The NVIDIA Shield TV Pro does not have a built-in DAC—but it supports excellent digital audio output and works seamlessly with external DACs via USB or HDMI. Here’s a detailed breakdown of how it handles digital‑to‑analog conversion and what that means for sound quality:
No Internal DAC, But Excellent Digital Output
- The Shield outputs digital audio only—via HDMI to your TV or AV receiver, or via USB to an external DAC.
- When connected by HDMI, it supports digital audio pass‑through of 5.1 or 7.1 channels, handling formats like Dolby TrueHD, DTS‑X, Dolby Atmos, etc., all at up to 24‑bit/192 kHz
USB DAC Support & High‑Res Playback
- You can connect a USB DAC to the Shield’s USB port and play high-resolution PCM audio up to 24‑bit/192 kHz .
- NVIDIA’s documentation states: “Shield TV supports USB-powered devices such as a DAC… audio sampled at…192 kHz and a bit depth of 24‑bits”
- Users report that apps like Kodi and Tidal (with MAX audio support) can output bit-perfect, high‑res audio when paired with apps such as USB Audio Player Pro
User Feedback from r/ShieldAndroidTV
“USB Audio Player Pro… will decode Hi Res audio up to 24bit 192 kHz … It really provides audiophile level sound quality.”
“The Shield has no internal DAC…it supports up to 32‑bit 192 kHz digital audio output and won’t re‑sample it over HDMI (and soon over USB)…”
Setup Options for Best Audio
- USB DAC Connection
- Plug in a quality USB DAC (e.g., Schiit Modi, Topping, DragonFly).
- Use a hi-res playback app (Kodi, USB Audio Player Pro) set for bit‑perfect output.
- HDMI Passthrough with AV Receiver
- Connect Shield → AVR (or TV) → DAC built into your receiver.
- Ensure “Available formats” allow Dolby/DTS passthrough for max quality
Summary
- The Shield TV Pro does not include an internal DAC—instead, it outputs high-quality digital audio that must be converted externally
- It supports high-res audio up to 24‑bit/192 kHz via HDMI or USB DACs
- For true audiophile sound, use a good external DAC and a bit-perfect playback app. Many users have found excellent results with USB Audio Player Pro and external DACs like the Schiit Modi or DragonFly .
So, does the Shield TV Pro have a good DAC?
It doesn’t have one built in, but it delivers clean digital audio capable of driving a high-end DAC, making it a strong choice when paired with quality external audio gear.
