Rotel DX3 headphone amplifier with DA converter and preamplifier

Rotel DX3 headphone amplifier with DA converter and preamplifier

Key Features

• Powerful headphone amplifier
• Audiophile preamplifier
• Ideal for high-quality powered speakers
• High-quality 8-channel DAC
• aptX™ HD Bluetooth
• Balanced 4.4 mm and unbalanced 6.35 mm headphone outputs
• High-Res PCM and DSD 4X support
• Analog RCA outputs
• Balanced and unbalanced outputs
• Variable headphone gain levels

Compact versatility at the highest level

The Rotel DX-3 is the ultimate audio companion for desktop and minimalist music systems. It integrates an ESS Sabre DAC, a powerful built-in headphone amplifier, and an audiophile preamplifier in a sleek, space-saving chassis. It accepts signals from all relevant sources, for example PC-USB (32 bit/384 kHz, with DSD 4X support), coaxial and optical (24 bit/192 kHz), via wireless aptX™ HD Bluetooth and via an analog RCA connector.

At the heart of the DX-3 is the highly regarded Sabre ES9028PRO 8-channel DAC. It ensures exceptionally precise digital-to-analog conversion and renders music with high resolution and a spacious soundstage. The integrated headphone amplifier is driven by a custom-designed, shielded toroidal transformer with high-current drivers, delivering high dynamic range with extremely low distortion of less than 0.004%.

User-selectable variable headphone gain levels—High, Medium, and Low—ensure optimal amplification for headphones of any impedance. The DX-3 features balanced 4.4 mm or unbalanced 6.3 mm headphone outputs on the front panel and delivers a robust 2.8 watts via the balanced output! Volume control is handled by an NJW1195A analog controller, allowing for precise increments of up to 0.5 dB.

The DX-3 can also be used as an audiophile DAC with a variety of inputs and as a preamplifier via XLR and RCA outputs. This makes it a flexible tool for driving external amplifiers, active speakers, or an existing audio system.

A full-color display on the front panel shows all essential information and simplifies the various setup options. The included extruded aluminum remote control puts the DX-3 in your hands.

Whether used as a powerful headphone amplifier, a feature-rich preamplifier, or a high-performance DAC, the Rotel DX-3 is ideal for discerning audiophiles.

Features and Highlights

• Powerful integrated headphone amplifier (up to 2.8 W balanced)
• Three variable headphone gain levels (gain matching)
• Balanced 4.4 mm Pentaconn and unbalanced 6.35 mm jack headphone outputs
• High-performance D/A converter with Sabre ES9028PRO 8-channel chip
• PCM up to 384 kHz/32-bit, DSD 4X support
• Bluetooth with aptX™ HD
• Analog RCA input
• Audiophile preamplifier, ideal for high-quality active speakers
• Balanced and unbalanced preamplifier outputs
• Very sensitive volume control in 0.5 dB steps
• Sharp, full-color graphic display
• Aluminum remote control

Specifications

Headphone Output:

• Output Power: (THD+N < 1%)
• Unbalanced (6.35 mm): 765 mW (16 Ω) / 383 mW (32 Ω) / 41 mW (300 Ω)
• Balanced (4.4 mm): 2.8 W (16 Ω) / 1.4 W (32 Ω) / 150 mW (300 Ω)
• Total Harmonic Distortion: (32 Ω, 1 kHz)
• Unbalanced: < 0.008% @ Output = 70 mW
• Balanced: < 0.004% @ Output = 270 mW
• Intermodulation Distortion: (60 Hz : 7 kHz, 4:1)
• Unbalanced: < 0.01%
• Balanced: < 0.006% Frequency response: 20 Hz - 20 kHz, (+0 dB, -0.2 dB)
• Output impedance:
• Unbalanced: < 0.3 Ω
• Balanced: < 0.6 Ω
• Sign-to-noise ratio (IHF “A”):
• Unbalanced: > 100 dB
• Balanced: > 110 dB
• Gain: 0 dB @ G = H / -6 dB @ G = M / -12 dB @ G = L

Analog Section:

• Total Harmonic Distortion (THD): (20 Hz – 20 kHz)
• Unbalanced (RCA): < 0.006%
• Balanced (XLR): < 0.003%
• Intermodulation Distortion (IMD): < 0.001% (60 Hz : 7 kHz, 4:1)
• Frequency Response: 20 Hz – 20 kHz (+0 dB, -0.4 dB)
• Signal-to-Noise Ratio (IHF “A”): > 107 dB
• Output/Impedance:
• Unbalanced (RCA): 1 V / 100 Ω
• Balanced (XLR): 2 V / 200 Ω
• Input Sensitivity/Impedance: 1.2 V / 10 kΩ
• Input Overload: 5 V
• Channel Separation: > 86 dB @ 10 kHz

Digital Section:

• Total Harmonic Distortion (THD): (20 Hz – 20 kHz)
• Unbalanced (RCA): < 0.005%
• Balanced (XLR): < 0.003%
• Output:
• Unbalanced (RCA): 1.6 V
• Balanced (XLR): 3.5 V
• Frequency Response: 10 Hz – 20 kHz (+0 dB, -0.5 dB)
• Signal-to-Noise Ratio (IHF “A”): > 112 dB
• Input Sensitivity/Impedance: 0 dBFS / 75 Ω
• Recommended Headphone Impedance: 16 Ω - 300 Ω
• D/A Converter: ESS ES9028PRO DAC (32-bit/768 kHz)
• Coaxial/Optical: SPDIF LPCM (up to 24-bit/192 kHz) PC-USB: USB Audio Class 2.0 (up to 32-bit/384 kHz)* *Driver installation required
• DSD support (up to 11.2 MHz) and DoP support (up to 5.6 MHz)
• Roon Tested support

Other specifications:

• Power supply: 230 V, 50 Hz (Europe)
• Power consumption: 30 W
• Power consumption (standby): < 0.5 W
• Dimensions (W x H x D): 215 x 76 x 247 mm
• Height of front panel: 70 mm
• Net weight: 3.2 kg
• Color: Silver and black