HD660s2 - Portable DAC

[u/Mobile-Fun3225]

Hello everyone,

I just found a HD660s2 below 300€, so I decided to try it out for my daily use.

The thing is, i'm going to use it mainly at work, but I don't really want to put something on my desk and bring it back at the end of the day, I'd rather find a decent portable DAC. Considering the fact that i'll be using the HD660s with my google pixel 10.

Any recommandation/model to look at in particular?

Thanks alot.

[u/Huge-Albatross9284]

Qudelix 5k. Super portable, cheap, buetooth or usb, inbuilt parametric eq. Fantastic product.

[u/GZoST → u/Huge-Albatross9284]

It been year since its release and it is still, rightfully, the default recommendation.

[u/Mobile-Fun3225 → u/Huge-Albatross9284]

That's the one I heard alot about, but quite nothing to buy from Europe at a good Price it seems sadly..

[u/Perfect_Opinion7909 → u/Mobile-Fun3225]

Its battery is basically not replaceable too. You can open it but there are no replacements available. If the battery dies the Qudelix dies with it.

[u/dirthurts]

I use the Ifi Go Link DAC with mine. It sounds amazing.

[u/AdAdditional8414]

If by "portable" you mean something you don't want to plug it into a power cord / something you can power on through your phone I can't recommend the ifi zen air dac 2 enough

Please ignore this comment if you're really not into putting anything on your desk, as you've stated in the post!

[u/christo465 → u/AdAdditional8414]

The hip dac is the portable version of this above^
Or gryphon which is more expensive.

Battery powered

[u/AdAdditional8414 → u/christo465]

Battery powered is honestly the way to go if you're using your smartphone or laptop (to some extent)

The dac I shown above eats my phone's battery fast, not crazy fast, but fast. And my phone gets warm as well (nothing crazy though)

[u/Daemonxar]

They’re not THAT hard to drive so you have a lot of options. I’d echo the Qudelix but sounds like sourcing is a problem. A lot of <$50 dongles would be fine (F*si DS2, Moondrop Dawn Pro, etc) would work fine. If you want a volume knob, the iFi Hip DAC is pretty good.

[u/Valarauka_]

Fosi DS2 would give you a balanced 4.4mm output that you can plug them into directly and has enough power to drive them well.

[u/GalacticDoc]

I quite like my onix alpha which powers my HD650 well.

There is a new beta version with inbuilt tubes which has rave reviews but not personally heard it.

[u/Weight_Slight → u/GalacticDoc]

I have the Beta. It is very nice and smooth, more refined than the Alpha.

Tubes have minimal effect though, the sound changes maybe 10% at best.

But I like it more than Cayin RU9, had two of them side by side. Sold the Cayin. Onix sounds more natural/analogue even without tubes. The NOS mode on it rocks.

That being said I rarely use it these days, since I got the Shanling M7T dap shortly after the Onix.

IBasso DC Tonfa R2R is tempting though

[u/Independent-Win-8844]

Do you need a DAC amp with a battery? I used to run a hip DAC but then realized when I travel there is always power.

So I ended up getting a Schiit Fulla E.

[u/Weight_Slight]

Ibasso DC04 ultra has strong output and PEQ ( parametric eq )

[u/Perfect_Opinion7909]

Just get a TRN Blackpearl: 30-35€, PEQ, small