20 Best Portable Headphone Dac [2024]

Are you looking for the best portable headphone dac? Based on expert reviews, we ranked them. We've listed our top-ranked picks, including the top-selling portable headphone dac.

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1 HELM Audio Bolt DAC/AMP, USB-C Portable High-End DAC/Headphone Amplifier with MQA Playback. Mobile... HELM Audio Bolt DAC/AMP, USB-C Portable High-End DAC/Headphone Amplifier with MQA Playback....
2 EarMen Sparrow High-Performance Portable USB DAC and Headphone Amp with Balanced Output - PCM, DOP,... EarMen Sparrow High-Performance Portable USB DAC and Headphone Amp with Balanced Output - PCM,...
3 Monolith 124460 Portable Headphone Amplifier and Dac - Black with THX AAA Technology, Analog Input,... Monolith 124460 Portable Headphone Amplifier and Dac - Black with THX AAA Technology, Analog...
4 iFi xCAN Portable Balanced Dual Mono Headphone Amplifier with Bluetooth AptX and AAC Codecs for... iFi xCAN Portable Balanced Dual Mono Headphone Amplifier with Bluetooth AptX and AAC Codecs for...
5 FiiO K5Pro Amplifier Headphone Amps Stereo High Resolution Portable Desktop DAC 768K/32Bit and... FiiO K5Pro Amplifier Headphone Amps Stereo High Resolution Portable Desktop DAC 768K/32Bit and...
6 iFi iDSD Diablo Purist Portable DAC/Headphone Amplifier - USB/SPDIF Input - 4.4mm Balanced Output -... iFi iDSD Diablo Purist Portable DAC/Headphone Amplifier - USB/SPDIF Input - 4.4mm Balanced Output...
7 iFi Hip-dac Portable Balanced DAC Headphone Amplifier for Android, iPhone with USB Input... iFi Hip-dac Portable Balanced DAC Headphone Amplifier for Android, iPhone with USB Input...
8 NEXTDRIVE Spectra Portable USB DAC - The World’s Smallest 32-bit DAC Headphone Amp for Truly... NEXTDRIVE Spectra Portable USB DAC - The World’s Smallest 32-bit DAC Headphone Amp for Truly...
9 AudioQuest DragonFly Black v1.5 Plug-in USB DAC + Preamp + Headphone Amp AudioQuest DragonFly Black v1.5 Plug-in USB DAC + Preamp + Headphone Amp
10 iFi Nano iDSD Black Label Portable USB DAC and Headphone Amplifier - Upgrade Smartphones/Digital... iFi Nano iDSD Black Label Portable USB DAC and Headphone Amplifier - Upgrade Smartphones/Digital...
11 EarStudio ES100 MK2-24bit Portable High-Resolution Bluetooth Receiver/USB DAC/Headphone Amp with... EarStudio ES100 MK2-24bit Portable High-Resolution Bluetooth Receiver/USB DAC/Headphone Amp with...
12 SONY PHA-2 Headphone Amplifier SONY PHA-2 Headphone Amplifier
13 USB C DAC - Portable 32 Bit/384kHz Dosmix Headphone Amplifier, HiFi Converter, Qualcomm chipset,... USB C DAC - Portable 32 Bit/384kHz Dosmix Headphone Amplifier, HiFi Converter, Qualcomm chipset,...
14 1Mii Lavaudio DS400 Portable DAC/Headphone Amplifier Stereo Supports 768K/32Bit and Native DSD512,... 1Mii Lavaudio DS400 Portable DAC/Headphone Amplifier Stereo Supports 768K/32Bit and Native...
15 VOZA BD210 Alexa Built-in Portable Bluetooth DAC Amplifier Makes Any Headphone Wireless VOZA BD210 Alexa Built-in Portable Bluetooth DAC Amplifier Makes Any Headphone Wireless
16 Apogee GROOVE - Portable USB Headphone Amp and DAC, Bus Powered for Mac and PC, Made in USA Apogee GROOVE - Portable USB Headphone Amp and DAC, Bus Powered for Mac and PC, Made in USA
17 FiiO Q1 Mark II Native DSD DAC & Amplifier for PC/MobilePhone FiiO Q1 Mark II Native DSD DAC & Amplifier for PC/MobilePhone
18 NextDrive Spectra Portable USB DAC - The World’s Smallest 32-bit DAC Headphone Amp for Truly... NextDrive Spectra Portable USB DAC - The World’s Smallest 32-bit DAC Headphone Amp for Truly...
19 SENZER SG500 Surround Sound Pro Gaming Headset with Noise Cancelling Microphone - Detachable Memory... SENZER SG500 Surround Sound Pro Gaming Headset with Noise Cancelling Microphone - Detachable...
SaleBestseller No. 1
HELM Audio Bolt DAC/AMP, USB-C Portable High-End DAC/Headphone Amplifier with MQA Playback. Mobile...
  • STUDIO GRADE PORTABLE DIGITAL ANALOG CONVERTOR WITH MQA: BOLT delivers studio sound on the go from any mobile device across all listening formats....
  • HIGHEST FIDELITY SOUND: MQA (Master Quality Authenticated) rendering “unfolds” every detail of the original master recording as the artist and...
  • SMARTPHONE, TABLET, MAC & PC COMPATIBLE: USB-C input to a 3.5mm Headphone Output supporting playback of PCM files with sampling rates up to 384 kHz,...
