Schiit Hel High Power Gaming DAC/Amp - D to A Converter and Headphone Amplifier with Microphone Input

The Schiit Hel is a superb dac amp unit. This is an ideal dac amp for someonw who is looking to improve their listening experience and can't be bothered or is not willing to spend more with a dedicated dac, amp, cables, etc. I personally don't even use it to game, just as a dac amp and the quality of the audio is superb. For reference, using my Beyerdynamic T5p second gen, it sounds much much better than plugged in directly to a high end 2018 Mac pro. It's built like other Schiit Audio products; all metal and very solid. I think it is one of the best dac amps in its price range even if you never game.

I used to use the Astro A40 MixAmp as my DAC/AMP for my VModa M100 headphones, but then I got the Schiit Hel. The improvement to audio clarity and the overall frequency response range was really impressive for something at this price point. I absolutely love listening to music even more now with this device.PROS: Amazing audio clarity and frequency response range. Small form factor. Great fit and finish. The volume feels good and not cheap. All in all, it's a great purchase.CONS: When setting the front gain switch to High, I do hear a bit of hiss through my headphones, but when I have the perceived volume the same with the gain switch on Low, I don't hear it.The 1/4in to 3.5mm audio jack adapter they included was defective so I had to use one of my spares.Also, the documentation for the various ports and settings on the device was incorrect and had some typos. Their documentation on their website resolved this problem.

To get it out of the way, the one thing I don't like about the Hel is that it needs external power. I think if they'd gone with USB C, it could have been bus powered and saved me the hassle of yet another wall wart.Regardless, it sounds great and is well made. I like that, unlike the Fulla 3, the mic input has adjustable gain and isn't so overly compressed. It's a clean input and a clean output. One thing I was worried about is that it would have too much power for my needs, but the low/high gain switch takes care of that. With the Fulla 3, even with Windows volume at only 70%, I still only need the DAC volume at 9 o'clock. With the Hel in the lower volume mode (switch down), it's more or less the same output power as the Fulla 3. With it up, it's far too loud for any headphones I own, though I imagine that would be useful for really high impedance headphones. My only other minor gripe is that I would have preferred a 3.5mm headphone output instead of 1/4", but it comes with an adapter, so it's not a big deal.Having said all that, for a little bit less money you could purchase a MOTU M2. It's bus powered, the headphone output is about as good as the Hel (though significantly less powerful), and it has much better inputs with lower noise. Couple that with something like a Deity D-XLR to convert the XLR input to 3.5mm for a headset and you have a much better overall package. You also get loopback inputs, so for a streamer in particular, the M2 is a much better option. The only downside is that you have to install drivers (for Windows), so you won't be able to use it with your work laptop. It's also bigger, so more of a pain to carry around on the go. Still, if you're primarily looking for a gaming DAC or a streaming setup, I think you'd be better off with the M2.

For whatever reason, Schiit audio products are overpriced when you buy them from Amazon. I love Amazon easy resolution of issues, so I bought it here anyways. The AMP/DAC is amazing, I use it with lame Omen 800 headset for Work/Game (This is the reason why I didn't get a Magni/Modi Stack, I need mic control) and with a pair of Senheiser 6XX for music listening. Now, this thing is amazing, I am glad I bought it since mic control from windows has been nothing but bad for me (working from home) until I got this, and man o man, listening to my music with this has been an amazing experience. I'll gladly recomend this product, and I am looking forward to get my hands on a Asgard 3 Amp from Shciit.

This DAC/AMP is one of the best pieces of sound equipment I've ever used. High quality materials, sturdy construction, attention to detail and the components are top notch. No distortion on any level, and the sound stage is absolute perfection.Highly recommended for anyone who is looking for a total sound solution with a microphone/headset setup, especially if you want to take advantage of more expensive headsets and their sound stage without "fake" sound added.

Great product with exceptional build quality. Drives my DT 1990 Pro headphones with ease.

Best gaming DAC with a useable microphone input with separate volume control.

Struggles to power anything above 250ohm which is "ok"Very very sensitive. Do not connect directly to any motherboard period. Looking for a decent powered usb hub for it. Tried a "quality" 16 port 100w hub and it cuts out often. On the plus side your getting some great audio ya just gotta pamper it.