your DAC as a zone and ensure it is set to automatically adjust the sample rate.
  3. BitPerfect:
    • BitPerfect is a simple and affordable app that integrates with iTunes (Music app) to ensure bit-perfect playback, including automatic sample rate switching.
    • To use BitPerfect:
      1. Download and install BitPerfect from the Mac App Store.
      2. Open BitPerfect and configure it to work with your preferred audio output device.
      3. Ensure that automatic sample rate switching is enabled in the settings.

For Windows

To configure your Windows PC to automatically switch the indicator color on your D1P or DAC3 based on the sample rate of the audio file being played, you can use specialized audio playback software that supports this feature. Here are a few options:

Using foobar2000 with WASAPI or ASIO Plugins

foobar2000 is a popular and highly customizable audio player for Windows that can be configured to use WASAPI or ASIO for bit-perfect playback, which allows automatic sample rate switching.

  1. Download and Install foobar2000:
  2. Install WASAPI or ASIO Plugin:
    • Download the WASAPI component or ASIO component from the foobar2000 components page.
    • Install the component by dragging the downloaded file into the foobar2000 Components window (File > Preferences > Components).
  3. Configure Output:
    • Go to File > Preferences > Playback > Output.
    • Select your DAC under the WASAPI or ASIO output device.
  4. Enable Bit-Perfect Playback:
    • Ensure that your DAC is set to "Event" or "Push" mode (for WASAPI) or the correct ASIO driver.
    • This configuration will allow foobar2000 to automatically switch the sample rate based on the source material.

Using JRiver Media Center

JRiver Media Center is another powerful media player that supports automatic sample rate switching.

  1. Download and Install JRiver Media Center:
  2. Configure Output Mode:
    • Go to Tools > Options > Audio.
    • Select your DAC as the audio device.
    • Under Settings, choose "WASAPI" or "ASIO" as the output mode.
  3. Set Automatic Sample Rate Switching:
    • In the Audio settings, go to "DSP & output format".
    • Ensure "Output Format" is checked, then set the sample rate to "Source Sample Rate" or "No Change" to enable automatic switching based on the source file.

Using Roon

Roon is a premium music player with extensive support for high-resolution audio and automatic sample rate switching.

  1. Download and Install Roon:
  2. Configure Audio Device:
    • Go to Settings > Audio.
    • Enable your DAC as an output device.
  3. Set Up Playback:
    • Ensure that the sample rate conversion settings are set to "Source Sample Rate" to allow Roon to automatically adjust the sample rate.

Using specialized audio playback software like foobar2000, JRiver Media Center, or Roon can help you achieve automatic sample rate switching on your Windows PC, allowing your DAC to read and display the correct sample rate based on the audio file being played. These applications provide bit-perfect playback and ensure that your DAC receives the correct sample rate without manual configuration.

If you do not have headphones connected to the DAC3, the LED light will turn off after cycling through 'Blue/Green/Red'.  This is an intended feature to help save device power when headphones are unplugged.

The DAC3 uses the ES9281A PRO DAC chipset

Yes! DAC3 offers broad support for standard hi-res audio formats including MQA, PCM and DSD.

DAC3 can easily drive wired headphones with impedances of 12 ohms or higher.

Yes! All you would need to do is connect your iOS device to the DAC3 using the included Lightning to USB-C cable.

To get things up and running only takes 3 simple steps. You would just need to first connect the included USB-C cable from your device's USB port to the DAC3; then you'll need to connect the mini-jack output of your DAC3 to headphones, or any audio input of your powered speakers, stereo system, etc.

Next, if using a Mac, you will need to go to System Preferences/Sound, and select "Audioengine DAC3"; if you're using a PC, no setting changes are needed as the computer will automatically find the USB driver. Finally, you'll just need to adjust the volume on your device and DAC3 to medium and you’re ready to play music from iTunes or your favorite media player and that's it! Setup really is that easy!



The DAC3 will work with Android or any device that can operate as a USB-C host, can provide enough power via USB, and includes generic drivers for standard USB audio playback.  A device with Android 5.0 or later should have both USB host mode and native plug-and-play functionality for USB audio, so you could connect the two together using the included USB-C cable.

The DAC3 is essentially a very high-end external sound card. Its components and implementation of those components make it more capable than what might be built into a computer, not to mention the benefit of moving those sensitive components outside and away from the potentially noisy interior of your computer. All of this means the signal your speakers or wired headphones receive will be clearer, with a lower noise-floor, and with a more pronounced dynamic range over your internal sound card.

The DAC3 includes a headphone amplifier based on the ES9281A PRO Ultra DAC delivers 32-bit precision, high dynamic range and ultra low distortion. This headphone amp is able to provide low-impedance, high-fidelity audio to a wide range of wired headphones.