Best semi-portable amp/usb-dac for AT woodies

I don't know much about portable amps since I have had no need for them.

What I am looking for though is an amp/dac that I would call semi-portable to take from home to work and use on my desk, in bed or in the garden.

It has to be amp and usb-dac in 1 unit, the size of most portable amps or a bit bigger (like the Lisa - a model I seem to remember), run on battery power and be rechargeable.

I remember the Lisa form reading about it long ago but I don't think there is a version with a dac, or is there?

I would want top SQ though, the best I can get from portable(ish).

The phones it would drive would be various AT woodies or Denons, all sensitive low impedance cans.

All recommendations are welcome so I know what to read up on or to search for.

For the moment the iQube v3 seems like it could do the trick.

It seems ultracompact though so I wonder if that's at the expense of SQ.

It also looks like it charges via USB while in use, which is convenient.

Anything comparable that is known to be better?

Thanks for the tip. The E17 has all the features I want. It's not expensive at all. Why would you call it not a top level one, the price only? I do appreciate usb charging, not too fond of needing extra adapters. Do you think it could keep up with something like iQube v3 or iBasso DB2 + PB2 or are these in another league alltogether? Are the iQube and iBasso even in the same league? Their prices are quite similar though. As for prices I don't care if its cheap or expensive as long as it's good, but $600 is about as far as I'd go for a portable setup. And I don't need it to be capable of driving Senns or orthos so that makes a difference when it comes to price as well I think.

Thanks for the info on the iQube, that one is off my list then, I don't want to pay a premium for inferior technology.

I'll look a bit deeper into the E11 and E17 and see if I can find some more comparisons between them and iBasso models, like in the link you gave me.

I'm not sure if the amp part of the iBasso is chargeable via USB though, maybe with an adapter cable like the one used for the iQube v1? (usb to some kind of power adapter pin)

Already late here so your links will make for a nice read in bed!  :)

Considering things, it might not be a bad idea to add iPod compatibility into the mix.

I do tend to take a long walk in the woods/countryside here sometimes at night.

So to get the best sound out of an iPod there are three options: iMod which I'm not interested in.

There is the Algorithm but since that one doesn't accept USB fom a laptop I'd need an amp/dac to go with it.

And the Fostex which is an iPod dac/amp and thus would need a USB dac to be complete. Just how good is the Fostex amp I wonder.

I knew this would become a big research thing again.  ;)

So on that note, does anyone know where I can find that big portable amp comparison thread by Skylab? Can't seem to find it.

And would there be a portable DAC thread like that as well? I wonder what all my options for standalone portable DAC's are.

Good sign indeed. I decided not to look at the 2 box  balanced iBasso solution anymore but instead consider the D12 and Fiio E17, among other brands.

They could be used analog with the iPod for the time being and later upgraded with an Algorhythm.

Good to know the dac part is of high quality. I'll do some reading on it's qualities as an amp.

I was thinking that adding a Centrance Dacport LX to the Fostex would be a nice solution.

I can't imagine that The regular Dacport with amp would have a decent amp?

Any alternatives to the Dacport? I'm sure I've came across more of these things but can't remember when or where.

The HP-A3 is a bit big for taking a walk, no?  ;)

Ok, found the threa where Skylab compares more than 50 portable amps and after reading the reviews and searching around I decided on the Tria Audio L3, the new Lisa.

This one is quite pricey and certainly not ultraportable. I'll be holding of on the DAC and use the DAC's in my iPod and laptop for a while.

Later, the Algorhythm Solo can be added to the iPod and the Centrance DacPort Lx to the laptop. Maybe.

Anyway, I wanted to choose for the best quality ampwise and give up on the DACs since the amp will be used with fullsize phones.

I think the E17 might be really nice with IEM's and portable phones but I'm afraid it wouldn't bring out what the full sized cans can deliver.

From what I've read I think I will like the L3, yes. And I tend to love all things made of wood.  :)

May I ask which of the iPods I have would have the best chip? I have an iPod Classic 120Gb that my wife uses in the car (probably 2 years old or more), a 2 year old iPod touch that is used for a remote around the house and an iPhone 4S. Which one should I use for portable listening? I don't need that much space on it since I would be uploading the music I want to hear before I leave.

That along with a lot of vocal and acooustic is my preferred music yes, but I 'll listen to pretty much anything.

The Wolfson chip would indeed have my preference in that case, so I'll rip the Classic out of her car. ;)

If Apple uses top of the line chips one would wonder what an Algorhythm Solo can still improve on it.

Of course the SQ of a DAC isn't determined by the chip alone, but still, I wonder if the improvement would be worth the extra money and bulk to carry around.

Too bad this isn't the US and there is no shop where I can try it or order it on trial for a few weeks.

Haven't seen that done around here yet, except maybe for very expensive gear like Accuphase and the likes and then only if you're a big time customer at that dealer already.