The Best Portable DACs for 2025
Get Better Audio On The Go
Portable hi-fi audio is in–because if we can take our excellent sound quality with us wherever we go –then why not, right? And DACs are one of the easiest ways to drastically improve the quality of your music. We like to call them the Google Translate of your audio system, and as such, not all translators are equal. They come in a plethora of shapes, sizes, chips, price points, and more.
Every year, we round up the best-selling hi-fi products. There's no sugarcoating what our top gear is - because it's all based on what you audiophiles are getting. These are not just the top portable DACs of 2025, but the most popular as well, and for good reason. Your ears deserve better, and that's why standalone DACs ALWAYS perform better because they're designed to do one thing and one thing only: to make sure every bit of data gets efficiently converted to an analog signal so that you're getting the best sound quality. So without delay, here are our Best Portable DACs of 2025.
Best Portable DACs of 2025 (by price)
Chord Electronics Hugo 2 DAC Headphone Amplifier
Best-In-Class Sound Quality, Detailed/Analytical
I/O, Crossfeed, Filters, 2GO Compatibility
Our best-selling portable DAC of the year is none other than the Hugo 2 by Chord Electronics. The Hugo 2 is one of the best-sounding DACs on the market, which is why it tops our list year after year. It's a testament to the overall quality that a product that is six years old is still the one to beat since it was released in early 2017. The nice thing about the Hugo 2 is that it also doubles as a headphone amplifier, which goes a long way to what the DAC amp can do for your sound quality. Chord uses their own proprietary FPGA and the Hugo 2 has a whopping nearly-50-thousand taps. We don't have time to get into taps, but generally speaking people consider the more taps - the better the sound (though this is not entirely the full picture). Bottom line - pristine and detailed sound. This is only topped by the Chord Hugo TT 2 and the DAVE DAC. The nice thing about the size and capability of the Hugo 2 is that it can do double duty as a desktop DAC - with plenty of processing power and amplification, it will certainly feel at home - in your home. With an average 7-hour battery life, feel free to take it with you too whenever you leave.
Feel free to pair it with the Chord 2Go to essentially make it a fully-capable music server and streamer. You can also add the Chord Hugo M Scaler for a powerful upsampling system that sounds absolutely stunning. Chord products play well also with other devices outside of their ecosystem. Chord products tend to lean more toward an analytical sound signature - bringing out extensive detail and tight bass response. It performs well with genres like classical, jazz, alternative, folk, and more. With an excellent selection of I/O, crossfeed functionality, filters, and more, the Hugo 2 is flagship-level portable fidelity. The Chord Hugo 2 has a price of $2,500, and if you're looking for the best DAC on our list, this is it.
Dragon Cable Recommendation: The Silver Dragon USB Cable is our best-selling cable at Moon Audio and the perfect companion for the Hugo 2 DAC Amp. The Silver Dragon USB transfers digital audio from a computer or portable device such as a Phone, Tablet, or DAP (digital audio Player) to a USB-capable DAC. The Silver Dragon Interconnect is another great option depending on your existing setup. Also consider the Black Dragon Mini Coax Digital Cable for Chord.
Chord Electronics Mojo 2 DAC Headphone Amplifier
If you want to get a DAC with battery power, then we can't recommend enough the Mojo 2 from Chord Electronics. Like the Hugo, the Mojo 2 is another DAC and amp combo, providing a smaller form factor, fewer taps, and less power, but superior portability and excellent Chord sound. It's probably equally popular due to the lower price point and still retains a lot of features that make the Hugo 2 great at the same time. The Mojo 2 is a completely refined and even more feature-rich product than the original Mojo. Mojo stands for "Mobile Joy" and is a true-reference quality mobile DAC and high-level headphone amplifier that fits in the palm of your hand. It's one of our favorite products here at Moon Audio due to its size, amazing functionality, and sound of the DAC. It's also our top-selling portable DAC ever. New to the Mojo 2 is an added button, providing more options and control in their expanded menu system. You can now effectively control individual frequency bands to cut or boost, choose multiple filters, run it in desktop mode so you don't run out the battery while being plugged in, high and low gain settings, crossfeed, and more.