  • AMPLIFIED AUDIO OUTPUT & HEADPHONE OUTPUT LEVEL MATCHING: Provides an average increase of +6 dB in devices with combined USB-audio output (where a...
  • THX CERTIFIED AUDIO OUTPUT: Exclusively designed for ultra-low harmonic, crosstalk & crossover distortion. Unlike other mobile MQA-DAC designs, the...
Bestseller No. 2
EarMen Sparrow High-Performance Portable USB DAC and Headphone Amp with Balanced Output - PCM, DOP,...
  • EarMen Sparrow is a high-performance USB DAC and Balanced Headphone Amp with MQA Support. Its balanced 2.5mm output provides up to 4Vrms for plenty of...
  • Audiophile SABRE DAC - Powered by flagship ESS ES9281PRO, providing best-in-class audio performance at 124dB DNR and less than 0.0003% THD+N. This...
  • High End Partnership - Designed in cooperation with high end audio company Auris Audio, the Sparrow is engineered using the best components and...
  • Noise Elimination - EarMen Sparrow uses Super LOW ESR tantalum capacitors, high grade components in the power-supply, and 4 layer gold plated PCB...
  • Design - After many years of experience in the audio industry, our engineers have used their knowledge to develop a device that will provide you with...
Bestseller No. 3
Monolith 124460 Portable Headphone Amplifier and Dac - Black with THX AAA Technology, Analog Input,...
  • The world's most linear amplifier technology. The THX achromatic audio amplifier (THX aiaa) ensures the ultimate no-compromise Headphone audio...
  • Akm 4493 DAC detailed sound. Exceptional musicality. The AKM AK4493 is akm's new flagship 32-bit stereo Premium DAC. It supports PCM inputs up to...
  • Dirac sensaround expand your headspace. Music is usually mixed with loudspeakers in mind, Not headphones. As a result, Headphone listening is often...
  • Versatile inputs digital or analog - We've got you covered. This amplifier features a USB and a 3.5mm Optical input, as well as an analog 3.5mm stereo...
  • Dynamic range control: Use the DRC functionality to set the shelving Filters. The DRC starts with low-pass and high-pass Filters to split the low and...
SaleBestseller No. 4
iFi xCAN Portable Balanced Dual Mono Headphone Amplifier with Bluetooth AptX and AAC Codecs for...
  • POWERFUL - Powerful dual-mono headphone amplifier that can unleash the full dynamic range of hard to drive 600 ohm over ear phones while still driving...
  • WIRELESS - 'Cut the cord' and upgrade your existing wired headphones by using the built-in wireless Bluetooth input, which uses the aptX and AAC...
  • PORTABLE - Start listening right away and all day with a 2220mAh battery that can supply 12-18 hours of playback. Accessories include a USB C charging...
  • MUSIC YOUR WAY - 3D Holographic + and XBass II offer advanced analogue signal processing circuits that provide a more accurate and enjoyable sound by...
  • PRECSION - Pure Analogue Volume Control retaining full resolution at all volume levels, its smooth action and smooth sound deliver the sonic goods...
Bestseller No. 5
FiiO K5Pro Amplifier Headphone Amps Stereo High Resolution Portable Desktop DAC 768K/32Bit and...
  • [High-performance DAC&USB decoding chip]: The K5Pro ESS headphone amps achieves new heights in sound quality and comes with a high level of resolution...
  • [Variety of inputs]: Supports coaxial/optical/RCA line-in inputs, with optical and coaxial inputs supporting up to 192kHz inputs, K5Pro ESS amplifier...
  • [Variety of outputs]: Supports 6.35mm (1/4 in.) headphone out/RCA line-out outputs, the RCA line-out line signal is adjustable up to a maximum of...
  • [Easily handles low or high impedance headphone]: For a total power output of up to 1.5 W under a 32Ω load, and up to 20Vpp at 300Ω, K5Pro ESS...
  • [Various headphones with all kinds of sensitivities]: With ADC volume adjustment, K5Pro ESS portable headphone amplifier allows you to smoothly adjust...
Bestseller No. 6
iFi iDSD Diablo Purist Portable DAC/Headphone Amplifier - USB/SPDIF Input - 4.4mm Balanced Output -...
  • ✅ HIGH RESOLUTION - Dual Core Burr Brown True Native chipset supports all hi-res audio formats up to PCM 32 bit / 768kHz, DSD512, and MQA (decoder)
  • ✅ POWERFUL AMPLIFIER - Up to 4,100 mW headphone amplifier with balanced topology and 4.4mm output. Easily switch between Turbo (4,100mW) /Normal...
  • ✅ AMAZING SOUND - Ultra-Low noise, low distortion (0.00006%) OV2028 OpAmp, devil bass reproduction, and unbelievable resolution provide an...
