High-resolution lossless portable amplifiers with great effects - and recommended Akihabara retailers

In June 2021, Apple Music will finally begin offering high-resolution and lossless digital audio!
However, many people are probably lamenting that they want to enjoy high-resolution audio through streaming services, but their smartphones don't support high-resolution audio, so they don't want to go to the trouble of buying a new one.
That's why we recommend a portable headphone amplifier!
This time, I would like to introduce a portable amplifier, a convenient item that allows you to listen to high-resolution audio sources on your smartphone.

What is a portable amplifier?

A headphone amplifier specialized for portability is called a portable amplifier, or pota-an for short.
A headphone amplifier is an audio device equipped with an amplifier specifically designed for headphones or earphones. Its main role is to connect to music players such as CD players or DAPs (digital audio players) and easily listen to high-quality sound.
To put it in perspective, when playing an electric guitar, the electric guitar alone (music player) will not produce the intended sound, so you need an amplifier (headphone amplifier) ​​to act as a speaker.

How to Choose a Portable Headphone Amplifier

When choosing a portable amplifier, I would like to introduce some points to consider, such as power supply method, operating time, weight and size.

Choose from the power supply method! - Rechargeable, power supply, or battery type

There are three main types of power supply methods.

Rechargeable - Built-in battery for charging and use

Rechargeable types like the Cayin C9 have the advantage that you can use them over and over again by charging the built-in battery, allowing you to listen to music for over 10 hours.
On the other hand, the larger the capacity of the battery, the heavier it is, and the longer it takes to charge, and the more likely it is to become unusable once the battery runs out of charge.

[amazonjs asin="B094QTDPLL" locale="JP" title="Cayin C9 Portable Headphone Amplifier, Balanced Connection Compatible, Vacuum Tube Analog Amplifier"]

Powered type - Powered by a smartphone or other device

In addition, powered types such as the fiio Q3 can be connected to devices such as smartphones to supply power.
Furthermore, since they do not have built-in batteries, many of the products are lightweight and small.
On the other hand, when charging a smartphone or other device, be sure to keep an eye on the remaining battery life of your smartphone so you don't get too absorbed in the music.
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Battery-powered - Type that runs on batteries

Battery-powered models like Korg's Nu:Tekt HA-S allow for extended music playback without the need for charging by simply replacing the batteries.
It's a good idea to carry spare Eneloop or other batteries with you in case your battery suddenly dies while you're out and about.
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How to choose the best battery life! - Check the battery life

Battery life is also an essential point to consider when choosing a portable amplifier.
Depending on the product, the battery life can vary from 5 to over 50 hours (the manufacturer's stated value).
The shorter the battery life, the more time you have to spend charging, so choose one with as long a battery life as possible!

Choose from various connection methods for sound output: Analog, Digital, Bluetooth

There are three connection methods for portable amplifiers: analog, digital, and Bluetooth.

Analog connection - Easy even for beginners

The analog connection is a standard that connects directly to the earphone jack terminal commonly found on smartphones and DAPs.It is attached to most playback devices, so it is easy to connect and easy to use even for beginners to portable amplifiers.

Digital connection - High-quality sound such as high resolution

Digital connections are a standard that can be connected using USB or Lightning connectors, and are characterized by higher sound quality than analog connections.
Additionally, if you use a portable amplifier with a built-in DAC (digital-to-analog converter) that supports high resolution, you can play high resolution audio sources even on smartphones that do not support high resolution.

Bluetooth - No need for a cord

Bluetooth connection allows you to wirelessly connect the device to smartphones that do not have an earphone jack (iPhone 7 and later) and listen to the music using the device and wired earphones or headphones.
On the other hand, the sound quality deteriorates during the process of transmitting audio data via Bluetooth connection, making the sound quality worse than that of analog or digital connections.

Choose by weight and size! - Check portability

Depending on the product, the weight of a portable amplifier can range from around 10g to as much as 300g for the heavier ones.
They also come in a variety of sizes, from about the size of an earphone adapter plug to something as angular as a brick.

For example, AudioQuest's Dragonfly Cobalt is lightweight at approximately 19g and is the same size as a commonly used USB memory stick, making it easy to carry around.

[amazonjs asin=”B07XV9Y27D” locale=”JP” title=”audioquest Headphone Amplifier/DAC DragonFly Cobalt MQA Compatible Hi-Res Compatible”]

In contrast, MASS-Kobo's model 404 is a heavyweight, weighing 650g and measuring 11.3cm x 15.5cm x 4cm.
We compared a music player that weighs 145g and measures 5.4 x 12.0 x 1.5cm.
Such heavy sizes are originally intended to be enjoyed with stationary devices, but some serious portable audio (portable amplifier) ​​users are so bold that they carry them around town and enjoy listening to music.
If you want to use a portable amplifier on the go, such as commuting to work or school, it's best to choose a lightweight product to reduce stress unless you're a serious user!

Recommended portable amplifier store - e-earphone Akihabara store

Now that you know how to choose, I would like to introduce a recommended store in Akihabara that sells portable amplifiers: e-Earphone Akihabara Store.

The Akihabara branch of e-earphone is an earphone specialty store located on the main street of Chuo-dori.

On the third floor, there is also a corner where you can freely listen to new and recommended portable amplifiers.

You can actually try out different portable amplifiers with your own ears until you are satisfied with the one that suits you best.

The fourth floor also sells second-hand portable amplifiers, so you might just find a bargain!

Recommended portable amplifiers that caught my eye this time

iFi micro iDSD signature ￥89100 (tax included)
It has a clear sound for classical piano and is recommended for those who place importance on the quality of high notes.
However, it is a bit heavy to carry around, so it might be best to use it as a stationary device.

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SHANLING UA2 ￥12760 (tax included)
It's easy to use and sounds great, so it's recommended for those who want to experience high-resolution audio without having to worry about a high-spec listening environment!
It seems to be highly rated and popular, as as of mid-July, it is still on backorder at e-earphone stores and Amazon.

Comparing it to a smartphone, it looks like this.
It looks like a USB memory stick, is compact in size and easy to carry around.

[amazonjs asin=”B095GR8FR4″ locale=”JP” title=”SHANLING UA2 Headphone Amplifier [DAC Function Compatible / Hi-Res Compatible]”]

Enjoy high-quality music with a portable amplifier!

If you just want to listen to music normally, you don't need a portable amplifier, but the appeal of a portable amplifier is that it can compensate for the lack of quality in the sound you normally listen to with high quality sound.
Even if you don't have a high-resolution music player, you can enjoy high-resolution audio on your iPhone, smartphone, or PC if you have a high-resolution portable amplifier.
If this article has piqued your interest in portable amplifiers, be sure to try out an actual unit at a store like e-earphone and find the sound quality that suits you best!