Rotel DX-3 Headphone Amplifier

Regular price £1,399.00
Tax included Shipping calculated at checkout.

The Rotel DX-3 combines an ESS Sabre DAC, powerful headphone amplifier and versatile preamp in a compact chassis. With high-resolution digital, Bluetooth and balanced connectivity, it delivers precise, dynamic and immersive sound.

Free Next Day Delivery*

Free next weekday delivery

When you spend over £75, we will send you a tracking number where DPD will give a one hour delivery window. Services available Monday to Friday (excluding public holidays) to most mainland UK addresses for in stock items ordered before our cut-off time at 3:30pm. Terms apply.

Free Saturday delivery 

When you spend over £299. We will send you a tracking number where DPD will give a one hour delivery window. Services available to most mainland UK addresses for in stock items ordered before our cut-off time on Friday 3pm. Terms apply.

Free Sunday delivery 

Free next-day delivery with DPD is available when you spend over £299. Orders must be placed before 3:30pm on Friday to qualify. You will receive a tracking number, and DPD will provide a one-hour delivery window on the day of delivery. This service is available to most mainland UK addresses for in-stock items ordered before our daily cut-off time. During peak holiday periods, cut off time is Saturday 2:00pm. Sunday delivery is available in selected locations. Terms and conditions apply.

Reserve for Collection  

Some of our manufacturers request for their items not to be sold online. For these items please call to order 01925 828009

Remote locations

Standard next day delivery is free for all orders to most UK mainland addresses. All other delivery prices are determined by the destination, the service chosen and the value and weight of your order. Addresses in the Scottish Highlands, offshore, Northern Ireland & Ireland may incur additional delivery costs, depending on the items ordered.

Returns Policy

If for any reason you’re not completely satisfied with your purchase, we’re happy to offer a refund within 30 days, provided you inform us of your intention within 14 days of receiving your item and return it to us within the 30-day period.

For our full returns policy, click here.

The Rotel DX-3 is the ultimate audio companion, combining the sophistication of an ESS Sabre DAC with an integrated headphone amplifier, all housed in an elegant, space-efficient chassis. Audio is rendered with precision and performance, supporting a wide range of modern and legacy source inputs, including PC-USB (32-bit / 384kHz) with DSD 4X support, coaxial and optical inputs (24-bit / 192kHz), wireless aptX HD Bluetooth and an RCA analogue connection.

At its core, the DX-3 is driven by an ESS Sabre ES9028PRO 8-channel DAC, ensuring exceptional digital-to-analogue conversion and delivering music with outstanding resolution across an immersive soundstage. The internal headphone amplifier is powered by a custom, in-house-manufactured, shielded toroidal transformer with high-current drivers, delivering dynamic performance with ultra-low distortion of less than 0.004%.

Variable, user-selectable headphone gain levels of High, Medium and Low ensure compatibility with both low- and high-impedance headphones. Convenient front-panel 4.4mm balanced and 6.35mm single-ended headphone connections provide flexible connectivity. Volume attenuation is controlled by an audiophile-grade NJW1195A analogue controller, delivering precise adjustments in increments as fine as 0.5dB.

The DX-3 also functions as a standalone DAC and fully featured preamplifier via XLR balanced and RCA outputs. This extends its installation flexibility, allowing it to directly drive external amplifiers or powered speakers, or to integrate with an existing audio system.

A full-colour front-panel display provides clear user feedback and makes the extensive range of setup options simple to navigate. The included aluminium-extruded remote control puts all runtime and setup functions conveniently at your fingertips.

Whether used as a high-performance headphone amplifier, feature-rich preamplifier or high-performance DAC, the DX-3 redefines the personal audio experience, combining performance, features and value in an exquisitely designed package, ideal for the discerning audiophile.

Specifications

Headphone Section:
Power Output (THD+N < 1%): Single-ended (6.35 mm): 765 mW (16 Ω)<br>383 mW (32 Ω)<br>41 mW (300 Ω)<br><br>Balanced (4.4 mm): 2.8 W (16 Ω)<br>1.4 W (32 Ω)<br>150 mW (300 Ω)
Total Harmonic Distortion (32 Ω, 1 kHz): Single-ended: < 0.008% @ Output = 70 mW<br>Balanced: < 0.004% @ Output = 270 mW
Intermodulation Distortion (60 Hz : 7 kHz, 4:1): Single-ended: < 0.01%<br>Balanced: < 0.006%
Frequency Response: 20 Hz – 20 kHz (+0 dB, -0.2 dB)
Output Impedance: Single-ended: < 0.3 Ω<br>Balanced: < 0.6 Ω
Signal To Noise Ratio (IHF “A” Weighted): Single-ended: > 100 dB<br>Balanced: > 110 dB
Gain: 0 dB @ Gain = H<br>-6 dB @ Gain = M<br>-12 dB @ Gain = L
Recommended Headphone Impedance: 16 Ω – 300 Ω
Analogue Section:
Total Harmonic Distortion (20 Hz – 20 kHz): Unbalanced (RCA): < 0.006%<br>Balanced (XLR): < 0.003%
Intermodulation Distortion (60 Hz : 7 kHz, 4:1): < 0.001%
Frequency Response: 20 Hz – 20 kHz (+0 dB, -0.4 dB)
Signal To Noise Ratio (IHF “A” Weighted): > 107 dB
Line Output Level / Impedance: Unbalanced (RCA): 1 Vrms / 100 Ω<br>Balanced (XLR): 2 Vrms / 200 Ω
Input Sensitivity / Impedance: 1.2 V / 10 kΩ
Input Overload: 5 V
Channel Separation: > 86 dB @ 10 kHz
Digital Section:
Total Harmonic Distortion (20 Hz – 20 kHz): Unbalanced (RCA): < 0.005%<br>Balanced (XLR): < 0.003%
Line Output Level: Unbalanced (RCA): 1.6 Vrms<br>Balanced (XLR): 3.5 Vrms
Frequency Response: 10 Hz – 20 kHz (+0 dB, -0.5 dB)
Signal To Noise Ratio (IHF “A” Weighted): > 112 dB
Input Sensitivity / Impedance: 0 dBFS / 75 Ω
Digital To Analogue Converter: ESS ES9028PRO DAC (32-bit / 768 kHz)
Digital Inputs: S/PDIF LPCM (up to 24-bit / 192 kHz)
PC-USB: USB Audio Class 2.0 (up to 32-bit / 384 kHz)*<br>*Driver installation required
DSD Support: DSD (up to 11.2 MHz) and DoP (up to 5.6 MHz)
Roon Tested: Yes
General:
Power Requirements: USA: 120 V, 60 Hz<br>Europe: 230 V, 50 Hz
Power Consumption: 30 W
Standby Power Consumption: < 0.5 W
BTU: 100 BTU/h
Dimensions (W × H × D): 215 × 73 × 247 mm<br>8 1/2 × 2 3/4 × 9 3/4 inches
Front Panel Height: 70 mm / 2 3/4 inches
Weight (Net): 3.2 kg / 7.1 lbs
Finish: Black and Silver
Specifications: All specifications are accurate at the time of printing. Rotel reserves the right to make improvements without notice.

Payment & Security

  • American Express
  • Apple Pay
  • Diners Club
  • Discover
  • Google Pay
  • Maestro
  • Mastercard
  • PayPal
  • Shop Pay
  • Union Pay
  • Visa

We value your privacy. Your payment information is processed securely. We do not store credit card details nor have access to your credit card information.