Last Updated: February 17, 2020 (Refresh Now)

New EarStudio ES100 MK2 24bit Portable High Resolution Bluetooth Receiver USB DAC Headphone Amp with LDAC aptX HD aptX AAC 3 5mm Unbalanced 2 5mm Balanced Output

Last Updated: February 17, 2020 (Refresh Now)
8.6
SCORE
/10
Total Reviews
646
Old Reviews
0
Unverified
26
Spam Test
PASS
Yes
BLUETOOTH
Yes
USB
0.14 meters
SIZE

Review Analysis - 620 recent, verified reviews

Detailed Mode
Sound Quality
 317
dac, amp, audio, sounds, es100
+94%
-6%
comment
" ...  Best $100 I've ever spent on an audio accessory.  ...  "
comment
" ...  Sound quality is FANTASTIC.  ...  "
comment
" ...  This little DAC—along with the software that goes with it—has vastly improved the sound from my phone.  ...  "
comment
" ...  I don’t have any complaints about the sound. ... They sound very clear and I hear things that I don’t usually hear through other players. ... It’s has great sound.  ...  "
comment
" ...  makes headphones sound better.  ...  "
comment
" ...  This is the first DAC I've plugged the Andros into with a level of audio quality that I've found myself quite satisfied with.  ...  "
comment
" ...  This little DAC/AMP is absolutely great!  ...  "
comment
" ...  I figured for that price, I can try something wildly different from the usual audio stuff I typically buy. ... However, I think maybe some other reviewers are overstating how good this actually sounds. ... In any case, use my review as a warning that things may not sound as you expect, but I still recommend them for those who don't want to use stupid dongles.  ...  "
Bluetooth
 184
dac, sound quality, es100, receiver, codec
+92%
-8%
comment
" ...  Audiophile quality bluetooth DAC for a great price!  ...  "
comment
" ...  Over Bluetooth, this little guy works beautifully. ... In the meantime, if you've forgotten to disable Bluetooth on another paired device, it will grab onto that one instead. ... However, it really wants to be a Bluetooth device, and the wired capability feels more like an afterthought.  ...  "
comment
" ...  Bluetooth is a cinch to set up.  ...  "
comment
" ...  This is the best Bluetooth DAC I came across.  ...  "
comment
" ...  Wish it had more power, but sound quality and portability with Bluetooth is awesome.  ...  "
comment
" ...  Aweskme portable bt dac.  ...  "
comment
" ...  How the heck do they do this with bluetooth?  ...  "
comment
" ...  This is what the ES100 does even over Bluetooth.  ...  "
Apps
 172
eq, es100, android, earstudio, ldac
+97%
-3%
comment
" ...  There is an app that has an eq, really useful for people with apple phones.  ...  "
comment
" ...  It feels good, sounds good, and has tons of features through it's app.  ...  "
comment
" ...  Very nice companion app for configuring.  ...  "
comment
" ...  The app is also amazing.  ...  "
comment
" ...  Oddly enough, I preferred the app before the most recent update. ... Nevertheless, this is a SOLID little unit with a nice app that gives you a ton of customizability.  ...  "
comment
" ...  The smartphone app provides tons of features.  ...  "
comment
" ...  Software: The EarStudio app is great and you can really customize to what you want.  ...  "
comment
" ...  The iPhone app that let you control the way that the D2A sound is quite extensive and working very nicely without any issue.  ...  "
Device Compatibility
 144
dac, device, es100, usb, via
+88%
-12%
comment
" ...  the USB support means that I can plug it into my laptop and seamlessly transition from phone audio to laptop audio, and the sound is noticeably better than either the default Pixel 2 USB-C dongle or even the fairly decent DAC in my Macbook.  ...  "
comment
" ...  This was important to me, because all the other bluetooth devices I’ve tried used using crappy codecs and wouldn’t work with my PC or my iPhone or both.  ...  "
comment
" ...  I can use this coming from my usb C port into the unit or via Bluetooth. ... I have Periodic Audio's BE's (awesome), this unit, my phone streaming Qobuz (outstanding value!  ...  "
comment
" ...  It'll show up as a new sound device on both Mac and Windows computers.  ...  "
comment
" ...  Pro: East integration with iphone app.  ...  "
comment
" ...  Sounded phenomenal running it off my Mac Mini as aptx codec instead of aac.  ...  "
comment
" ...  I can connect it as a DAC to my Mac, control the sound and eq from my iPhone and take calls from my Windows phone all at the same time.  ...  "
comment
" ...  Besides affording HiFi, it's an ideal MOBILE solution period.  ...  "
Software Platform
 118
android, ldac, eq, ios, es100
+95%
-5%
comment
" ...  I'm a beginner/budding audiophile, and Android user.  ...  "
comment
" ...  The ES100's iOS app is fantastic. ... The settings are remembered on the amp itself, so you don't need to keep using the app for the EQ to stay in place.  ...  "
comment
" ...  I'm happy to report that it can do it with just an Android phone, no laptop needed.  ...  "
comment
" ...  The iPhone app provides a surprising degree of customization with unexpected features that I wouldn’t have expected at this price point.  ...  "
comment
