Shoutout to In To It Reviews for lending the DACport for demo.
Hey there friend, and Welcome aboard!!
Before we get into the CEntrance DACport HD Review, grab a snack, sit back and relax cuzzo…
I’m Here to Help!!
Table of Contents
Specifications
Build & Features
Ergonomics & Power
Sound
Video Shootout with DragonFly Red/Cobalt
Photo Gallery
Final Grade
Now without further ado, let’s get rolling!!
CEntrance DACport HD
Price: Check Amazon!
Specifications
Digital
- Max sample rate: 384kHz (Also: 44.1, 48, 88.2, 96, 176.4, 192, 352kHz), DSD128
- Max resolution: 32-bit (Also supports 16-bit and 24-bit)
- Connection: USB 2.0, asynchronous
- Local clock: Mil-spec clock, 10 ppm precision, 1 ps jitter
- Compatibility: Any computer running Mac, PC, Linux; driver available for Windows
Analog
- Frequency response: 20Hz–40kHz +/-0.2dB
- Dynamic range: 112 dB, re +14.5dBu, max gain
- THD + N: 0.002% (FS, 1kHz)
- Noise floor: 7 µV RMS (A-weight), max gain
- Audio output: Stereo 3.5mm (1/8″) jack, headphone, or line output
Headphone Amplifier
- Output impedance: 1 ohm
- Amplifier type: Direct Class-A, no caps in the signal path
- Max level: 4.1 Vrms / +14.5 dBu
- Output power: 775mW (total), drives 600-ohm headphones
General
- Input power: USB bus (no external power supply needed)
- Gain switch: 20dB range
- Internal power supplies: ±9V, dual, super-clean analog rails
- Dimensions: 3 x 1.1 x 0.4 in (7.6 x 2.9 x 1.1 cm)
- Weight: 2.5 oz (72 g)
Build
The build of the CEntrance DACport HD is fairly simple.
It’s a bit larger than a USB stick (think DragonFly Red), but is still plenty small enough to fit in your pocket.
The front of the unit rounds off nicely, containing a super convenient volume dial that I can easily adjust while it’s sitting next to my laptop.
I can reach down and adjust, or put the unit in my hand and adjust.
In that sense, it does kind of function the same way that a lighter does.
“CEntrance DACport HD” is plastered over the top of the unit in big bold italicized letters, indicating that this is indeed a product not to be f’d with.
Kind of like the Wu-Tang Clan – or Joe Pesci.
On the front end where the volume is, there’s a micro USB slot for use with your PC/Laptop, etc., and on the back is the 3.5mm headphone jack.
The left side facing away contains a gain switch, but it’s very hard to tick on or off without a toothpick or something similar.
A bit disappointing in that regard, but I’m sure they did it to minimize damage to the switch while it’s in your pocket on the go – and to ensure that you don’t accidentally switch it to high gain and damage your hearing if it happens to be on low.
Still,
perhaps a button would have been the more logical choice here, but I digress.
Weight wise it comes in at 1.2 Oz. (35g) on my scale, but feels pretty substantial in your hand all things considered.
It doesn’t feel cheap at all!
Do be aware that because it’s a class A amp, it does run fairly warm, which is especially noticeable the more albums back to back that you listen to.
Still, it’s not as bad as the Chord Mojo, which gets flat-out hot after a spell.
Class A amps run warmer because 100% of their energy, while on and drawing current, is converted to heat (when idle).
- Required Reading: Class A vs. Class AB vs. Class B vs. Class C vs. Class D Amplifiers
When playing a track, the wattage travels to your dome piece (via the drivers) and is then converted to the analog sound that you hear.
Ergonomics/Power Output
This little puppy boasts 775mW of total power, making it one of the best tiny portable options with a wide variety of headphones and Impedance ranges.
I’ve been having a blast with this thing inside Tidal.
In fact,
out of all of the gear I’ve been demoing lately, I’ve listened to the most albums through the DACport.
Part of that is surely the convenience of it; I can get it fired up within seconds, and it’s a total breeze.
Plug it in and it’s always ready for action, doesn’t need a battery charge, and runs off of bus power exclusively.
CEntrance claims it can power 600 Ohm headphones and I wouldn’t doubt it.
I have plenty of headroom on high gain with my 300 Ohm HD600s but would feel comfortable driving a K240M 600 Ohm with it.
Speaking of, how the heck does it sound?
Sound
In a word, excellent.
Because the CEntrance utilizes Asynchronous USB, what’s known as jitter (basically timing errors in the conversion that lead to distortion) is less likely given that the DAC is controlling the flow of data rather than your PC.
- Recommended: What is Jitter In Audio?
Instead of it being pushed through by your PC, it’s pulled by the DAC more fluidly.
- Related: Beginners Guide: What is a USB DAC?
Because of this, and because it is indeed a class A amp (Class A = less distortion), do I perceive the sound to be a bit cleaner, a bit smoother, and a bit more fluid than a DAC that does not utilize Asynchronous USB?
Meh. I mean, it’s really hard to tell and you may not even notice a difference, to be honest.
Does it sound ultra-clean like Windex?
Absolutely, but so do other amps that don’t utilize Asynchronous USB.