Like the Hugo 2 and the 2Go, you can pair the Mojo 2 with the Poly, effectively making the Mojo act like a complete music server and streamer. The Mojo is known for its superior clarity and detail, and the Mojo 2 adds a bit more control over the bottom end if you prefer more bass presence. It also has dual 3.5mm headphone outs for simultaneous audio out if that is important to you. The Mojo 2 will excel with just about any genre out there, especially for detail freaks who like to pick out every little nuance in their music. The added bass clarity also makes it more accessible to genres like R&B and EDM too. The Mojo 2 is a tiny DAC amp with a big sound, and at $650.00, it's hard not to recommend it for just about everything.
iFi Audio iDSD Diablo 2 Portable DAC Amplifier
Now for the most demanding headphones and highly sensitive IEMs, we've got the iFi Audio iDSD Diablo 2 Portable DAC/Amp, the newest iteration in the Diablo series. Featuring a striking new futuristic design, the Diablo 2 portable DAC/Amp sets a new standard for the amount of power you can take with you. Engineered to sit at the top of iFi's range of mobile, portable devices, the Diablo 2 was built for purists—true headphone enthusiasts who crave pure, unadulterated sonic performance and exceptional playback.
Design alone, the Diablo 2 is unlike anything else on this list, but its performance, features, and sound quality are truly what steals the show. You get multiple operation modes, three power modes for normal IEMs, mid-sensitivity headphones, and demanding headphones. Support for every Bluetooth format, true native DSD and PCM, and advanced jitter reduction. Not to mention a 4.4mm output, 6.35mm headphone output, several inputs and outputs, and 12 hours of playback on a single charge. The iFi Audio iDSD Diablo 2 is a top-tier portable DAC/Amp that offers a compelling combination of performance, features, and sound quality, making it an excellent choice for discerning listeners who want incredible power on the move.
Dragon Cable Recommendation: We recommend pairing the iDSD Diablo 2 DAC/Amp with the Black Dragon USB Cable with USB-C connectors for the best possible digital audio transmission. The USB-C port on the bottom of the Diablo 2 makes it perfect for a high-quality cable designed for signal transmission. Our Black Dragon USB Cable utilizes a single-crystal UP-OCC copper construction to provide the best possible digital transmission. We have optimized our USB cables for audio transmission of large high-resolution audio files so you can easily transfer files from your digital library to the Diablo 2. We also recommend adding a high-amperage USB charger like the Tronsmart USB Charger to the Diablo 2. Why? The Tronsmart will provide sufficient amperage to charge the Diablo 2 quickly and efficiently, without any damage to the internal battery.
iFi Audio xDSD Gryphon Headphone Amp DAC
The iFi Audio Gryphon might be one of the most feature-packed DAC amps on the market, and one of the biggest advantages that it has over its main competitor, the Chord Mojo 2, is that the Gryphon has all of the features that people wanted in the Mojo 2–but never got. Namely, Bluetooth connectivity, an OLCD screen, and a 4.4mm balanced connection option. So if those things are important to you, then it's an easy choice.
The Gryphon has an amazing selection of inputs and outputs for both single-ended and balanced connections, as well as settings for high-sensitivity IEMs. It comes with the standard plethora of iFi goodies and sound enhancements, including the X-Bass and X-Space settings - and they actually do A LOT to enhance the audio quality if that's what you're looking for. Because of these sound options, the Gryphon has amazing bass response and will be a great fit for those who like a more musical presentation, or more bass response. It's superb for RAP, R&B, EDM, live music, and tons more.
Dragon Cable Recommendation: We recommend pairing the iFi xDSD Gryphon Headphone Amp DAC with our Silver Dragon USB Cable for data transmission. Our Silver Dragon USB Cable will deliver seamless digital transmission between your source device and the xDSD Gryphon. Made with UP-OCC silver conductors and high-quality materials, the Silver Dragon USB Cable features reinforced connectors designed to maintain a secure, stable connection at all times.
