The following Top Reader Voted Portable Amps & DAC scores are assigned by the readers, (Score) and apply only to all reviews where a slider voting system exists. This list includes all types of portable amps & DACs new and historical as reviewed on Headfonics.
This list also includes portable integrated amp/DAC’s where applicable and those that can be powered purely by a USB connection, (transportable).
Please note the list will change dynamically as readers continue to vote. Higher scoring amplifiers will automatically replace lower-scoring portable amps & DACs. They will also continue to change as we progressively work our way through historical reviews and add a voting system.
These lists are not to be confused with our forthcoming Editorial scoring lists which are the best gear as reviewed and scored by our review team. Those lists will form the basis of our Awards at the end of the year. Once the year is completed the Editorial scores will be deleted and the ‘annual top lists’ will start over again.
Top 30 Reader Voted Portable Amps & DACs
The Chord Electronics Mojo 2 stock sound feels more accurate and energetic compared to the V1. The new UHD DSP suite is seamless in terms of having no impact on dynamic range and a lack of volume attenuation.
9
Reader's Score
£449
One thing is for sure if you are a planar guy and in particular, an LCD series owner the HPA-01M will sound really magical and will give plenty of high0end desktop systems a good run for their money. They are made for each other both on a power level and performance level.
9
Score
$1295
I have to stress that the Chord Electronics Hugo DAC and amplifier is an absolute killer device. But you already knew that because people have probably been telling you that for a while now. It's the Swiss army knife among portable DACs and it has an incredible headphone output (well, three) as well.
8.9
Reader's Score
£1400
The Cayin C9 is the company's most refined version yet of their DOA and timbre technology inside their portable audio gear. Not only that, but it also revitalizes tubes on the go, a traditional niche in our hobby that seems to be forgotten in the head-long rush to find that one DAP on steroids.
8.9
Reader's Score
$1999
The EarMen Angel conceals in its cool form factor an excitingly transparent sound comparable to full-size desktop counterparts that inspires listening on the go with confidence.
8.8
Reader's Score
$799
The iFi Micro iDSD Signature series DAC amplifier is a fun machine capable of driving practically every headphone out there while at the same time remaining highly musical and hiss free and taking up a minimum amount of space on a desktop doing so.
8.7
Reader's Score
$649.99
The xDuoo XD05 Pro is a truly unique portable amp and DAC with the ability not only to change the amplifier cards but also the DAC separately giving you a multitude of performance options.
8.7
Reader's Score
$799
The Shanling H7 is yet another excellent modern interpretation of the classic DAC/amp scene that has had a bit of a rebirth in recent years.
This is a neutral sound signature but compared to the likes of the Mojo 2 and the Q7 it's a bit smoother and sweeter-toned and will gel beautifully with clean-sounding headgear.
8.7
Reader's Score
$829
The Chord Electronics Hugo 2 is a DAC and then some. In some ways, I am convinced the Hugo 2 is the lovechild of the Mojo and Hugo 1 such is the degree of harmony of the two designs. Would the Hugo 2 have been possible without the Mojo? I doubt it.
8.6
Reader's Score
£1,800.00
On technical merits alone there is not a portable tube amp out there right now that is this small, this well designed and as powerful as the V5. That's the edge ALO brings to the market that could, and should, twist a lot of DAP user's heads in their direction in a positive manner.
8.6
Score
$719
To be honest I care not what comes next on the market at this point because, besides the slight thump on operating the Xbass switch, the iFi Audio xDSD Gryphon is an almost, almost perfect portable solution that can go beyond its duty by also functioning as separate components. The excellent sound quality is just the cherry on top.
8.6
Reader's Score
$499
The P5 is the best sounding iBasso out in the market today and the best they have produced to date. It has a very natural sounding tonality with very pleasing timbre that really matches well to rock and metal genres. It works a charm with headphones such as the LCD-2 and a touch of Nile.
8.6
Score
$529
Such a well-built portable analog amp in 2017 will find itself more niche than the norm but for those who stack, those who have a weaker source and for those who want low noise period then the VorzAMPduo II is one heck of a portable amping choice.
8.6
Score
$799
I have heard quite a few dongles now in the last few years, and all at a roughly similar $200-300 price range. I have not heard all of them. However, from what I have reviewed to date, the RU7 is probably the best of the lot, both in terms of agreeable timbral coloration and technical prowess.
