Balanced Class A headphone amplification and ESS DAC in a compact format
Rotel DX-3 is a headphone amplifier and DAC with a fully balanced Class A stage, ESS ES9028PRO, 4.4 mm Pentaconn output and PC-USB up to 32-bit/384 kHz.
The DX model is designed for a desktop position or a high-level personal system. The ESS DAC handles USB, coaxial, optical and Bluetooth, while the headphone section provides balanced and unbalanced outputs with different power according to impedance; XLR and RCA also allow DX-3 to operate as a DAC/preamp for active loudspeakers or an external amplifier.
Key features
- Fully balanced Class A headphone amplifier.
- 32-bit ESS SABRE ES9028PRO DAC.
- Balanced 4.4 mm Pentaconn headphone output and 6.35 mm jack.
- Up to 2.8 W into 16 ohms from the balanced output.
- PC-USB up to 32-bit/384 kHz.
- Coaxial, optical, RCA and Bluetooth aptX™ HD/AAC inputs.
- Balanced XLR and RCA analogue outputs.
- In-house toroidal transformer and colour graphic display.
Balanced Class A
The headphone stage operates in Class A with a fully balanced structure, keeping the two halves of the signal independent at the 4.4 mm Pentaconn output. The topology favours linearity and continuous current delivery, qualities particularly useful with high-end headphones and different impedances.
Headphone power
The balanced output reaches 2.8 W into 16 ohms and 1.4 W into 32 ohms, while delivering 150 mW into 300 ohms. The 6.35 mm jack provides 765 mW into 16 ohms, 383 mW into 32 ohms and 41 mW into 300 ohms, covering a recommended range from 16 to 300 ohms.
ES9028PRO DAC
The 32-bit ESS SABRE ES9028PRO converter handles all digital sources and feeds both the headphone stage and line outputs. The conversion section therefore allows DX-3 to work either as a personal component or as the main DAC in a compact system with active loudspeakers.
PC-USB
The PC-USB input supports PCM up to 32-bit/384 kHz, allowing direct connection to computers and software streamers. Coaxial and optical accept signals up to 24-bit/192 kHz, so several digital sources can share the same DAC without external adaptors.
Bluetooth and analogue input
Bluetooth supports aptX™ HD and AAC for compatible devices, while an RCA input also accepts an analogue source. DX-3 is therefore not tied solely to a computer and can become the centre of a desktop system with player, phone and traditional sources.
XLR and RCA outputs
Balanced XLR and RCA analogue outputs allow active loudspeakers or an external amplifier to be connected. Volume control can therefore be shared between headphones and a desktop system, turning DX-3 into a compact preamplifier as well as a dedicated DAC.
Toroidal power supply
The toroidal transformer is manufactured in-house by Rotel and separately powers the sensitive sections. In a compact chassis, attention to supply noise is especially important because the DAC and headphone stage operate only centimetres from the digital connections and display.
Format and interface
DX-3 measures 215 x 73 x 247 mm and weighs 3.2 kg. The colour graphic display shows source and level, while the aluminium remote controls volume and inputs without taking up additional desk space with extra controls.