---
title: "Headphone amp and DAC brands: Which are most popular?"
description: "Compare the brands that make headphone amplifiers and DACs. Share of Search among FiiO, SMSL, Schiit, iFi, Topping, Chord, Questyle, xDuoo, Gustard, JDS Labs and RME, the headphone amp and DAC brands Brandwave compares worldwide, using the same methodology, market, and reporting period. Branded searches tell you how often people look for a brand by name or related terms. Comparing these searches across competitors helps you see how popular each brand is over time."
canonical: "https://gobrandwave.com/demand/global-en/categories/headphone-amp-and-dac-brands"
publisher: "Brandwave"
---

# Headphone amp and DAC brands: Which are most popular?

Compare the brands that make headphone amplifiers and DACs. Share of Search among FiiO, SMSL, Schiit, iFi, Topping, Chord, Questyle, xDuoo, Gustard, JDS Labs and RME, the headphone amp and DAC brands Brandwave compares worldwide, using the same methodology, market, and reporting period. Branded searches tell you how often people look for a brand by name or related terms. Comparing these searches across competitors helps you see how popular each brand is over time.

## Key facts

- **Competitive set**: Headphone amp and DAC brands
- **Market**: Global
- **Brands compared**: 11
- **Month measured**: Oct 2026
- **Highest Share of Search**: FiiO, 61.2%

## Which brand is most popular in search among headphone amp and DAC brands worldwide?

- In October 2026, FiiO was the most searched among headphone amp and DAC brands worldwide, with an estimated 128K branded searches, 61.2% of all searches for the 11 tracked by the Brandwave Brand Demand Index.
- SMSL is in 2nd place, 50.5 percentage points behind at 10.6%.
- Across the 12 months ending October 2026, FiiO’s share of searches among headphone amp and DAC brands worldwide increased from 57.8% to 61.2%.
- Across the 12 months ending October 2026, SMSL’s share of searches among headphone amp and DAC brands worldwide increased from 9.1% to 10.6%.
- Across the 12 months ending October 2026, iFi’s share of searches among headphone amp and DAC brands worldwide decreased from 7.2% to 6.5%.
- Across the 12 months ending October 2026, Topping’s share of searches among headphone amp and DAC brands worldwide decreased from 3.5% to 2.9%.
- Across the 12 months ending October 2026, Questyle’s share of searches among headphone amp and DAC brands worldwide decreased from 2.7% to 2.1%.
- Across the 12 months ending October 2026, JDS Labs’ share of searches among headphone amp and DAC brands worldwide decreased from 2.7% to 1.4%.
- Across the 12 months ending October 2026, FiiO’s share of searches among headphone amp and DAC brands worldwide peaked at 62.3% in July 2026 and was lowest at 55.9% in January 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending October 2026, SMSL’s share of searches among headphone amp and DAC brands worldwide peaked at 11% in September 2026 and was lowest at 8.6% in May 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending October 2026, Schiit’s share of searches among headphone amp and DAC brands worldwide peaked at 9.3% in June 2026 and was lowest at 8.2% in March 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending October 2026, iFi’s share of searches among headphone amp and DAC brands worldwide peaked at 9.1% in September 2026 and was lowest at 6.4% in July 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending October 2026, Chord’s share of searches among headphone amp and DAC brands worldwide peaked at 3% in March 2026 and was lowest at 1.9% in September 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending October 2026, RME’s share of searches among headphone amp and DAC brands worldwide peaked at 2.2% in January 2026 and was lowest at 1.2% in August 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending October 2026, SMSL rose from 3rd to 2nd among headphone amp and DAC brands worldwide.
- Across the 12 months ending October 2026, Schiit fell from 2nd to 3rd among headphone amp and DAC brands worldwide.
- Across the 12 months ending October 2026, Chord rose from 8th to 6th among headphone amp and DAC brands worldwide.
- Across the 12 months ending October 2026, xDuoo rose from 9th to 8th among headphone amp and DAC brands worldwide.
- Across the 12 months ending October 2026, Gustard rose from 11th to 9th among headphone amp and DAC brands worldwide.
- Across the 12 months ending October 2026, JDS Labs fell from 6th to 10th among headphone amp and DAC brands worldwide.
- Across the 12 months ending October 2026, RME fell from 10th to 11th among headphone amp and DAC brands worldwide.

## Top headphone amp and DAC brands in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In Brandwave's three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, FiiO appeared every time. FiiO was recommended most often, coming first in two out of four answers that gave a list. iFi was second, and Topping was third. SMSL, which ranked second in searches, was not mentioned at all.