8.6
Reader's Score
$289.99
Understated as they look they punch hugely above their portable or transportable weight. If you are veering to bass and want a very portable setup grab the uHA-120 and if you want something a bit more detailed and resolving then the AHA-120 is going to cover a lot of genres very well indeed for the demanding audiophile.
8.5
Reader's Score
Discontinued
The Chord Electronics Mojo is one of the best all-around portable DAC/Amps made with all the correct connectivity on offer for modern devices and audio quality that should please a large audience most of the time.
8.5
Reader's Score
$599
We need more portable tube amplifiers such as the Chimera and fewer 'tune by numbers' creations. Something with a bit of character and purpose. It fills an obvious gap below the Cayin C9 and gives you a lot more flexibility compared to the cheaper BA300s from Oriolus.
8.5
Reader's Score
$895.09
The Questyle M15 is probably the most immersive-sounding dongle I have heard to date. It has plenty of power so do not be fooled by those paper specs. Harder to drive dynamic driver IEMs and even some headphones will pair very well with this diminutive amp/DAC.
8.5
Reader's Score
$249
The Quloos QLS MC01 will appeal to portable device owners and audio junkies who are looking for a relaxed and resolute sound signature dongle with a high level of out-of-box compatibility, and a dongle that looks different from the rest.
8.5
Reader's Score
$249.99
The ALO Audio Continental Dual Mono has a very musical and rich sound signature that combines the magic of tubes with a little dose of solid-state sensibility to keep it tight and clean enough for both SS and tube camps to enjoy.
8.5
Reader's Score
$1495
The Shanling UA5 is a dongle DAC that carries a premium cost but it has lots of features besides having one of the best sounding component stages with a clean output.
8.5
Reader's Score
$235
The MOONDROP MOONRIVER 2: TI is more powerful, better looking, and has an updated DAC section over the original version. The best part is the price tag which remains the same as before which raises the bar from their last offering in more ways than one.
8.5
Reader's Score
$189.99
The Cayin RU6 dongle DAC offers a different “analog” approach in the world of highly integrated delta-sigma chipset packages and DSP filters. One that preserves a tube-like musical quality but with much finer volume control and packed within a favorable form factor.
8.5
Reader's Score
$249
Perhaps some of the up-and-coming dongle DACs will exceed the iFi Audio GO bar’s performance but today it seems to stand up to its claim of being the most powerful dongle DAC around that employs the addictive iFi Audio features like Xbass and XSpace in a device that is super portable.
8.4
Reader's Score
$329
I am particularly impressed with its ability to convey a musical tonality that is devoid of any harsh or sharp leading edges. In addition, the expansive properties of the Cloud Nine make it a force to be reckoned with in the arena of mid to hi-fi amps.
8.4
Score
$349
The lower gain stage does mean in some ways it may seem a touch quieter than before but the power ratings remain the same and that does mean more ambitious pairings with the likes of the Edition X V2 and even the Ether C Flow do not sound bad at all making the HA-2SE a more than useful decoding and amping setup for portable headphone usage.
8.4
Score
Discontinued
The iFi Audio UNO certainly is an improvement over many things. It also makes a great first-timer and an easy-to-transport DAC amplifier. It’s a step above the common dongle DAC if you always wanted similar performance but in a desktop style. The EQ curves are just extra sprinkles.
8.4
Reader's Score
$79
FiiO has focused on improving the sound quality this time around since there seems to be some features on previous models now removed.
So, you lose a bass boost feature plus a line input which is a type of connectivity that’s losing popularity nowadays but, in its place, you get an upgraded and refined tuning.
8.4
Reader's Score
$89.99
The Swan Song Audio Mini Black is one of the better source DACs I’ve experienced in 2022 so far. At the end of the day, the Mini Black is an elitist DAC at $1600, true. But it is also a rare one that has a less sterile and more musical approach. In that pricing tier, that is not commonplace.
8.4
Reader's Score
$1600
For a debut dongle, Moondrop sure came out swinging and actually went a step above some by making the MoonRiver 2 which seems more refined as far as sound characteristics go. Especially when it comes to the stage size and accuracy.
8.4
Reader's Score
$189.99
