Zorloo Ztella

Hong Kong-based Zorloo claims the Ztella is the world’s smallest USB DAC with high-end audio capability, thanks to its 11cm length, 5g weight and ability to render hi-res music files up to PCM 384khz, DSD 5.6 and in MQA.

It looks like a headphone adaptor, but this is an Mqa-capable USB DAC for $99 and can be had in Lightning form for an extra $10. At the time of writing, it can only be bought from zorloo.com.

Zorloo describes the Ztella as plug-in-andplay; Android users, however, need to download the USB Audio Player Pro app, which allows the Ztella to recognise and render the MQA signal.

The Ztella incorporates a headphone amp that analyses whatever you plug into it and optimises its output to match – the company claims it can output more than twice the power of a standard smartphone. As for the other end of the Ztella, the standard connection is USB Type-c, which covers most modern kit. A USB Type-a adapter is included for use with older hardware, and a lightning adapter is also available for the iphone.

Take care with headphone pairing – the Ztella will emphasise any brightness or top-heavy presentation, which can be wearing during long listening sessions. Cleanliness is one of the Ztella’s most abundant virtues, but it’s immediately noticeable how confident and playful it sounds. It does quiet and sombre reflection without sounding like it wants to go faster, but the Zorloo certainly feels most at home with upbeat tracks.

Class-leading USB DACS that currently retail around the price of the Zorloo Ztella, such as the Cyrus soundkey or Audioquest Dragonfly Red, will give a more fluid sense of dynamics and perhaps also offer more body, but they don’t overshadow this talented DAC.

If you want to improve your smartphone sound, but don’t want a USB stick hanging off it, this is a no brainer.