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USB-C CABLE DONGLE · CIRRUS LOGIC CS43198 × 2

CrinEar Protocol Max

Works with Contour

A USB-C cable dongle with two Cirrus Logic CS43198 DAC chips, a 3.5 mm and a 4.4 mm balanced output and a 10-band EQ in Contour.

Manufacturer page · Price history

POWER AT 32 Ωest.300mW4.4 mm balanced, worked out from the stated loads
OUTPUT IMPEDANCE<0.3Ω3.5 mm; 4.4 mm <0.6 Ω
SNR132dB1 kHz 0dBFS
PRICE$76.49Lowest price at Hangout Audio
OUTPUTS3.5 mm · 4.4 mm balanced
DAC CHIPCirrus Logic CS43198 × 2
PARAMETRIC EQ10 bandspeak, shelves
Works with Contour

Numbers are the manufacturer's stated figures unless marked as measured; sources linked below. Est. marks a power worked out between the stated loads.

Outputs and power

4.4 mm balanced
600mWat 16 Ω
Product page: 600 mW at 16 Ω, Boost Mode, maximum, per channel or both channels not stated
Output impedance <0.6 Ω
3.5 mm
500mWat 8 Ω
Product page: 500 mW at 8 Ω, Boost Mode, maximum, per channel or both channels not stated
Output impedance <0.3 Ω
SNR127 dB (3.5 mm), 132 dB
THD+N-116 dB (3.5 mm), -118 dB
Crosstalk-65 dB (3.5 mm), -116 dB (4.4 mm balanced)

Not stated: supply voltage.

Is it enough for your headphones?

CrinEar rates the Protocol Max at 600 mW into 16 Ω from the 4.4 mm balanced output with Boost Mode. Below is how much of that is left to spare for each kind of headphones when you listen loud, with peaks at 110 dB. A figure marked est. is worked out from that rating.

Sensitive IEMsMulti-driver sets that hiss on strong sources
needs 0.6 mW600 mW at 16 Ω+30 dB
Most IEMsTypical in-ears, 16 to 50 Ω
needs 3.2 mWest. 300 mW at 32 Ω+20 dB
Easy-to-drive headphonesClosed and portable, 32 Ω
needs 16 mWest. 300 mW at 32 Ω+13 dB
Hard-to-drive headphones300 Ω, HD 600 class, hungry for voltage
needs 20 mWest. 32 mW at 300 Ω+2 dB
Most planarsPlanar magnetic, low impedance, need current
needs 50 mWest. 300 mW at 32 Ω+8 dB
Demanding planarsThe hardest loads, desktop territory
needs 251 mWest. 160 mW at 60 Ω2 dB short

Where to buy

Some shop links are affiliate links: if you buy through one, I may earn a commission. Your price and the order stay the same.

Hangout Audio · read 11 Nov 2026$76.49Linsoul · read 11 Nov 2026$89.99

Price historyCompare prices on Soundblooms Deals

The device

From CrinEar's product page unless marked
InputUSB-C
DAC chipCirrus Logic CS43198 × 2
BuildHoused in sleek aluminium with a quad-wire weaved cable
Parametric EQ10 bands: peak, low shelf and high shelf, ±10 dB, Q 0.1 to 10Works with Contour

