After having looked at some portable DAC/amps and then sneaking in a new sort-of portable desktop DAC/amp in a review of some IEMs, we take a look at some desktop-focused devices. What better way than to kick off with JDS Labs, one of the more popular names? When I was approached initially by a PR rep on behalf of JDS Labs, I thought of doing the Atom stack first because that is arguably what made the brand famous. The Atom DAC and Atom Amp are also standalone units that recently got updated, and standalone units generally allow for more flexibility in what can be done. But the Atom stack is not what the Element II should be compared to since the JDS Labs Element line also includes the EL Dac II at $299 and EL Amp II+ for $249. While you will see that the two offer more options individually, the combination also costs ~$150 more than the Element II. Financially, this is where DAC/amp combo units come out favorably. This is also even before the physical footprint is factored in, with DAC and amplifier stacks (and more, depending on how deep down this rabbit hole you go) not only taking up more space but also potentially having one unit getting fairly warm, if not hot. Then there is the cable management issue to handle, and you can now see why products such as the Element II exist.

I have personally tested a couple of stacks before, and there are a few from the likes of Topping that compete favorable with the Element II. I do not have enough experience with integrated desktop DAC/amp units in this class to say which I prefer, but if the limitations of separate units are not dealbreakers for you, the $400 going towards the Element II can give you more elsewhere. In fact, the JDS Labs Atom stack alone would probably suffice for most people, and it will be reviewed separately as well in the future. Where the Element II shines compared to the Atom stack, and this is purely based on my preliminary experience with the latter at this time, is in offering a much better build and that excellent volume wheel. The amplifier section also seems to be quite an improvement here, and this is why I kept talking about the RCA output option, since it is quite a legitimate use case beyond just the headphone jack up front. The Element II also barely gets warm, and with the three colored ring options, it can be an attention grabber if you want, or be stealthily working behind the scenes if that is preferred.

There are better DACs out there for the money, simply in terms of SNR and THD specifications. How much of a practical effect those values have depends on many factors, not the least of which is every other component in the chain, from the source to your ears, including your own ears! For example, I could easily tell that the output from the Element II was superior to what my laptop provided even with lossy streaming. Better implemented desktop audio solutions, especially with motherboards that pride themselves on using the latest ESS Sabre or AKM DAC paired with a typical generic TI op-amp, will be tougher to beat, yet it did happened with the Element II on higher quality files, at least to me. The 1/4" headphone jack is another reason to use the Element II rather than a random adapter, but it would have certainly been nice to see a balanced output, too. There are a few other pipe dreams I have knowing full well that the Element II is over two years into its life cycle and JDS Labs is likely working on the next-generation Element. As it currently stands, there is still plenty to offer to those looking for this feature set, and this is even before we get to the very good customer support no doubt many prioritize when it comes to purchasing $$$ of active audio gear from companies around the world. All things considered, I am left with positive impressions overall, and am as such curious to hear whether this interests you, too. Let me know what you think in the comments section!