We designed the Muse 300 to challenge the status quo of desktop audio. It is a premium desktop DAC and headphone amplifier built to shatter aesthetic norms with its bold, futuristic silhouette. But the true magic lies beneath the surface. Our engineering team developed the proprietary MUSE OS from the ground up, ensuring lag-free, bit-perfect sonic delivery completely free from OS colouration. We wanted to redefine desktop interaction, combining a highly intuitive tactile interface with dynamic visual themes so you can personalize the device to your exact liking.

More importantly, we integrated three distinct hardware-level sound tuning modes, Balanced: Tube Amp, and ACG, allowing listeners to organically tailor their audio experience. Powered by the flagship ESS ES9039 Ultra DAC chipset and a robust, fully balanced amplifier that delivers a massive 2200mW at 32 ohms, the Muse 300 was built for uncompromising performance. While we are incredibly proud of the engineering inside the Muse 300, what truly matters is how it performs on your desk. To give you an authentic perspective, we have gathered impressions from some of the most respected voices in the audiophile community. Do the hardware tuning modes deliver? How does the custom interface feel in daily use? Grab a coffee and dive into this comprehensive community review roundup to find out.

A Quick Note of Appreciation 

We extend our deepest gratitude to the reviewers and audio enthusiasts who took the time to analyze the Muse 300. The impressions below are summarized directly from their respective video reviews to give you a quick overview. We highly encourage you to click through and watch their full videos for in-depth technical breakdowns. The Muse 300 is available directly through our official retailers for $399.99. Thank you for showering our products with love.

Gizaudio

Dave from Gizaudio put the Muse 300’s versatility and value to the test. Highlighting the 5-inch IPS display and custom OS, he found the single-knob navigation incredibly intuitive. Dave was particularly impressed by the sheer 2.2W balanced output and the pitch-black background when driving sensitive IEMs. After exploring our hardware sound styles, he gravitated toward the "Balanced" mode, noting its slightly warm, natural delivery that perfectly avoided digital glare. He also commended the "Tube" mode for its convincing mid-range warmth. Pitting it against industry heavyweights, Dave declared the Muse 300 fiercely competitive and remarkably feature-rich. We love how cinematic this review by Dave is, do have a look at it on Gizaudio YouTube channel.

Passion for Sound

Lachlan from Passion for Sound offered a brutally honest take, admitting he "hated how much he loved" the device. In strict blind A/B testing against his top-recommended amplifiers, the Muse 300 consistently won him over with its commanding bass authority, depth, and expansive spatial separation. While he was vocal about his preference for standard UI layouts over our vibrant anime-inspired themes and critiqued the side-mounted jacks, his sonic praise was absolute. He highlighted a tightly focused central image and refined presentation that easily outperforms its price bracket. For pure, breathtaking audio performance, Lachlan gave it a resounding recommendation.

Prime Audio Reviews

David brought his analytical expertise to the table, immediately acknowledging the robust ES9039 Ultra DAC and seamless high-res Bluetooth integration. Although he noted the absence of a touchscreen, he found the rotary navigation smooth and user-friendly. On the audio front, David celebrated the absolutely dead-silent background when pairing our powerhouse amp with highly sensitive in-ear monitors. Breaking down the hardware modes, he praised the default Balanced setting as wonderfully flat, uncolored, and cohesive. Calling it a massive value upgrade for any desktop, David highly recommends the Muse 300.

AndrewChoppa's Audio Addiction

Injecting his trademark humor, Andrew dubbed the Muse 300 a "tiny TV for your desk" and a stroke of "beautiful madness." He verified its driving prowess, noting it effortlessly powered demanding planar magnetics while staying completely silent for IEMs. While the ACG mode and side-ports weren't to his personal taste, he was entirely won over by our Tube Amplifier mode. He loved how it infused the lower mids with authoritative, thick weight without adding background hiss or sounding bloated. Concluding that it’s a desktop powerhouse and an absolute steal, Andrew highly recommends securing a unit.

