Best portable dac amp reddit.
10 votes, 15 comments.
Best portable dac amp reddit Your best bet is probably the ifi micro DSD black label. Thank you for your recommendation, though. Sabaj D4 I currently own a pair of IEMs, the Sennheiser IE300 which are great, but I need better conversion quality (DAC) and amplification. the steam deck, but my s21 ultra has no jack, so I just leave an older hidizs dongle dac plugged into it. Location: Canada . There is possible a big jump going from a internal amp-dac in your cheap phone/PC/laptop to a external amp-dac, for various reasons. I own a few headphones now (my fave being the Focal Clear Pros) and now looking at finding non-bank breaking endgame DACs and amp combos (most recent addition being the RME ADI-2 DAC FS). Qudelix 5K. If you're at a desk, any of the ~$100 standalone Amps (Magni Heresy, Atom+ Amp, L30 II, etc. But I'll say that the K5 Pro ESS is no slouch either. The DAC portion is in the player itself. (Image credit: Chord ) Oh, right, I didn’t see that you have an iPhone. Would I notice a difference between using the Apple dongo and a portable DAC? I ask this question because, as I never used a DAC, I have no idea on what could change with one. Not my experience at all and this is not technically correct either as far as I know - at a minimum you obviously need an amplifier between the DAC and the headphone jack, a means of volume control, etc. Moondrop Moonriver 2: Ti. If you get enough clarity and volume from your PC you won't necessarily need a DAC and amp. I am content using my Sundara with Fiio K5 Pro. I'm looking for a portable dac/amp like the ones I mentioned on my post that I can easily bring with me or place inside my pocket/bag. I don't have a desktop space anymore so I like portable dac/amps as I can use them on the go with my phone or at home with other sources without any fuss. Qudelix 5k portable amp/DAC/bluetooth receiver w/ 10 band PEQ via app RME ADI-2 FS high-end DAC w/ built-in 5 band PEQ MiniDSP IL-DSP portable amp/DAC w/ 10-band PEQ via app (PC/Mac/Android only; no iOS) MiniDSP HA-DSP larger but still portable amp/DAC w/ 10-band PEQ via app (also no iOS) Best portable dac amp is the quidelix 5k. 5 mm Female Audio Jack Connector with MAX97220 Independent Amplifier CX31993 DAC Decoding Chip Headphone Converter Adapter for Earphones and IEM https://amzn. Thus I ask, what portable dac amps are available for under $100? When you say portable, do you mean one to take with you piggy backed to an iPod? Most items are just amps, NOT portable amp & DACs. There are some dedicated DACs that requires you to have an Amp goes with it, however these stuff are ususally only available at high ends or I think speakers DAC. For instance before buying my ha-3a, there was literally no information about this amp on reddit or other forums, but soooooo much chatter and info about cayin and other higher end amps on that site. this way the built in battery would die too fast for the price of the unit, at least in my usecase. Best portable Dac/Amp . If it does not, it won't be able to make any sound at all. If you’re absolutely convinced you need a dedicated DAC/Amp and are suffering from FOMO, the Dawn Pro (you do not need the companion app) is the best option at $50. I would get some tin t2 not the pros but the original ones. I cant get myself to drop that much, im just starting to into the hobby it would be my first dac amp so $130 is reasonably a good way to start plus eq stood out cuz i have iphone and if i like imma start upgrading, i been eyeing the schitt stack for my speakers but if u got any other recommendations for a desktop one im all ears. If you have spare money after your headphone purchase, go for a combo unit i. No DAC/AMP out there will influence, improve etc directional audio. 4 if you don't need 3. This subreddit is dedicated to a community of headphone enthusiast and newcomers. I think you'd be hard pressed to find a portable dac/amp that can truly drive any headphone well, gotta keep in mind that you're powering both the dac and amp section on a single battery. I think you should really only bother with a portable dac/amp if you: Are running something that the device cannot run otherwise. It even has RCA and balanced audio out to connect to external speaker amps. com Apr 5, 2025 · Great sound doesn’t have to stay at home. I have a Chord Mojo 2 and Apple dongle and the $700 Mojo adds almost nothing to the experience on its default settings. and you are willing to spend some money. Any recommendtaions for a portable DAC/AMP to use either with a PC or mobile phone for the HD600?. I do hope you find something that works for you, though. . Members Online Have HD 650's on the way, know I'll