" ...  You see, I use a nice pair of Sennheiser earbuds with custom Comply foam pads, on a rooted Android device with custom EQs, Viper4android and Dolby Atmos, which, tuned correctly, can create an amazing sound of whatever you throw at it. ... Android users want to stick with AptX (good) or AptX HD (best), but you will need a device that can support those codecs (almost all modern Android devices will). ... The accompanying Android application is very through and has a lot of useful information on how to tweak the EarStudio for its maximum efficiency.  ...  "
comment
" ...  The free app and its equalizer are better than what's on my phone.  ...  "
comment
" ...  And this is before I even get into the EarStudio app to tweak things with the equalizer and other settings.  ...  "
comment
" ...  Accompanying software application is fantastic.  ...  "
Headphones
 107
headphones, dac, headphone amp, bluetooth, iems
+88%
-12%
comment
" ...  in a bluetooth headphone adapter for my phone.  ...  "
comment
" ...  If you're here because you REALLY love your wired headphones and don't want any of the current BT garbage, you're not alone and you've found your solution. ... You need not have less-isolating headphones or IEMs in order to safely or effectively (or selectively) hear outside sounds.  ...  "
comment
" ...  Connectivity with my Pixel 3XL is terrific as well as other wire-headphones.  ...  "
comment
" ...  I highly recommend the ES100 for anyone who loves audio and has expensive wired headsets, or in-ear-monitors, and especially for owners of the IE800. ... 3.5mm tip -> Sennheiser Y socket receiving tip, 3.5mm Ring -> Sennheiser Ring 2, 3.5mm sleeve ->(Sennheiser Ring 1 and Sleeve)  ...  "
comment
" ...  This is undoubtedly the best portable headphone amp I’ve heard yet.  ...  "
comment
" ...  Great headphone amp, It made a great difference in sound quality when connected to my Harmon Kardon over ear headphones!  ...  "
comment
" ...  Highly recommend for headphones and DAC quality.  ...  "
comment
" ...  I will say that it does sound great using the 3.5mm jack and AAC codec and I threw a wide variety of music at it.  ...  "
Battery Life
 90
battery, charge, hours, lasts, life
+76%
-24%
comment
" ...  Satisfactory I usually use them for 4-6 hours at a time at around 60 percent volume and I have yet to fully drain the battery.  ...  "
comment
" ...  2-3 hour charge for constant playback.  ...  "
comment
" ...  The battery lasts longer than my previous unit.  ...  "
comment
" ...  Battery life is amazing to the point where I forget it actually needs charging every couple weeks.  ...  "
comment
" ...  Hardware: Battery holds a great charge.  ...  "
comment
" ...  The battery life is awesome I got 16 hours out of it the first day and a standard 14-16 hours in daily use.  ...  "
comment
" ...  The battery life is good but not up to the specs.  ...  "
comment
" ...  I really appreciate that I can set it to remain plugged into the charger without destroying the battery.  ...  "
Controls
 79
button, volume, controls, volume control, es100
+53%
-47%
comment
" ...  It looks like a screen, but doesn't do anything, would be nice if it gave you information about the song, artist, etc.  ...  "
comment
" ...  But the balanced 2.5 is really cool and the play pause, volume rocker, skip and repeat, led indicator, amplification, and size sold me on it for sure  ...  "
comment
" ...  So basically, allows me to control the volume of the source as well as the volume of the phone thus increasing volume and compensating for the DB loss with the Bluetooth adapter.  ...  "
comment
" ...  It's a small box made from some space aged stuff with low profile buttons for volume and track selection.  ...  "
comment
" ...  I wear the ES100 on top of my headphones (above my head), and using ES100's tiny physical buttons is harder than using the iPhone's physical buttons. ... In addition, without the app running in the foreground, there's no visual feedback of the volume change.  ...  "
comment
" ...  There's a hot-button for this, allowing you to turn it on and off instantly. ... With the hot button (both a physical one on the body of the EarStudio and a virtual on on the companion app), you can instantly mix in the outside sound (one-touch) to hear it and then re-isolate again with another touch.  ...  "
comment
" ...  It allows me to clip the dac/amp in between my buttons on my button up shirts at work as well as polo shirts.  ...  "
comment
" ...  Full control with the app to dial in your perfect tone and it will give you more volume than you will ever need.  ...  "
Price
 71
worth, money, value, cost, 99
+96%
-4%
comment
" ...  BLUF: Definitely worth the cost of admission. ... I can only imagine this was a deliberate design choice implemented to bring this product to market within a specific price point. ... even if it means a higher price point for the consumer.  ...  "
comment
" ...  ( which I would pay good money for anyway) Those headphones are 60 duckers on amazon.  ...  "
comment
" ...  $100 price tag. ... I think it is very well priced at $100.  ...  "
comment
" ...  At this price point, yes!  ...  "
comment
" ...  The usability of this one is much better and worth the money.  ...  "
comment
" ...  on sale for $80 is a steal.  ...  "
comment
" ...  The sound quality and the insane amount of features is crazy for the price!  ...  "
comment
" ...  Incredible, simply incredible, an amazing value.  ...  "
Product Reliability
 65
es100, update, working, weeks, last
+46%
-54%
comment
" ...  Stopped working entirely after just a month of use.  ...  "
comment
" ...  has stopped turning on and is totally dysfunctional  ...  "
