All smartphones, tablets, and laptops have built-in amplifiers and digital-to-analog converters (DAC) . They’re essential components to delivering audio, after all, with the amplifier cranking up to the audio signal to usable levels and the DAC converting the digital format to analog before sending it out to headphones or speakers. Problem is. most of these devices don’t really use high-quality amps and DACs, which leaves the overall audio they produce plenty of room for improvement, especially when used with a wireless pair of headphones like most people normally do.
While this quality of audio is fine for most people, more discerning listeners, in recent years, have turned to standalone DAC amps. These devices, basically, reprocess audio coming from your smartphone, tablet, or laptop before sending them through to your wired headphones. Because they’re dedicated devices, they’re able to use bigger, better components, allowing them to to produce clearer, crisper, and more natural sound.
Portable headphone amps with DACs make it possible to listen to better audio on the go, especially when used with a quality pair of wired headphones. These portable devices can be as small as a USB dongle or as big as a smartphone. Regardless of the size, they’re compact enough to fit in a pocket, making it possible to bring them along while you go about your day.
These are the best portable DAC amps to elevate your on-the-go listening experience.
Helm Audio Bolt
Pros
- Supports 32bit/384kHz, DSD256, and MQA files
- Very small and portable
- Unmatched price-to-performance ratio
Cons
- Doesn’t sound good at high volumes
- No settings adjustments
Size: 4 x 0.25 inches (length x width)
Connectivity: USB-C, 3.5mm
Additional adapters: None
This dongle-sized portable DAC amp produces punchy and crispy audio that’s leagues better than what you’ll normally get from your phone or laptop, all while coming in a budget price that makes it ideal for people looking for an entry-level option. Despite the price, it’s able to handle high-resolution 32bit/384kHz, DSD256, and MQA files without a hitch, making it a great device to use with lossless streaming services, with a light indicator changing colors to indicate the format that’s playing. It does struggle noticeably when you turn up the volume to the highest levels, but it performs wonderfully in every other listening situation. We also love the simplicity of the design, although this means users who like to fine tune their settings won’t have much of any choice as there’s practically zero user input.
Audioengine DAC3
Pros
- Physical volume buttons come in clutch
- Compact dongle form factor
- Uses up very little power
Cons
- Maxes out at 24-bit/96kHz
Size: 1.9 x 0.6 x 0.4 inches (length x width x thickness)
Connectivity: USB-C, 3.5mm
Additional adapters: Lighting to USB-C
We didn’t think we’d be so thrilled to find volume controls on any device, but that’s seriously the first thing we noted with this portable DAC amp. Yes, it’s still dongle-sized like many portable options, but it allows you to adjust volume without having to fiddle with your audio source, which we really appreciate. This is the 2022 version of this model, by the way, so it’s got a new DAC chip, a USB-C connector, and a bunch of additional tweaks that weren’t present in the original DAC3 from 10 years ago. It also ships with a Lightning adapter, so you can use it with older iPhones.
The sound it produces has a very natural and detailed quality that makes it satisfying off the bat, creating a powerful soundstage that feels deep yet well-proportioned. It supports MQA, PCM, and DSD, which makes it great for streaming lossless recordings, while the volume buttons really come in clutch, allowing you to conveniently adjust sounds levels without any fuss. Do note, maximum audio quality is only 24-bit/96kHz, which is odd, considering the DAC chip supports up to 32-bit/768kHz. We’re told it’s for compatibility with older devices, though, which, we guess, is a fair enough excuse. Still, it produces incredible sound and that’s all that really matters.
iFi Hip-DAC 3
Pros
- Refined sound profile
- Offers multiple physical controls
- Built-in battery, so it won’t drain your phone
Cons
- Larger size
- No Lightning adapter incldued
Size: 4 x 2.8 x 0.6 inches (length x width x thickness)
Connectivity: USB-C, 3.5mm
Additional adapters: USB-C to USB-A
Yes, it looks like a whiskey flask. Seriously, it looks like you’re about to take a swig every time you whip it out. With a slim profile, though, it’s still very portable, with a size that can fit in most pockets on both your pants and jacket. It’s also very pretty, with a finish that changes appearance depending on the ambient lighting. Seriously, the pictures don’t do it justice. Because it’s bigger, they’re able to fit a bit more hardware on board. As such, you get a volume knob, a gain control button, and an IEM matching switch that, when turned on, prompts the DAC amp to automatically match the sensitivity of whatever headphones are plugged in to ensure the best sound. It also has an onboard 2250mAh battery, so it doesn’t have to draw power from your phone, complete with two USB-C ports, so you can charge it while listening to music at the same time.
It supports hi-res PCM and DXD audio at sample rates up to 384kHz, DSD up to 12.4 MHz, and full MQA decoding, with two light indicators changing colors to show the format and sample rate. Sound quality exhibits plenty of detail and clarity, so you get an overall more refined soundstage that really brings out the multiple layers to every song you play through it.
AudioQuest Dragonfly Cobalt
Pros
- Improves clarity and resolution significantly
- Extensive file support
Cons
- Uses a USB-A plug, so you need to use the included USB-C adapter for modern phones and tablets
- Adapter has looser fit than we’d like
Size: 2.24 x 0.75 inches (length x width)
Connectivity: USB-A, 3.5mm
Additional adapters: USB-A to USB-C
The most expensive of AudioQuest’s Dragonfly line of portable DAC amps, this device features a 2.1-volt headphone output, bit-perfect digital volume control, and an ESS ES9038Q2M DAC chip. It produces a sound that really beefs up clarity and sonic precision while providing a very wide soundstage, allowing you to hear songs you’ve played through numerous times in a whole new way. Seriously, everything sounds incredibly clean whenever it goes through this DAC amp. Do note, it plays music exactly as it’s recorded, so it works best with high-fidelity files, really exposing any inherent shortcomings with lower-quality recordings. The only downside here is the fact that it still uses USB-A at a time when every new phone has USB-C, requiring you to use an including adapter (which we’ve accidentally disconnected multiple times) to listen to music on the go.
Astell & Kern AK HC4
Pros
- Wider, deeper sound with a more powerful impact
- Supports 32bit/384kHz and DSD256
- Supports both UAC 1.0 and 2.0 for gaming
Cons
- No MQA support
Size: 2.5 x 1.2 x 0.6 inches (length x width)
Connectivity: USB-C, 3.5mm. 4.4mm
Additional adapters: USB-C to Lightning
Styled to look like a slightly larger thumb drive, this portable DAC amp combines a 3.5mm and 4.4mm headphone jack in a single package, making it a great option for folks who want to take their 4.4mm headphones on the go. It can handle DSD256 files and sample rates up to 32-bit/384kHz, although there’s no support for MQA files, which seems like a glaring omission, especially since this is still a relatively new release from late last year. As far as sound quality goes, it produces an incredible soundstage that’s perceptibly wider, deeper, and filled with more details that really expose all the different layers of nuance ingrained in each song. It also feels bolder, with plenty more zeal, in the middle frequencies, making the sound feel more energetic and impactful. The DAC also supports both UAC 1.0 and UAC 2.0 for use with your gaming headphones, so it will work with all your consoles and gaming devices.
