[dungie]

Hello. What do you think is the best battery-powered headphone amp? I would greatly appreciate any links to relevant comparisons, e.g. I see a link to headphone shoot-out ( https://www.head-fi.org/threads/sho...xiaomi-mi-headphones-added-04-21-2015.433318/ ), would be great if there was something similar for amps. And of course I'm highly interested in all personal opinions about the subject. Thank you!

 

[WorksUnit]

Battery-powered ...I only have experience with Mojo.
Still a go-to when ekeing out a visceral bass feel on EDM for me...

 

[HBen]

hmm I'd say the Bakoon HPA-21 is probably among the contenders. Maybe the Chord Hugo2. Ah and the WOO WA8 is really great too.
The Stax SRM-D10 on a 009(S) is pretty decent too
Basically any DAP is a battery powered amp as well ...
Other than that there are honestly not that many great battery powered headphone amps I know. Anyone having any better/additional suggestions?

 

[m-i-c-k-e-y]

Try Ifi Audio's iDSD Diablo

The best? Sony's DMP-Z1

 

[dungie]

Thanks all for very interesting answers. Do I understand correctly that all the best amps are packaged with DACs?

 

[m-i-c-k-e-y]

Not necessarily... But dedicwted battery powered amps are not getting popular like before. People nowadays prefer portability.
There are still there. I erased them in my bookmarks since idon't think it's relevant anymore for portable use.

For a true dedicated portable amp try Vorzüge w/ their VorzAmp Pure II Pro.
https://vorzuge.com/product/vorzamp-pure-ll-pro/

Or Centrance's Ampersand
https://centrance.com/ampersand/

And there's the Cayin C9 https://en.cayin.cn/products_info?itemid=135

 

[dungie]

Got it, thank you. I'm thinking of Colorfly C4 as transport (BTW should I consider any other DAP with SPDIF output and hard buttons?). What would be better - C4->SPDIF->Diablo or C4->Line->Ampersand? Any ideas or guesses? I'm just a little worried about portable amp/DAC combos, because I appreciate power, drive, dynamics, "meat" in sound, so I would leave most of the room in my pocket to a good amp.

 

[m-i-c-k-e-y]

IDK, Colorfly C4 is a bit dated. There are other new stuffs that provide you with streaming capabilities and MQA.

Popular combinations usually are Smartphone + DAC/Amp, DAP + Amp, dedicated DAP or Smartphone only.

I personally have done away with a dedicated Amp (not needed). Since during travel I seldom have the opportunity to have critical listening.
During communte I have always noise around. Its only when in my room in the hotel or breaks in my office that I have found the ideal environment.

So now its my smartphone + IEM as EDC. I carry my DAC/Amp + Headphone on extended trips.

 

[gazzington]

Cayin c9 - tubes and solid state

 

[Whitigir]

The Shanling M30 is also recommended

 

[lpd2]

since its portable and might get lost damaged etc I would go with the fiio q3 thx aaa for only $150. Won't ruin more than your day if you lose it. I own it and it has native dsd 512, usb-c in and pentaconn, 2.5 and 3.5 outs. Fits into any headphone case safely with a puffy neoprene mesh pouch to hold q3 and interconnects. clean thx aaa amp modules. power is good for almost any headphones w balanced. using focal elegia r now no probs single ended. bass boost is mellow and the q3 charges by choice so no draw down tho i saw some conflicting info on that power draw on off switch actually working when its close to dead. not worried its got 8 hours +.

 

[dungie]

The Shanling M30 is also recommended

WOW!! This thing looks really cool! A little big for my pockets though( How's M8 in comparison with it?

 

[Whitigir]

WOW!! This thing looks really cool! A little big for my pockets though( How's M8 in comparison with it?

It is a smaller version of the M30