WATCH FULL REVIEW HERE: 

Pros:

• Affordable price for its features.
• Compact T-shaped form factor with premium build quality.
• Dual output jacks: 3.5mm and 4.4mm, eliminating the need for extra adaptors.
• Crisp, detailed, and analytical sound signature.
• Great power output for in-ear monitors
• Enhanced durability with fewer moving parts.

Cons:

• Not a true balanced output for 4.4mm jack.
• Lacks controls like UAC switch, gain switch, or volume buttons.
• Slightly bulky design might not fit in smaller pockets.
• No DSD support, limiting certain audiophile needs.
• Incompatible with non-Android devices like HiBy R1.
• Struggles to drive high impedance/low sensitivity headphones

Who This Product Is For:

• Audiophiles who value portability and simplicity.
• Users seeking a bright, analytical sound profile.
• Budget-conscious individuals needing both 3.5mm and 4.4mm connectivity.

Who This Product Isn’t For:

• Those requiring true balanced output or high power for demanding headphones.
• Users of non-Android devices (e.g., specific DAPs like HiBy R1).
• Audiophiles needing DSD support or a more customizable interface.

SHORT REVIEW

The Celest CD-2 is a budget-friendly dongle DAC/AMP with a unique T-shaped design featuring dual output jacks (3.5mm and 4.4mm)—although the 4.4mm isn’t true balanced. Its compact zinc alloy build offers durability, and the device delivers a crisp, analytical sound signature ideal for warm IEM pairings. While it lacks features like DSD support and controls such as gain switches, its affordability and portability make it an attractive option for audiophiles on the go. It struggles with high impedance headphones and non-Android devices but excels as a minimalist detail-driven DAC for everyday use. RECOMMENDED!

FULL REVIEW:

Dongle DAC/AMPs have been some of the most contentious yet controversial devices in the market due to how much people debate regarding the “benefits” of having a more expensive source. Regardless, some people decide on their next dongle purchase based on the form factor. Some prefer a larger, more powerful amplifier that can drive their favorite planar magnetic headphones while some prefer the smaller, more discrete design to act as an adaptor for their smartphones that have fallen to the curse of the headphone jack. 

In that discrete dongle niche comes the many form factors that range from tiny cable-less adaptors all the way to complex dongles with detachable cables. However, both of these have compromises that some might find too troublesome to deal with. You’re either getting the smallest and easiest to lose dongle that can often cause durability issues or you’ll look like a nerd carrying around a dongle on the back of your phone for the sake of fidelity. But what if I told you that there exists a form factor that mitigates this issue while having the oh so important option of “balanced” output?

CD-2 Out, CD-2 In! 

Celest is a brand I’m sure many audiophiles are familiar with. Coming from the established Kinera and sharing kinship with the literal sister company of QOA, Celest has been the budget powerhouse since the release of the Gumiho and the revolutionary Square Planar Driver or SPD. Celest did not just focus on this rather niche but exceptional tech as they’ve decided to use the resources of Kinera to create a multitude of products ranging from gaming cables to dongle DACs.

The latter has become a rather strong point for Kinera with the likes of the CD-1 and CD-20 both tackling a specific market that they compete well in. The CD-1 in particular is a peculiar yet practical device with a cute form factor that is large enough not to be forgotten but small enough to be practical. 

Potentially due to the success of the CD-1, Celest decided it needed a follow-up with the CD-2. This $24 dongle may be a tad bit more expensive than the CD-1, but it does offer quite a lot of improvements on paper that’ll make you think twice in calling this an unecessary side grade. Let’s talk about it!

UNBOXING

The unboxing is as basic as it can get and literally only contains the dongle itself. I have not seen a more subtle unboxing than this. 

SPECIFICATIONS: 

DAC Chip: Conexant CX31993, offering up to 124 dB SNR and 111 dB dynamic range, supporting 32-bit/384 kHz PCM decoding for lossless HiFi sound.

