The Ruum Audiol: A Simple but Powerful Device for Crystal-Clear Sound - CNET
What is The Ruum Audiol?
If you are an audiophile who loves listening to music, podcasts, or audiobooks on your computer, smartphone, or tablet, you might have noticed that the sound quality is not always optimal. Sometimes, the sound is distorted, noisy, or flat, especially when you use headphones or external speakers. This is because most devices have a built-in digital-to-analog converter (DAC) that converts digital audio signals into analog signals that can be played by speakers or headphones. However, these DACs are often low-quality and cannot handle high-resolution audio formats.
The Ruum Audiol
That's where The Ruum Audiol comes in. The Ruum Audiol is a high-end DAC that connects to your device via USB and delivers crystal-clear, detailed, and dynamic sound to your headphones or speakers. It supports various audio formats, including PCM, DSD, MQA, and FLAC, and can handle up to 32-bit/768 kHz resolution. It also has a volume control knob, a headphone jack, and an optical output for connecting to other devices. The Ruum Audiol is designed and manufactured by RUUM Audio ApS, a Danish company that specializes in producing high-quality electronics for households.
Why do you need The Ruum Audiol?
You might be wondering why you need a separate DAC when your device already has one. Well, there are several reasons why using a dedicated DAC like The Ruum Audiol can enhance your listening experience:
A dedicated DAC has better components and circuitry than a built-in DAC, which means it can process digital audio signals more accurately and efficiently.
A dedicated DAC can bypass the internal sound card of your device, which might have interference or noise from other components.
A dedicated DAC can drive high-impedance headphones or speakers that require more power than your device can provide.
A dedicated DAC can support higher-resolution audio formats that your device might not be able to play.
In short, using a dedicated DAC like The Ruum Audiol can make your audio sound more natural, realistic, and immersive, regardless of the source or the output device.
How does The Ruum Audiol work?
The Ruum Audiol is a simple but powerful device that works by converting digital audio signals into analog signals that can be played by headphones or speakers. Here are the main technical specifications and components of the device:
Specification
Value
Input
USB Type-C
Output
3.5 mm headphone jack, optical (TOSLINK)
Supported formats
PCM, DSD, MQA, FLAC, and more
Maximum resolution
32-bit/768 kHz (PCM), DSD512 (DSD)
Frequency response
20 Hz - 20 kHz (+/- 0.5 dB)
Signal-to-noise ratio (SNR)
120 dB (A-weighted)
Total harmonic distortion + noise (THD+N)
Output impedance
Output power
2.1 Vrms (600 ohm), 1.8 Vrms (32 ohm)
Dimensions
95 x 63 x 19 mm (L x W x H)
Weight
180 g
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