Review: Portable amp roundup! 37 portable amps reviewed and compared

[MrFaust]

Has anyone managed to find the iPower 500mAh Li-On rechargeable battery for less than $14.97 US ?

[mcmyers]

Originally Posted by slattikarma

Great thread. I have just read all 38 pages and feel like I need to take a nap! Thank you Skylab! Your dedication is incredible.

I started off the thread wanting a Hornet, then a Headphonia, then a Tomahawk and now a Porta Corda Mrk III... and I feel that may change to a Corda Move in a few days time.

One point I'm a bit confused on, that I would like clarified for the benefit of newbies such as I.

What exactly is the benefit in buying a DAC amp vs a normal amp?

For example, when using a laptop, would the DAC amps that use USB such as the Bithead, Corda Move or Headphonia be preferred over a non DAC amp that uses the headphone jack such as an RSA Hornet or Tomahawk?

Is there much of a difference? Or is the advantage solely in that you can power the amp from the USB?

I'm just a tad bit confused here.

I'm trying to decide what to buy for my Beyer DT770/80, that I plan to use with my macbook and on the road with my ipod.

Thanks.

I'm no expert, but my understanding is that a DAC with USB will let you bypass your laptop's internal soundcard, as well as all the noisy inerts of your computer and give you a cleaner signal. So unless you have a great internal soundcard, a USB DAC is going to give you better sound from your computer than if you just amped straight out of the computer. Hope that makes sense.

[itsborken]

Originally Posted by slattikarma

What exactly is the benefit in buying a DAC amp vs a normal amp?

If you buy a normal amp, you just connect the line out of the pc to the line in of the normal amp. line out signals are created by the PC soundcard (or onboard soundchip) and they don't produce the greatest quality sound for music. They are fine for games crash boom bang. The noise from fans, etc. also degrade the sound quality going into the amp.

If you take the digital output of the computer and let an external DAC convert it, the sound quality is better (noise is blocked since digital output is just 0 & 1s). The DAC component quality is generally better than that of the soundcards too.

So get a DAC amp and you get extra flexibility. You can listen to better quality music on your PC, yet it is still portable so it works with your DAP when needed.

Or is the advantage solely in that you can power the amp from the USB?

That is a benefit too; you don't need to carry a wall wart PS with you when you travel (and don't go through batteries so quickly).

I should add you can get separate portable DACs and amps too. If you go that route then the DAC could be powered by the USB but the amp wouldn't be. Some portable DACs support spdif/TOSlink directly if you had a high quality source that could use it.

[slattikarma]

Wow. You guys are quick.

Thanks for the clarification. Makes sense.

So, that would mean a DAC amp would also be very useful for those that use their laptop for audio production?

[cooperpwc]

Originally Posted by slattikarma

For example, when using a laptop, would the DAC amps that use USB such as the Bithead, Corda Move or Headphonia be preferred over a non DAC amp that uses the headphone jack such as an RSA Hornet or Tomahawk?

For this use, the DAC amp would absolutely be preferred and in each of the cases you discuss would be expected to give a significant improvement in sound quality over the headphone out of the laptop. There are two reasons for this: 1) the DAC sections of the amps you name are far better than the sound card of most laptops, and 2) you are doing the conversion of sound outside the laptop and away from all the internal electrical interference.

I am not however comparing the amp section of any specific DAC amp with any specific non-DAC amp. I am nonetheless confident that even the finest portable amp will be a disappointment when used with the inferior headphone out of most laptops.

[epaludo]

Originally Posted by cooperpwc

I am not however comparing the amp section of any specific DAC amp with any specific non-DAC amp. I am nonetheless confident that even the finest portable amp will be a disappointment when used with the inferior headphone out of most laptops.

Definitely.
The headphone out of a laptop amplifies the signal. So connecting a headphone out to an external amp will amplify the signal twice, which is really bad. You'll get more distortion. What do you need is to connect a line-out to the amp. If your laptop doesn't have a line-out, that's where the external USB DAC comes in. So the DAC will convert the digital signal to analog. And then you'll connect the DAC, non amplified, line-out to the amp.
If you're using a DAC/AMP combo, you'll be provided by a headphone out directly ...

[facelvega]

Originally Posted by epaludo

Definitely.
The headphone out of a laptop amplifies the signal. So connecting a headphone out to an external amp will amplify the signal twice, which is really bad. You'll get more distortion.

The headphone out of a laptop is bad because it is bad, not because of dual amplification. Does double amping increase distortion? Yes, nominally. But many sources including a lot of beloved standalone dacs amp their line out signal with opamps, and everyone who has a separate preamplifier (a real one, that is, and not just a switchbox) in their home system does the same. Nonamped line outs can be great, but they are not an end-all. This is a head-fi myth that has been growing in the last few months and needs to be nipped in the bud.

[Skylab]

OK I now have about 60 hours on my Meier MOVE, and it's improved some from cold (where it already sounded very good). Full review to come soon, but this amp is excellent. Much like other Meier amps, it features a smooth yet detailed sound, but it's a little warmer like the Opera is. Still very transparent, clean, and very musical. It's going to fare very well.

[N15M0]

Hi I have been using the hornet as my portable amp with the 5G ipod as my source with the triple fi. But I find that the difference in the sound generated from triple fi between amp and unamp is minimal.

[Nattydraddy]

Originally Posted by mcmyers

I'm no expert, but my understanding is that a DAC with USB will let you bypass your laptop's internal soundcard, as well as all the noisy inerts of your computer and give you a cleaner signal. So unless you have a great internal soundcard, a USB DAC is going to give you better sound from your computer than if you just amped straight out of the computer. Hope that makes sense.

Your internal soundcard gets normally bypassed. But you can get noise from your computer. You don´t get EMV form your computer in the DAC. But you can get hum through the USB cable.

The only easy solution for that is to use optical out.

[LepakVT]

hey I'm looking around for my first budget portable amp

How does the PA2v2 compare with the Xenos 0HA-RHP? I'll most likely get one of these, unless there is a better alternative within the same price range.

[Skylab]

Originally Posted by LepakVT

hey I'm looking around for my first budget portable amp

How does the PA2v2 compare with the Xenos 0HA-RHP? I'll most likely get one of these, unless there is a better alternative within the same price range.

I've never heard a PA2v2, but based on comments I have seen, and my positive experience with the 0HA, I'd probably go with that, unless you can stretch your budget to the $149 mSeed Spirit.

[kamenal]

Out of the box - very obvious improvement in dynamic range, clear highs, deeper lows with iPod 4G, ALO Cryo Dock and various inexpensive cans ( SR-60, Senns 555, less so with Etys ER-4P). Can't compare with other amps (noob here) - this is my first. Waiting for expert's opinions on this tiny gadget. Cheers.

[LepakVT]

Originally Posted by Skylab

I've never heard a PA2v2, but based on comments I have seen, and my positive experience with the 0HA, I'd probably go with that, unless you can stretch your budget to the $149 mSeed Spirit.

$149 is a bit too much of a stretch for me. The highest I'll probably be able to go is around $100. I think I may be going with the iBasso T2.

[soloz2]

I wasn't impressed with the pa2v2. it was too bassy for me.