A missing headphone jack shouldn’t stand between you and your favorite wired earphones. USB-C DAC adapters offer a simple way to keep listening, but choosing one raises a familiar question: how much can such a small device contribute to the sound? The Strauss & Wagner SignalPure enters this space with a compact design and a built-in 32-bit DAC. Let’s test it with several IEMs to hear what it brings to everyday wired listening.
What Is the Strauss & Wagner SignalPure?
The Strauss & Wagner SignalPure is a compact USB-C to 3.5mm DAC adapter featuring a built-in 32-bit digital-to-analog converter, a USB-C male input, and a 3.5mm female headphone output. Designed to connect wired headphones, earphones, and auxiliary cables to compatible USB-C smartphones, tablets, and computers, it converts digital audio into an analog signal and supports plug-and-play operation without additional drivers.
Strauss & Wagner SignalPure Sound Impressions
Even a simple little dongle DAC can help boost your sound in ways you wouldn’t expect. I found this true with many of the IEMs I tested with the SignalPure, making it an easy solution for on-the-go wired listening. The first set I paired was the Sivga Lyrebird, which immediately made the advantages of using the SignalPure clear. A standard dongle might transfer over the Lyrebird’s natural width, but the SignalPure actually consolidates the soundstage. This can sound like a negative, and while a naturally wide wingspan is important for an immersive-sounding earphone, the SignalPure doesn’t just constrict the spatial image of the sound. It focuses the positioning of each sound like an anchor, hard set to a flat space, but the projection is bigger than before. Instruments are taller, and the presentation is slightly more non-linear.
Trying the SignalPure with IEMs like the Noble Vanguard brings out more depth in bass frequencies, strengthening its foundation and lifting the frequencies to fill in the details of its already broad tone. However, there seems to be a trade-off with this pairing, as the treble appears less brilliant. The highs are softer and smoother, providing presence without any real distinct character. This is less of a problem when switching to the Xennes Mangird Top Pro, which features an airier timbre that is then shaped up and refined by the SignalPure. There’s less sizzle, but the tail is there. Its mid-frequency richness is maintained well, with a more direct approach to its resolution.
Summary
The Strauss & Wagner SignalPure makes a compelling case for paying closer attention to your USB-C headphone adapter. Across the IEMs tested, its strengths include focused imaging, added bass depth, and a smoother presentation that can refine brighter earphones. Those qualities come with some pairing considerations: listeners who enjoy crisp, brilliant treble may find the softer highs less engaging, particularly with already smooth-sounding IEMs. For portable wired listening, though, the SignalPure offers a straightforward way to connect your earphones while giving their presentation a different sense of weight and focus.
The Strauss & Wagner SignalPure is available on their website directly and from Audio46.
