AFUL SnowyNight Review

Today, we review the AFUL SnowyNight USB DAC & AMP. It is priced at $109.99 USD.

Disclaimer: HifiGo sent us the SnowyNight dongle from AFUL for this review. As always, I am here to convey my honest experience with the product.

AFUL

AFUL, established in 2018, began its journey with an expert acoustic team dedicated to advancing audio technology. By 2019, the team developed prototypes featuring innovative circuit topology and acoustic structures, significantly enhancing traditional designs with BA drivers. Progressing through technological advancements, AFUL secured three patents in 2020 and commercialized its S&E Math technology in 2021, receiving recognition from the Chinese Academy of Sciences and support from the Suzhou Municipal Government. The launch of the Performer series earphones in 2022 marked a global success. In 2023, AFUL launched the Performer 8, continuing its commitment to innovation in the field of audio. My colleague Berkhan covered the Performer 8, Performer 5, and the Magic One IEMs on Headfonia. You can check out those reviews by clicking on their names. Let’s get to today’s highlight without further ado.

SnowyNight USB DAC & AMP Dongle

AFUL, a name we hear a lot about in the IEM world, has ventured into the competitive portable audio market with the SnowyNight, their first-ever USB DAC & AMP dongle. This ambitious debut promises impressive performance, powered by two Cirrus Logic CS43198 Flagship DAC chips and 300mW of ample power to handle IEMs and headphones. The SnowyNight supports high-resolution decoding such as 32-bit/768kHz PCM and Native DSD256 via UAC 2.0.

Available on HiFiGo for $109.99, the SnowyNight includes a carefully engineered cable that features a 6N single-crystal copper structure along with full USB-BUS coverage; buyers can choose either a USB-C or Lightning connector to ensure seamless compatibility with their primary smartphone. Here are the specs & highlights of the SnowyNight below.

Specifications & Highlights

• DAC: x2 Cirrus Logic CS43198 Flagship-tier DACs 
• Audio Circuit: Balanced Topology
• Shell: Metal Chassis
• Plug & Play Driverless Operation
• Decoding: 32-Bit/786kHz PCM, DSD256, DoP256.
• Voltage: 1Vrms(3.5mm, Low-Gain), 2Vrms(3.5mm, High-Gain), 2Vrms(4.4mm, Low-Gain), 4Vrms(4.4mm, High-Gain) – Selectable by holding down the + and – buttons simultaneously.
• Output Power: @ 32Ω – SE: 140mW BAL: 300mW
• THD+N: ≤0.00037%.
• SNR: 125dB(3.5mm), 130dB(4.4mm)
• DNR: 125dB(3.5mm), 130dB(4.4mm)
• Noise Floor: 1uV(3.5mm), 1.5uV(4.4mm)
• Output Impedance: <0.1Ω 

Packaging & Accessories

The SnowyNight arrives in compact packaging, with eye-catching artwork showcasing the product on the front and detailed specifications on the back. Inside, you’ll find the SnowyNight DAC nestled in a protective foam compartment, along with its specially designed 6N single-crystal copper interconnect. Completing the unboxing experience are a manual and a warranty card.

AFUL states that they recognize the inherent limitations of USB transmission with portable audio devices. To maximize the SnowyNight’s performance, they’ve included a specially designed cable featuring 6N monocrystalline copper wire cores. This cable aims to enhance stable signal transmission and shield the signal from external interference. 

According to AFUL, this enhances the SnowyNight’s acoustic performance to levels comparable with coaxial and optical inputs found in other devices. However, this may not apply to the Lightning cable, as the pinout differs from USB-C and is a limiting connector due to Apple’s rather unconventional designs.

That said, it’s quite lovely for AFUL to include a high-quality cable with the SnowyNight, especially in this price bracket. While the cable’s rigidity might take some getting used to, its overall build quality is reassuring for the price.

Design & Build Quality

The SnowyNight features a sturdy, all-metal chassis with a laser-etched floral pattern on the top and a laser-etched name on the bottom. The gunmetal finish not only looks sophisticated but also effectively hides fingerprints, enhancing the unit’s sleek aesthetics. The build quality is praiseworthy, especially in this price bracket, and the SnowyNight has two outputs: a gold-plated 4.4mm headphone jack and a standard 3.5mm output.

An elegantly designed floral LED indicator on the top serves both a functional and decorative purpose, informing the user of the actual sampling rate. The SnowyNight’s metal case acts as a heat sink, and it does an excellent job of maintaining a comfortable temperature even after prolonged use, avoiding the excessive heat that we have encountered with some of the dongles we took a look back in 23.

The dongle’s form factor is compact and lightweight, making it a convenient accessory for portable audio setups. It can easily be carried around within a small round IEM case or inside a jean pocket for easy access. The SnowyNight has two buttons with a tactile and robust feel, allowing volume and output voltage control. Holding both buttons down changes the output voltage, while a long press on either button provides continuous volume control, a quicker alternative to multiple presses.

Additionally, the SnowyNight supports driverless integration with Windows 10+ and MacOS operation systems, allowing hardware volume control when set to bit-perfect mode through various streaming applications.

The review continues on Page Two, after the click HERE or by using the jump below.

Page 1: AFUL, SnowyNight, Packaging & Accessories, Design & Build Quality

Page 2: Comparative Sound Impressions & Performance, Last Words