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ALO Audio Continental Dual Mono Review – Best Portable DAC with Headphone AMP?

ALO Audio Continental Dual Mono Sound Quality (Subjective Listening)

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Using ALO Audio’s Continental Dual Mono is as simple as most portable DAC/AMPs out there. Make sure battery is charged, plug in the source, plug your headphone or IEM and choose the desired gain setting and volume. Usually, the low gain setting is pretty much sufficient for in-ear monitors or earphones; and you’ll want to flip it to high gain when you are using a headphone.

The CDM allows you to choose from digital source or the balanced/single ended analog source. If your source is connected to either the SE or balanced input port (like what you see from the photo above), the CDM’s DAC is bypassed and only the amplifier is in use. If you feed the CDM via its digital input (micro USB), both the DAC and AMP section are in use when you connect your headphone or IEM on the front output. However, if you want to use only the DAC section of the CDM, feed it via digital input and use the line out at the back. This will bypass the AMP section of the CDM and only the DAC is in use.

When I was testing and listening with the Continental Dual Mono, my primary source was my desktop PC connected using the included Green line USB cable. I was using full sized open back headphones most of the time, including the Campfire Audio Lyra and Heir Audio 8.A for IEMs. For windows 10 users (like me) you will have to download a different driver which Windows 8 (and below) users use. Mac users usually don’t need drivers, but a CmediaDoPInstall.dmg file is available to download. All files/drivers can be downloaded at ALO Audio’s CDM page.

Using the balanced output gives addition boost in volume; but I wouldn’t suggest using an IEM with balanced output at high gain switch. Hissing is very noticeably at that setting. The good part is the balanced output is pretty useful specially if you have a hard to drive full sized headphone. Unfortunately, at the time I was testing the CDM, I don’t have the likes of HD800 with 300 Ohms in my collection. The headphones and planars I got here are pretty much easy to drive.

How does the ALO Audio Continental Dual Mono sound? Well, it sounds amazingly beautiful!

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To my ears, ALO Audio’s Continental Dual Mono is very natural and the sound that it produces is very organic. It has a very good balance between the lows, mids and treble frequencies. Transition from low to mids to highs is smooth and sweet. I think the combination of the solid state (SS) and tube amps give it its advantage. You get less distortion, the accuracy and tightness of an SSD amp; plus the rich, warm and full bodied sound of a tube amp. The ALO CDM is also generally soft, spacious and beautifully textured. It’s also free from grains and harshness.

The lows are full, transparent with fast decay, and a sense of roundness. Bass stays focused, clean and clear without bleeding to the higher frequencies. Bass also sounds tight and controlled, and I was able to enjoy Lars Ulrich’s drum action during Metallica’s Live Shit Binge and Purge 1992 concert.

If you are a mids-lover (who isn’t) the Continental Dual Mono has a very rich and satisfying mids. Like the bass region, the mid-section is also full bodied, spacious and textured which I find bewitching. When I listened to Amber Rubarth’s Don’t You I noticed that her voice is fuller, has more life and soul compared to my iFi micro iDSD. Adele’s voice has become more alluring and seductive.

And if you don’t like sharp highs or edgy treble, don’t worry because ALO’s Continental Dual Mono will smoothen the treble for you without degrading it or losing detail. The higher frequencies are still well extended and you still get that sparkle, less the sudden or uneven spikes. To my ears, the highs doesn’t feel rolled off. With the right tubes, the treble’s extension may be improved with better layering.

The Continental Dual Mono’s soundstaging and imaging is fantastic as well. If you are using open back headphones, you are sure to enjoy the 3-dimensional effect that open back headphones should have; in my case the EL-8’s depth and width was maintained at the same time was a bit improved. I can’t seem to find any flaws in terms of its sound quality at all. Everything seems to be in the right place and the experience was really “eargasmic”.

Price and Availability

The ALO Audio Continental Dual Mono is now available at the company’s online store here, and comes with a retail price of $1,495 USD at the time this review was published. The company is also offering 1 year warranty for the CDM.

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ALO Audio Continental Dual Mono Review: Conclusion

ALO Audio’s DAC and AMP has consistently become my top choice. I like their International+ Op Ed and the ALO Rx. The Continental Dual Mono, on the other hand, is on a different level. For me, it’s way above than the previous portable DAC/AMPs I have tried from ALO. It’s definitely way better from all the entry to mid DAC/AMPs I have tested and auditioned before. I don’t want to sound overly-hyped here, but the sound quality on the CDM is just amazing. The richness, roundness, details and everything is there.

To be fair, the CDM does have its shortcomings. Like most amplifiers, the CDM gets a little bit hotter. This is due to its hybrid tube and solid state amplification. Second, battery life is somewhat short, around 6 hours give or take depending on your setup. Lack of optical and/or SPDIF input might be an issue for some. And finally it only supports up to DSD64. I know most of us don’t have a large collection of DSD formats. But for those who have DSD128 and above, well you’ll have to find a 24-96 version of your music.

Despite its short comings, which I think is not really a deal breaker; the ALO Audio Continental Dual Mono is a special portable DAC/AMP with impressive audio performance and amazing sound quality. It’s powerful thanks to the sweet blend of its tube and solid state amp. Paired with its carefully selected DAC, the CDM is musical and melodic without being too analytical. Just right on the spot! If you are looking for a portable DAC/AMP and you want your audio experience more steps higher, then you should definitely give the Continental Dual Mono a try. This could be your “end-game” portable device.

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Peter Paul
Peter is a PC enthusiast and avid gamer with several years of hands-on experience in testing and reviewing PC components, audio equipment, and various tech devices. He offers a genuine, no-nonsense perspective, helping consumers make informed choices in the ever-changing world of technology.

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