In this Showcase Episode 14, I’m taking a quick but thorough look at the Audioengine HXL—Audioengine’s new upgrade to their fan-favorite DAC3—priced at $170. I cover the unboxing (simple, no fluff), what you get in the box (USB-C cable plus a USB-C to Lightning adapter), and then spend some time on build quality, because honestly this thing feels excellent. It’s anodized aluminum with smooth rounded edges, a subtle LED, and some of the most satisfying clicky volume buttons I’ve used on a dongle. From there I dig into the specs and real-world use: dual Cirrus Logic CS43131 DAC chips, a balanced TI op-amp, 32-bit/384kHz and native DSD256 support, and very low output impedance (under 0.5 ohm). In my battery test (SJY Moonlights at 70 dB for an hour), it only drained my phone about 2% and barely warmed up—about 1°F over ambient—which is impressive for an op-amp design. Sound-wise, it’s exactly what I want from a premium dongle: transparent, powerful, and it just gets out of the way. I compare it to the AFUL SnowyNight and Crinear Protocol Max, and my takeaway is simple: if you want premium build, efficiency, and a “plug it in and forget it” experience, the HXL might be the only DAC/amp you ever need.