comment
" ...  Sadly, it broke in 6 months :( I bought another one so hopefully this one lasts longer than a couple months.  ...  "
comment
" ...  Pretty unusable at the moment.  ...  "
comment
" ...  The result is that it became unusable for me at work and home.  ...  "
comment
" ...  I began having the connection issues just after the 1 month period of having it so returning it was not an option.  ...  "
comment
" ...  Update 2018/11/16:  ...  "
comment
" ...  The 2.5mm has intermittent issues with its left channel now as well .  ...  "
Size
 64
size, portable, pocket, lightweight, light
+94%
-6%
comment
" ...  Despite the small size, the ES100 looks super solid.  ...  "
comment
" ...  It is very compact.  ...  "
comment
" ...  It's small, easy to carry, and the clip is good enough to clip to a pocket or a belt.  ...  "
comment
" ...  Like the title, its very portable.  ...  "
comment
" ...  It's great to use with smartphone, it's very usefull and portable.  ...  "
comment
" ...  It's a tiny gadget.  ...  "
comment
" ...  AND it's portable.  ...  "
comment
" ...  Ultra minimal size perfect for use with cellphone.  ...  "
Build Quality
 64
clip, build quality, feels, cheap, build
+55%
-45%
comment
" ...  And if you enjoy heavy drums/metal same.  ...  "
comment
" ...  I dont use the clip, it would be nice if this was made of stainless steel and had a removable clip.  ...  "
comment
" ...  I would have preferred a metal alloy.  ...  "
comment
" ...  The build has grown on me but my initial impressions was this thing looks and feels like it costed about 20 -30 dollars.  ...  "
comment
" ...  The only improvement I hope they make in the future is to produce the outer casing with better materials.  ...  "
comment
" ...  It feels light and breakable in my fingertips, it looks sturdier than I’m sure it is.  ...  "
comment
" ...  TL:DR Feels cheap so they can put the money in the awesome sound that outperforms my previous, wired headphone amp.  ...  "
comment
" ...  The sound output more than makes up for the the sub-par build quality.  ...  "
Cables
 51
balanced, es100, 2 5mm, cables, 3 5mm
+88%
-12%
comment
" ...  I wanted to find out if a balanced cable would work with my headphones, so I reached out to Radsone from their website. ... (BTW, if any of you have HD 380 Pros, a balanced cable won't add any benefit as the socket on the headphone cup is not balanced.)  ...  "
comment
" ...  With some creative cable management, it is virtually as convenient as a neckband. ... The ES100 allows you to connect premium quality headphone cables, which are far more durable.  ...  "
comment
" ...  type comments since switching from the hardwired UE mic cable.  ...  "
comment
" ...  For the Sennheiser IE800, this is very direct, since the IE800 wires the 3 pole 2.5mm TRS connector in standard audio connections. ... For long cables, the IE800S works great with the ES100 using the Sennheiser cables with no changes. ... So, you can use the Sennheiser supplied 1 meter long 2.5mm connector balanced cable directly into the ES100, or the Sennheiser supplied 1 meter long 3.5 mm connector unbalanced cable because inside the Sennheiser extension cables, Sennheiser re-orders the wires on the plug to match the required ES100 configuration for either the balanced 2.5mm socket, or the unbalanced 3.5mm socket. ... Ideally the wiring for the 4 pole socket receiving the Sennheiser Y connector 2.5 mm plug to the 3 pole adapter would be: ... Probably the most fun to own would be a short, 6", balanced cable, which replicates the Sennheiser wiring crossover in their 1 meter cable. ... (L+,L-,R+,R-) connects inside a crosswired cable to create (R-, R+, L+,L- ) ... If we name the 2.5mm female socket (S) pins: ... and the 2.5mm plug (P) pins: ... (L+,L-,R+,R-) connects inside a crosswired cable to create (R-, R+, L+,L- ) ... However, if you are making your own cable, it's more fun to make a balanced cable which has the best possible results (even if not all of those results are necessarily noticeable from an audio perspective).  ...  "
comment
" ...  My everyday listening earphones are a pair of Shure SE315 with either the bundled hardwired cord into (cringe) my Phone, a Pixel XL that's been recently retired, or using the (double-cringe) the Shure BT1 cable for wireless convenience. ... I wound up getting the ES100 with a set of balanced MMCX cables for my SE315s and it made a HUGE difference in sound quality.  ...  "
comment
" ...  I connect my smartphone to the car via a stereo cable.  ...  "
comment
" ...  Be sure to use it with a balanced cable through, as it really makes a big difference in the sound.  ...  "
comment
" ...  I invested a fair amount of cash into a HiBy R6 DAP and BGVP DMG IEM's as well as upgraded cables to connect them.  ...  "
Ports
 47
dac, port, plugged, es100, 3 5mm
+70%
-30%
comment
" ...  A recent update to the Nintendo Switch, which was added basically in secret, was the ability to utilize USB audio out. ... This DAC/Amp, when used with the adapter cable, (Sold on Amazon for 14$) "Fiio CL06", can be used as USB audio device when using the Nintendo Switch console in handheld mode.  ...  "
comment
" ...  - Usable as a USB DAC/Amp  ...  "
comment
" ...  I use this 100% in the car so it's always plugged in to USB when I use it.  ...  "
comment
