Periodic Audio Rhodium USB C High Resolution Portable Headphone DAC Amplifier for Smartphone, Laptop, PC, and Tablet

Edit: I did notice recently that there is a clipping sound that happens from time to time from actions like locking your screen while playing audio, or a notifications chime. It seems like any moment where audio may be cut briefly or interrupted(notifications chime attenuates audio while adding its own sound) somehow causes this. I would knock a star off for this, however I'm unsure if this is Periodic Audio's fault, or an issue with how my(and possibly other's) phones handle USB audio. /editFirst off, stop putting "audiophile" on such a high pedestal, sure quality matters, and no of course it won't compete with reasonably larger devices, it's not larger than if you built a dumb converter cable. And considering the size competes with all the cheap dongles that(used to) come with phones, I wouldn't doubt the audio quality is better, and at very least zero hiss noticed. It's my first 3.5mm dongle because my last phone had a 3.5mm jack, and google decided cables and a USB A to C adapter is fine, but apparently non-wireless headphone use isn't needed.I did only test it for a couple minutes with Sennheiser CX300S's, nothing tough to drive, volume could easily be left under 1/4th out of my Pixel 6. I always stay on the cheaper end for my mobile headphones because of how little I use them, but I bought this for the size, and audio quality. If you're looking for something this size only, you're not compromising at all on audio for this...could you probably squeeze a little more out with something bigger, sure, with reduced portability. I didn't want some dongle the size of even an ibasso DC05.Build quality feels solid, metal construction with plastic strain relief(if it could be called such), and a sort of plasticy braided cable. It's a US company if that matters for you, it's nice if you live here and end up with warranty related issues, a lot cheaper than shipping to China. It also supports TRRS(4 pole(3 black/colored lines)) 3.5mm, so your inline remote and microphone should work fine, it did for me. As long as it lasts, I would absolutely recommend it.

The sound is clean and clear with a warm quality. I think the sound is similar to the Questyle M12 without the amplification. Because it has no amp the power needed to drive headphones is phone limited. So for a phone this DAC is best for IEMs or buds.

They worked great for a handful of months , but then the headphone jack port started having connection issues and anytime you move it would lose connection. Tried fixing it myself and made it worse. So its not good for longevity.Sound on it is good , has a neutral , clean , punchy feel but does lack a bit for power if your headphones are hard to drive , as expected for the price and looking at the unit itself. The chipset is very high quality for sure , wish it had more headroom/ soundstage. Pairs good with the right set , I just cannot recommend at this time due to myself and others experiencing the same qc issues.

Possibly the best usbc dac you could find! Very crisp and clear audio, balanced frequencies, and also provides a slight boost in volume over a regular headphone jack. If you can stomach $50 for a professional usb c dac, this periodic audio is a no brainer!

My first unit arrived malfunctioning and inverted/reverses the left/right channels. I confirmed this by testing 2 different sources and 3 different iems/headsets. The only solution was to use software to dis/de-invert the channels. I returned it for a direct replacement.The second one arrived today and fixed the inverted channels, but then... It wouldn't stay plugged into my samsung s22+ and any minor movement caused it to loose connection. I tested this against another usbc dongle dac I have which bites down adaquately that it takes a yank to get it unhooked. This thing, just a tiny movement causes it to come loose. Being that it is this sensitive to minor movements makes it all but useless for mobile/on the move USE. I can't even walk to the bathroom 15ft away without it coming loose(thats how I found out it was loose lol).2 star for good audio, but all but useless otherwise, and rememeber, this is 2 units back to back in the span of a week or so.I've contacted the manufacturer directly to warn them of a possible bad batch, unfortunately for them I'm returning these for full refund. I'll spend the $50 on a dac that actually works, and stays working.

Very clean (High-Res) audio all around! A must if you are using a 3.5mm headphone port with poor or no Dac/Amp, especially at this price point! Could be louder, but plenty of power in this little form factor.*Don’t use it on the new MacBooks with USB-C port, I noticed there is some sort of interference or something, plus the Dac/Amp on MacBooks are much louder/cleaner, perhaps even better than this usb Dac/Amp*

I purchased the Rhodium so I can connect my analog headsets to my phone, which of course no longer have 3.5mm jacks. I tested it when I received it, worked great. It sat in the box for a few months, then I started using it daily. After a few months of use, the audio cut out. Thought it was just my data connection, though when I tried to check my phone I realized the DAC was so hot I used my shirt to help grab the connector and remove it. I submitted multiple service requests, never received a response. At this point I'm past my warranty. I loved the product for the 3-4 months it worked, just wish it lasted or that Periodic offered support.