Verdict
An first-class DAC with a balanced and neutral approach to sound , the EarMen Eagle upgrades your music on whatever gimmick you ’re listening on at a comparatively affordable price .
Pros
Cons
Key Features
Introduction
Most the great unwashed do n’t realise that with a USB stick they could improve the auditory sensation of their peregrine and screen background twist , but EarMen ’s Eagle DAC / headphone amplifier has hand in its resume to supercharge your sound .
The Eagle supports playback from iOS , Android smartphones , Windows and Mac computer , cover a wide ambit of devices and filing cabinet resolutions up to 384kHz .
pouch - friendly and able to boost the sound for an array of devices . Is this DAC a hi - fi deal ?
Design
The Eagle ’s USB appearance think it just ask to be plugged into a source with a USB port and you ’re off .
The glossy black enclosure is made from aluminum , which keeps it ignitor at 15 g , and with dimension of 55 x 22 x 8 mm it ’s eminently pocketable . If anything , it ’s so small you could fall back it if you ’re not measured .
The face / earphone logotype is an LED indicator that flickers into life when the Eagle has been punch in . A white brightness think of a connective has been made , red means it ’s not tie in , and gullible render that either a PCM , DXD or DSD signal is being course to the Eagle , while purple indicates MQA support for tracks such as those on theTidal music streaming service .
At one end is a 3.5 mm jack , and at the other end is the USB - A input with the choice of impart a USB - A to C arranger . Small in size of it , this DAC / headphone amplifier looks more expensive than it is . And with a substantial build calibre , the Eagle should be capable to withstand some buffeting and scrapes when carried around .
Features
In full term of audio data formatting and resolving , the EarMen Eagle can take on PCM , DXD and DSD all the way to 32 - bit/384kHz , 384/352.5 kHz and 64/128 DSD respectively , which means it can exhaust most high - declaration file for breakfast , lunch and dinner .
While it can play MQA mental object it ’s not an MQA certify renderer as the more expensive Sparrow is , so it ca n’t stretch and unlock the special information present in an MQA data file beyond the initial unfold . you may register more about howMQA work here .
It achieves lift - off withHigh - Resolution Audiothanks to its ESS ES9280 C PRO DAC ( digital audio converter ) , which EarMen claims provides Total Harmonic Distortion plus Noise ( THD+N ) figure of < 0.002 % . THD+N is the measuring of unintended harmonic that exists in a sign , and a measuring of less than 0.002 % indicates that there ’s very small noise present , which is what you need in the pursuit of sonic purity .
That ’s further serve by Super LOW ESR tantal capacitor , which mould the eminent - grade components in the power - provision design along with 4 - level gilded plated PCB technology used in PCs and smartphones . Again , the end here is to reduce sign stochasticity .
There ’s a USB - C transcriber included that influence with my iPad Pro ’s USB - ampere-second port , but for other iOS devices without USB - C , an Apple Lightning - to - USB transcriber is needed . The USB - C works for Android gimmick too and you could practice any USB OTG ( On - the - Go ) cable . There ’s further support for MacOS and Windows microcomputer , so most , if not all avenues are covered .
Sound Quality
For this review I used the unopen - backedSivga Robin SV021headphones with the Eagle DAC , listen to Qobuz and Tidal on a Lenovo laptop and aniPad Pro . The advantages of the EarMen Eagle are simple : the sound is readable , bigger , more defined and with more depth over a plain headphone connexion .
With a 24 - bit/44.1kHz file of Gaal Leaves Synnax from Foundation : season one on Qobuz , the Eagle marks itself out as a well-defined , neutral and precise performer . There ’s an redundant ounce of sharpness and clarity across the frequency range , a finer smell for define the track ’s orchestral chemical element . The track ’s dynamic mountain chain is also better showcased – bass is expressed with more purpose , while treble note are brighter with more glister . The dynamic headroom of the Eagle offers music with more scope and impact .
Similar close are draw from London Grammar ’s California Soil ( 24 - bit/44.1kHz ) . The basso is strong and tighter in description with the Eagle ; song occupy a bigger presence within the centre of the soundstage , with Hannah Reid ’s spokesperson being louder and add with more definition , keenness and expression . It make hear to the earpiece ’s output less colourful by comparing .
The detail that the Eagle finds is well above that of the laptop computer ’s internal DAC , and that help produce a stronger , better - defined stereo icon . The Eagle does amp up the racecourse ’s good sense of Department of Energy and attack though , perhaps a footling too much , with the track ’s stentorian bass overbearing at fourth dimension and with voices a little thin and sparing in tone – there ’s a piddling nuance merchandise for energy and impingement at eminent volumes . If you find this is the case , the unspoilt result is repress the volume to more prosperous levels .
With Rey ’s Theme from John Williams ’ The Force Awakens there ’s greater retrieval of point of the orchestral instruments . The oboe that kicks things off is articulated and delimitate with wonderful clearness . The racetrack ’s sense of rhythmic menstruation is more piquant and fluent , the gallant of orchestra as they agitate cogwheel from tight to slow carry more verve and momentum , emphasising the track ’s meridian and troughs more confidently . It ’s an altogether more incisive and neutral sounding performance than the suaveness of the laptop ’s headphone output .
Moving to Tidal and Anderson Paak ’s Fire in the Sky ( Master ) , and everything mentioned before is transplant here . Bass is more emphatic and cogent in its characterisation , the pianoforte take note at the start of the track declare oneself more brightness and variant in tone , along with Paak ’s interpreter being larger and more expressive . It ’s a balanced , coherent strait that convey the vocal with great nuance and faithfulness .
To go back to this section ’s opening paragraph , the Eagle ’s attributes are simple and many : the sound is clear , bigger , more fix and with more deepness . As a simple and jolly affordable way of upgrading audio , the Eagle is an accomplished and entertainingly consistent way of doing so .
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Should you buy it?
Plug the EarMen Eagle and you ’re on the way , retrieving more contingent and clearness from your music than your home / wandering gimmick ’s internal DAC can muster .
The Eagle can act MQA tracks from Tidal , but it is n’t an MQA renderer like the more expensive Sparrow is . That grants its safe playback when listening to Tidal and it ’s deserving considering if Tidal is your main medicine service .
Final Thoughts
limpidity , detail and disinterest – I can add up up the Eagle ’s operation with those three watchword . Music is made even more enjoyable with the Eagle DAC , and with good gadget compatibility and data file bread and butter , it ’s a clear-cut and sanely price ascent . Whether you ’re home or out of the house , this pocket - sized companion will make your music collection refulgency .
Trusted Score
How we test
We test every DAC we review good . We use manufacture stock tests to compare feature properly and we utilize the pill as our main machine over the followup period . We ’ll always assure you what we find and we never , ever , take money to review a merchandise .
Find out more about how we try in ourethics insurance policy .
FAQs
The Eagle comes with a USB - deoxycytidine monophosphate adapter , so it works out of the box with iOS equipment such as the iPad Pro , but for devices with a lightning connector , you will need the Lightning Camera Adaptor to link the Eagle .
The Eagle can represent Tidal Masters tracks but it does n’t have full support for Master tracks like the more expensive Sparrow DAC does .
