Rotel's latest headphone DAC/amp is a stylish addition for your desktop.

      If you've chosen to invest in a high-quality pair of wired headphones or in-ear monitors (IEMs), you should definitely think about getting a headphone amplifier to drive them. Consider something like Rotel’s sleek new DX-3. This is the company's inaugural headphone amplifier, featuring premium amplification circuitry along with advanced digital-to-analog conversion. It will be launched in Europe and the U.K. in March in either black or silver, with an expected release in the U.S. shortly after, priced at $1,499.

      While that price may not be a spur-of-the-moment purchase for many, a headphone amp like the DX-3, equipped with such specifications, is likely to remain relevant for decades and adapt as your requirements (and your audio setup) evolve.

      The most notable aspect of the DX-3 is its size and design. Measuring 8.5 inches in width, 3 inches in height, and 9.75 inches in depth, it is only slightly larger than the Wiim Ultra network music streamer, another device well-suited for desktop use. Constructed from aluminum, the DX-3 features a full-color display, two headphone outputs (4.4mm balanced and 6.35mm unbalanced), a three-setting gain switch, a source selection button, and a large, diamond-knurled volume knob.

      The critical components of the DX-3 are found inside. It utilizes an ESS Sabre ES9028PRO chip for digital-to-analog conversion, which is an 8-channel DAC with four dedicated channels for each side (left/right).

      This DAC can handle an extensive range of audio formats. It decodes PCM up to 32-bit/384kHz and natively supports DSD up to DSD256. Digital audio can be input from optical, PC-USB, coaxial, or wirelessly via Bluetooth, with compatibility for AAC, aptX, and aptX-HD codecs.

      If you prefer to bypass the DAC, there is a dedicated analog amplification pathway supported by stereo RCA jacks. Rotel states that the amplification utilizes an “ultra-low noise, custom in-house manufactured, toroidal transformer with high current drivers and high-quality capacitors,” with power managed through an audiophile-grade NJW1195A fully differential analog controller that provides precise adjustments as small as 0.5dB. The three-step gain control allows for output power to be fine-tuned to suit the specific impedance and sensitivity of your headphones.

      You can also use the DX-3 as a standalone DAC or pre-amp, with options for unbalanced RCA or XLR balanced analog outputs. Additionally, Rotel provides an aluminum remote control for managing the DX-3 from a distance, as far as your headphone cables will reach (or even farther).

      The only feature absent is networking, as there are no Ethernet or Wi-Fi options. However, Roon users can still stream their preferred sources to the DX-3 through the PC-USB input, which is recognized as a Roon endpoint.