  • ✅ PORTABLE - Rechargeable battery provides 6-12 hours of listening, or play while charging
  • ✅ CONNECTIONS - USB A, S/PDIF digital and optical audio inputs; 6.3mm and 4.4mm headphone outputs
SaleBestseller No. 7
iFi Hip-dac Portable Balanced DAC Headphone Amplifier for Android, iPhone with USB Input...
  • ✅ PORTABLE DESIGN - Your music will never stop with up to 6 hrs of battery life and a slim, lightweight design perfect for carrying in your pocket...
  • ✅ HIGH RESOLUTION AUDIO - From Spotify to Tidal MQA to MP3 and beyond, play any high res audio format with native digital to analog conversion so...
  • ✅ POWERFUL AMPLIFIER - Suited to your style, listen to in ear monitors or drive over the ear headphones with 400 mW max power output from the...
  • ✅ EASY CONNECTIVITY – Connects directly to your smartphone with the USB Input, and works with balanced 4.4mm or S-Bal 3.5mm headphone plugs for...
  • ✅ HIGH TECH – Power Match and XBass offer adjustable analog enhancements to customize your listening experience without compromising the digital...
Bestseller No. 8
NEXTDRIVE Spectra Portable USB DAC - The World’s Smallest 32-bit DAC Headphone Amp for Truly...
  • PREMIUM QUALITY DAC - Enjoy matchless portable Hi-Fi sound from ESS Technology's SABRE 9018Q2C
  • RAVE REVIEWS - Professional reviews around the web praise its price, size, soundstage and great sound across bass, mids and treble
  • NOT Compatible with iPhone or iPad; Plug-and-play connection with Windows, Mac, Linux and Android (Android may require USB OTG adapter, sold...
  • ULTRA PORTABLE - No batteries and slim design lets you connect to your smartphone or tablet and take it anywhere (adapter may be required, sold...
  • HI RES AUDIO - Supports PCM audio files up to 32 bits / 384 kHz and DSD up to Quad-rate 11.2 MHz
Bestseller No. 9
AudioQuest DragonFly Black v1.5 Plug-in USB DAC + Preamp + Headphone Amp
  • 32-bit ESS 9010 Sabre DAC
  • Offering tremendously enhanced sound, higher value, and significantly lower power consumption than the original award-winning DragonFly
  • Works with Apple and Android phones and tablets when paired with a simple adapter
  • This versatile DAC improves everything detail, transparency, immediacy, richness, tone associated with your music
  • Plays everything from MP3s to 24-bit/96kHz high-resolution files
Bestseller No. 10
iFi Nano iDSD Black Label Portable USB DAC and Headphone Amplifier - Upgrade Smartphones/Digital...
  • POWERFUL AMPLIFIER - Drive your headphones to their maximum performance with the powerful dual-mono 285 milliwatt headphone amp that's 6 times more...
  • HIGH RESOLUTION AUDIO - Plays all high-res audio formats including DSD 256, DXD 384, PCM 384 kHz and MQA with native digital to analog conversion so...
  • EASY CONNECTIVITY - Connect directly to your smartphone, Digital Audio Player or tablet using the USB A male digital input (Apple Lightning Camera...
  • PORTABLE DESIGN - It’s a small gadget with a stylish black matte finish. The durable but lightweight aircraft grade aluminium case is unbeatable in...
  • TECH PACKED - For enhanced sound the built in iPurifier technology rebalances the USB signal to reduce jitter and packet errors while the built in...
Bestseller No. 12
SONY PHA-2 Headphone Amplifier
  • Full Hi-Res audio: PCM 192kHz/24 bit, DSD 2.8/5.6MHz
  • Direct Digital Connection for PC and Apple devices1
  • Enhances non hi-res music sources (via analog input)
Bestseller No. 13
USB C DAC - Portable 32 Bit/384kHz Dosmix Headphone Amplifier, HiFi Converter, Qualcomm chipset,...
  • High Performmance DAC Lossless HIFI Qualcomm high-performance independent DAC decoder chip, up to 120dB dynamic range, less than 0.0003% harmonic...
  • Qualcomm secondary operate amplifier chip releases the potential of headphones Powered by Chip Qualcomm secondary operate amplifier chip, it offers up...
  • Hi-Res good voice With Hi-Res certification, the higher sampling rate results in better restoration of the original virtual signal, further improved...
  • Hi-Res Audio is a high-quality audio product design standard developed by JAS (Japan Audio Association) and CEA (Consumer Electronics Association)....
  • 600Ω high impedance thrust Headphones shine Built-in power amplifier circuit, 16-600Ω impedance load, dynamic adaptive adjustment, powerful energy,...
SaleBestseller No. 14
