AudioEngine HXL Review: Plenty of Power

AudioEngine is a well-known speaker-maker based in Texas. They’ve built a number of outstanding active speakers, and I’ve been daily-driving their HD4s for years at this point. As such, I was quite surprised when they reached out to inform me that they were releasing portable gear, and a source chain device at that. The HXL is AE’s new portable DAC, and it’s one that checks all the boxes, though at a premium. Let’s get into the details.

The HXL is on sale via AudioEngine’s website for $169.

Tech Specs

When it comes to DACs, the mot important details can be found in the technical specifications.

• Dimensions: 1.9” (48mm) ×0.6” (15mm) ×0.375″ (10mm)
• Input: USB-C
• Output: 3.5mm, 4.4mm (balanced)
• DAC: SA9312 + Dual CS43131
• Bit Depth: 32 bit
• PCM Sample Rate: Up to 32-bit / 384kHz
• DSD Sample Rate: DSD64 / DSD128 (DoP), DSD256 (Native)
• Max Output (3.5mm): 2.06Vrms @ 600Ω
• Max Output (4.4mm): 4.09Vrms
• Amp Stage: LME49726
• Output Impedance: < 0.5Ω
• SNR: 132dB (BAL), 125dB (3.5mm)
• Standby Power Draw: ~75mA
• Active Power Draw: ~120mA (Pink noise @ 50%, 32-bit 384kHz)

Real World Usage

I used the HXL for a month straight and even brought it with me to CanJam SoCal 2025. I really put it through the ringer, and tested it with dozens of devices, and even more transducers. The HXL is rock-solid and extremely performant. From 300 ohm open-backed headphones to ultra-sensitive 10-BA IEMs, the HXL remained transparent and well-regulated.

I really appreciated the fine-stepped digital volume control on the HXL’s side. At an event like CanJam, you swap between a ton of different products, each with their own sensitivities and power-requirements. I never jump-scared myself with ultra-loud playback thanks to how well-designed the volume scaling is.

The HXL does come with an Apple Lightning adapter, so if you’re using that standard, you’re covered. I don’t own any Lighting devices, but did loan out the HXL to a fellow Head-Fi’er at CanJam who needed a 4.4mm connection in the Bloom Audio room. It worked quite well for him with a few Meze headphones, which is a good sign. As for my personal gear, the HXL killed it with both sensitive and insensitive devices. My ultra-efficient multi-BA IEMs performed nicely and didn’t suffer from any noise-floor issues. For my more-demanding headphones, like the SIVGA Peng and Sennheiser HD600, the HXL reached proper listening levels well-away from its peak output levels.

Build Quality

The HXL is all-metal and extremely solid. Its USB-C port is firm and doesn’t wiggle around at all. The output 3.5mm and 4.4mm ports are comparably high-quality and firmly lock in place. Even compared to the HXL’s cheaper ChiFi alternatives, it feels much-nicer in the hand.

Conclusion

The AudioEngine HXL is an excellent premium DAC offering for audiophiles that want effortless compatibility, plentiful power, and high-quality hand-feel. You can save some cash by opting for ChiFi’s cheaper alternatives, but many of those come with compromised build quality, performance, or reliability. The HXL’s rock-solid design makes it an excellent choice for those that want a “one and done” portable DAC solution, especially one backed by an excellent 3-year warranty.