" ...  The app is great, has tons of options for behaviour on USB connection etc.  ...  "
comment
" ...  I am using usb audio input from Audirvina Pro and 2.5 mm balanced audio to my Amiron Home.  ...  "
comment
" ...  I am using this with a Pixel 2 XL, as an alternative to a USB dongle.  ...  "
comment
" ...  You can also change how the device responds to being plugged in to USB.  ...  "
comment
" ...  If you have a PC with a solid on board card, you can plug it into a usb.  ...  "
Volume
 43
loud, volume control, sound, volumes, max
+72%
-28%
comment
" ...  I used the equalizer to boost the volume about 6dB overall.  ...  "
comment
" ...  Provides more power and volume when plugged in to USB.  ...  "
comment
" ...  Small powerful rich sound.  ...  "
comment
" ...  The battery lasts me at least 12 hours at a pretty high volume.  ...  "
comment
" ...  So basically, allows me to control the volume of the source as well as the volume of the phone thus increasing volume and compensating for the DB loss with the Bluetooth adapter. ... Also allowing me to regulate my volume before this new device I would have to turn my volume down when I was listening to Music on my iPhone versus the car radio.  ...  "
comment
" ...  Can't listen to most music with the volume over half, and crystal clear.  ...  "
comment
" ...  They sound clear and loud enough with this amp, but just not to full potential on those phones.  ...  "
comment
" ...  The audio is also extremely clean at extremely low volumes and all other volumes. ... There is no audible floor noise at the lowest volumes. ... The volume control is very smooth and fine grained at the lowest volumes.  ...  "
Frequencies
 41
equalizer, sound, parametric, highs, bass
+98%
-2%
comment
" ...  Soundstage is especially impressive.  ...  "
comment
" ...  I also played with the equalizer and found it to be more capable than most.  ...  "
comment
" ...  Along with the clean sound, you get an equalizer that's better then any equalizer I've used on a phone and no drop in volume (similar to the volume drop you hear when you disconnect your headphones from your stereo and connect to your cell).  ...  "
comment
" ...  I have not used the equalizer function on the app because I prefer to get the true sound of which ever iem I am using at the time and would rather not mess with the sound signature.  ...  "
comment
" ...  has a parametric equalizer and serves a dual purpose as a headphone amp and custom sound field equalizer.  ...  "
comment
" ...  The bass is tight and clean and punchy, mids are clear, and highs are shimmery.  ...  "
comment
" ...  For example, I have renamed one custom equalizer slot as Beats to use with my Beats Solo 2.  ...  "
comment
" ...  It's nice to have the EQ and fiddle with settings.  ...  "
Comfort
 39
ear, ears, clip, feels, earbuds
+72%
-28%
comment
" ...  I have it linked to my XS Max pushing a pair of Nightowl Carbon over ears and just WOW!  ...  "
comment
" ...  I tested this unit with a few pairs of headphones and IEM's.  ...  "
comment
" ...  It feels light and breakable in my fingertips, it looks sturdier than I’m sure it is.  ...  "
comment
" ...  yea it's a lot o money but it's my ears and my life which musics brightens up and helps me throughout the days, so i think its worth the investment.  ...  "
comment
" ...  The sound is what I want -- to my (admittedly not extremely discerning) ears it's the equal, at least, of the Magni 2.  ...  "
comment
" ...  You can tailor the last bit, baud or bobble.  ...  "
comment
" ...  As others have pointed out the ergonomics could be better, but beyond that it's a no- brainer purchase.  ...  "
comment
" ...  I tuned and saved a preset for my IEMs, on ear, and over ear. ... 😊 I can clip this thing onto my boxers and keep moving!  ...  "
Ease of Use
 37
easy to use, intuitive, controls, app, use
+86%
-14%
comment
" ...  They also give some simple instructions to get the most out of their product with different devices, which was very helpful.  ...  "
comment
" ...  It's small, easy to use, and the app is great.  ...  "
comment
" ...  The controls are simple and intuitive.  ...  "
comment
" ...  It's still relatively easy to fine tune this sophisticated device.  ...  "
comment
" ...  The unit itself is super compact and the buttons are small as a result, but the controls are intuitive and easy to use, and the buttons have "rollover protection," which means that accidentally hitting multiple buttons at once won't cause annoying or weird behavior.  ...  "
comment
" ...  It sounds like a headache, but it offers a LOT of options to tweak and is written in very easy to understand language so you really get what each feature does.  ...  "
comment
" ...  It is small, lightweight and easy to use.  ...  "
comment
" ...  That's much easier to look for, isn't it?  ...  "
Fit
 37
shirt, pocket, slips, broke, plastic
+59%
-41%
comment
" ...  Works really well in opening up the sound in my Honda Fit.  ...  "
comment
" ...  Sometimes it'll cut in and out but majority of the time it holds a strong connection.  ...  "
comment
" ...  I have no issues clipping it to my shirt or keeping it in my pocket. ... Clip: This has a clip for your shirt. ... We'll see how it holds up, but generally I'll probably just stick it in my pocket to be safe.  ...  "
comment
" ...  Holding up well and I use it daily!  ...  "
comment
