I’m looking to improve the sound quality from my iPhone when using Roon ARC and would appreciate some advice on a portable DAC/AMP.
I’m looking for:
Excellent sound quality
Easy compatibility with iPhone (USB-C or Lightning, depending on the DAC)
Reliable performance with Roon ARC
Portable enough to use on the go
I’m open to spending more if it’s genuinely worth it, but I’d also like to know what offers the best value.
What portable DAC/AMP are you using with your iPhone and Roon? Have you compared options like the Chord Mojo 2, Questyle M18i, FiiO KA17, iFi GO Bar, Cayin RU7, or something else?
I’d really appreciate hearing about your experiences and recommendations.
To some extent, this depends on your headphones. For instance, I have a TANCHJIM Space which is very good, but will only drive IEMs. The Mojo is excellent, and drives all of my headphones.
I recommend you audition or make use of online shopping returns policy in the UK.
I have the 660S, and was looking to move to the 800S. I have a Mojo 2 arriving on Monday (from another member here). Although I’ll be using it via an Android phone and Roon ARC with the beta USB driver. From my research, it seems the Mojo 2 is amongst the better received options.
I use the Moyo2 for about one year after using a Fiio AlpenII. The difference was incredible.
Open, detailed sound without any listening fatigue .
The use depends on how your brain is working. Mine does not find it easy if you meest to change settings (EQ for example). But I carry the manual as pdf on my phone. Just in case .
I’m really happy with them. I thought them great, despite some naysayers complaining about the noted Sennheiser “veil”. Usual nonsense, I thought. I’ve used Sennheiser for decades, never thought about EQ, or comparisons.
Then I turned on Roon’s OPRA headphone eq (AutoEQ/oratory1990), and suddenly “oh! I see what they mean”
I took a few days to get used to the sound with OPRA on, and then decided I preferred it. I routinely switch back and forth (using a −6.3dB headroom adjustment with OPRA disabled, so the levels are the same), and I do now find the native sound a little muddy (the “veil”?) in comparison to the OPRA sound. But both are available (and others) depending on what I’m listening to.
I still love the 660S; I’m listening with them now (Sylvian/Fripp), via my new Mojo 2, and they sound wonderful.
But I do want to try the 800S. How’re you finding them? Using EQ?
The interface is quite unusual: 4 buttons to control everything, with all state being fed back by the combination of colours shown. Keeping the manual at hand is required, until you feel comfortable with it, and then you don’t really need to change settings. Took me a few hours, but it seems natural already.
It sounds great. I’m comparing it with my TEAC DAC, which cost about three times the price of the Mojo 2, and I can’t tell the difference. But I can’t put the TEAC in my pocket
I’m doing oversampling on Arc.
Ideally, you want a DAC that lets you bypass both the oversampling filter and modulator, but options are pretty limited for portable gear.
I’m using the iBasso Tonfa. It has a NOS mode, and since it’s an R2R DAC, you don’t need a modulator either.
Of course, it doesn’t make a massive difference compared to the built-in filters, it’s just my personal obsession
Another route would be go with a robust dongle like the CrinEar Protocol Max, which has more than enough power to drive many full sized headphones. Also pick up a Dekoni Audio Magdac Magnetic DAC/AMP Phone Holder, which makes carrying the Protocol Max very convenient. Another DAC/Amp dongle to consider is the MUSEHiFi M3 Ultra Portable Tube DAC Amp, yes it has two small tubes and is fully powered by the phone. Unfortunately the M3 does not work with the Magdac.
Both these dongles have single ended and balanced outputs. Both sound great and are less costly than many of the other suggestions.
Absolutely true. Different use cases require different solutions.
For short term daily portable use, think daily public transit commute, a dongle is very practical solution. Low cost, very portable and battery drain should not be an issue.
For longer term portable and semi-portable use the larger self powered DAC/Amps like the Mojo2 are worthwhile solutions.
Unfortunately there doesn’t appear to one common solution for all use cases. Oh well.
I have a few dongle/IEM combos that sound fantastic. The CrinEar Protocol Max paired with any of the CrinEar IEMs (The Daybreak, The Reference or (for bassheads) The Monolith). A decent dongle and set of good IEMs can be had for less than price of mid-level full sized headphones.
And of course one could dispense with the DAC/Amp and just use Bluetooth. Lots of good choices are available should one chose this method.
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