Amplifier Chip: Maxim MAX97220, providing powerful driving force for headphones.

Interfaces: Equipped with 3.5 mm and 4.4 mm headphone jacks.

Build: Zinc alloy casting shell with a mecha-style design.

Power Consumption: Ultra-low heat generation and low power consumption.

Compatibility: Supports UAC2.0 and works with Android, iOS, Mac, and Windows.

BUILD AND INTERFACE

The first thing that stood out to me with the CD-2 is the form factor. Never have I seen a form factor of this style, at least in my hands. I’m aware that these kinds of dongles have existed prior like the Kiwi Ears Allegro series of dongles. But this is my first time actually having a dongle of this shape. 

And my gosh, do I love it! I’ve long since dropped wired portable listening on the go as I found it to be more of a nuisance than a benefit to my every day life, but the CD-2 made me reconsider. Especially while using the 3.5mm mode, it almost feels like my phone has once again gained a 3.5mm jack that I can just pocket and not have to worry about anything. The main benefit of this form factor over a traditional jack on cable design is the rather genious option to have a 4.4mm jack. I’ll talk more about this jack’s performance in the sound section, but having an option for a 4.4mm jack is massive for this price range. This saves you from needing to purchase a separate adaptor for either 3.5mm or 4.4mm as this has both connectors. And if you’re one of the few people who are still using 2.5mm, it’s high time that you move unto greener pastures and get a 4.4mm cable or, if you’re really stubborn for change, get a 2.5mm to 4.4mm adaptor. 

Unfortunately, that’s where the interesting “physical features” end as the CD-2 has no controls and is essentially a glorified adapter. You’re not getting a UAC switch, gain switch or volume buttons. All you get is a dongle and not more than that. 

FEATURES:

Let’s first talk about the CD-2’s internals. The CD-2 features the popular CX31993 DAC paired with the Maxim MAX97220 two-stage power amplifier. This allows the CD-2 to have 32bit/384kHz PCM decoding. 

This provides an output of 140mW @ 16 ohms and 60mW @ 32ohms.

This is a pretty solid internal spec sheet, despite not having DSD support. I’ll talk more about how it sounds later in this review, but the combo of the CX DAC and Maxim AMP is a chef’s kiss moment. 

My only issue is with the fact that the 3.5mm and 4.4mm values are basically the same, meaning the 4.4mm is not “true balanced” and is essentially just a 4.4mm adaptor rather than a balanced output. Considering the price and the form factor, however, I didn’t really care as much about this.

Celest also boasts the CD-2’s independently developed integrated PCBA. This theoretically minimizes noise and allows for cleaner output. 

Externally, the CD-2s form factor is a t-shape design with the 4.4mm jack on the right side and the 3.5mm jack on the bottom left side (this is in the perspective of the text facing up). The CD-2 features a zinc alloy construction that allows for a premium feeling build that is topped by the multi-layer baking varnish surface treatment that minimizes aesthetic deterioration (aka paint chipping)

This is, by far, the best form factor of any dongle DAC I’ve tried. I’ve been totally converted to be a  t-shape dongle lover after the CD-2 and brought back my love for these kinds of dongles. Do I think that it could still be improved? Of course. While the form is great, it’s a little bulky, potentially due to that 4.4mm jack. The build is premium, but plugging an IEM with a heavy jack might damage either the plug or the jack due to the weight. The design is nice, but a more mech-inspired colorway would have made the design philosophy of the CD-2 more evident. Thankfully, the jack itself is designed with space between the phone and the bottom of the DAC in mind so thick cases can still accommodate the CD-2. This is further driven by the fact that the design was made with CASETIFY cases in mind. 

REAL WORLD USAGE

I’ve mentioned some of my usage on the CD-2, but I want to specifically highlight my use for portable use as, in my opinion, this is where I’d find myself using the CD-2 90% of the time. What I mean by portable use is having this plugged unto the Type-C jack of my phone with an IEM plugged and me going around and about at home, commutes or in school. 