need an amp for my Scarlett 2i2. There are audio players with android that can support streaming services like Tidal. The reason why you notice a difference with the bluetooth headphones is because they are tuned in a way you particularly enjoy, tuning and audio quality are two separate things, you can listen the highest res FLAC file, if you don't enjoy the tuning of the big big big heads up for JDS Atom AMP+, you can get $20 Tempotec Sonata HD II as a DAC, it has a good DAC chip and standardized 2Vrms LO to output enough power so AMP can flex all of it's muscles, E10K is rly outdated, you can get a balanced DAC dongle for under $100 that outputs more power than it like $90 Tempotec Sonata BHD Pro or $65 Moondrop Dawn 4. Some have a warmer signature- DS1. The software is amazing and it allows you to control everything. When they combine a DAC and an amp in one product, you almost always end up with 1. And I personally prefer it without its dozens of menu making a far straightforward experience. I understand you wanting to save money but if there was a futuristic DAC/amp that was portable, efficient and powerful enough to run full-size planars well for £150 we would all own one. (Also pairs with the dac/amp below) If you wanna like get a dac with some options. They will all sound similarly good, so there isn't really a "best" out of these other than which one fits your needs best. Right, but, everywhere you look there are photos of (e. The Topping G5 has Bluetooth wireless, but can be used as a DAC/Amp via USB-C, or a pure Amp via 3. only thing that pulled me away from buying it is, that you cannot bypass the battery when connected to a power source. 10 votes, 15 comments. However, the problem in every single case was the adapter between the portable DAC and the iphone. Need a usb c dac to connect it with phone and pc,I read supermix 4 requires a little better dac, Otherwise sound becomes too bassy (1) Abigail pro -13-15$ A place for making the right decision when purchasing new headphones. A place for making the right decision when purchasing new headphones. Whether you’re commuting, traveling, or just want hi-fi audio from your phone or laptop, today’s DAC/Amps give you powerful, portable listening at every price point—from budget-friendly dongles to premium portable rigs. I use e10k and dt770 80ohm for 6 years now, and I never needed to upgrade from it. I want to know if upgrading to a Letshuoer s12 + DAC / AMP would be worth it or just get the s12 by itself. Hey, since you mentioned trying a DAC with an iPhone, I have a question. If the devices functioned anywhere close to as well as any cheap old smartphone I might buy one. I travel with it, and I also use it as a DAC with my tube amp when I am home. But most modern solid-state amps and DeltaSigma DACs are going to be extremely similar. ) the DragonFly running on a phone with an adapter without a charger connected, and the manufacturer says it might work better with the kit that allows for a charger to be connected, but says the other kit (just Lighting to USB A) will work, and doesn't mention a charger being required. Filter by Flair Answered Posts Full-size Open HPs Full-size Closed HPs IEMs Wireless & Portable HPs Mar 30, 2020 · Amps: MalValve Headamp three, Moon Neo 430HA, GS-X MK2, Auralic Taurus MKII, Sennheiser HDVA600, Woo WA6SE, Schiit Mjolnir 2, Stax SR-727II, / Moon 240i, / Moon 240i, DAC's: PS Audio Directstream DAC & Bridge II , Dangerous Music Convert 2, Abbas Audio DAC 4. As far as dap vs dac/amp goes, I never had a decent physical media library of songs nor a digital one so it would be mightily expensive and time consuming if I was to start making one for a dap. The Motu M2 and M4 seem to be desktop dac/amps. When I listen to music through my macbook the second two options I mentioned are really great. Personally, for me, I find that carrying around a fiio m11 plus puts me in a headspace to simply listen more, which, considering that I work in music/audio I need to force myself to do. As far as this product category is concerned, all you're looking for is that the DAC is half decent linear and that the amp can provide enough power without creating a bunch of unwanted distortion. The Topping NX4 DSD could also drive the HD650 well, and is a DAC/Amp, though can be used as purely an amp. Members Online xemnas103 Otherwise, unlike amps, an expensive DAC will not outperform a decent dongle these days (like apples lighting to 3. 