This $650 gadget makes all my music sound great — no matter what device I use

Chord Mojo 2 — (Image credit: Tom's Guide)

Wired headphones are the end game for portable listening. They have none of the limits of wireless options, offering incredible sound quality that outmatches anything with a Bluetooth logo on the box. But not all is perfect in wired headphones land — if you want to use some of the more expensive and most glorious sounding wired options, you've got some considerations to make.

Some of the best headphones need extra power to drive. These headphones can be super thirsty for juice, so that they can more easily create their incredible experiences. Your phone and a USB dongle simply aren't going to cut the mustard. Then there's the matter of audio conversion — as impressive as the quality Qobuz (my best music streaming service of choice) can pump out, my iPhone can't keep up. If I want the best quality possible for my posh wired headphones, I'm going to need an extra device.

My companion for years has been the Chord Mojo 2. It's an uber-powerful DAC and amp that's smaller than an iPhone 3GS (remember those?) and has the juice for more powerful headphones. And now it's been upgraded — so what's new, and why do you need one?

Infinite cosmic power...

Is the Chord Mojo 2 as powerful as a desk-based device? No. That means some of the most demanding headphones won't be served quite the power they need. The audiophile-approved Sennheiser HD800S, for example, are still not quite given the meaty meal they need to sound their very best from the Mojo 2.

But other headphones that need more beef that's not pumped out by my laptop or my phone? Perfection. It means you get the detail that the incredibly clear highs of the HD600 and their massive soundstage are perfectly pronounced, as they drink the power the Mojo 2 provides.

I could go on for hours about how impressive it is that the Chord Mojo 2 is as powerful as it is in such a tight frame (which also has to pack in an industry-leading DAC), but I won't. Because that would be boring — if you want to learn more about that, go and read one of the thousands of other audiophile reviews. I'm here to tell you that almost any headphones you throw at the Mojo 2 are going to run pretty much perfectly.

Converting with the very best

Alongside the extremely stout amplifier section of the Chord Mojo 2, there's a very impressive DAC section to round out the portable experience. Plug in something with the optical port, or one of the USB ports, and it'll take the top-notch tracks from Tidal, Qobuz and Apple Music to make them sound excellent.

It sounds so much better than using just your phone and some form of dongle. It makes sure that fine details are translated from those 1s and 0s, and fed to your headphones so that you can hear them. It's one of the best portable DACs I've ever heard, in fact, although you'd hope so given it costs $650.

More outputs

This is where I can talk upgrades from the old model. That version, which I have been using for years, only has two 3.5mm connectors, and you can't charge it with USB-C. The new model now supports USB-C charging, a surprisingly nice upgrade that improves quality of life. Because lets face it, charging with micro USB feels so 2015.

The changing of a 3.5mm to 4.4mm is the real upgrade here. That means you can benefit from a balanced connection with compatible headphones — that means potentially tastier sound quality. Nice.

Any problems?

Look, it's not perfect. The 8-hour battery life could be better, although you're unlikely to be using it for that long while you're out and about. Still, I'd rather know that I could than try to and then find myself with a dead device halfway through my holiday.

It's also confusing to use, on occasion. There are loads of different settings menus built into the device, and they're accessible with the jewel-like buttons on the top. That means that adjusting EQ and the like is irritating. I frequently find myself reaching for the instructions to make sure I'm doing the right thing — and to make sure that I'm not going to change the wrong thing.

Or deafen myself.

Because there's so much power on tap, it means that some less power-hungry headphones can be made super loud. If you're going from a pair of impressive headphones to something not quite so demanding, you run the risk of destroying your eardrums — and your headphones.

I find the best way to move from headphone to headphone is to reduce the volume as far as possible, and then raise the volume once you've plugged the other headphones in until you get to a comfortable volume. Either way — you've been warned.

Should you buy one?

Got $650? Yes.

If you haven't and want something similar, then I'd suggest the iFi Hip DAC. That's a $200 device with a fairly potent DAC and Amp that makes it much easier to listen to more demanding headphones on the go. It doesn't quite feature the same power or quality as the Mojo 2, but it's a great, affordable alternative.

Either way, any audiophile on the go needs a portable DAC Amp like the Mojo 2. This one just happens to be one of the best around.

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Tammy and her generous collection of headphones have found a new home — Tom's Guide! After a two-and-a-half-year stint as iMore's resident audiophile, Tammy's reviews and buying guide expertise have more focus than ever on Tom's Guide, helping buyers find the audio gear that works best for them. Tammy has worked with some of the most desirable audio brands on the planet in her time writing about headphones, speakers, and more, bringing a consumer focussed approach to critique and buying advice. Away from her desk, you'll probably find her in the countryside writing (extremely bad) poetry, or putting her screenwriting Masters to good use creating screenplays that'll never see the light of day.

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