Z Reviews

Zeos delivered a characteristically passionate and chaotic breakdown, declaring the Muse 300 "psychotically good." He didn't hold back on his physical critiques—mentioning the screen angle and UI refresh rates—but his sonic evaluation was glowing. Zeos stated that the audio output ranks among the best he has ever heard in his career, matching desktop stacks that cost thousands more. He was particularly blown away when using the Muse 300 as a preamp for his flagship Tungsten headphones, calling our hardware Tube mode incredibly authentic. In his eyes, the phenomenal sound delivery makes this an absolute must-buy.

Currawong

Taking a deep dive into the engineering, Currawong stripped away the aesthetics to evaluate our core architecture. He praised the integration of the ES9039 DAC alongside the trusted Texas Instruments TPA6120 amp chips. After swapping the stock USB cable for his preferred generic option, his acoustic impressions were stellar. He pointed out that our Tube sound style brilliantly tames the typical "Saber edge," injecting a pleasant, organic warmth. He found it easily handled moderately demanding headphones like the Meze 109 Pro with excellent dynamics, concluding that the Muse 300 is a highly capable DAC/Amp housed in a truly unique desktop format.

Akros

Akros provided a masterclass in IEM synergy, testing the Muse 300 with an extensive collection ranging from the Hidizs MP145 Pro to the Letshuoer EJ07M. He praised our commitment to hardware-level sound tuning over cheap digital DSP. Akros discovered that the Tube mode worked wonders on bright, clinical IEMs by smoothing the upper registers for fatigue-free listening, while the Balanced mode perfectly lifted the treble on darker monitors without compromising their core signature. Labeling it as arguably the best desktop value under $500, he stated the Muse 300 successfully elevated the performance of every single IEM in his test.

Porta.Fi

With a keen eye for design, Pavlo from Porta.Fi recognized the Muse 300 as a striking conversation starter for any audio rack. Delving into the sound, he found the default Balanced mode to be highly natural, featuring a welcome touch of lower-mid weight that grants male vocals a velvety texture and gives instruments real physical presence. He noted the bass is deep, controlled, and impactful. Pavlo also highlighted the ACG mode, explaining that its mild V-shape expands explosions and sharpens positional cues, making it an unexpectedly great fit for movies and gaming. He highly recommends the device for its sound and wealth of features.

Fresh Reviews

Shifting the focus to competitive gaming, Fresh Reviews tested the Muse 300 in the intense arenas of Valorant and Apex Legends. Pitted against other popular desktop stacks, the Muse 300 emerged as the superior choice. Interestingly, he recommended gamers stick to the default Balanced mode over the ACG setting. In Balanced mode, he praised our DAC/Amp for projecting an exceptionally spacious soundstage with razor-sharp imaging, which is crucial for pinpointing enemy footsteps. He also loved the organic, cinematic rumble it brought to gameplay. For top-tier competitive telemetry paired with lush audio, Fresh Reviews called it an exceptional buy.

EMRE TPG

EMRE TPG took a closer look at our groundbreaking software architecture. He expertly explained why we chose to run a custom OS on a dedicated microcontroller (MCU) rather than an Android platform: it guarantees stable, lag-free audio processing free from background bloatware. Emre was thoroughly impressed by our fully balanced circuitry and premium components. Above all, he praised the physical hardware-driven tuning, noting that by avoiding digital EQ, the Muse 300 sidesteps phase shifts and artificiality, allowing the Tube and ACG modes to sound flawlessly natural. Emre concluded that it’s an exceptional release that breaks new ground in the hobby.

Final Thoughts

At Muse HiFi, our goal was to push boundaries, and the verdict from the global audiophile community tells us we’ve achieved exactly that. While our bold aesthetic and expressive UI spark lively conversation, the consensus on pure sound quality is unanimous: the Muse 300 hits far above its weight class. By engineering genuine, hardware-level sound tuning instead of relying on digital filters, we’ve crafted a truly versatile centerpiece. From driving demanding planars to maintaining dead-silent backgrounds for sensitive monitors, the Muse 300 adapts to your collection. Whether you prefer the transparent fidelity of Balanced mode or the lush, analog embrace of our Tube emulator, the Muse 300 is built to elevate your desktop experience. Thank you to the reviewers and the community for the incredible feedback! If you have any further questions, reach out to our team through our social media channels.