How it stacks up against the competition

Power at 32 Ω · price in US dollars
200 mW500 mW100 mW$50$70$100scale breaks hereMost IEMs need 3.2 mW+20 dB to spareFiiO KA13: 550 mW at 32 Ω, $65.99FiiO KA5: 265 mW at 32 Ω, $119.99FiiO KA15: 560 mW at 32 Ω, $99.99iBasso DC04PRO: 280 mW at 32 Ω, $119Questyle M12i: 21 mW at 32 Ω, $49MOONDROP DAWN 4.4: 230 mW at 32 Ω, $69.99FiiO KA1: 45 mW at 32 Ω, $59.99FiiO KA3: 235 mW at 32 Ω, $95.94KA3iBasso DC03PRO: 98 mW at 32 Ω, $69iBasso DC05: 93 mW at 32 Ω, $69iBasso DC06: 320 mW at 32 Ω, $119iBasso DC06PRO: 320 mW at 32 Ω, $119Hidizs S9: 125 mW at 32 Ω, $49.99Hidizs S9 PRO: 200 mW at 32 Ω, $65.99Hidizs S9 Pro Plus Martha: 180 mW at 32 Ω, $65.99Hidizs S8 Pro Robin: 160 mW at 32 Ω, $59.99MOONDROP DAWN PRO 2: 62 mW at 32 Ω, $59.99TempoTec Sonata BHD Pro: 280 mW at 32 Ω, $59.90TempoTec Sonata HD III: 70 mW at 32 Ω, $45.90Shanling UA2: 195 mW at 32 Ω, $85Shanling UA3: 210 mW at 32 Ω, $109Shanling UA4: 227 mW at 32 Ω, $99UA4HiBy FC4: 340 mW at 32 Ω, $49iFi GO link: 70 mW at 32 Ω, $59iFi GO link Max: 241 mW at 32 Ω, $79JCALLY AP7: 70 mW at 32 Ω, ~$45.73JCALLY AP20: 330 mW at 32 Ω, ~$91.88AP20JCALLY Galaxy SONATA: 560 mW at 32 Ω, $79.99JCALLY JM30PRO: 31.3 mW at 32 Ω, ~$46.49JCALLY SP30: 31.3 mW at 32 Ω, ~$54.61NiceHCK Octave: 550 mW at 32 Ω, $89NiceHCK PureAural: 210 mW at 32 Ω, $59.99PureAuralMuse HiFi M3 Ultra: 480 mW at 32 Ω, $109.99CrinEar Protocol Max200 mW500 mW100 mW$50$70$100scale breaks hereMost IEMs need 3.2 mW+20 dB to spareFiiO KA13: 550 mW at 32 Ω, $65.99FiiO KA5: 265 mW at 32 Ω, $119.99FiiO KA15: 560 mW at 32 Ω, $99.99iBasso DC04PRO: 280 mW at 32 Ω, $119Questyle M12i: 21 mW at 32 Ω, $49MOONDROP DAWN 4.4: 230 mW at 32 Ω, $69.99DAWN 4.4FiiO KA1: 45 mW at 32 Ω, $59.99FiiO KA3: 235 mW at 32 Ω, $95.94KA3iBasso DC03PRO: 98 mW at 32 Ω, $69iBasso DC05: 93 mW at 32 Ω, $69iBasso DC06: 320 mW at 32 Ω, $119DC06iBasso DC06PRO: 320 mW at 32 Ω, $119Hidizs S9: 125 mW at 32 Ω, $49.99Hidizs S9 PRO: 200 mW at 32 Ω, $65.99S9 PROHidizs S9 Pro Plus Martha: 180 mW at 32 Ω, $65.99Hidizs S8 Pro Robin: 160 mW at 32 Ω, $59.99MOONDROP DAWN PRO 2: 62 mW at 32 Ω, $59.99TempoTec Sonata BHD Pro: 280 mW at 32 Ω, $59.90Sonata BHD ProTempoTec Sonata HD III: 70 mW at 32 Ω, $45.90Shanling UA2: 195 mW at 32 Ω, $85UA2Shanling UA3: 210 mW at 32 Ω, $109Shanling UA4: 227 mW at 32 Ω, $99UA4HiBy FC4: 340 mW at 32 Ω, $49iFi GO link: 70 mW at 32 Ω, $59iFi GO link Max: 241 mW at 32 Ω, $79GO link MaxJCALLY AP7: 70 mW at 32 Ω, ~$45.73JCALLY AP20: 330 mW at 32 Ω, ~$91.88AP20JCALLY Galaxy SONATA: 560 mW at 32 Ω, $79.99JCALLY JM30PRO: 31.3 mW at 32 Ω, ~$46.49JCALLY SP30: 31.3 mW at 32 Ω, ~$54.61NiceHCK Octave: 550 mW at 32 Ω, $89NiceHCK PureAural: 210 mW at 32 Ω, $59.99PureAuralMuse HiFi M3 Ultra: 480 mW at 32 Ω, $109.99CrinEar Protocol Max
  • Nearby
  • Same DAC chip
  • Most IEMs, 3.2 mW

Devices with the same DAC chip

CS43198 · 16 devices use it
JCALLYJM98MAX≈195 mW0.65 ΩYes8 bandsSGM8262$34.99≈195 mW · 0.65 Ω · $34.99PEQ Yes, 8 bands · Amp SGM8262
MOONDROPWorks with ContourDAWN PRO 262 mWEstimated0.219 ΩMeasuredWorks with Contour8 bands$59.99est. 62 mW · 0.219 Ω · $59.99PEQ Yes, 8 bands
NiceHCKPureAural210 mWYes10 bandsSGM8262$59.99210 mW · $59.99PEQ Yes, 10 bands · Amp SGM8262
TRUTHEARSHIO$69.99$69.99
JCALLYGalaxy SONATA≈560 mW0.65 ΩDual SGM8262$79.99≈560 mW · 0.65 Ω · $79.99Amp Dual SGM8262
FiiOWorks with ContourKA15≥560 mW0.65 ΩMeasuredWorks with Contour10 bands$99.99≥560 mW · 0.65 Ω · $99.99PEQ Yes, 10 bands
iBassoDC04 Ultra980 mWYes10 bands$119980 mW · $119PEQ Yes, 10 bands
FiiOKA5≥265 mW<0.3 ΩNo8261 × 2$119.99≥265 mW · <0.3 Ω · $119.99PEQ No · Amp 8261 × 2
MOONDROPMOONRIVER 2:TI280 mW$219.99280 mW · $219.99
MOONDROPMOONRIVER3250 mWEstimatedYes$219.99est. 250 mW · $219.99PEQ Yes
FiiOJM21≥700 mW<1 ΩSGM8262 x2$259.99≥700 mW · <1 Ω · $259.99Amp SGM8262 x2
iBassoNunchaku525 mW$299525 mW · $299