Overall, I found the CD-2’s form factor to be the best for portable use. Sure, its “chonky” design can be a bit problematic when it comes to people with small pants or bags, but this is a far, far better option than dongles with a cable that will dangle and can get stuck in places. While there are open areas between the jack and the DAC, the CD-2 never experienced accidental unpluggings, at least compared to the traditional dongle style. Its cable-less design also allows for the CD-2 to have less moving parts that might break over time. 

The location of the jacks also make sense and while I can occasionally have issues with the 4.4mm jack in my pocket, I think it’s understandable considering the fact that it has no other position to place that 4.4mm jack. Looking at the internal PCB view of the CD-2, you can see that they’ve specifically design the 3.5mm and 4.4mm jack to be separated to ensure minimal issues. Maybe in the future, Celest or other brands would come out with a design that can streamline the 4.4mm and 3.5mm jack together. But until then, this is the best form factor for those looking for a cable-less dongle with both a 4.4mm and 3.5mm jack in the budget.

That is, only if you’re using this on your smartphone. I found that plugging this into non-Android devices like the HiBy R1 and R3 II, the CD-2 will not be detected and will not have audio output. This was a shame as I really wanted this to work with something like the R1 for quick 4.4mm listening without needing to bring a DAC that’s half the size of the R1. 

SOUND

Output Power

Contrary to popular belief, 60mW @ 32ohms is not bad at all. Considering the older CD-1’s output was only 30mW @ 32ohms, the CD-2 output is a big improvement and allows for the CD-2 to drive harder to drive IEMs like planar IEMs or low sensitivity IEMs like Final IEMs. However, as mentioned prior, the 3.5mm and 4.4mm jack has the same output and acts more like a 4.4mm adaptor than a 4.4mm balanced. This means you’re not getting the benefit of balanced sound, but you are getting the benefits of a balanced connector. 

Sound Profile

The CD-2 has a very crisp, precise and snappy sound that’s leaner than full. This would make the CD-2 fall into the “analytical” DAC category which we haven’t been seeing a lot of recently. Almost every DAC manufacturer has been releasing dongles that are more mid or warmth heavy which objectively fits more IEMs than bright DACs, but bright DACs still have its place in the market. 

Going deeper, the CD-2 tackles overall sound spectrum which such speed and leanness that allows for a really crisp note definition. This is perfect when paired with warmer IEMs that you might want to be tighter and cleaner sounding. However, pairing this with a brighter IEM would emphasize the treble region a little bit too much and can induce sibilance and can make the IEMs sound even leaner and brighter. If you like that, then the CD-2 is one of the few DACs in 2025 that will provide a properly clean and lean amplification. However, it still maintains a precise level of technical presentation in regards to separation and layering for the price. It’s not beating out more expensive DACs with balanced outputs, but it’ll do the job for those who just want a clean and analytical sounding DAC. 

As for CX31993 implementation, the CD-2 follows the tradition of the more analytical sound, but the addition of the MAX97220 brings about a fuller, more complete and cleaner sound compared to other CX31993 dongles. I’ll talk more about comparisons later, but the CD-2 is one of the better dongles to implement the CX dongle.

NOISE

Unfortunately, the CD-2 does have an audible noise floor on more sensitive in-ears like the KZ CRA 2024, NiceHCK F1 Pro and NiceHCK NX8. It’s not too bad and depending on your device, it will filter out the noise during quiet moments. But when sound is playing and the sound is quiet enough, you will be able to hear the very soft but low noise floor. This is present on both 4.4mm and 3.5mm (as they’re basically the same output) so choose your IEMs wisely. 