" ...  It's small, easy to carry, and the clip is good enough to clip to a pocket or a belt.  ...  "
comment
" ...  Have no problem if i have the phone in my pocket or hand. ... like how do you pair this to your source, there is not much said in the one little (2 inch wide) piece of paper?  ...  "
comment
" ...  this little clip on device works perfectly.  ...  "
comment
" ...  4) A good solid base for higher end head phones while still on a budget  ...  "
Features
 35
mode, feature, light, small, thing
+91%
-9%
comment
" ...  Like some filters added?  ...  "
comment
" ...  It is also surprisingly small and light.  ...  "
comment
" ...  Well built, small and light.  ...  "
comment
" ...  Some key features for me:  ...  "
comment
" ...  Only these features already well deserved its price.  ...  "
comment
" ...  The unit is working great and now has even more features.  ...  "
comment
" ...  - Ambient mode isn’t very useful and neither is the crossfade feature.  ...  "
comment
" ...  +Ambient mode is great when you want some bleed in from the outside world so you know what's happening around you  ...  "
Charging
 34
charging, battery, usb, charges, es100
+62%
-38%
comment
" ...  Right out of the box give it a good charge.  ...  "
comment
" ...  The Switch also charges the connected ES100 as a bonus.  ...  "
comment
" ...  I keep mine plugged into a low charge usb charger and leave it one for whenever I need it.  ...  "
comment
" ...  In addition, I own several portable batteries, that will provide DAYS of power, should I need to use the kindle away from home and a power outlet (RayPower Deluxe Series has an awesome 16750 mAh portable charger, and I still have the freebie portable charger Verizon gave me with my phone ).  ...  "
comment
" ...  I really appreciate that I can set it to remain plugged into the charger without destroying the battery.  ...  "
comment
" ...  Battery life is amazing to the point where I forget it actually needs charging every couple weeks.  ...  "
comment
" ...  The best feature is you can charge it when listening via Bluetooth or cable.  ...  "
comment
" ...  Very versatile, high quality, small, I charge the battery every once in a while, when I remember.  ...  "
Firmware
 29
update, updates, updating, ldac, updated
+69%
-31%
comment
" ...  Other good things: Comes with latest 1.4.2 firmware.  ...  "
comment
" ...  Easily upgraded the firmware to 2.02.  ...  "
comment
" ...  I did the firmware upgrade from my MacBook Air w/o any problems.  ...  "
comment
" ...  Incredible tech support and constant updates to firmware.  ...  "
comment
" ...  Only saving grace is that I have no desire to update the firmware as it is working quite well. ... Nov25 revision: They really got the firmware update process streamlined. ... Firmware update experience bounces back to 5 stars. ... I like being able to update firmware and especially enjoy when it doesn't brick the device being updated.  ...  "
comment
" ...  I already see a firmware update, so they are supporting it well [UPDATE- had to dock ‘em a star, as the firmware update process was so complicated, I couldn’t do it, so I’m stuck with a unit I can’t update!].  ...  "
comment
" ...  As of now (April 2018), the firmware is receiving regular updates for new features and stability improvements.  ...  "
comment
" ...  For example, LDAC support was just recently added via a firmware update.  ...  "
Call quality
 28
calls, call, mic, car, phone calls
+82%
-18%
comment
" ...  I have SE 846 through an iPhone X and it delivers not to mention you can answer calls clearly.  ...  "
comment
" ...  Call quality is good.  ...  "
comment
" ...  Someone taps you to talk, but your isolation is so good, you can't hear them.  ...  "
comment
" ...  They sound very clear and I hear things that I don’t usually hear through other players.  ...  "
comment
" ...  It's simple and you can see and hear the quality built in.  ...  "
comment
" ...  I’ve just been excited to hear all my favorite music in a way I never have before. ... This is great if you have noise canceling headphones, but need to be able to respond if co-workers are calling your name.  ...  "
comment
" ...  It also lets you have hands-free calls in the car through your car's audio system. ... B for in-car call quality.  ...  "
comment
" ...  Call quality is superb.  ...  "
Design
 27
plastic, cheap, feels, look, reviews
+89%
-11%
comment
" ...  The cover is really nice matte finish which I prefer over glossy plastic.  ...  "
comment
" ...  That's much easier to look for, isn't it?  ...  "
comment
" ...  Just very cool stuff.  ...  "
comment
" ...  Despite the small size, the ES100 looks super solid.  ...  "
comment
" ...  Never look back .  ...  "
comment
" ...  Genuinely look forward to whatever it is Radsone makes next  ...  "
comment
" ...  For portables I compare to my Dragonfly Red, and it's very close.  ...  "
comment
" ...  This is pretty slick!  ...  "
USB
 22
dac, audio, usb dac, plugged, pc
+68%
-32%
comment
" ...  Provides more power and volume when plugged in to USB.  ...  "
comment
" ...  I can also use it as a USB DAC with my PC.  ...  "
comment
" ...  It can also run as a USB dac/amp.  ...  "
comment
" ...  Using the Apple Lightning to USB 3 adapter I was able to charge both my iPhone and the ES100 simultaneously while listening to music through the USB connection.  ...  "
comment