Brands get a higher AI rank if they are mentioned earlier in the answers that list options.

| Brand | AI rank | ChatGPT answers that named it | Google AI Overviews that named it | All answers that named it |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| FiiO | 1st | 3 of 3 | 2 of 2 | 5 of 5 |
| iFi | 2nd | 2 of 3 | 1 of 2 | 3 of 5 |
| Topping | 3rd | 2 of 3 | 1 of 2 | 3 of 5 |
| Schiit | 4th | 2 of 3 | 0 of 2 | 2 of 5 |
| JDS Labs | 5th | 1 of 3 | 0 of 2 | 1 of 5 |
| Chord | 6th | 1 of 3 | 0 of 2 | 1 of 5 |
| RME | 7th | 1 of 3 | 0 of 2 | 1 of 5 |
| SMSL | Not ranked | 0 of 3 | 0 of 2 | 0 of 5 |
| Questyle | Not ranked | 0 of 3 | 0 of 2 | 0 of 5 |
| xDuoo | Not ranked | 0 of 3 | 0 of 2 | 0 of 5 |
| Gustard | Not ranked | 0 of 3 | 0 of 2 | 0 of 5 |

## Every AI answer about headphone amp and DAC brands

- Asked ChatGPT "What's the best headphone amp and DAC for the money?": 1. FiiO, 2. Topping, 3. Schiit, 4. iFi
- Asked ChatGPT "Which DAC should I buy for my headphones?": 1. FiiO
- Asked ChatGPT "What are the best headphone amp brands?": 1. Schiit, 2. JDS Labs, 3. iFi, 4. Topping, 5. FiiO, 6. Chord, 7. RME
- Searched Google, AI Overview "headphone amp": 1. iFi, 2. FiiO
- Searched Google, AI Overview "dac amp": 1. FiiO, 2. Topping

Not named in any answer: SMSL, Questyle, xDuoo and Gustard.

Brands are listed in the order each answer named them. The answers were collected in the United States on October 27, 2026.

## Compare search popularity between leading brands

- [FiiO vs SMSL: compare search popularity](/demand/global-en/compare/fiio-audio-vs-smsl): 61.2% against 10.6% Share of Search.
- [FiiO vs Schiit: compare search popularity](/demand/global-en/compare/fiio-audio-vs-schiit): 61.2% against 8.7% Share of Search.
- [FiiO vs iFi: compare search popularity](/demand/global-en/compare/fiio-audio-vs-ifi-audio): 61.2% against 6.5% Share of Search.
- [FiiO vs Topping: compare search popularity](/demand/global-en/compare/fiio-audio-vs-topping-audio): 61.2% against 2.9% Share of Search.
- [SMSL vs Schiit: compare search popularity](/demand/global-en/compare/schiit-vs-smsl): 10.6% against 8.7% Share of Search.
- [SMSL vs iFi: compare search popularity](/demand/global-en/compare/ifi-audio-vs-smsl): 10.6% against 6.5% Share of Search.
- [SMSL vs Topping: compare search popularity](/demand/global-en/compare/smsl-vs-topping-audio): 10.6% against 2.9% Share of Search.
- [Schiit vs iFi: compare search popularity](/demand/global-en/compare/ifi-audio-vs-schiit): 8.7% against 6.5% Share of Search.
- [Schiit vs Topping: compare search popularity](/demand/global-en/compare/schiit-vs-topping-audio): 8.7% against 2.9% Share of Search.
- [iFi vs Topping: compare search popularity](/demand/global-en/compare/ifi-audio-vs-topping-audio): 6.5% against 2.9% Share of Search.

## How did search popularity change for headphone amp and DAC brands worldwide in October 2026?

- In October 2026, FiiO gained share of searches among headphone amp and DAC brands worldwide, from 56.9% to 61.2%.
- In October 2026, iFi lost share of searches among headphone amp and DAC brands worldwide, from 9.1% to 6.5%.
- In October 2026, Questyle lost share of searches among headphone amp and DAC brands worldwide, from 2.7% to 2.1%.
- In October 2026, Chord rose from 8th to 6th among headphone amp and DAC brands worldwide.
- In October 2026, Gustard rose from 10th to 9th among headphone amp and DAC brands worldwide.
- In October 2026, Schiit rose from 4th to 3rd among headphone amp and DAC brands worldwide.
- In October 2026, JDS Labs fell from 9th to 10th among headphone amp and DAC brands worldwide.
- In October 2026, xDuoo fell from 7th to 8th among headphone amp and DAC brands worldwide.

