The Khadas Tea Pro is a small but powerful device that attaches magnetically to your iPhone or Android phone, offering a noticeable improvement in audio quality over built-in headphone jacks. It connects via Bluetooth or USB-C and is designed to drive high-impedance headphones with clarity and punch.
Compact Design and Magnetic Attachment
The Tea Pro measures roughly the size of a standard business card but is significantly thinner. It uses a magnetic backing that snaps onto compatible phone cases or directly onto the iPhone's MagSafe system. This keeps the device secure during use without adding bulk to your pocket or bag.
A built-in 2,000mAh battery powers the DAC for up to 15 hours of playback. The device also features a USB-C port for charging and connecting to laptops or PCs, allowing it to serve as a desktop-grade audio solution when needed.
Audio Performance and Connectivity
Inside, the Tea Pro houses an ESS Sabre 9219C DAC chip and a THX AAA amplifier. This combination supports PCM audio up to 32-bit/768kHz and DSD512 natively. The headphone output delivers 3.5mm unbalanced and 4.4mm balanced connections, with enough power to drive planar magnetic headphones comfortably.
Bluetooth 5.3 with support for LDAC, aptX HD and AAC ensures wireless connections retain high fidelity. The DAC also acts as a Bluetooth receiver for phones that lack a headphone jack, converting digital signals into analog output with low noise and distortion.
Why This Matters
Smartphones continue to remove headphone jacks, leaving users with dongles and wireless earbuds that often compromise sound quality. The Khadas Tea Pro addresses this directly by offering a portable, high-performance DAC that works with both wired and wireless headphones. For music lovers who want to get the most out of their headphones without carrying a bulky desktop amp, this device bridges a practical gap. It also serves as a secondary DAC for laptops, improving audio for gaming or critical listening sessions.
The Tea Pro is available now for $299. It competes with other portable DACs like the AudioQuest DragonFly Cobalt and the iFi Go Blu, but its magnetic attachment and dual connectivity set it apart in a crowded market.
