Geshelli Labs JNOG3 DAC Preview

When stripped of unnecessary complexity, a well-designed DAC – however small or affordable – can serve as a formidable front end in a high-end audio system, proving that good sound isn’t always tied to a hefty price tag or extravagant design.

Most audio products come with lots of features. To say the J3 Pro is a minimalist design is an understatement. The front panel has six metal push buttons, one for on/off and five to select inputs (Toslink 1, Toslink 2, Coax 1, Coax 2, USB). One Toslink and one Coax are on the front, and the other three inputs are on the rear panel. Dual XLR balanced outputs and a pair of RCA analog inputs are also there. A 12V wall-wart DC power socket is on the far right. The enclosure is solid wood panels, and the front is clear plastic so you can see the inside PC board. It’s very stylish in my opinion, and my wife really liked the looks too. The JNOG3 plays 352.8 kHz PCM and DSD256.

We previously reviewed the Geshelli Labs Archel 2.5XL Headphone Amp and J2 DAC. Stay tuned for my full review of the JNOG3 DAC, complete with bench tests, to appear on the SECRETS website soon.