In this review we check out the all-new Lotoo PAW D3 DAC/DDC selling for $420 USD.
Disclaimer: Lotoo provided the PAW D3 for this review. Headfonia and Lotoo are in no way related to each other. We thank Lotoo for their support and generosity!
Lotoo
Lotoo is not a new name to the audiophile community, as their previous products have already been pretty popular.
Founded in 1999, Lotoo has focused primarily on professional audio recorders and has only tipped their toes into the audio player market 15 years after their start.
They introduced the PAW Gold as their absolute reference player, and legend has it, that it was only made because the owner of the company was not satisfied with what the market had to offer.
The PAW Gold has quickly risen to become a wildly beloved product. It stood out from the market with its unique looks and software, which could be described as rudimentary.
In 2015 Lotoo released the PAW 5000, a much cheaper DAP, that again proved popular. In late 2016 they released the hyper compact PAW Pico, a DAP comparable to the iPod nano, as it featured no screen.
Lotoo has always shown a good interest in keeping their products up to date by offering new firmware versions for their players throughout all the years.
To me it’s also very positive that they kept the Paw Gold as their flagship, where other companies push new products in a two-year cycle, they have just slightly updated the original and kept going.
In 2018 Lotoo launched the first generation of the PAW Gold Touch, which then replaced the original Paw Gold as their flagship. This DAP has gained momentum fast in the audiophile scene and has stayed a benchmark for neutrality and flexibility since then.
In 2019 the PAW 6000 saw the light of day. A smaller, more pocketable and amped down version of the PAW Gold Touch at a very competitive price.
Just like its big brother, the PAW 6000 became very popular very fast. I still own both of these DAPs on the day of writing this review and cherish both for their own feats.
In 2022 Lotoo announced their take on the hyper DAP. The Mjölnir is a transportable giant that’s supposed to run anything. Only the bravest of the brave use this as a portable DAP though, as it is more comparable to a desktop unit.
Last year, in 2024, Lotoo launched their latest flagship DAP – the PAW Gold Touch 2. We reviewed it earlier this year.
Today, we are looking at Lotoo’s latest addition to their lineup: the Lotoo PAW D3.
PAW D3
The PAW D3 is a Digital to Analogue and Digital to Digital Converter. It uses an AK4493EQ DAC chip and supports high resolution sampling rates up to 24/192. According to Lotoo, the decision to only implement support for 24/192 was due to their optimized clock design for sampling rates up to that height.
The PAW D3 also has a built-in ADI Blackfin BF706 Digital Sound Processor, and an AK8142 precision clock chip integrated.
The PAW D3 has an array of digital in and outputs as well as an RCA analogue line-level output. You can connect the D3 to your digital sources via USB C, Optical and Coaxial connections. If you want to use the PAW D3 as DDC you get choices of Coaxial and Optical outputs as well. On top of those, you also get a wireless LTTP in and output.
LTTP is Lotoo’s own wireless transfer protocol, which offers true lossless connectivity with other LTTP enabled products. The PAW D3 can be used either as LTTP transmitter (sender) or LTTP receiver. This, for example, gives you the option to send your CDs through the PAW D3 to your PAW Gold Touch 2. You can also send other sources to your LTTP devices of course.
Just like other Lotoo products, the PAW D3 comes equipped with a Parametric EQ and ATE Sound Effects. These let you alter the signature of the PAW D3 to your personal taste.
The Lotoo PAW D3 is available throughout Lotoo’s retail channels and can be yours for $420 USD.
Build Quality
When I unpacked the Lotoo PAW D3 I was surprised by its miniature size, even if the pictures online already spoilt its size. It measures 88 x 42 x 110mm (WHD) and the entire unit is made of aluminum, including the rotatable wheel on the front panel.
The screen (LCD, 240 x 320px) looks very well integrated into the whole design. If you know Lotoo’s Operating System (LTOS), you won’t be surprised by the minimalistic looks of it. Don’t expect anything too flashy, but rather something that works just fantastically well.
The PAW D3 weighs just a mere 333 grams, so using too heavy cables with it will probably result in the unit tilting backwards. Maybe watch out for that if it annoys you.
Overall, the build quality is excellent, just like we are used to with Lotoo’s previous products. I want to quickly mention the volume wheel again, because I believe it deserves special attention. Since it is fully made of aluminum and has a pattern CNC’d into it, it feels good and of high quality.
I know, it is a little weird, but how a wheel feels and rotates is important to me and shows class in production in my opinion.
Package
When you order a Lotoo PAW D3, you get a very basic package. In the box you will find the PAW D3, a USB C cable and a quick-start guide. Nothing more. But then, for the price you probably wouldn’t expect anything drastic and extravagant either.
The review continues on the second page!