PAIRINGS

I want to first mention the pairings I did not enjoy with the CD-2. Obviously, bright IEMs are a no-no if I wanted to get a more balanced sound but great if I wanted to emphasize the treble more. However, the way the treble is emphasized is more edgy than clean. The definition isn’t really improved all that much, but the quantity of the treble is jacked to a level where it just feels uncomfortable and grainy. Besides that, IEMs with strong 8k and not a lot of post 10k aren’t a good pairing for similar reasons. IEMs that I found to really struggle with this are IEMs from KZ like the PRX, Kefine Klean and EPZ Q1 Pro. Despite the Kefine Klean being a “warmer” IEM, that 8k can cause problems when it comes to sounding overly emphasized. I also found that with hybrids with balanced armatures or planar IEMs that they emphasized the “plasticky timbre” which I didn’t enjoy as much.

As for pairings I did like, the most extreme example would be something like the KBEar KW1. Pure basshead set that got a bit of clarity and tightness to make it sound cleaner. Obviously, nothing is saving that IEM from being anything other than a basshead IEM, but it’s nice to hear it sound a bit cleaner. A very interesting combo was the KZ PR3 with a 15ohm impedance adaptor paired with the CD-2. Slightly counterintuitive considering what the impedance adaptor is doing for the PR3, but it did give the PR3 a bit of sparkle that was lost from the impedance adapter. Other solid pairings would include the KZ D-Fi, Dunu Kima 2, Tangzu Wan’er and Intuaura Plume Luna. 

COMPARISONS

vs VE Abigail

The Abigail is essentially the baby version of the CD-2 in every way. The Abigail has a clean, crisp and lean sound with emphasis on treble. It’s not as clean and especially not as powerful as the CD-2 which makes the CD-2 a pretty solid upgrade from the Abigail if you don’t need the microphone support

vs VE Odo

The Odo is one of the latest budget dongles that surprised the world on how good a budget dongle could be. For the price, the Odo is a fantastic DAC with a balanced sound that’ll fulfill most people’s needs. However, the difference between this budget dongle and the CD-2 is drastic enough to say that the Odo can beat something in the $24 range. The CD-2 is far more detailed, lively and, most importantly, powerful than the Odo. But let’s remember that the Odo is $10 and the CD-2 is $25

vs EPZ TP35

If the Abigail is the budget CD-2, the TP35 is the buffed version of the CD-2. Considerably better transients and detail while improving the dynamics and smoothness of the sound. It’s still on the brighter side with a more energetic presentation compared to other dongles, but it matches the analytical energy of the CD-2 really well. 

vs Hidizs XO

And if the TP35 is a buffed version of the CD-2, the XO is the final boss version of the CD-2. Take every comment I had about the TP35 but focus on the treble and detail part and you have the XO. The tonality of the CD-2 and the XO is actually the closest between all the dongles (apart from Abigail) which means the XO is the best upgrade from the CD-2. Unfortunately, the XO’s outputs are stuck in the past with a 2.5mm jack instead of a 4.4mm jack.

CONCLUSION:

The CD-2 is a solid budget dongle DAC/AMP with one of the best form factors in the market that allows for both 3.5mm and 4.4mm output. The energetic sound will fit warmer IEMs or people who just love a lot of detail and treble. However, this is not the dongle for you if you want a “true balanced” output and plan to plug this with non-Android DAPs like the HiBy R1. It also doesn’t have DSD support which might be a deal breaker for some.

This dongle genuinely made me want to go back to using wired after weeks of using wireless gear every single day. It’s still not as convenient as I still have to worry about the cable getting stuck in the weirdest places, but it’s made my experience far better compared to normal DACs. If they can release a “pro” version of this with proper balanced output and more power, that’d sell like hotcakes. But as is, the CD-2 is a solid DAC for minimalist detail lovers. 

Thank you for reading my review on the Celest CD-2. 

Official website link: https://kineraaudio.com/products/celest-cd-2-portable-type-c-to-3-5mm-4-4mm-dac-audio-hifi-earphone-decoder-headphone

AliExpress link: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005008487749763.html

Official website: https://kineraaudio.com