Atom DAC+: Packaging and Accessories

JDS Labs operates a web shop; however, the Atom DAC+ arrived with a few other things in a larger box, including the Atom Amp+, of course. So we begin with the product packaging, which takes the shape of a relatively simple cardboard box. I quite like the design, with an outline render of the Atom line on the front and the JDS Labs logo in the middle in a monochrome color scheme. Contact information and certification logos greet us on the back, and we see the full name of the company along with its marketing tagline on the sides. Two side flaps keep the contents in place in transit, opening which we see the DAC inside a plastic wrap.


The box is thicker than the DAC as a second layer below the unit houses more accessories. These are in addition to the QC card we saw placed in with the DAC itself, which is a nice touch, of course. JDS Labs includes a switch adapter for the power connector, which helps in the absence of an on/off switch on the Atom DAC+. This takes the power cable from the power supply and feeds into the DAC, with a nice tactile switch in the middle. There are no on/off markings, so note that pressing the switch down towards the DAC turns it on. We also get a USB cable, which is part of the whole digital-to-analog (DAC) functionality of the product. It goes from USB Type-A on the source, such as your PC, to USB Type-B on the DAC. I do wish JDS would have gone with Type-C connectivity instead, but the provided cable is quite good and has a small cable-management trick up its sleeve. The connectors are gold-plated for oxidation resistance, and it looks to be the same 1 m long cable as for the Element II, which had a TDK ferrite core to "reject noise and improve jitter performance."


As with most standalone DAC units, the Atom DAC+ takes external power. In some other cases, you may see it in the form of a second USB port that goes to a USB wall adapter, which is in turn often not included. JDS Labs products tend to be AC powered from the wall, which is the case here, too. The Atom DAC+ is not as power demanding as an amplifier though, so that's another reason why a higher-power Type-C port for double duty would have been nice, as it would have also eliminated potential AC power phase issues. But then I remind myself that USB power is even worse! That's why portable sources that rely on battery power to eliminate the issues arising from USB sources are gaining in popularity. As such, the Atom DAC+ comes with a 15 V AC adapter bundled in, and it comes packaged separately as seen above. Should you needed a spare or one for another region, the JDS Labs 15 VAC adapter comes in four versions and costs $19. All JDS Labs products come with AC mains isolation to eliminate the power phase issues, so that addresses the other concern I had, only leaving behind it being bulky, which is unfortunately a necessary compromise.


I have the UK version here, meaning it is 220 V with the relatively large UK plug. The actual output isn't a lot at 7.5 W, so the DAC+ isn't expected to run warm. At this point, I will also mention that you can get an optional USB audio Class 1 (UAC1) fallback cable if required. I've touched on the two USB audio classes before, but suffice it to say that most TPU readers with a relatively modern PC will have no issues with USB Class 2 compatibility, which brings with it higher specifications for playback. If you do have a device that can't handle UAC2, this cable forces UAC1 mode on all JDS Labs DACs. It can be handy for use with consoles and some TVs, including the Sony PlayStation PS4/PS5 and Nintendo Switch. This optional cablecosts $10, and I have shown it in the review of the Element II.