5mm and balanced headphone outs. It's also useless on its own. A versatile portable DAC/headphone amp with a musically class-leading sound. Budget: 100-200$ . You will hear a difference pairing them to a good DAC. I know qudelix 5k often being recommended as the best wireless dac/amp here, but topping g5 has more power right? (Please correct me if i'm mistaken) So, is topping g5 a better choice for planar headphone and more future proof in term of power output as a portable dac/amp? I know most people here don't agree with the DAC/amp making a difference, and with less revealing iems it matters less, but I do listen to specific IEM's with specific DAC/amps. The Fiio items you mention are audio players that have DACs rather than simple portable DAC/amps. Some sound "cleaner" (always hard to describe), less warmth- Dawn Pro, some have more detail. That thing is a beast in terms of size and power (in View community ranking In the Top 5% of largest communities on Reddit. Jan 3, 2024 · meanwhile the best money no issue portable bt dac amp is probably the Questyle CMA 18 portable. Not to mention, higher volumes cause noticeable distortion. A dac will transform a digital signal to an analog one. Takes power using a usb b port from laptops and desktops ( think even an ipad would be able to power it) and has an integrated amp and DAC with both 3. I highly recommend it. You do not need a dedicated DAC/Amp to enjoy your EM6L. g. Fiio E5 / E6 [Amp] [Portable] . 27V into 15 ohms Claimed or Measured Voltage @ High Impedance: ~1. In this guide, we’ll explore the best portable DAC/Amp options available in 2025, ranging from under $10 to over $2,000 The latter 2 could be improved with a portable amp, but my laptop, phone, and interfaces, sound indistinguishable from my IEmagni with my 6XX's. To expand on this, I understand and appreciate that what I’m looking to do is not ‘true’ audiophile territory, but I want the best quality I can get with the convenience of portability. DAC+AMP which will keep you happy for a long time. If you want additional volume, an amp will get you there. All three resulted in great audio quality, I feel the AudioQuest had the best audio quality but the Ztella is lighter and more portable. 3V into 10,000 ohms Here you can ask which headphone is better, which amp you should buy, which gear best fit your budget and anything related to headphone comparisons and purchasing. Portable DAC under $100. Price: $15-25 Claimed or Measured Voltage @ Low Impedance: 1. For me personally I used to use my HD650 (same headphone) with a balanced cable through my Drop THXAAA amp and SMSL balanced dac then when I upgraded my primary headphones, I started using the HD650 with an Ifi Hip-dac portable dac. Source - Apple Music Device - Samsung S9 Plus IEMs - Moondrop Aria, TinHifi T3 Plus, Blon 03, 7Hz… Affordable dad's and amps were aplenty in one spot. 5mm SE(but you KZ Am01 Portable USB DAC Type C Male to 3. TLDR: please don’t become one of those doofuses carrying around a whole ass stack or separate amp the size of a phone in your pocket. I see that the BTR5 , qudelix 5k, ifi go blu are some popular choices. I am using Fiio K5 Pro which is also a DAC & AMP combo (another option). and the sound is the same compared to my $1,000 desktop dac amp. ) A worse DAC you almost certainly didn’t need for 3. I definitely am leaning towards the ifi go blu, but I heard it has more power so is that ok with IEMS? If anyone has recommendations, it is much appreciated. It is definitely a step up from some of the dongles I have used, although not quite as portable and a little pricier. ) Much more money than each is individually worth. If you are okay with a desktop/transportable option then the ifi zendac v2 is really good. e. It works ig, but it has a cheap connector so anytime you wiggle it in your pocket or something, it immediately makes a scratchy sound and/or pauses the music because it disconnected for a second. Almost any DAC you're aiming for (Aka dongle, USB to 3. Cons: it's a separate device, which can be bulky, and it probably requires charging as well. You can look up the ifi go blu. However, I'm looking into buying the Letshuoer s12 and I wonder if investing in a good DAC / AMP would bring out it's true potential? For reference, I've tried out the Moondrop Aria / Aria SE, Dunu Titan S, and Tin Hifi T3's. An amp is simply that, it amplifies = makes it louder. I tried a few units (soundblaster omni and a GSX 1200 for gaming dacs and Ark mk II, JDS ELEMENT III) and none have either improved nor made directional audio worse. Android phones with an android version later than Android 8 support LDAC, it’s a really good wireless Codec, iPhones only support AAC, which has a relatively low bandwidth, so you’re right, it’s better to stay with a wired DAC, but keep in mind that most people can’t distinguish the sound of AAC and the sound of a wired connection. Unless those things are integrated into the DAC package itself -- but I mean, that is still an analog stage where things can go well or go poorly. Sources: PC, iPhone ( don't need BT as source ) A place for making the right decision when purchasing new headphones. ) with the addition of an affordable DAC like, even the Apple USB-C to 3. Bought an iBasso DC06 for my Fiio FH9, been enjoying the result as well! Also, funnily enough, I like the sound of FH9 paired with the iBasso dongle more than with both my stationary $1k RME ADI 2 Dac and once flagship Sony portable amplifier PHA-3 DX3 Pro+ is the current darling for AMP/DAC combo. 