## Which headphone amp and DAC brands do people search for most?

| Rank | Brand | Share of Search | Estimated monthly branded searches | Change vs prior month | Owned by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | FiiO | 61.2% | 128K | +10.7% | FiiO |
| 2 | SMSL | 10.6% | 22.2K | 0.0% | SMSL |
| 3 | Schiit | 8.7% | 18.1K | 0.0% | Schiit |
| 4 | iFi | 6.5% | 13.5K | -26.6% | iFi |
| 5 | Topping | 2.9% | 6K | 0.0% | Topping |
| 6 | Chord | 2.2% | 4.6K | +17.9% | Chord Electronics |
| 7 | Questyle | 2.1% | 4.4K | -18.5% | Questyle |
| 8 | xDuoo | 1.7% | 3.6K | -18.2% | xDuoo |
| 9 | Gustard | 1.4% | 2.9K | 0.0% | Gustard |
| 10 | JDS Labs | 1.4% | 2.9K | -19.4% | JDS Labs |
| 11 | RME | 1.4% | 2.9K | +20.8% | RME |

## Historical estimated branded-search demand

| Month | Brand | Estimated monthly branded searches | Share of Search | Rank |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Nov 2025 | FiiO | 141K | 57.8% | 1 |
| Nov 2025 | Schiit | 22.2K | 9.1% | 2 |
| Nov 2025 | SMSL | 22.2K | 9.1% | 3 |
| Nov 2025 | iFi | 17.5K | 7.2% | 4 |
| Nov 2025 | Topping | 8.5K | 3.5% | 5 |
| Nov 2025 | JDS Labs | 6.6K | 2.7% | 6 |
| Nov 2025 | Questyle | 6.6K | 2.7% | 7 |
| Nov 2025 | Chord | 6K | 2.5% | 8 |
| Nov 2025 | xDuoo | 5.4K | 2.2% | 9 |
| Nov 2025 | RME | 4.4K | 1.8% | 10 |
| Nov 2025 | Gustard | 3.6K | 1.5% | 11 |
| Dec 2025 | FiiO | 144K | 58% | 1 |
| Dec 2025 | Schiit | 22.2K | 9% | 2 |
| Dec 2025 | SMSL | 22.2K | 9% | 3 |
| Dec 2025 | iFi | 18.7K | 7.5% | 4 |
| Dec 2025 | Topping | 8.5K | 3.4% | 5 |
| Dec 2025 | Chord | 7K | 2.8% | 6 |
| Dec 2025 | Questyle | 6.6K | 2.7% | 7 |
| Dec 2025 | JDS Labs | 5.4K | 2.2% | 8 |
| Dec 2025 | xDuoo | 5.4K | 2.2% | 9 |
| Dec 2025 | RME | 4.4K | 1.8% | 10 |
| Dec 2025 | Gustard | 3.6K | 1.5% | 11 |
| Jan 2026 | FiiO | 139K | 55.9% | 1 |
| Jan 2026 | Schiit | 22.2K | 8.9% | 2 |
| Jan 2026 | SMSL | 22.2K | 8.9% | 3 |
| Jan 2026 | iFi | 21.4K | 8.6% | 4 |
| Jan 2026 | Topping | 8.5K | 3.4% | 5 |
| Jan 2026 | Chord | 7K | 2.8% | 6 |
| Jan 2026 | Questyle | 6.6K | 2.7% | 7 |
| Jan 2026 | Gustard | 5.4K | 2.2% | 8 |
| Jan 2026 | JDS Labs | 5.4K | 2.2% | 9 |
| Jan 2026 | RME | 5.4K | 2.2% | 10 |
| Jan 2026 | xDuoo | 5.4K | 2.2% | 11 |
| Feb 2026 | FiiO | 123K | 56.9% | 1 |
| Feb 2026 | SMSL | 22.2K | 10.3% | 2 |
| Feb 2026 | Schiit | 18.1K | 8.4% | 3 |
| Feb 2026 | iFi | 17.5K | 8.1% | 4 |
| Feb 2026 | Topping | 7.3K | 3.4% | 5 |
| Feb 2026 | Chord | 5.7K | 2.6% | 6 |
| Feb 2026 | Questyle | 5.4K | 2.5% | 7 |
| Feb 2026 | JDS Labs | 4.4K | 2% | 8 |
| Feb 2026 | RME | 4.4K | 2% | 9 |
| Feb 2026 | xDuoo | 4.4K | 2% | 10 |
| Feb 2026 | Gustard | 3.6K | 1.7% | 11 |
| Mar 2026 | FiiO | 126K | 57.3% | 1 |
| Mar 2026 | SMSL | 22.2K | 10.1% | 2 |
| Mar 2026 | Schiit | 18.1K | 8.2% | 3 |
| Mar 2026 | iFi | 17.5K | 8% | 4 |
| Mar 2026 | Topping | 7.3K | 3.3% | 5 |
| Mar 2026 | Chord | 6.7K | 3% | 6 |
| Mar 2026 | Questyle | 5.4K | 2.5% | 7 |
| Mar 2026 | JDS Labs | 4.4K | 2% | 8 |
| Mar 2026 | RME | 4.4K | 2% | 9 |
| Mar 2026 | xDuoo | 4.4K | 2% | 10 |
| Mar 2026 | Gustard | 3.6K | 1.6% | 11 |