" ...  the USB support means that I can plug it into my laptop and seamlessly transition from phone audio to laptop audio, and the sound is noticeably better than either the default Pixel 2 USB-C dongle or even the fairly decent DAC in my Macbook.  ...  "
comment
" ...  It supports both Bluetooth and USB audio.  ...  "
comment
" ...  The app is great, has tons of options for behaviour on USB connection etc.  ...  "
comment
" ...  Connect two devices simultaneously eg., smartphone and laptop/desktop (using USB).  ...  "
Marketplace
 21
thank, review, radsone, thank you earstudio, shipping
+86%
-14%
comment
" ...  Just received this item this afternoon.  ...  "
comment
" ...  Amazon sells several of these.  ...  "
comment
" ...  Thank you again!  ...  "
comment
" ...  Product as described.  ...  "
comment
" ...  And, Thank you to Radsone for bringing this product to market.  ...  "
comment
" ...  Thank you EarStudio for such a great product!  ...  "
comment
" ...  I told the seller and they sent me a brand new one for free.  ...  "
comment
" ...  Thank you for this awesome product.  ...  "
For Running
 19
gym, earbuds, high, workouts, running
+84%
-16%
comment
" ...  I love these earphones.  ...  "
comment
" ...  He uses them daily at the gym.  ...  "
comment
" ...  Use it like they recommend and with some decent earbuds.  ...  "
comment
" ...  I never thought that I could the sound out of my high end headphones like I get with the help of the EarStudio ES-100 DAC.  ...  "
comment
" ...  Useful for Cardio rehab workouts.  ...  "
comment
" ...  I'm also in the midst of searching for balanced cables for all my good earbuds and headphones .  ...  "
comment
" ...  I use this at the gym - I use this at the office - I use this at home.  ...  "
comment
" ...  They dound really good with iems but i feel doesnt have enough power to run high ohm headphones unless balanced.  ...  "
Bass
 19
punchy, rich, sound, eq, bass and midrange
+100%
comment
" ...  The bass is rich and perfect high end.  ...  "
comment
" ...  Also, compared to the sound coming from HD-AMP1 headphone amp, mid-range and bass were not even par.  ...  "
comment
" ...  Bass is deep and rich.  ...  "
comment
" ...  highs were less harsh, and bass was much fuller.  ...  "
comment
" ...  The bass is tight and clean and punchy, mids are clear, and highs are shimmery.  ...  "
comment
" ...  Anyway, the audio is fantastic and the bass is very clearly pronounced without being overbearing (unless intended so by the artist or the settings).  ...  "
comment
" ...  I pair ES100 with my favorite Etymotic ER3XR (with the cable braided to shorten the length) with slight bass booster EQ because Ety thinks music should not have any bass.  ...  "
comment
" ...  There is more bass ,better quality bass.much better highs and I can hear instrument separation and a huge soundstage .  ...  "
Returns
 18
return, returning, contacted, going, another
+33%
-67%
comment
" ...  I have contacted the seller with the hopes of getting a refund/replacement. ... They asked for my order # and said they would send a replacement.  ...  "
comment
" ...  So this was returned.  ...  "
comment
" ...  Mine will be going to be returned.  ...  "
comment
" ...  I just missed the return window or I would be returning this defective device.  ...  "
comment
" ...  20 Dec 2018: Unfortunately, I’m going to return the EarStudio, for one reason and one reason only.  ...  "
comment
" ...  Unfortunately there are enough flaws with this unit that I returned it. ... Needless to say I am returning this unit.  ...  "
comment
" ...  I am returning mine, with disappointment.  ...  "
comment
" ...  This broke right outside of the return window.  ...  "
Network
 18
signal, range, bluetooth, work, pretty
+72%
-28%
comment
" ...  Range is not amazing, but I bought it to use in the gym, which is workers great for.  ...  "
comment
" ...  The Bluetooth range is pretty good, without any signal drop-off over about 40 feet and through walls.  ...  "
comment
" ...  The range also improved.  ...  "
comment
" ...  The signal is quite good in general. ... Signal has also been great on my work laptop with an internal wifi/bluetooth card, and on my phone and laptop.  ...  "
comment
" ...  It uses the latest BT 5.0 standard with a descent range and connectivity. ... I was able to play music from my iPhone from 30 feet away in another room before I started to lose signal.  ...  "
comment
" ...  It connects instantly and I have yet to have a single connection drop.  ...  "
comment
" ...  The connection is more reliable and works from a longer distance.  ...  "
comment
" ...  Coverage/stability is pretty good.  ...  "
Noise Cancellation
 15
iems, background, sensitive, floor, even
+93%
-7%
comment
" ...  Good sound but cheep materials and in some case have a unpleasant noise  ...  "
comment
" ...  The best one is the B&W PX Noise Cancellation headphone, which is the best designed NC headphone, bar none. ... Same with the Apple Airpod, great sounding in-ear headphone but without the noise isolation.  ...  "
comment
" ...  * Ambient noise functionality is awesome (ride bike with IEMs?)  ...  "
comment
" ...  The noise floor is low enough to be indescernable, even on very sensitive IEMs, and the EQ makes it possible to get great sound from anything.  ...  "
comment
" ...  No perceptible noise whatsoever on ES100 though, just crystal clear audio.  ...  "
comment