All 16 in the finder

Compared with

Manufacturers' stated figures; the price is today's lowest

CrinEar Protocol Max vs iFi GO link Max

iFi GO link Max is among the dongles in the catalog closest to CrinEar Protocol Max in price: at 32 Ω CrinEar Protocol Max is listed at est. 300 mW and iFi GO link Max at 241 mW; the lowest prices are $76.49 and $79, $2.51 apart.

CrinEar Protocol Max vs iFi GO link Max: the manufacturers' stated figures and today's lowest price, side by side
CrinEar Protocol MaxiFi GO link Max
Power at 32 Ωest. 300 mW4.4 mm balanced, Boost Mode, maximum241 mW4.4 mm balanced, RMS
Power at 16 Ω600 mW4.4 mm balanced, Boost Mode, maximumNot stated
Price today$76.49Hangout Audio, 11 Nov$79Apos Audio, 16 Oct
DAC chipCirrus Logic CS43198 × 2ESS ES9219 × 2
InputsUSB-CUSB-C
Outputs3.5 mm · 4.4 mm balanced3.5 mm · 4.4 mm balanced
SizeNot stated150 × 15 × 10 mm
WeightNot stated14.5 g

CrinEar Protocol Max price history

CrinEar Protocol Max vs JCALLY Galaxy SONATA

JCALLY Galaxy SONATA is among the dongles in the catalog closest to CrinEar Protocol Max in price: at 32 Ω CrinEar Protocol Max is listed at est. 300 mW and JCALLY Galaxy SONATA at ≈560 mW; the lowest prices are $76.49 and $79.99, $3.50 apart.

CrinEar Protocol Max vs JCALLY Galaxy SONATA: the manufacturers' stated figures and today's lowest price, side by side
CrinEar Protocol MaxJCALLY Galaxy SONATA
Power at 32 Ωest. 300 mW4.4 mm balanced, Boost Mode, maximum≈560 mW4.4 mm balanced
Power at 16 Ω600 mW4.4 mm balanced, Boost Mode, maximum≈525 mW4.4 mm balanced
Power at 300 ΩNot stated≈80 mW4.4 mm balanced
Price today$76.49Hangout Audio, 11 Nov$79.99Bloom Audio, 7 Nov
DAC chipCirrus Logic CS43198 × 2Cirrus Logic CS43198 × 2
InputsUSB-CUSB-C
Outputs3.5 mm · 4.4 mm balanced3.5 mm · 4.4 mm balanced
SizeNot stated46.6 × 24.8 × 12.9 mm
WeightNot stated17.5 g

CrinEar Protocol Max price history

CrinEar Protocol Max vs JCALLY AP10

JCALLY AP10 is among the dongles in the catalog closest to CrinEar Protocol Max in price: the lowest prices are $76.49 and ~$82.61.

CrinEar Protocol Max vs JCALLY AP10: the manufacturers' stated figures and today's lowest price, side by side
CrinEar Protocol MaxJCALLY AP10
Power at 32 Ωest. 300 mW4.4 mm balanced, Boost Mode, maximumNot stated
Power at 16 Ω600 mW4.4 mm balanced, Boost Mode, maximumNot stated
Price today$76.49Hangout Audio, 11 Nov~$82.61AliExpress, 7 Nov
DAC chipCirrus Logic CS43198 × 2Cirrus Logic CS43131 × 2
InputsUSB-CUSB-C
Outputs3.5 mm · 4.4 mm balanced3.5 mm · 4.4 mm balanced
SizeNot stated56.7 × 24.4 × 11.7 mm
WeightNot statedAbout 26.5 g

CrinEar Protocol Max price history

More like this

More portable DAC amps

PEQ on Android: Contour EQ supports this dongle

Contour EQ is a free, open-source Android app that reads and writes the PEQ stored inside the CrinEar Protocol Max.

CrinEar Protocol Max EQ app for Android

Sources

Checked 27 Oct 2026
CrinEar Protocol Max product page
crinear.com · the product page
Used for power, output impedance, noise and distortion, the DAC chip, outputs, controls, parametric EQ, build and the package