Astell&Kern AK HC4 Portable USB DAC
Pocket-sized portability
Dual output design with 3.5mm and 4.4mm connectors
The AK HC4 is the newest portable USB DAC offered by Astell&Kern. The AK HC4 continues the advantages of its highly acclaimed predecessors the HC2 and HC3, delivering even more perfected sound in various usage scenarios. With dual output — 3.5mm and 4.4mm connectors, the AK HC4 is compatible with most IEMs and headphones and the AK4493S DAC delivers true high-quality Hi-Fi sound. The AK HC4 DAC supports Native DSD256 and up to 32bit/384kHz to handle any high-quality audio source, allowing you to experience the high-grade sound quality that Astell&Kern delivers. The AK HC4 supports both UAC 1.0 and 2.0 connections so users can enjoy gaming on devices like PlayStation and Switch.
Dragon Cable Recommendation: We recommend pairing the Astell&Kern HC4 Portable USB DAC with our popular Black Dragon USB Audio Cable. The Black Dragon USB cable utilizes our single crystal UP-OCC copper construction to provide you with the best possible digital bus transmission. Our Black Dragon USB cable will bring an extraordinary amount of detail and resolution to your hi-fi system. The Black Dragon USB cable is designed to transfer digital audio from your source device (like a computer, phone, tablet, or digital audio player) to a USB-capable DAC. It is built to USB Audio specs. The Black Dragon USB Cable is meant for audio data transfer only - meaning that this cable should not be used for high-speed data transmission (via external hard drives). Because of the high-quality materials and cable geometry, Dragon USB cables greatly reduce stock USB cable issues such as packet loss and jitter.
Astell&Kern HB1 Portable Bluetooth DAC
The Astell&Kern HB1 Portable Bluetooth DAC Amplifier brings audiophile-grade sound to your mobile lifestyle in a remarkably compact package. Whether you're connecting wirelessly via Bluetooth 5.0 with LDAC and aptX HD support, or going wired with USB-C for native DSD256 and 32-bit/384kHz playback, the HB1 delivers exceptional audio quality powered by the ESS9281AC PRO DAC and Astell&Kern's custom amplifier circuitry.
With both 3.5mm unbalanced and 4.4mm balanced outputs capable of 4Vrms output power, it has the muscle to drive a wide range of IEMs and headphones with authority. It's an incredibly versatile hi-fi device featuring multipoint Bluetooth connectivity, UAC 1.0 and 2.0 support for gaming devices, a dedicated car mode, and a high-quality built-in microphone with clear voice capture technology for crystal-clear calls. The Astell&Kern HB1 is a feature-packed portable solution that punches well above its size and price point.
Dragon Cable Recommendation: We recommend pairing the Astell&Kern HB1 Portable Bluetooth DAC/Amp with our popular Black Dragon USB Audio Cable. The Black Dragon USB Cable is designed for digital bus transmission and getting the most out of your audio is crucial. Made with UP-OCC copper conductors and high-quality materials, the Black Dragon USB Cable features reinforced connectors designed to maintain a secure, stable connection at all times. The Black Dragon USB Cable will bring more detail and resolution to your hi-res audio playback.
iFi Audio GO BAR Kensei DAC Amplifier
iFi Audio has unveiled its latest innovation in portable audio, the GO Bar Kensei Ultra portable USB DAC Headphone Amplifier and preamplifier, building upon the success of its best-selling predecessor, the GO Bar. This new iteration boasts a series of upgrades, both in aesthetics and sonic performance, sure to captivate audiophiles worldwide. Departing from the aluminum alloy chassis of the original GO Bar, the GO Bar Kensei now features a meticulously crafted Japanese Stainless Steel chassis, delivering unparalleled rigidity and build quality. Setting a new standard in portable audio, the GO Bar Kensei introduces K2HD technology, a groundbreaking addition that establishes it as the world's first portable DAC Headphone Amplifier to incorporate this cutting-edge tech. This advancement ensures an exceptional level of audio quality, bringing out the finest nuances and details in your music.
