Under impedance adaptive adjustment, the Atom 3 can achieve an output power of 62mW with a 32-ohm load, covering mainstream impedance values from 16 ohms to 600 ohms. Even when paired with high-impedance headphones of 600 ohms, it can still deliver a certain level of power output. In terms of functionality, since the device does not integrate any physical buttons, settings such as gain adjustment are in default mode. The Atom series has maintained stable support for Nintendo Switch.


In terms of compatibility testing, devices such as Samsung Galaxy S20, Sony Xperia XZ1C, HTC 5G Hub, HP Envy X360 15, Lenovo ChromeBook Duet 5, and Tempotec V6 have all been tested and shown good compatibility. However, the system limitation of the Duet 5 restricts the output code rate, while all other devices achieve the 768kHz/32Bit PCM decoding as indicated by the manufacturer. According to the official store, additional firmware may be required for compatibility with Xiaomi 13 and some iPad models due to the USB output code rate limitation of these devices. 


In terms of style, compared to the relatively softer approach of the Atom Mini, the Atom 3 appears more "sharp". It maintains the smoothness and softness that the Atom Mini has already achieved, but the Atom 3 offers better body and clarity in terms of form and imaging.


In terms of driving performance, the Atom 3 performs quite well with most earphones and portable headphones. It can even drive power-hungry dynamic driver earphones like the EX1000, and its performance is comparable to the Beam 2 SE, which I have recommended in the past. Although the Beam 2 SE has higher driving capability in high gain mode, in most scenarios, the Atom 3 has essentially replaced many of the previous Beam models. Just like when I evaluated the Atom Mini, don't compare it to the monster-level big-tailed models like the Beam 3 Pro in terms of driving power. Don't try to "drive a big car with a little child" by plugging in something that is difficult to drive. For low-impedance models like the Cella Balans V and the Beyerdynamic DT900 PRO X, yes, they are not difficult to drive, and they sound good enough with the Atom 3, but the Beam 3 series still has advantages in terms of thickness, soundstage, and other aspects. In this form, the Atom 3 is completely capable. It is suitable for the majority of earphones and small headphones, and even some low-impedance closed-back monitoring headphones can be plugged in and enjoyed on the go.


In terms of the sense of quantity, the low-frequency response of the Atom 3 does not show a particularly noticeable change compared to the Mini. The speed is slightly more emphasized, but overall, it still leans towards a looser presentation, although the presence of the low frequencies is better. The clarity of vocals has increased, and the size of the imaging is closer to the feeling of the Beam 3 Plus single-ended port. The balance between linearity and texture is well-maintained. Graininess is still not prominent, and overall, it is smoother with less coloration compared to the Mini. The linearity of instruments is slightly more emphasized, and the solidity of the texture has improved. The amount of overtones is richer, but there is no significant decrease in naturalness.

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