Description
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, THX Certified
Description
There are a few THX AAA (Achromatic Audio Amplifier) headphone amplifiers on the market, but none quite so affordable or diminutive as the BOLT. Note that the BOLT is ‘THX certified,’ and it does not use THX-supplied AAA hardware. Regardless, THX certification indicates an ultra-low distortion design and a focus on powerful, clear amplification, free from coloration. Hardware manufacturers must meet THX’s stringent requirements to achieve this certification.
MQA (Master Quality Authenticated) promises the ultimate in audio fidelity. Like THX, the MQA company works with its audio hardware partners to design and certify their devices. MQA integration is still relatively rare, especially in portable DACs, so it’s exciting to find it in the BOLT.
Features
- The HELM BOLT - Mobile Studio Quality USB DAC/AMP with MQA
- Raising the Bar in Your Audio Quality. Now Accessible on Your SmartPhone.
- Plug & Play on Your Favorite Mobile Device for Incredible Studio Quality Audio
- THX Certified - Plays All Music Files: MP3 to MQA and Hi-Res
- MQA Stream Unfolding and HD Support on the Top Hi-Rez Streaming Services
- Industry Acclaimed Design & Technology Delivers the Purist Audio Signal
- Works with Android, iOS, MacOS and Windows 10 *iOS requires a Lightning to USB Camera Adapter
- Ultra-Low Harmonic Crosstalk & Reduced Crossover Distortion
- Exclusive 3 Oscillator Design & Impedance Matching
- USB-C Input and 3.5mm Headphone Output
- LED: Blue SD Audio <= 48kHz - Red HD Audio > 48kHz - Magenta For MQA
Studio Grade Portable Digital Analog Convertor With MQA
BOLT delivers studio sound on the go from any mobile device across all listening formats. Supports MQA (Master Quality Authenticated) streaming for unparalleled fidelity in portable audio. Compatible with Android, iOS, Mac, and PC’s. May require extra adapters or third party apps for MQA support.
Highest Fidelity Sound
MQA (Master Quality Authenticated) rendering “unfolds” every detail of the original master recording as the artist and engineers intended it to be heard for better-than-CD audio resolutions. Stream MQA content from TIDAL, nugs.net, and Xiami. MQA Certified.
Smartphone, Tablet, Mac & PC Compatible
USB-C input to a 3.5mm Headphone Output supporting playback of PCM files with sampling rates up to 384 kHz, or DSD files with sampling frequencies up to 5.6MHz. The 3.5mm audio jack seamlessly connects to your wired headphones or speaker system. Note: An adapter is required if you do not have a 3.5mm input jack.
Amplified Audio Output & Headphone Output Level Matching
Provides an average increase of +6 dB in devices with combined USB-audio output (where a dedicated headphone audio output isn’t available). Headphone output level automatically detects headphone impedance and sets level accordingly (1V for 150 ohms).
Thx Certified Audio Output
Exclusively designed for ultra-low harmonic, crosstalk & crossover distortion. Unlike other mobile MQA-DAC designs, the HELM BOLT physically isolates the DAC from the USB connector for improved EMI isolation, and uses a three oscillator design for superior frequency lock with dramatic improvements over single oscillator DAC designs.
Specifications
| Product Name | HELM BOLT USB DAC |
| Output Level | 1.1 Vrms at <150 Ohms, 2 Vrms at >150 Ohms |
| Compatible Formats | PCM, MQA, DSD DoP |
| Connectivity | USB-C INPUT, 3.5MM OUTPUT |
| SNR | 120 dB |
| THD+N% | 0.0008 at <150 Ohms, 0.0013 at >150 Ohms |
| Frequency Response 20Hz-20kHz | +/- 0.06 dB |
| Dimensions | Length 112 mm (4.4”) |
| Width | 12.8mm (0.5") |
| Weight | 7.09 grams (0.25 oz) |
| Physical | USB Type-C Interface |
| Connection | USB 2.0 High Speed |
| PCM Sample Rates | 44.1 kHz, 48 kHz, 88.2 kHz, 96 kHz, 176.4 kHz, 192 kHz, 352.8 kHz, 384 kHz |