1Mii Lavaudio DS400 Portable DAC/Headphone Amplifier Stereo Supports 768K/32Bit and Native DSD512,...
  • 【𝐔𝐩 𝐭𝐨 𝟕𝟔𝟖𝐊𝐇𝐳/𝟑𝟐𝐁𝐢𝐭 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐃𝐒𝐃𝟓𝟏𝟐】: Equipped with...
  • 【𝐂𝐨𝐚𝐱𝐢𝐚𝐥/𝐎𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐃𝐢𝐠𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐎𝐮𝐭𝐬】: Supports 3.5mm single-ended and 4.4mm...
  • 【𝐒𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭 𝐟𝐮𝐥𝐥 𝐇𝐢-𝐫𝐞𝐬 𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐭】Can easily handle any low or high impedance...
  • 【𝐓𝐲𝐩𝐞-𝐂 𝐎𝐓𝐆 𝐈𝐧𝐩𝐮𝐭】:Only one line(USB OTG line) is required to complete all the inputs, no additional...
  • 【𝐔𝐧𝐛𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐯𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐲 𝐋𝐨𝐰 𝐍𝐨𝐢𝐬𝐞 𝐅𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐫】: Optimized active low-pass and BASS...
Bestseller No. 15
VOZA BD210 Alexa Built-in Portable Bluetooth DAC Amplifier Makes Any Headphone Wireless
  • Convert any wired earPhone or headphone to wireless Bluetooth, and Upgrade your HiFi system or Car audio system to192K Hi-Res quality with included...
  • Hi-Res 56mW amplifier enhances your music to studio master quality.
  • Smallest pocket sized amplifier available
  • Built-in EQ for music, gaming or movies
  • More than 12 hours non-stop Wireless and Hi-Res play time.
Bestseller No. 16
Apogee GROOVE - Portable USB Headphone Amp and DAC, Bus Powered for Mac and PC, Made in USA
  • USB 2. 0 connection to Mac and PC with up to 24 bit/ 192kHz audio
  • Enhances your iTunes, Tidal, Spotify, Pandora or other music listening experience
  • Constant Current Drive technology provides smooth frequency response with any headphones
  • Quad sum DAC, 4 DACs per channel for highest dynamic range and lowest distortion
  • Premium aluminum build quality, built in the USA
SaleBestseller No. 17
FiiO Q1 Mark II Native DSD DAC & Amplifier for PC/MobilePhone
  • AUDIO QUALITY: Being equipped with the XMOS platform allows the Q1 Mark II to support decoding of more formats with outstanding performance – it is...
  • TECHNOLOGY: The Q1 Mark II employs a clever ADC volume adjustment mechanism – by accurately reconstructing the ADC curve, problems such as volume...
  • DESIGN: The fully metal exterior is not only aesthetically pleasing, but also effectively protects the Q1 Mark II's innards from electromagnetic...
  • VOLUME KNOB: The volume knob employs a unique obconical design, which allows us to maximize the knob's diameter to make it easier to rotate while...
  • SWITCHES: The Q1 Mark II features a switch for adjusting gain as well as another switch to fine-tune bass levels. Change the amount of gain depending...
Bestseller No. 18
NextDrive Spectra Portable USB DAC - The World’s Smallest 32-bit DAC Headphone Amp for Truly...
  • PREMIUM QUALITY DAC - Enjoy matchless portable Hi-Fi sound from ESS Technology's SABRE 9018Q2C
  • RAVE REVIEWS - Professional reviews around the web praise its price, size, soundstage and great sound across bass, mids and treble
  • NOT Compatible with iPhone or iPad; Plug-and-play connection with Windows, Mac, Linux and Android (Android may require USB OTG adapter, sold...
  • ULTRA PORTABLE - No batteries and slim design lets you connect to your smartphone or tablet and take it anywhere (adapter may be required, sold...
  • HI RES AUDIO - Supports PCM audio files up to 32 bits / 384 kHz and DSD up to Quad-rate 11.2 MHz
Bestseller No. 19
SENZER SG500 Surround Sound Pro Gaming Headset with Noise Cancelling Microphone - Detachable Memory...
  • [FOLDABLE & DETACHABLE EAR PADS]: Features flexible headphones with telescopic arms and detachable ear pads. The headphones fold inside the arm,...
  • [COMFORTABLE LIGHTWEIGHT DESIGN]: Comfortable for kids and adults alike, the detachable memory foam ear cushions are extremely lightweight, allowing...
  • [NOISE CANCELLING ANTI-STATIC MICROPHONE]: The bendable microphone arm can be fixed to any position to ensure the clearest voice pick-up, and filters...
  • SURROUND SOUND CAPABLE: Proven to enhance your gaming performance, this surround sound gaming headset gives you crystal clear audio and provides you a...
  • [PLUG AND PLAY MULTI-PLATFORM COMPATIBILITY]: Works with most modern devices which include a 3.5mm jack like PlayStation 4, Xbox One (Older version...

