The LETSHUOER DT03 was kindly provided free of charge in exchange for an honest review. I didn’t receive monetary or any other kind of compensation and I don’t use affiliate links. The price of the LETSHUOER DT03 is $99 and you can order it directly from LETSHUOER online shop.
LETSHUOER
LETSHUOER is a prominent and well known brand that is widely recognized in the audio industry. Their diverse range of products includes several successful earphones, such as the flagship Cadenza 12, which is among my personal favorites, as well as the budget-friendly yet equally compelling DZ4.
LETSHUOER DT03
The LETSHUOER DT03 marks the company’s third entry into the portable USB DAC dongle market, but the first serious effort in this category. This compact DAC/amp features a USB Type-C input, an interchangeable cable, and offers two headphone outputs: one balanced 4.4mm and one single-ended 3.5mm.
The DT03 features two ESS SABRE ES9219C DAC chips paired with a specialized high-precision clock crystal oscillator, effectively reducing jitter. This device accommodates sampling rates of up to 32bit/384kHz PCM and DSD256. It is compatible with Android, Windows, iOS, macOS, and HarmonyOS, without requirement for driver installation.
Design and build quality
The LETSHUOER DT03 features a chassis crafted from CNC-milled aluminum alloy, characterized by a rectangular design with smooth, rounded edges and corners that enhance its tactile appeal and handling during use. The top and bottom sections consist of an injection-molded plastic bracket, which reinforces the internal framework and minimizes the likelihood of damage during regular use. Overall, the build quality and finish are very good, however, a slight rattling sound from the buttons can be detected when the device is shaken.
One of the two elongated edges features a gentle curve designed to accommodate the two volume control buttons and a gain switch. The front panel features with a thin and rather long LED strip that changes color based on the input sampling rate. A green light indicates PCM rates of 96 kHz or lower, blue signifies PCM rates of 176.4 kHz or 192 kHz, red represents PCM rates of 352.8 kHz or higher, and yellow is used for DSD decoding. With dimensions of 155x12x10mm and a weight of 19g, the LETSHUOER DT03 is both compact and lightweight, ensuring it does not significantly increase the bulk of your phone.
Accessories
The LETSHUOER DT03 is generously packaged with two premium USB Type-C cables, one measuring 12.5 cm and the other 80 cm, along with a USB adapter and a sleek black faux leather case designed to safeguard against scratches.
Power output and efficiency
The LETSHUOER DT03 delivers a rated power output of 195mW at 32Ω from its balanced output and 78mW at 32Ω from the single-ended output. While it may not be the best in its class, it still offers sufficient power, representing the maximum output achievable by dual ES9219C chips without the support of an additional amplifier op-amp.
The DT03 features a low and high gain switch, allowing it to accommodate different load types. It is compatible with a wide range of earphones and many easy-to-drive headphones. During the majority of my listening tests, I utilized the LETSHUOER Cadenza 4 and FiiO FD15 earphones, and the DT03 proved complete silent, free from any background noise.
The device demonstrates notable efficiency, consuming no more than 0.12A/0.61W while playing music. It is important to note that the volume control is not independent; thus, the available volume levels are dependent on the host device. During operation, the DT03 does become warm, although it does not reach an excessively high temperature.
Listening impressions
The LETSHUOER DT03 offers a remarkably neutral and transparent sound profile, avoiding any clinical or sterile qualities. Its technical performance is outstanding for its category, featuring exceptional linearity, clarity, and definition throughout the entire frequency range.
The bass performance is both deep and swift, offering a tight and controlled response that features significant physical impact and compelling dynamic variation. It may lack a fully robust and visceral quality and the textures remain relatively lean but avoiding any notable perception of dryness or thinness. The ability to layer and render micro details stands out within its category, as the DT03 effortlessly manages intricate bass lines, ensuring that every note is preserved and audible.
The mid-range is delivered with exceptional fidelity, characterized by a spacious and open presentation that maintains both intensity and coherence. The timbre is notably realistic, offering a pleasing harmonic richness and while the textures might be rather lean, the overall sound presentation is highly engaging and free from significant artificiality.
The treble similarly impresses with its energetic and vibrant quality, providing strong detail without any pronounced brightness or harshness. The overall tonal balance is neutral, as the DT03 accurately represents the source material without imposing its own character. The timbre remains authentically natural, lacking in digital artifacts or metallic overtones. The LETSHUOER DT03 is both resolving and refined, exhibiting no discernible roughness or coarseness.
The DT03 stands out as one of the top contenders in its category, offering a soundstage that consistently feels expansive and naturally open, accompanied by precise imaging. Its presentation is sufficiently large and holographic, creating an immersive listening experience across various music genres.
Vs the Hidizs XO
The Hidizs XO, priced around $69, is a USB DAC dongle equipped with dual ES9219C DAC chips, capable of delivering 196mW at 32Ω from its balanced output. It is more compact and lighter than the DT03 because it features a 2.5mm balanced jack rather than a 4.4mm. While it lacks volume control buttons and gain switching options, users can choose between two low pass filters and customize the lighting pattern of its distinctive LED system.
The sound signature of both models is quite similar; the XO offers a linear and transparent performance with competitive technical capabilities, avoiding an overly bright or sterile quality. In contrast, the LETSHUOER DT03 exhibits a greater level of resolution and refinement, featuring improved timbre accuracy, a more expansive soundstage, and a more powerful, dynamic bass response.
In the end
The LETSHUOER DT03 may not come with additional features such as a companion app for enhanced customization, but it delivers impressive sound quality for its price, with no significant drawbacks to note. This DAC is highly transparent and technically proficient, yet it avoids a clinical or sterile sound, making it an outstanding option for those who appreciate neutrality and an uncolored sound signature while still enjoying a high level of engagement and musicality.
Copyright – Petros Laskis 2024.
+ Neutral and transparent
+ Stellar technicalities
+ Crystal clear and resolving
+ Not clinical or sterile
+ Without background noise
+ Powerful enough
+ Two gain settings
+ Volume control buttons
+ Power efficient
+ Lightweight and relatively compact
+ Generously accessorized
+ Well made and competitively priced
- Not class leading in power output
- Gets quite warm during use
- The buttons are a little loose
- Volume control is not independent
- No play/pause button
- No accompanying application
- Questionable size of the LED light
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