ROTEL | SKU: NEW-RODX3-BLK | Barcode: 672563294112

Rotel DX-3 Headphone Amplifier - Black

Don't settle for less than a peak listening experience. If you're a headphone lover, the new Rotel DX-3 head amp will be your constant companion, and it's also a standalone DAC and preamp.

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$1,699.00

Finish

Black Silver

Condition

New

In Stock. Order by 3pm EST and ship same day.

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A Headphone System in One Half-Width Box

The Rotel DX-3 is a DAC, a headphone amplifier and a preamp in one half-width chassis. It is Rotel's first fully balanced, Class-A headphone amplifier, and it carries the same in-house toroidal transformer and build standards as the company's full-size amplifiers.

The converter is an ESS Sabre ES9028PRO. Over USB it plays PCM up to 32-bit/384kHz and DSD up to 11.2MHz. Coaxial and optical inputs take 24-bit/192kHz. Bluetooth with aptX HD and AAC covers a phone, and an RCA input takes an analog source.

The balanced 4.4mm output delivers 1.4 watts into 32 ohms. The 6.35mm jack delivers 383 milliwatts. Three gain settings match anything from in-ears to 300-ohm headphones, and output impedance stays under 0.6 ohm.

More Than a Headphone Amp

Balanced XLR and RCA line outputs turn the DX-3 into a preamp for powered speakers or a power amp. A fixed-output mode lets it feed an existing preamp as a straight DAC. One box can run both your headphones and your speakers.

A full-color front display shows input and format. A diamond-knurled volume knob and an aluminum remote handle the controls. It is Roon Tested, so it slots into a Roon system without fuss. The chassis is aluminum, in black or silver.

It measures 8.5 inches wide, 2.75 tall and 9.75 deep, and weighs 7.1 pounds. Standby draw is under half a watt. Rotel backs it with a five-year parts and labor warranty.

What Reviewers Are Saying

Ketan Bharadia reviewed the DX-3 for What Hi-Fi? on February 13, 2026, scoring it five stars. He called it "a versatile and talented performer." His one caution: the sound leans slightly lean, and the menu font is small.

RudolfS of Headfonia gave it the site's Recommended award on September 18, 2025, writing that it is "a completely balanced package where neither can be faulted," meaning the DAC and the amp are equally strong.

Who Is This DAC/Amp Best For?

You want one box for DAC, headphones and speakers — balanced and RCA outputs run powered speakers or a power amp, with a fixed-output mode for DAC-only use
You own balanced headphones — the 4.4mm output delivers 1.4 watts into 32 ohms from a fully balanced Class-A stage
You stream from a phone as well as a computer — Bluetooth with aptX HD sits beside USB, coaxial and optical
You want gear built to last — Rotel's in-house transformer and a five-year warranty are rare at this price
You want tube warmth — the DX-3 is a clean, neutral solid-state design, so a tube amp from our headphone amplifiers is the better fit

How Does It Connect to Your System?

Connect a computer to the USB input, a transport or streamer to coaxial or optical, and a phone over Bluetooth. An RCA input takes a tuner or external phono stage. Plug headphones into the 4.4mm balanced or 6.35mm jack and pick the gain that suits them.

To run speakers, connect the XLR or RCA outputs to powered monitors or a power amplifier and use the DX-3's volume control. To use it as a DAC only, set the outputs to fixed and feed your preamp.

Pairs Well With

Building your system? Here are some great companions for the Rotel DX-3:

Headphones: Balanced 4.4mm cables get the most from it — see our Headphones
Powered Speakers: Run them from the balanced or RCA outputs — see our Powered Speakers
USB Cable: A quality cable from computer to DAC — see our USB Cables
Interconnects: XLR or RCA to an amplifier — see our Interconnect Cables

Frequently Asked Questions

How much power does it have?

Balanced, 2.8 watts into 16 ohms, 1.4 watts into 32 ohms and 150 milliwatts into 300 ohms. Single-ended, 383 milliwatts into 32 ohms. Rotel recommends headphones from 16 to 300 ohms.

Can I use it as a preamp?

Yes. Balanced XLR and RCA outputs with volume control drive a power amplifier or powered speakers.

Does it work as a DAC only?

Yes. A fixed-output setting bypasses the volume control so it can feed an existing preamp or integrated amp.

Which formats does it play?

PCM up to 32-bit/384kHz and DSD up to 11.2MHz over USB. Coaxial and optical handle up to 24-bit/192kHz.

Does it have Bluetooth?

Yes, with aptX HD and AAC for high-quality wireless playback from a phone or tablet.

What's the warranty?

Rotel covers the DX-3 with a five-year parts and labor warranty.

See It in Action

Rotel introduces the DX-3:

The Listening Post, a New Zealand dealer, unboxes the DX-3:

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Learn More

Want to learn more about DACs, balanced headphone amps, or building a desktop system? Visit our Learning Center for guides, tips, and expert advice.

