In this article, I review the Audirect Team 1 portable DAC and headphone amplifier. The Team 1 features an ES9281AC Pro DAC chip a colour display and big output power. It’s priced at $329.
Disclaimer: This sample was provided by Audirect for an honest review. All observations and opinions here are my own, based on my experience with the product.
Audirect Team 1
In the Box
- Audirect Team 1 DAC/amp
- USB-C to USB-C cable
- USB-C to USB-A adapter
- Lighting to USB-C adapter
Design
With its somewhat large (L68*W36 *H18 mm) aluminium alloy chassis and circular colour display, the Audirect Team 1 is quite impressive both to look at and to hold in hand. There are 3 playback buttons and 1 power button on the right side and although they’re rather small, they have a satisfying tactile click.
The single-ended 3.5mm and balanced 4.4mm headphone outputs are on the bottom and the 2 USB-C ports and 3.5mm Aux input are on the top. The power and data USB ports are separated to reduce signal interference and maximise audio quality.
The colour screen displays the current sample rate, input, gain and filter modes and battery and volume levels. Powering the Team 1 is a 1300mAh battery that is good for around 8 hours of playback time.
Performing the decoding duties is an ES9281AC Pro and an OPA1612*1+OPA6863*4 provide the output power. The output power is rated at up to 5.6Vrms (4.4mm output), and 2.8Vrms (3.5mm Output). There are 3 gain modes so Team 1 has got you covered for everything from sensitive IEMs to power-hungry headphones.
What sets Team 1 apart from other dongle DACs is its modularity. There’s an optional Bluetooth module that connects to the Team 1 and lets you use it as a Bluetooth receiver supporting Hi-Res wireless audio codecs including LDAC.
Sound
Team 1’s sound is uncoloured and transparent. Not only that, but it sounds confident and powerful. It effortlessly drives whatever you plug into it without breaking a sweat. The bass is authoritative yet composed, delivering controlled sub-bass rumble and mid-bass impact.
Midrange notes have good clarity and detail, highlighting the nuance in instruments and vocals. The mids are uncoloured and here Team 1 shows us its strong dynamic capabilities. It sounds lively with a high level of engagement and presence.
The treble has good extension and openness, sounding natural and detailed. Team 1 neither enhances nor attenuates the treble but renders it with transparency and without graininess.
Team 1 creates a good sense of height in the soundstage, paired with precise imaging and instrument separation. This separation and black background give it an organized and coherent character.
Select Pairings
Letshuoer S08: This pairing sounds balanced with good end-to-end extension. The background is as black as night. The bass hits hard and low but is tight and non-destructive. The midrange sounds neutral and uncoloured but with good body and richness. The detail and spacing are good, leading to a spacious midrange with an engaging presentation. The treble is smooth but detailed and the soundstage is both wide and deep.
Sennheiser HD650: The little Team 1 has no issues pushing the HD650 with headroom to spare. It sounds balanced and confident with tight bass notes and natural mids. The treble is laid-back in typical HD650 fashion yet the soundstage is wide and vocals have good stability.
Verdict
The Audirect Team 1 is a unique and quirky dongle DAC with impressive output power and a muscular, transparent sound. Its dual USB-C ports and playback controls make it ideal for desktop use, while the option to pair it with the modular Aud BT module adds versatility for on-the-go listening. If you’re searching for a powerful, great-sounding DAC that you can use anywhere, you should check out the Team 1.
Specifications
DAC Chips: 9281AC PRO
Operational Amplifier: OPA1612*1+OPA6863*4
Output Interface: 3.5mm SE/4.4mm BAL
Frequency Response: 0.083dB@20Hz~40kHz
3.5mm Output Power: ≥2 Vrms (16Ω)≥2.8 Vrms (32Ω)≥2.8 Vrms (600Ω)
4.4mm Output Power: ≥1.5 Vrms (16Ω)≥2.3 Vrms (32Ω)≥5.6 Vrms (600Ω)
SNR: -118dB
Distortion + Noise: 0.000004
Sampling Frequency: up to 32-bit/768kHz
Support DSD specification: up to DSD512
Weight: 67g
Battery Capacity: 1300mAh
Size: L68*W36 *H18 mm