" ...  I am so happy with this addition to my Wired Taotronics Active Noise Cancelling in ear wired earphones.  ...  "
comment
" ...  The headphones sound great with noise cancelling on to begin with, but the ES 100 takes it to a new level.  ...  "
comment
" ...  You need not have less-isolating headphones or IEMs in order to safely or effectively (or selectively) hear outside sounds.  ...  "
Resolution
 14
aptx, ldac, aac, x, listen
+100%
comment
" ...  Just enough power to run my Senni HD 58X with an aftermarket 2.5 balanced cables.  ...  "
comment
" ...  This DAC/Amp should be the standard, audiowise, for products that want to incorporate Apt-X HD.  ...  "
comment
" ...  * Powers my HD 800Ss easily.  ...  "
comment
" ...  Use with my LG V30 and AptX HD.  ...  "
comment
" ...  for DAPs or Smart phones like lg V20 or V30 with Aptx hd & ldac.  ...  "
comment
" ...  Yes, I made sure I was on LDAC (or at least Aptx-HD) first.  ...  "
comment
" ...  Youtube resolution will still be youtube grade resolution, mind you.  ...  "
comment
" ...  The Bluetooth is impressive and I listen mostly though the Bluetooth with aptx hd.  ...  "
Setup
 13
easy, minutes, worked, simple, shure
+92%
-8%
comment
" ...  Not only is it tiny, unassuming and simple to use but offers very advanced but straightforward software.  ...  "
comment
" ...  But I dislike cables to no end and the best solution I found was to get this little Amp to complement the whole setup.  ...  "
comment
" ...  The right pairing will leave you gobsmacked at the quality available in a cheap mobile setup.  ...  "
comment
" ...  Great engineering here.  ...  "
comment
" ...  But after following the provided directions exactly (e.g., lowercase and upper case letters matter), I was able to update firmware in a few minutes.  ...  "
comment
" ...  They also give some simple instructions to get the most out of their product with different devices, which was very helpful.  ...  "
comment
" ...  This ES-100 worked right out of the box and setup was easy.  ...  "
comment
" ...  Call quality is great, and it’s easy to setup and use.  ...  "
Cleaning
 12
clean sound, powerful, sound quality, quality, much
+92%
-8%
comment
" ...  but i like good clean sound.  ...  "
comment
" ...  Just clean clean clean.  ...  "
comment
" ...  The power is really clean (not a single noise on any of my IEMs).  ...  "
comment
" ...  I have thus turned into a snob when it comes to audio quality and anything less than perfectly clean sound is a let down.  ...  "
comment
" ...  Comparing it to my Fulla 2 I would probably give the edge to the es100 for sounding a tad cleaner but the fulla 2 has a more powerful amp and will have a better time running high impedance headphones.  ...  "
comment
" ...  So slick, clean sound, powerful!  ...  "
comment
" ...  I found the app to be simple, intuitive, and clean.  ...  "
comment
" ...  Radsone just needs to clean this up and make it simpler and this product would be pretty close to perfect.  ...  "
Capacity
 10
work, range, paired, feet
+100%
comment
" ...  Works perfectly on the go or using it in the car.  ...  "
comment
" ...  I am buying more for school, wife, garage.  ...  "
comment
" ...  For once, my car system started to approach the quality of the home set up.  ...  "
comment
" ...  I had it working going through three walls at 25 feet away (to iPhone).  ...  "
comment
" ...  It does this in the car, at work, going for a walk in the park, etc.  ...  "
comment
" ...  I'm using it in my car.  ...  "
comment
" ...  I can now roam freely around the kitchen while keeping the DAP safely out of the way.  ...  "
comment
" ...  It paired easily with my Samsung S9+ and stayed paired when I left the room.  ...  "
Delivery
 10
es100, delivered, box, ago, received
+90%
-10%
comment
" ...  Just received this item this afternoon.  ...  "
comment
" ...  I’ve used this thing for maybe 10 hours since it delivered less than a day ago.  ...  "
comment
" ...  Received the ES100 two days ago and have not been able to put down.  ...  "
comment
" ...  I was skeptical of this device, but it has delivered on all levels.  ...  "
comment
" ...  As another reviewer mentioned, when I opened the box I was amazed at the small size of the ES100.  ...  "
comment
" ...  It works perfect out of the box.  ...  "
comment
" ...  This is awesomeness in a tiny little package.  ...  "
comment
" ...  I received mine yesterday -- great so far.  ...  "
For Travel
 8
traveling, music, iems, es100, dac
+100%
comment
" ...  Combined with My Etymotic -42db isolation IEMs I now (almost) look forward to long flights :)  ...  "
comment
" ...  Superb companion for traveling / commuting.  ...  "
comment
" ...  Audio quality is fantastic from it, and it nearly powers my HD800 well enough, I could certainly be happy enough using it as a travel set-up since I'm in sales.  ...  "
comment
" ...  Imagine this: You're on an airplane enjoying music without engine whine.  ...  "
comment
" ...  I even purchased a set of $150 JBL bluetooth on ear headphones for air travel .  ...  "
comment
" ...  For the price, it’s a great travel/commute option.  ...  "
Codecs
 7
flac, ldac, codecs, aptx, quality
+86%
-14%
comment
" ...  Amazing audio quality in a very portable format.  ...  "
comment
" ...  The upgrade in sound out of my mac is especially appreciated since I have hundreds of albums in FLAC format and didn't want to buy a one-trick-pony DAC.  ...  "