With that said, clarity and detail here are nice and pristine.
This thing pulls out detail with relative ease, so sit back and chill the f out homie!
It ain’t no big thang.
On Common’s “The Light” (a track I’ve heard hundreds of times), I hear the faint singing in the background, more so than in years past.
I’ve always been able to hear it somewhat, even in my early middle school days during the year it came out.
I’ve never heard it more prominent than now, but it’s still extremely subtle. It’s hard to explain.
With good headphones and a good DAC like the CEntrance, it becomes fairly revealing.
It sounds exactly like what you’d expect out of an audiophile type of experience.
When people talk about the music they’ve heard all their life sounding somehow “different” this is what they’re talking about.
“The Light” sounded slightly different than I’m used to, which was a really neat experience!
“Nag Champa (Afrodisiac for the World)” off of the same album, Like Water For Chocolate, sounded incredibly revealing as well.
You can make out a lot more of what Common says in the intro before he starts rapping.
At 25 seconds in you can clearly hear his ad-lib “Ya’ll n***as come toward the stage”, as it pans from left to right.
I used to bump this song frequently, and I could never really make out any of what was said during this intro, nor did I even attempt to try.
Here and now with the DACport and a pair of HD600s, I’m able to with relative ease.
Take that for what it’s worth.
Steely Dan’s “Peg” off of their 1977 album Aja, displays an effortless, near-perfect soundscape paired with my HD600.
It’s just a match made in heaven. High hats sound incredibly natural, and the track is rendered with a speed that surprises even me.
The 600s are generally not that fast in terms of transients, but the attack here sounds marvelous.
The decay and instrument clarity in the opening “Black Cow” sounds equally stunning and revealing.
Overall,
the CEntrance provides a picture-perfect, clean backdrop to all of your music.
This is a big reason why I have demoed 10+ albums with it. It just sounds right.
It’s the type of sound that makes you want to kick back and put your feet up with a glass of scotch.
Shootout with DragonFly Red/Cobalt/Mojo
Don’t forget to leave me some love! <3
Photo Gallery
Click to see the DACport in action!
Final Word
The CEntrance DACport gets an A from me. I’m docking a few points for the inconvenience of the gain switch’s location, but other than that this Amp/DAC combo is nearly perfect.
Easy to hook up, and sounds great. Not much more to say.
Should you actually buy it?
My top recommendation in the portable category is the BTR5 as it does Bluetooth and to me is a better overall value.
Learn More:
Well, that’s about it for today my friend! I hope you’ve enjoyed this Centrance DACport HD Review.
Questions? Comments? Requests? Did I miss the mark on something? Please let me know down below or Contact me!!
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Is the DACport worth a purchase? What do you think about the BTR5? I would love to hear from you. Until next time…
All the best and God bless,
-Stu
6 comments
Im new in this stuff and thanks to you I am loving it!!!
I have a quick question, what product would you recommend me between dacport hd vs. dragonfly red vs. FiiO E10K?? I dont have the money to start buying a combo but definitely Im going to save money to buy a very decent amp.
Thanks!!
Hey man! Definitely DragonFly Red. 🙂 Perfect product and has never let me down. In fact, I’m listening to it now with the K712! Let me know if that helps. Also check my shootout for an in-depth look at 4 dacs including Cobalt, Red, DACport, and mojo. [Definitive Guide] AudioQuest DragonFly Red vs. Cobalt vs. Chord Mojo
How does this compare with Fiio E10K in terms of power delivery and sonic performance? I have E10K (non-TC) and am thoroughly impressed with how this drives Letshuoer S12 planar. Soundstage, imaging, and layering were improved compared to pairing with Cayin RU6. I feel e10k is more powerful than that visible on paper. Want to know your thoughts on the same.
Hey Pavan!
I actually don’t have the DACport anymore as it was a unit someone lent to me. I’ve demoed over 55 dacs. After 20 or so you start to realize that they mostly sound very similar with very marginal differences. I also don’t base sonic performance on DACs because it has more to do with the headphones and the track in question. A DAC is there to provide a conversion process. I think the main differences between certain products lie within output impedance and perhaps the dac chip itself. Outside of that, they all do the same thing.
I do agree wholeheartedly that the E10K is much more powerful than people give it credit for, and I’ve never had an issue driving anything with it. If you can believe it, it even sounded excellent with a K240M 600 Ohm and that was one of the first lightbulb moments I had with regard to all this stuff.
That’s awesome…Thanks for your detailed response, Stuart. I had this E10K bought sometime during 2016 for HD598 and after a while, I forgot that these exist in my home. When I recently bought the Cayin RU6 for pairing with S12, I felt truly blessed listening to the kind of Analogue output from R-2R dongle. It’s crazy good for me. Then I remembered I still have the e10k somewhere cornered, took it, cleaned it, plugged it, and was shocked to realize the crazy amount spent on RU6, the irony being the less than 1/3rd priced e10k extracted more technicalities from S12 than RU6 – It simply is more powerful than on paper. No regrets though – RU6 is still a great piece of hardware for its perfect analog tonality.
Thank you, Pavan!
Your comment is a perfect example of how overrated amps and dacs are lol. I’m not trying to be snarky either. I just see this all the time.