| Apr 2026 | FiiO | 123K | 59.2% | 1 |
| Apr 2026 | Schiit | 18.1K | 8.7% | 2 |
| Apr 2026 | SMSL | 18.1K | 8.7% | 3 |
| Apr 2026 | iFi | 16.5K | 7.9% | 4 |
| Apr 2026 | Topping | 6K | 2.9% | 5 |
| Apr 2026 | Chord | 5.7K | 2.7% | 6 |
| Apr 2026 | Questyle | 4.4K | 2.1% | 7 |
| Apr 2026 | RME | 4.4K | 2.1% | 8 |
| Apr 2026 | xDuoo | 4.4K | 2.1% | 9 |
| Apr 2026 | Gustard | 3.6K | 1.7% | 10 |
| Apr 2026 | JDS Labs | 3.6K | 1.7% | 11 |
| May 2026 | FiiO | 126K | 59.8% | 1 |
| May 2026 | Schiit | 18.1K | 8.6% | 2 |
| May 2026 | SMSL | 18.1K | 8.6% | 3 |
| May 2026 | iFi | 16.5K | 7.8% | 4 |
| May 2026 | Topping | 6K | 2.8% | 5 |
| May 2026 | Questyle | 5.4K | 2.6% | 6 |
| May 2026 | Chord | 4.9K | 2.3% | 7 |
| May 2026 | JDS Labs | 4.4K | 2.1% | 8 |
| May 2026 | xDuoo | 4.4K | 2.1% | 9 |
| May 2026 | Gustard | 3.6K | 1.7% | 10 |
| May 2026 | RME | 3.6K | 1.7% | 11 |
| Jun 2026 | FiiO | 113K | 58.4% | 1 |
| Jun 2026 | Schiit | 18.1K | 9.3% | 2 |
| Jun 2026 | SMSL | 18.1K | 9.3% | 3 |
| Jun 2026 | iFi | 15.7K | 8.1% | 4 |
| Jun 2026 | Topping | 6K | 3.1% | 5 |
| Jun 2026 | Questyle | 5.4K | 2.8% | 6 |
| Jun 2026 | Chord | 4.6K | 2.4% | 7 |
| Jun 2026 | JDS Labs | 3.6K | 1.9% | 8 |
| Jun 2026 | xDuoo | 3.6K | 1.9% | 9 |
| Jun 2026 | Gustard | 2.9K | 1.5% | 10 |
| Jun 2026 | RME | 2.9K | 1.5% | 11 |
| Jul 2026 | FiiO | 131K | 62.3% | 1 |
| Jul 2026 | Schiit | 18.1K | 8.6% | 2 |
| Jul 2026 | SMSL | 18.1K | 8.6% | 3 |
| Jul 2026 | iFi | 13.5K | 6.4% | 4 |
| Jul 2026 | Topping | 5.7K | 2.7% | 5 |
| Jul 2026 | Questyle | 5.4K | 2.6% | 6 |
| Jul 2026 | Chord | 4.6K | 2.2% | 7 |
| Jul 2026 | JDS Labs | 4.4K | 2.1% | 8 |
| Jul 2026 | xDuoo | 3.6K | 1.7% | 9 |
| Jul 2026 | Gustard | 2.9K | 1.4% | 10 |
| Jul 2026 | RME | 2.9K | 1.4% | 11 |
| Aug 2026 | FiiO | 127K | 61.1% | 1 |
| Aug 2026 | Schiit | 18.1K | 8.7% | 2 |
| Aug 2026 | SMSL | 18.1K | 8.7% | 3 |
| Aug 2026 | iFi | 15.7K | 7.5% | 4 |
| Aug 2026 | Topping | 6K | 2.9% | 5 |
| Aug 2026 | Questyle | 5.4K | 2.6% | 6 |
| Aug 2026 | Chord | 4.6K | 2.2% | 7 |
| Aug 2026 | xDuoo | 4.4K | 2.1% | 8 |
| Aug 2026 | JDS Labs | 3.6K | 1.7% | 9 |
| Aug 2026 | Gustard | 2.9K | 1.4% | 10 |
| Aug 2026 | RME | 2.4K | 1.2% | 11 |
| Sep 2026 | FiiO | 115K | 56.9% | 1 |
| Sep 2026 | SMSL | 22.2K | 11% | 2 |
| Sep 2026 | iFi | 18.4K | 9.1% | 3 |
| Sep 2026 | Schiit | 18.1K | 8.9% | 4 |
| Sep 2026 | Topping | 6K | 3% | 5 |
| Sep 2026 | Questyle | 5.4K | 2.7% | 6 |
| Sep 2026 | xDuoo | 4.4K | 2.2% | 7 |
| Sep 2026 | Chord | 3.9K | 1.9% | 8 |
| Sep 2026 | JDS Labs | 3.6K | 1.8% | 9 |
| Sep 2026 | Gustard | 2.9K | 1.4% | 10 |
| Sep 2026 | RME | 2.4K | 1.2% | 11 |
| Oct 2026 | FiiO | 128K | 61.2% | 1 |
| Oct 2026 | SMSL | 22.2K | 10.6% | 2 |
| Oct 2026 | Schiit | 18.1K | 8.7% | 3 |
| Oct 2026 | iFi | 13.5K | 6.5% | 4 |
| Oct 2026 | Topping | 6K | 2.9% | 5 |
| Oct 2026 | Chord | 4.6K | 2.2% | 6 |
| Oct 2026 | Questyle | 4.4K | 2.1% | 7 |
| Oct 2026 | xDuoo | 3.6K | 1.7% | 8 |
| Oct 2026 | Gustard | 2.9K | 1.4% | 9 |
| Oct 2026 | JDS Labs | 2.9K | 1.4% | 10 |
| Oct 2026 | RME | 2.9K | 1.4% | 11 |

