Essential Now Makes a $149 Headphone Dongle for Premium Audio
- Mehedi Hassan
- Nov 13, 2018
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One of the unique features of the Essential PH-1 Phone was the ability to attach to external dongles, like a 360-degree camera. The company has just launched another new dongle for the Essential Phone, and it’s a $149 headphone dongle.
Well, it’s much more than just a headphone dongle.
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The dongle, called the Audio Adapter HD, promises to offer high-quality audio output on the Essential Phone. This is really for audiophiles, and Essential is even teaming up with premium music streaming service Tidal to offer three months of Tidal HiFi subscription for free.
The dongle apparently features a “high-resolution” ESS Sabre DAC with MQA support that will deliver “unparalleled sound.”
“Essential Phone includes award-winning MQA technology, revealing the full sound of the original master recording. Featuring an audiophile-grade amp, it can power high impedance headphones for optimal listening with low distortion. With the new Audio Adapter HD, hear your music like you’ve never heard it before,” the company said.
The launch of the new Audio Adapter HD is an interesting move from Essential. The company is struggling heavily with internal affairs, and it has also reportedly cancelled the 2nd generation Essential Phone. It is, instead, focusing on a new type of phone. And considering that the first Essential Phone didn’t sell well at all, the company’s next product probably won’t have much luck.
Either way, if you have the Essential PH-1, you can get the Audio Adapter HD for $149 in the US and Canada here.