Complementing this technological leap, the GO Bar Kensei is equipped with an ultra-low jitter internal clock and enhanced power supply. With its formidable power and advanced features, the iFi GO Bar Kensei emerges as the ultimate high-quality portable companion for audiophiles, promising an unparalleled listening experience wherever you go. Whether you're a discerning music lover or a professional on the go, the GO Bar Kensei sets a new high-end standard in portable hifi, delivering sonic excellence in a sleek and compact package.
Dragon Cable Recommendation: we recommend pairing the Go Bar Kensei with the Black Dragon USB Cable. Our Black Dragon USB cable will bring an extraordinary amount of detail and resolution to the GO Bar Kensei. The Black Dragon USB cable is designed to transfer digital audio from your source device (like a computer, phone, tablet, or a digital audio player) to a USB-capable DAC like the Kensei. It is built to USB Audio specs.
iFi Audio GO Blu Headphone Amp DAC
10-hour Battery Life
Now for the Zippo Lighter! Excuse me, I meant to say the iFi Audio GO Blu Headphone Amp/DAC. Technically smaller than a Zippo Lighter, the GO Blu is an engineering feat–squeezing in the Bluetooth, DAC, and amplifier stages completely separate from each other. At $199, the GO Blu is arguably one of the best bang-for-your-buck pieces on this list.
The GO Blu delivers great audiophile-grade sound in a small size with tons of features. You get a built-in microphone for taking calls, Bluetooth with hi-res codecs, two headphone jacks–a 4.4mm balanced and a 3.5mm single-ended–and approximately 10 hours of battery life–which is great for a full day of listening.
For the price, you really can't beat the performance, features, and functionality of the GO Blu. Now, it's not going to drive your power-hungry headphones like a dedicated headphone amp would, but it'll make your IEMs and easy-to-drive headphones SING. Not to mention it's got support for iFi Audio's sound enhancements, xBass, and xSpace, so you can tailor the sound you're looking for. Don't let the size of the GO Blu fool you, it's built to handle all of your audiophile demands.
Dragon Cable Recommendation: We recommend pairing the iFi Audio GO Blu Headphone Amp DAC with the Black Dragon USB Cable. The USB-C port on the bottom of the GO Blu makes it perfect for a high-quality cable designed for signal transmission. Our Black Dragon USB Cable utilizes a single-crystal UP-OCC copper construction to provide the best possible digital transmission. We have optimized our USB cables for audio transmission of large high-resolution audio files so you can easily transfer files from your digital library to the GO Blu.
Clarus CODA Headphone Amplifier DAC
Great SABRE Sound
Sturdy construction, physical volume buttons
You've seen the Clarus CODA many times before in our various blogs - and it's one of the best buys you can make if you're looking for quality, detailed sound wherever you go. The CODA sports an ESS SABRE DAC - known for its strong attention to detail, clarity, and wide soundstage, and I'm personally a huge fan of the SABRE sound - and many people are. Looking like a true flash drive, the CODA has the USB type A connector attached to the chassis, complete with a cover that fits snugly over the connector. We like this design, like the RU6, because the device isn't dependent on the cable being attached - in case something were to happen with the cable, then you have a dead device, like on some dongles out there. It has a sturdy metal body, and physical volume up and down buttons that also double as filter selectors. There is no balanced option as it only has a 3.5mm headphone jack, but the form factor, sound quality, and small features make it one of the best small-form-factor USB DACs on the market.
It's plug-and-play for the most part when connecting to iOS, Android, PC, MAC, whatever. There's an included USB-A to USB-C cable so you can connect to more modern devices with USB-C jacks. Like the RU6, it'll run off the source's power, but it's also able to output about 2 Vrms which is more than enough for most headphones out there if you want to go portable. It's a more than capable USB DAC amp that would be a great fit for someone wanting a more analytical sound to their portable setup. Superb for classical, jazz, folk, and more. At just $300, the CODA might bring your USB DAC search to an end. Get it? (Like a CODA- which marks the transition to the ending of a piece of music)
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