Rotel DX-3 – Fully Balanced Class A Headphone Amplifier with ESS DAC

The Rotel DX-3 is a compact headphone amplifier, DAC and preamplifier designed for high-performance personal audio systems. Within a chassis measuring just 215 mm wide, it combines a fully balanced Class A headphone amplification architecture with the ESS Sabre ES9028PRO DAC and a comprehensive selection of digital and analogue connections.

With 6.35 mm and balanced 4.4 mm headphone outputs, three gain settings and a recommended headphone impedance range of 16 to 300 Ohms, the DX-3 is designed to work with a wide variety of Hi-Fi headphones.

Fully Balanced Class A Headphone Amplification

At the heart of the DX-3 is a sophisticated fully balanced Class A headphone amplification architecture, designed to provide low noise, low distortion and excellent control.

The balanced 4.4 mm output delivers up to 2.8 W into 16 Ohms, 1.4 W into 32 Ohms and 150 mW into 300 Ohms, allowing the DX-3 to drive a wide range of headphones, including more demanding models.

6.35 mm and Balanced 4.4 mm Outputs

The front panel provides a conventional 6.35 mm single-ended output and a 4.4 mm balanced output.

The 6.35 mm output delivers 765 mW into 16 Ohms, 383 mW into 32 Ohms and 41 mW into 300 Ohms, while the balanced connection allows users to take full advantage of the DX-3's headphone amplification capability.

Three Gain Settings

To accommodate headphones with different sensitivities and impedances, the DX-3 provides three gain settings: High, Medium and Low.

This makes it easier to use both sensitive headphones and models requiring higher signal levels, while also providing a more appropriate volume adjustment range for each application.

ESS ES9028PRO DAC

Digital-to-analogue conversion is handled by the ESS Sabre ES9028PRO, a 32-bit DAC designed to provide high resolution, low noise and low distortion.

The DX-3's digital section allows it to serve as the central DAC in a Hi-Fi system, accepting digital sources directly via PC-USB, coaxial, optical or Bluetooth.

PC-USB up to 32-bit/384 kHz and DSD256

The PC-USB Audio Class 2.0 input supports PCM signals up to 32-bit/384 kHz, allowing a compatible computer to be connected directly to the DX-3's internal DAC.

DSD up to 11.2 MHz / DSD256 is also supported, together with DoP up to 5.6 MHz.

Coaxial and Optical Inputs up to 24-bit/192 kHz

The coaxial and optical S/PDIF digital inputs support LPCM signals up to 24-bit/192 kHz, allowing CD players, streamers, televisions and other compatible digital sources to be integrated into the system.

Bluetooth aptX™ HD

The Rotel DX-3 features Bluetooth with aptX™ HD, allowing wireless music playback from smartphones, tablets, computers and other compatible devices.

This connection adds convenient wireless playback without requiring the use of a particular streaming platform or service.

RCA Analogue Input

In addition to digital sources, the DX-3 accepts analogue equipment through its RCA AUX input.

This allows the headphone amplifier to be used with external DACs, CD players, preamplifiers and other line-level analogue sources.

RCA and XLR Outputs

The DX-3 is not limited to headphone listening. Its RCA and balanced XLR line outputs allow it to be integrated into a conventional Hi-Fi system, connected to a power amplifier, active loudspeakers or other compatible equipment.

This versatility allows the DX-3 to serve as a compact DAC and preamplifier at the heart of an audio system.

Roon Tested

The Rotel DX-3 is Roon Tested, confirming that Rotel and Roon have verified its compatibility for use within the Roon ecosystem through a compatible source.

Compact Format

At just 215 mm wide, 73 mm high and 247 mm deep, the DX-3 provides a particularly compact solution for headphone systems, desktop systems and Hi-Fi installations where available space is limited.

The chassis is available in Black or Silver and includes a remote control.

Key Features

• Headphone amplifier, DAC and preamplifier
• Fully balanced Class A headphone amplification
• 6.35 mm single-ended headphone output
• 4.4 mm balanced headphone output
• Up to 2.8 W into 16 Ohms from the balanced output
• Up to 1.4 W into 32 Ohms from the balanced output
• Three gain settings: High, Medium and Low
• Recommended headphone impedance from 16 to 300 Ohms
• 32-bit ESS Sabre ES9028PRO DAC
• PC-USB Audio Class 2.0
• PCM up to 32-bit/384 kHz via PC-USB
• DSD up to 11.2 MHz / DSD256
• DoP up to 5.6 MHz
• Coaxial and optical digital inputs up to 24-bit/192 kHz
• Bluetooth aptX™ HD
• RCA AUX analogue input
• RCA line outputs
• Balanced XLR line outputs
• Roon Tested
• Remote control included
• Available in Black or Silver

Technical Specifications

Type: Headphone Amplifier / DAC / Preamplifier
Headphone amplification: Fully Balanced Class A
Recommended headphone impedance: 16 – 300 Ohms
Gain settings: High 0 dB / Medium -6 dB / Low -12 dB

6.35 mm output power: 765 mW into 16 Ohms / 383 mW into 32 Ohms / 41 mW into 300 Ohms
4.4 mm balanced output power: 2.8 W into 16 Ohms / 1.4 W into 32 Ohms / 150 mW into 300 Ohms
6.35 mm output THD: <0.008% at 70 mW / 32 Ohms / 1 kHz
Balanced output THD: <0.004% at 280 mW / 32 Ohms / 1 kHz
Frequency response: 20 Hz – 20 kHz (+0 dB, -0.2 dB)
6.35 mm output impedance: <0.3 Ohms
Balanced output impedance: <0.6 Ohms
6.35 mm signal-to-noise ratio: >100 dB
Balanced signal-to-noise ratio: >110 dB

DAC: ESS ES9028PRO Sabre, 32-bit
PC-USB: USB Audio Class 2.0
PC-USB resolution: Up to 32-bit/384 kHz
DSD: Up to 11.2 MHz / DSD256
DoP: Up to 5.6 MHz
S/PDIF inputs: Coaxial and Optical
S/PDIF resolution: LPCM up to 24-bit/192 kHz
Bluetooth: aptX™ HD
Certification: Roon Tested

Analogue input: RCA AUX
Input sensitivity / impedance: 1.2 V / 10 kOhms
Input overload: 5 V
RCA line output: 1 V / 100 Ohms (analogue input)
XLR line output: 2 V / 200 Ohms (analogue input)
Analogue signal-to-noise ratio: >107 dB
Channel separation: >86 dB

Digital converted RCA output level: 1.6 Vrms
Digital converted XLR output level: 3.5 Vrms
Digital signal-to-noise ratio: >112 dB

Power supply Europe: 230 V / 50 Hz
Power consumption: 30 W
Standby power consumption: <0.5 W
Dimensions (W × H × D): 215 × 73 × 247 mm
Front panel height: 70 mm
Weight: 3.2 kg
Finishes: Black or Silver

In the Box

• Rotel DX-3
• Remote control
• Power cable
• Documentation