Abbingdon Music Research uno - DAC

The uno, by iFi, is a first-rung audio upgrade – a DAC/headphone amp for people who may not know what a DAC is, but know they want better sound quality when they listen to music, stream movies and TV shows, play games and enjoy other forms of audio and AV content, from podcasts to YouTube.

Small enough to fit in the palm of your hand, the uno’s cute, curvy case is made from tough, mineral-filled polymer and contains sophisticated DAC and headphone amp circuitry to upgrade the basic audio tech in all sorts of digital devices. Its USB-C input connects to Windows PCs, Apple Macs, and all manner of smartphones and tablets. It doesn’t require its own power source, receiving both power and audio data from the device to which it’s connected. And it delivers a perfectly processed, optimally amplified analogue audio signal to headphones, powered speakers, or an amp and separate speakers.

The uno draws from the experience iFi has gained in developing a range of multi-award-winning DACs at a wide spread of prices, from under £200 to over £3000. At its heart lies a power-efficient, high-performance DAC chip from ESS Technology’s Sabre HiFi series – the ES9219MQ/Q – benefiting from 32-bit HyperStream III architecture. This combines with Quad DAC+ and Time Domain Jitter Eliminator technologies, plus iFi’s dedicated clock circuitry utilising a specialised crystal oscillator, to deliver ultra-low distortion, excellent clarity and impressive dynamic range. iFi has taken full advantage of the DAC chip’s advanced specification, unlocking rarely implemented highend features such as adjustable analogue gain with DRE (Dynamic Range Enhancement), plus technologies to minimise THD (Total Harmonic Distortion) and crosstalk. A choice of digital filters is accessible via the front-panel buttons, enabling users to fine-tune the DAC’s sound according to taste.