5mm Dongle, OR any ~$200 DAC/Amp Combo units (DX3 Pro+, K5 Pro, etc. Of course a desktop DAC/AMP and a seperate FiO BTR-7 is the best of both worlds, but if you're only going to but 1 DAC that has to do everything the dragonfly is the best jack of all trades imho (personally I've used both the red and cobalt and they're both head and shoulders above any in-built DAC or Bluetooth DAC in terms of audio quality Any modern device with a headphone out has a decent enough dac in it, i. We would like to show you a description here but the site won’t allow us. If you are buying new, and don't have any DAC/amp combo, I would suggest getting fiio k3s, better internals and it's upgrade from e10k, small enough to fit it under the table edge for easier reach (mine e10k is velcroed under the table edge, just on the reach of the hand). Image 1 of 4. 5mm adapter or desktop DAC) should have an amp in it. ), should be more than enough to produce listenable volumes for Sundara. Topping E30 and JDS Atom+. Cons: you can't hook up a different device to it to use it as a dac amp Advantages of a portable DAC/amp: can be used with just about any device, just one cable and your old phone will become a hi res audio player. Small, compact, but don’t underestimate its looks because it provides enough power for my sundaras and should do the same for the edition xs All an amp does is make devices louder. 0, Weiss DAC 2, Schiit Gungnir Multibit, AYA2DS Streamers : Bluesound Node See full list on headphonesty. FX-Audio D01. HD 599 is a good entry into the world of spending too much money for headphones lol. eu/d/c0143On This subreddit is for the budget minded audiophile that wants to grow out of soundbars, boomboxes, mini systems, portable bluetooth, lifestyle speakers, and PC peripheral branded audio solutions. This price range is pretty competitive so there's plenty of options. This subreddit is for the budget minded audiophile that wants to grow out of soundbars, boomboxes, mini systems, portable bluetooth, lifestyle speakers, and PC peripheral branded audio solutions. google searching head fi + amp/dac/headphone of choice is way better than manually searching on headfi site. ) A worse amp you probably didn’t actually need and 2. On the other hand, if you can actually hear a "difference" going from a 50$ Moondrop Dawn Pro to a 500$ Schiit setup is subjective, let alone that "difference" does not necessarily mean "better sound". Portable amps (without dac) fares much better. Best portable DAC under 60$ Cables/Accessories Preferible with MQA and USB C App: Tidal Headphones: meze 99 noir IEMs: moondrop aria I want one that can improve the sound quality the Best posible, no matter the amplification The Apple dongle, or the fiio, or many many others are fine, or even great. Neat. I am looking for a portable bluetooth Dac/Amp to use strictly with IEMs (moondrop starfield at the moment). The Bose 700 are not at all difficult to drive so the need for an amp isn’t really there, safe listening volumes are around 70db, most any source should be able to get them where without an amp. You could run that wired to a discrete portable amp, like the Topping NX7. iFi Zen Air DAC. For a good iem thats still really adorable. Eventually, places like r/headphones corrupted further and I went down the rabbit hole. It depends on how portable and what the budget is. Well, realistically the DAC in the G8X is pretty good. I have now a AKG K371. I'll list one example per brand to keep it somewhat concise: FiiO K11. Mar 23, 2025 · The best premium portable DAC. At $200 it is the device to beat. I love my Chord Mojo 2. I specifically wanted an in-line amp since my only other portables are a very picky little bear portable tube and my btr7, which can't do in-line. If you don't need a knob or for your AMP/DAC to sit pretty on your desk. I am (really) new to the headphone world. 5mm input. 5). Here you can ask which headphone is better, which amp you should buy, which gear best fit your budget and anything related to headphone comparisons and purchasing. The Fostex HP-P1 is a true portable amp/DAC, but is quite expensive. nzpkhvijrfsxmwtubjujneaellqbrdlrtlqxkhdtyuzqdzjbrtnpzvbcj