- Ultra affordable USB-C to headphone adapter with DAC
- High-resolution 32-bit/384kHz audio support in a small package
- Around $26 – but we’re waiting for a global version
Getting the best sound from your smartphone poses a problem: The best wired headphones offer higher quality sound, but on most phones there’s nowhere to plug them in. But there is a solution: enter the dongle. (Ah, my favorite Bruce Lee film – Editor’s note)
A USB-C headphone dongle can bring a big upgrade to your audio without a big expense, and Questyle’s recently launched Qlink-C looks like it could be a good budget buy. The Q-link-C hasn’t yet arrived on the brand’s Amazon US page, but it’s launching in Japan for around $26 and will hopefully be available to US buyers very soon.
Although dongles are typically used for headphones, you can also use them for anything that requires a standard auxiliary input.
And while at this price you won’t get a super-elite audiophile experience or enough power to drive the most demanding headphones, switching from compressed Bluetooth to uncompressed wired audio will make a noticeable difference on decent headphones – especially with the Hi-Res Audio compatible DAC at the heart of it.
Questyle Qlink-C: what is this dongle for?
Questyle is one of those audio brands that aims to have a product for every type of buyer, and its product line includes budget-friendly buys like the QCC Dongle Pro for wireless headphones and the Sigma Pro high-end amp and DAC.
The Qlink-C sits at the budget end of the range, but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t offer decent specs. Its CX31993 DAC delivers high-resolution audio up to 32-bit/384 kHz and a signal-to-noise ratio of 100 dB. It’s extremely small (12cm) and very light, weighing just 4.5g (0.17oz), but it should be quite durable: its cable is braided to withstand daily use and has been tested to withstand 15,000 bending cycles.
The challenge for Questyle is to stand out in what is already a very crowded market sector of the best portable DACs, with affordable dongles like UGREEN and Moondrop offering similar specs for similarly low prices – or less if you don’t mind going over the top at 24-bit/96kHz.
The best headphone DACs for every budget
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