We considered both USB- and battery-powered amps. We sought options that could easily fit in a laptop bag or a pocket. If a portable headphone amp is heavy or a pain to lug around, you won’t want to use it. The average audio fan might hesitate to take their amp traveling with them if they paid more than that. Additionally, since you use these devices on the go, we set a $400 upper price limit. The price of a portable headphone amp shouldn’t be more than that of the headphones you are using.The package includes a USB-A cable for connection to most computers, as well as a USB-C adapter for connection to Android devices it also works with Apple iOS devices through the use of an adapter. The downside of the Hip-dac2 is that it is almost as large and heavy as a typical smartphone, so it probably makes sense only if you own a very power-hungry set of headphones. This iFi model also supports MQA, a controversial technology, embraced by some audiophiles, that promises to improve performance when you’re streaming MQA-processed audio from Tidal.
The Hip-dac2 has both balanced and unbalanced audio outputs, and the balanced output has a bit more power, so it may produce slightly better sound. It offers almost three times as much power as the EarMen Eagle does, and it has an internal rechargeable battery rated for about eight hours of run time, so it won’t drain your phone’s battery.
In almost every way, the iFi Hip-dac2 represents a big step up from the other portable headphone amps featured here. In addition, the Eagle lacks an internal battery and must get its power from your mobile device, but our tests showed that the battery drain is not significant. This headphone amp is missing some features that audiophiles may look for, such as balanced audio output and support for the MQA audio format (more on this below)-but we don’t think those features are essential at this price. The package includes a USB-A–to–USB-C adapter for use with most Android phones, and the Eagle is also compatible with Apple iOS devices-though in that case you need to buy an adapter, which adds to the cost. Resembling a USB stick, the Eagle has a standard 3.5 mm headphone jack on one end and a USB-A plug on the other for simple connection to many computers. Depending on how it’s measured, it produces up to almost four times as much power as our previous top pick, the AudioQuest DragonFly Red, yet it typically costs about 35% less. Despite its small size, the EarMen Eagle has enough power to get optimum performance from the majority of hard-to-drive audiophile headphones.
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