Having trouble finding a great portable headphone dac?

This problem is well understood by us because we have gone through the entire portable headphone dac research process ourselves, which is why we have put together a comprehensive list of the best portable headphone dacs available in the market today.

After hours of searching and using all the models on the market, we have found the best portable headphone dac for 2023. See our ranking below!

How Do You Buy The Best Portable Headphone Dac?

Do you get stressed out thinking about shopping for a great portable headphone dac? Do doubts keep creeping into your mind?

We understand, because we’ve already gone through the whole process of researching portable headphone dac, which is why we have assembled a comprehensive list of the greatest portable headphone dac available in the current market. We’ve also come up with a list of questions that you probably have yourself.

John Harvards has done the best we can with our thoughts and recommendations, but it’s still crucial that you do thorough research on your own for portable headphone dac that you consider buying. Your questions might include the following:

  • Is it worth buying an portable headphone dac?
  • What benefits are there with buying an portable headphone dac?
  • What factors deserve consideration when shopping for an effective portable headphone dac?
  • Why is it crucial to invest in any portable headphone dac, much less the best one?
  • Which portable headphone dac are good in the current market?
  • Where can you find information like this about portable headphone dac?

We’re convinced that you likely have far more questions than just these regarding portable headphone dac, and the only real way to satisfy your need for knowledge is to get information from as many reputable online sources as you possibly can.

Potential sources can include buying guides for portable headphone dac, rating websites, word-of-mouth testimonials, online forums, and product reviews. Thorough and mindful research is crucial to making sure you get your hands on the best-possible portable headphone dac. Make sure that you are only using trustworthy and credible websites and sources.

John Harvards provides an portable headphone dac buying guide, and the information is totally objective and authentic. We employ both AI and big data in proofreading the collected information.

How did we create this buying guide? We did it using a custom-created selection of algorithms that lets us manifest a top-10 list of the best available portable headphone dac currently available on the market.

This technology we use to assemble our list depends on a variety of factors, including but not limited to the following:

  1. Brand Value: Every brand of portable headphone dac has a value all its own. Most brands offer some sort of unique selling proposition that’s supposed to bring something different to the table than their competitors.
  2. Features: What bells and whistles matter for an portable headphone dac?
  3. Specifications: How powerful they are can be measured.
  4. Product Value: This simply is how much bang for the buck you get from your portable headphone dac.
  5. Customer Ratings: Number ratings grade portable headphone dac objectively.
  6. Customer Reviews: Closely related to ratings, these paragraphs give you first-hand and detailed information from real-world users about their portable headphone dac.
  7. Product Quality: You don’t always get what you pay for with an portable headphone dac, sometimes less, and sometimes more.
  8. Product Reliability: How sturdy and durable an portable headphone dac is should be an indication of how long it will work out for you.

John Harvards always remembers that maintaining portable headphone dac information to stay current is a top priority, which is why we are constantly updating our websites. Learn more about us using online sources.

If you think that anything we present here regarding portable headphone dac is irrelevant, incorrect, misleading, or erroneous, then please let us know promptly!

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