Moondrop Dawn Pro Portable DAC and Headphone Amp

Pocket sized DAC for laptops, phones, and tablets

Moondrop DAWN PRO is a compact USB C DAC amp that lets computers, smartphones, and laptops step up to real HiFi playback. It supports PCM from 16 bit 44.1 kHz up to 32 bit 384 kHz and DSD up to DSD512, so lossless and high resolution streaming services are fully covered. Connect it to a USB C device, plug in your headphones, and you have a clean, powerful front end in the space of a thumb drive.

Dual Cirrus Logic CS43131 for clean output

Inside DAWN PRO, Moondrop uses a pair of Cirrus Logic CS43131 DAC amp chips with a dedicated USB interface, dual crystal oscillators, and three independent power supply stages. Each section of the circuit gets its own regulated power rail, which helps keep distortion low, noise down, and dynamics wide while still keeping power draw reasonable for portable use.

Independent 100 step volume control

DAWN PRO uses its own 100 level hardware volume control that sits after the DAC. This keeps the gain structure clean and separates the dongle volume from the system volume on your phone or laptop. The result is smooth volume adjustment and more precise control at low listening levels compared to relying only on the host device.

Balanced and single ended outputs

A 3.5 mm single ended output offers broad compatibility with everyday headphones and IEMs, while the 4.4 mm balanced output doubles the available voltage swing and current delivery. At up to 4 Vrms from the 4.4 mm jack (around 120 mW into typical loads), DAWN PRO has enough power to handle many full size dynamic headphones as well as portable planar models.

Low noise, high dynamic range

Background noise is kept to the microvolt level and the balanced output reaches a dynamic range of up to 132 dB. Distortion is as low as 0.00014 percent on AES17 measurements, which means the dongle stays well below the noise floor of most recordings and headphones. In practice this translates to a quiet background, strong contrast between soft and loud sounds, and clear imaging.

Aluminum housing with thermal vents

The shell is made from CNC machined aluminum alloy with an anodized finish for durability. Heat vents sit above the chips that run warmest, a design borrowed from desktop HiFi hardware. This helps DAWN PRO stay stable during long sessions and heavy loads while keeping the exterior comfortable to touch.

Everyday use and compatibility

DAWN PRO connects over USB C and works with many Android phones, laptops, and desktop computers. A USB C to USB C cable is included along with a USB A adapter for use with older machines. Some phones and operating systems may require you to enable USB audio or use an appropriate player app. iOS devices will need a suitable USB adapter from Apple or a powered hub.

Key features

• Dual Cirrus Logic CS43131 DAC amp chips
• Support for PCM up to 32 bit 384 kHz and DSD up to DSD512
• Independent 100 step hardware volume control
• 3.5 mm single ended and 4.4 mm balanced headphone outputs
• Up to 4 Vrms line level from 4.4 mm balanced output
• Dynamic range up to 132 dB with very low background noise
• Distortion as low as 0.00014 percent (AES17 no load)
• CNC aluminum alloy housing with thermal venting
• Light 13 g body that fits in any pocket or bag

Technical Specifications

What is in the box

• Moondrop DAWN PRO USB DAC amp
• USB C to USB C short cable
• USB A to USB C adapter
• User documentation