comment
" ...  Still, if you are looking for this as a way to play FLAC files, you will be pleased.  ...  "
comment
" ...  Then I took it up a notch by connecting my Shanling M0 portable hi-res player with higher quality DSD and FLAC audio files of the same tracks.  ...  "
comment
" ...  It supports all of your common high-end BT codecs, including AAC, Aptx HD, and now LDAC.  ...  "
Power Consumption
 7
thing, size, especially
+71%
-29%
comment
" ...  Lacs in power.  ...  "
comment
" ...  The power this thing has is unreal.  ...  "
comment
" ...  - Solid power output  ...  "
comment
" ...  Power is very good especially for the size.  ...  "
comment
" ...  Want more crystal clear power?  ...  "
Overall performance
 7
job
+86%
-14%
comment
" ...  super smooth but precise.  ...  "
comment
" ...  Does a great job.  ...  "
comment
" ...  But it got the job done anyway.  ...  "
comment
" ...  Great job guys!  ...  "
comment
" ...  Fantastic performance in a mobile platform.  ...  "
comment
" ...  Great job designing and manufacturing this tiny product.  ...  "
As Gift
 6
would, awesome, radsone, one
+100%
comment
" ...  I purchased these earphones as a gift for my husband.  ...  "
comment
" ...  I wished I needed more than one or that I could give everyone I know one of these for Christmas  ...  "
comment
" ...  Perfect gift for an audiophile!  ...  "
comment
" ...  By communicating with support@radsone.com, Radsone will send me an es100 gift certificate.  ...  "
comment
" ...  Needless to say, it would be an awesome gift for a techy or audio minded person.  ...  "
comment
" ...  My husband likes this.  ...  "
Cooling
 5
+100%
comment
" ...  Week 1: This is pretty cool!  ...  "
comment
" ...  That's really cool.  ...  "
comment
" ...  Just very cool stuff.  ...  "
comment
" ...  Man, this little thing is cool!  ...  "
comment
" ...  So ambiance and air are important for me.  ...  "
ISP
 5
earstudio, connection, yes
+100%
comment
" ...  The connection is stable as well.  ...  "
comment
" ...  I really like the Earstudio ES100.  ...  "
comment
" ...  I stumbled on the review for the EarStudio, and tried it.  ...  "
comment
" ...  Yes, yes, YES!  ...  "
comment
" ...  The ES100 is the best of the three wireless adapters I have.  ...  "
Weight
 5
light, small, plastic, housing, compact
+100%
comment
" ...  On the other hand that makes it super light weight which I can definitely appreciate.  ...  "
comment
" ...  This thing is a very powerful DAC/amp for its size and light weight.  ...  "
comment
" ...  Did I forget to mention it`s compact and the weight is negligible!  ...  "
comment
" ...  Small and light.  ...  "
comment
" ...  Case is plastic, but well built and prefer the light weight.  ...  "
User Manual
 4
product, earstudio, device
+50%
-50%
comment
" ...  Instruction is skimpy.  ...  "
comment
" ...  But there was no indication of that on their product page nor in their online manual.  ...  "
Drivers
 4
using, android
+75%
-25%
comment
" ...  This unit is a keeper and my mobile headphone amp "daily driver".  ...  "
comment
" ...  I am a package delivery driver.  ...  "
comment
" ...  Works flawlessly without the need to install additional drivers on both Android and Windows.  ...  "
Earbuds
 4
ear buds, ear, dac, buds, sound quality
+100%
comment
" ...  The sound produced by the EarStudio ES-100 DAC greatly enhance all my headphones and ear buds. ... The ES-100 must be hard wired to headphones and ear buds but this is a plus because I have several great pieces of equipment that are not Blue Tooth.  ...  "
comment
" ...  I've used earstudio for a couple of months now with 1 more tripple drive ear buds.  ...  "
comment
" ...  I've spent a lot of money on different headphones/ear buds to get good sound quality.  ...  "
comment
" ...  Best of all I can use my favorite headphones or ear buds depending on the situation.  ...  "
Food Items
 4
+75%
-25%
comment
" ...  I was looking for a specific tonality and these match it exactly, with the rest of it being icing on the cake.  ...  "
comment
" ...  Resembles a Burger King Happy Meal version of a pager for the kids in 1995.  ...  "
Accuracy
 3
volume, accurate, battery
+100%
comment
" ...  Also tells you accurate battery levels.  ...  "
Lagging
 3
problem, device
-100%
comment
" ...  I did a factory reset but the issue persisted.  ...  "
comment
" ...  However there is some slight input delay on videos, but it doesn’t really bother me.  ...  "
Band
 3
broke
+33%
-67%
comment
" ...  If it had a built in Tx, could probably wear it on your wrist.  ...  "
Display Clarity
 3
would, like, information, eq
+67%
-33%
comment
" ...  It looks like a screen, but doesn't do anything, would be nice if it gave you information about the song, artist, etc.  ...  "
comment
" ...  It would be great to have a display screen like Sabaj Da3 (priced at same)  ...  "
FM
 3
radio, local
+67%
-33%
comment
" ...  This means that they will pick up local radio broadcasts, ( by local I mean "hyper local."  ...  "
comment
" ...  I can only tell that subjectively it sounds a little better than my i-Tech Clip Radio (especially when using the EQ).  ...  "

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Specifications

Body
Size:  0.14 meters
Connectivity
Bluetooth:  Yes 
USB:  Yes 
Yes
BLUETOOTH
Yes
USB
0.14 meters
SIZE