HELM Audio Bolt DAC/AMP, USB-C Portable High-End DAC/Headphone Amplifier with MQA Playback. Mobile Studio Sound for Android, iOS and PC. USB-C to 3.5mm Audio

I plan on getting an external DAC for my mobile device since I subscribed to Tidal. I've also tried Amazon HD, but I chose Tidal way back when they first started getting attention for personal reasons. Of course, you can only stream their higher quality tracks (higher bit rate) with a device that can utilize HD formats. This was near impossible for mobile devices then, but fast forward to the present, by chance, I encountered some DACs on Amazon that were made for this. After looking around I decided on the Helm Audio Bolt DAC, USB C because of it's small size and good reviews. Long story short, I love it, and it improves the sound quality of my Pixel 8. I use it in my car with headphones, Final E5000, and Audio-Technica ATH-M20X. The E5000 pairs very well with the Bolt, the AT not so well yet, but I'm hoping after some tuning I can get it to run well. If you're looking for a DAC for your mobile device, I highly recommend the HELM Audio Bolt. There's a lot to choose from, so I would do research, but this product has my backing.

I have been searching for quite some time for a DAC for my Macbook Air and Ipad Air. I have tried numerous products, wired and wireless, portable and desktop, ranging in price up to $300. This product surpasses them all by a long stretch. It could not be easier to use - simply plug into a USB C port, plug in your headphones, and you are ready to go. The sound quality is better than anything else I have tried. The bass is much deeper than what comes directly from the computer or iPad and it is clear. No mud here. You can clearly distinguish the bass drum from the bass guitar. The rest of the spectrum follows suit - mids are clear and highs sparkle. You can hear the slight reverb present in most songs that you do not hear without this product. Do yourself a favor. If you want to listen to high quality music on any device with a USB C port, buy this DAC.

The documentation says the device may have problems with Android 12 not passing through "HD" audio (aka high bit rates), but this thing doesn't even work playing "SD" (standard bit rates) on Android 12. It's just a clicky mess. Regardless of the application playing the music, nothing works. Clicks every few seconds. Also very low volume using a high quality set of headphones. In Windows it works fine-- no clicks, high bit rates work great and the same headphones are very loud, but it's inexcusable to be completely broken on the current version of Android. I'll likely be returning it. Update: it only took an hour or so of using it with different media before I got it to fail on Windows as well. Do not buy this thing, it is garbage! What a waste.

I have a number of portable and desktop DACs, including the Oppo HA-2SE and SMSL SU-9, and several Fiio DAPs like the M9 with comparable ESS or AK chips in them. I also have the briefly-available Razer DAC which was a favorite for walking around, but basically a slightly more powerful and better version of the OEM dongles from Apple or Google. I am very impressed with what Helm pulled off with the Bolt, the new 9218 is pretty similar to the Oppo in sound quality while being much smaller. It is somewhere around the Oppo and has a very analytical, ESS typical sound, far and away better than the Razer or other things while not as clean or powerful as my bigger desktop amps (SU-9 or K5 Pro). For the price, its very much worth it if you are driving nicer in ear monitors or headphones and want to take advantage of them!

This was, at first, a fantastic DAC. The clarity and power blew me away. It is a much better product than the Audioquest Dragonfly I was used to using both Red and Black. However, they are still working....the HELM, not so much. I was using it on my Motorola G and all of a sudden a loud pop, and it never worked again. This happened in the fall of 2023 while listening to Spotify. I am assuming it was a power surge, but having using it every day until then with the same phone I have no idea what could have changed. I will say again the quality was exceptional, giving a wide open deep sound to Hi-Res and even lossy mp3 streams. Too bad it did not last.

I liked the simplicity and size of this unit which I wanted to use with an Android phone - it is perfect in that respect. In addition, I found that the device was indeed every bit as good as the reviews claimed - the sound is open and spacious, clear and smooth and has a very good sound stage and an overall neutral sound. I wanted to try DSF files via Android from my home server which I was successfully able to achieve. Full marks to the combination of the Helm and USB Audio Player PRO in achieving this objective. On a further note, my first Helm device very intermittently exhibited a cracking sound (tricky to pinpoint for a while) and the Helm service was excellent in sending a replacement - the replacement is perfect so I do highly commend not just the product but also the aftersales service! First class all round.

Amazing Dac Dongle I tried have many including all the Astel & kern dongles, hands down this is better in every way more detail in all areas and volume output, also its tiny, I have had this for a very long time, I should have reviewed this sooner! dont thing buy it you wont regret it!

Simple and straight forward to use and sounds decent. At first I didn’t think it was working for hi-res audio (LED remained blue) for iOS. After deleting the USB device in settings I tried again with known hi-res tracks and the LED does turn red when playing those tracks. Unfortunately hi-res audio tracks in Apple Music are limited and not searchable.

日本語のレビューが見当たらなかったが、海外の評価を見て買ってみた。 イヤホンで聞くなら、アップルのアダプタで十分と思っていたら、全く別の音になってしまった。 音の種類が多くなりつつバランスが取れていて、モニター的な音でありながら音楽を楽しめる。 手元の音源を聞き直すと、耳が良くなったような気がして、メインアンプの方につないでしまった。 イヤホン用をどうしたものか… iBasso Audio DC05を買ってみた。 透明感があり解像度が高く、色々な音が聞こえるが、個別の音が気になって音楽を楽しめない。 結局、イヤホン用にこの製品をもう一個買ってしまった。 古いCD音源が多いので、ほどほどのバランスが良いのかもしれない。

I'm not technical so won't get into 'unpacking sound files'. So from a layman then - I subscribe to Amazon Music HD and Tidal and although both are excellent I didn't feel I was getting the best from the hi resolution streaming with the equipment I had. Streaming via Bluetooth to my amp was good but felt it could be better. So ordered the Helm Bolt. And what a difference through my over ear headphones the Master Quality Audio is astounding. So 5 stars for it so far. So then thought well can I use the Bolt to play MQA directly through my amp without losing quality as with bluetooth? Yes. After a little research bought a 3.5mm to 2xRCA adapter cable and I'm in music heaven. So if I could, it would be 6 stars. One other thing - you will need to download USB Audio Pro app (approx £6.99) and buy the MQA plug in (for Tidal Masters, another 4 quid). But other than that everything you need is in the box for joyous, lossless music.