## How are branded searches counted for headphone amp and DAC brands?

- **Chord**: Measured on the search terms “chord hugo” and “chord mojo”, summed into one figure.
- **FiiO**: Measured on the search terms “fiio amp”, “fiio btr5”, “fiio btr7”, “fiio dac”, “fiio k11”, “fiio k5 pro”, “fiio k7”, “fiio ka13” and “fiio ka17”, summed into one figure.
- **Gustard**: Measured on the search term “gustard”.
- **iFi**: Measured on the search terms “ifi audio” and “ifi zen dac”, summed into one figure.
- **JDS Labs**: Measured on the search term “jds labs”.
- **Questyle**: Measured on the search term “questyle”.
- **RME**: Measured on the search term “rme adi 2”.
- **Schiit**: Measured on the search term “schiit”.
- **SMSL**: Measured on the search term “smsl”.
- **Topping**: Measured on the search terms “topping amp” and “topping dac”, summed into one figure.
- **xDuoo**: Measured on the search term “xduoo”.

- [Chord](/demand/global-en/brands/chord-electronics)
- [FiiO](/demand/global-en/brands/fiio-audio)
- [Gustard](/demand/global-en/brands/gustard)
- [iFi](/demand/global-en/brands/ifi-audio)
- [JDS Labs](/demand/global-en/brands/jds-labs)
- [Questyle](/demand/global-en/brands/questyle)
- [RME](/demand/global-en/brands/rme-audio)
- [Schiit](/demand/global-en/brands/schiit)
- [SMSL](/demand/global-en/brands/smsl)
- [Topping](/demand/global-en/brands/topping-audio)
- [xDuoo](/demand/global-en/brands/xduoo)

## Methodology

- [How is the Brand Demand Index measured?](/demand/methodology): Where the figures come from, what they compare, and how they may be reused.

## Frequently asked questions

### Which brand is most popular in search among headphone amp and DAC brands worldwide?

In October 2026, FiiO was the most searched among headphone amp and DAC brands worldwide, with an estimated 128K branded searches, 61.2% of all searches for the 11 tracked by the Brandwave Brand Demand Index. These are worldwide searches for English-language branded terms.

## Cite this page

Brandwave. "Headphone amp and DAC brands: Which are most popular?". https://gobrandwave.com/demand/global-en/categories/headphone-amp-and-dac-brands

This page is also available as HTML at https://gobrandwave.com/demand/global-en/categories/headphone-amp-and-dac-brands. Brandwave publishes an index of its Markdown pages at https://gobrandwave.com/llms.txt.