AudioQuest will be launching their Beetle DAC alongside the JitterBug at Munich High end this year. The Beetle will easily fit in the palm of your hand and offers 3 different inputs. USB up to 24/96 – Optical up to 24/96 and also ASYNCHRONOUS Bluetooth. Something that Gordon Rankin has been working on a while to get the best performance from a bluetooth connection. This means that all those iPhone users with no aptX on their phones can still achieve a better quality connection to the Beetle.
Using the ESS9010 for D/A conversion the Beetle also uses a custom “MX” USB controller which offers the Beetle less power draw and less noise on the chipset. Launch is speculated to be at the end of June in the US but we are still waiting to find out if this Beetle will fly across the pond.
