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Details: Written by: Geoffrey Morrison; Created: 01 January 2026

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If you’re one of the classy few who still prefer wired earphones and headphones even on the go, you’ve no doubt considered or purchased a portable USB DAC-amp to go with them. With annoyingly few phones having headphone jacks, and with cheap dongle converters offering little power, it’s definitely the way to go. However, how do you manage the phone-to-DAC and DAC-to-headphones nest of wires that inevitably get tangled in your pocket?

Details: Written by: Geoffrey Morrison; Created: 01 June 2025

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Here’s a hot take: how a headphone amp looks is really important. Of course it’s important for it to sound good, but this is something that’s going to sit on a desk or visible shelf and, for a certain type of person, draw attention. So it needs to look good. To be fair, “good” is a pretty broad description. It can be something like the cyberpunk-cool HiBy FD5 or the more conventionally cool Rotel DX-3 ($1499, CA$2249, £1399, €1499, as of May 30, 2025). With just some simple lines and angles, it’s attractive without being flashy.

Details: Written by: Geoffrey Morrison; Created: 01 May 2025

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I can’t remember when I first fell in love with the cyberpunk genre. Maybe it was the first time I saw Blade Runner. My love for the genre certainly solidified when I read Neuromancer in college. They’re finally making a TV show based on that book, something I’ll believe when I actually see it. While the genre has lost some of its mystique, given that we now live in the exact world all those movies and books warned us about, the aesthetic is still one of my favorites.

Details: Written by: Geoffrey Morrison; Created: 01 September 2024

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When it comes to headphone amps, I’m looking for something specific. Sure, I want something powerful enough to easily drive whatever headphones I’m using. A good DAC is vital as well. But I also want something that, well, looks good. Headphone amps are rare products that will draw the eye of anyone curious. So looking cool is certainly not a requirement, but at the very least it’s a strongly requested bonus.

Details: Written by: Geoffrey Morrison; Created: 01 July 2024

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This is one of the stranger products I’ve reviewed for SoundStage! Solo. iFi Audio’s Go Pod ($399, all prices USD) is a pair of Bluetooth receivers and amps designed to attach to high-end wired earphones, converting just about any ’phones with detachable cables into true wireless earbuds. So instead of carrying around a portable amp or device with a headphone jack, you can use your audiophile earphones with any Bluetooth source.

Details: Written by: Killain Jones; Created: 15 April 2024

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Measurements can be found by clicking this link.

Much like with stock picking, key to selecting an audio component is researching the company behind it. Among my selection criteria are brand reputation and the length of time the company has been in business. Equally important, of course, is researching the component itself. When selecting a headphone amplifier, I try to find out its true power ratings, design goals, sound signature (I like my amplification slightly on the warm side of neutral), and the likelihood it could soon be supplanted by a newer model. What complicates matters is the sheer variety of designs, shapes, and sizes of headphone amplifiers and their abstruse specification sheets, which confound even seasoned audiophiles at times.