Left your shopping to the last minute? Here are 9 portable DAC gifts for hi-fi enthusiasts

If you’re still searching for a last-minute gift to buy the music lover in your life, then you’re in luck as you still have time to order one of the best portable DACs to arrive before Christmas. These incredibly useful devices make a massive difference to the way music sounds, which is why audiophiles will love them.

A DAC (short for digital to analog converter) takes the digital audio information from a phone, tablet or laptop and translates it into the analog sound you hear when you press play. There’s a DAC built into all of these tech products, so you don’t strictly need a separate one to listen to music. However, many audiophiles like to invest in a separate one because not all DACs are created equal.