Best Budget Portable DAC Amp
EarmenEarMen Eagle
Specs
| Connectivity | USB-A |
| Adapters Included | USB-A to USB-C |
| Max Audio Quality | Up to 32-bit/384kHz |
Pros
- Refreshingly affordable
- Supports lossless tracks up to 384Hz
- Super compact design
Cons
- Lightning adapter sold separately
- Lacks MQA support
The EarMen Eagle is a super affordable and super portable DAC amp that’s about the size of your average flash drive. It’s integrated DAC (ESS ES9280 C Pro) allows it to play lossless audio files up to 32-bit/384kHz.
It comes with USB-C adapter that will allow you to use it with most Androids and computers right out of the box, but iPhone (14 and earlier) users will have to buy a Lightning adapter separately. The only other real strike against the Eagle is that it’s not MQA-certified, so know that if you’re a Tidal subscriber it won’t unlock all that the lossless service has to offer.
Most Efficient Portable DAC Amp
AmazonAudioQuest Dragonfly Cobalt
Specs
| Connectivity | USB-A |
| Adapters Included | None |
| Max Audio Quality | Up to 24-bit/96kHz |
Pros
- Maxes out at 24-bit/96kHz audio files
- Compact size
- Very power efficient (despite no battery)
Cons
- Very expensive
- You’ll need a Lightning adapter for iPhone
The DragonFly Cobalt is the crown jewel in AudioQuest’s famed Dragonfly series. It draws significantly less power than the company’s DragonFly Red, meaning you’ll be able to listen to better music for longer on your smartphone. It also does an impeccable job of picking up and eliminating unwanted jitter and digital noise, so your music sounds best.
It has a ESS ES9038Q2M DAC chip and supports 24-bit/96kHz playback, MQA, which should allow you to hear greater levels of detail in your music. Additionally, the Cobalt is the only portable DAC amp in the Dragonfly series that ships with a USB-A to USB-C adapter, so you can connect it to your Android smartphone or USB-C laptop right out of the box. If you have an iPhone, you’ll still need an adapter.