Features

General

Premium headphone amp
Standalone DAC and fully functional preamplifier
Fully balanced circuit topology
Supports balanced (4.4mm) and single-ended unbalanced (1/4") headphones
In-house manufactured toroidal transformer with ultra-low noise isolation and filter capacitors
Full-color graphic display,
Extruded aluminum front panel controls
DAC: ESS ES9028PRO DAC (32-bit/768kHz)
Coax / Optical Digital Input Signals: SPDIF LPCM (Up to 24-bit/192kHz)
USB Audio Class 2, up to 32-bit/384kHz (Driver Installation Required)
DSD up to 11.2 M
DoP up to 5.6 M
Roon Tested
Extruded aluminum remote control

Connectivity

aptX™ HD Wireless Bluetooth
Coaxial digital input
Optical digital input
PC-USB input
RCA analog input
XLR balanced outputs
RCA single-ended outputs

Specifications

Power Output (THD+N < 1%) Single-ended (1/4")

765 mW (16 Ω)
383 mW (32 Ω)
41 mW (300 Ω)

Power Output Balanced (4.4 mm)

2.8 w (16 Ω)
1.4 w (32 Ω)
150 mw (300 Ω)

Total Harmonic Distortion (32 Ω, 1k Hz)

Single-ended <0.008% @ Output=70 mW
Balanced <0.004% @ Output=280 mW

Frequency Response

Headphone: 20 Hz - 20k Hz, +0 dB, -0.2 dB
Digital: 10 Hz – 20 kHz, +0 dB, - 0.5 dB
Analog: 20 Hz – 20k Hz, +0 dB, - 0.4 dB

S/N Ratio (IHF "A" Weighted)

Headphone, Single-ended: >100 dB
Headphone, Balanced: >110 dB
Digital: >112 dB
Analog: >107 dB

Intermodulation Distortion (60 Hz:7k Hz, 4:1)

Headphone, Single-ended: <0.01%
Headphone, Balanced: <0.006%

Output Impedance

Headphone, Single-ended: < 0.3 Ω
Headphone, Balanced: < 0.6 Ω

Gain

Headphone, 0 dB @ G=H
Headphone, -6 dB @ G=M
Headphone, -12 dB @ G=L

Recommended Headphone Impedance

16 Ω - 300 Ω

Input Impedance

Digital: 75 Ω
Analog: 10k Ω

Digital Output Level

Unbalanced (RCA): 1.6 V
Balanced (XLR): 3.5 V

General

Power Requirements: 120 V, 60 Hz
Power Consumption: 30 W
Standby Power Consumption: <0.5 W
Front Panel Height: 2-3/4"
Dimensions (W × H × D): 8-1/2" x 2-3/4" x 9-3/4"
Weight: 7.1 lb.

"Recommended" Award – headfonia.com

"Want a fun-sized all-in-one that fits fine both on the desk and in most living room systems? The Rotel DX-3 is just that, and more, thanks to its discrete balanced headphone-driving front-end. Complete with a capable volume control, the DX-3 can also drive a pair of active desktop monitors or just do DAC duty with a bypassed volume control, if you’re rocking your own fancy headphone amp."

"Usually, with these combo units, I have to give caveats that either the amp or, more often, the DAC section is the highlight, and the other is relatively meh. The DX-3 is a completely balanced package where neither can be faulted. Sure, the overall tuning is a hair away from completely neutral, but it complements all of my headphones perfectly."

"Rotel has rightfully earned the 'Headfonia Recommended' award, and while the DX-3 isn’t exactly cheap, I’m glad they didn’t go for oligarch-fi pricing."

- RudolfS, headfonia.com, September 18, 2025

"The Rotel DX-3 is Rotel’s first offering of a fully balanced, class-A headphone amplifier. Precision built and feature-rich, it offers substantial power in a very small footprint."

"My first listen to the DX-3 gave me goosebumps. I think all the headphone amps that I’ve listened to are noise-free, but the DX-3 is on a different level. The background silence behind the music is velvety black. Music seems to be richer in contrast."

- Lory Hawley, Secrets of Home Theater and High Fidelity, September 18, 2025

"Sure, you can find cheaper gear, but most don’t offer Rotel’s build quality, long-term support, or a five-year warranty. That’s a meaningful investment in longevity and peace of mind—especially compared to those flavor-of-the-month devices with short lifespans and questionable parts availability."

"In terms of usability and performance, the DX-3 handles everything from low-impedance in-ears to demanding high-impedance headphones without breaking a sweat. The preamp function works smoothly, offering clean, crackle-free volume control for powered speakers."

"If you want a solid, no-nonsense all-in-one headphone system that won’t need replacing any time soon – and performs at a level that justifies its price – the Rotel DX-3 is well worth your attention. It’s built to last, and built to deliver."

- W. Jennings, ecoustics.com, June 1, 2025

"It feels and sounds every bit of the piece of high-end audio gear it is. It has enough power to drive just about any headphones well above safe listening levels, and it looks gorgeous doing it."

"So, if you and your partner want to rock out to the same song using two pairs of big planar-magnetic headphones, the DX-3 didn’t seem to break a sweat. It was barely warm to the touch."

- Geoffrey Morrison, soundstagesolo.com, June 1, 2025

"Rotel’s new DX-3 DAC / headphone amp is the ‘Ultimate Desktop Companion.’"

"Though clearly designed with headphone users in mind, the DX-3 is equally well-equipped to be used as a standalone DAC or as a DAC/preamp. It features both RCA outputs and balanced XLR outputs, which can be connected to a pair of active desktop monitors, or to an external power amp feeding a traditional audio system. It’s certainly attractive enough to be left out on display, thanks to its compact form-factor, full-color front panel graphic display, and large diamond-knurled volume knob."

- Jacob Green, audioholics.com, March 25, 2025

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