If you're not using a portable DAC, you're listening to music wrong — here's why I can't live without my USB-C audio companion

Nintendo Switch 2 next to a DAC with some headphones connected

(Image credit: Tom's Guide)

Contrary to popular belief, I don't spend all my time locked up in my office. Sometimes I venture into the outside world, be that to stay with a friend somewhere or to go on vacation somewhere filled with trees and birds. And vanilla ice cream.

Unfortunately, I won't be able to take my full Hi-Fi setup with me when I go. It's big, bulky, and will almost certainly annoy anyone who comes across it. So, when I want to listen to top-quality music while I'm not at home, I turn to some of the best wired headphones and a device called a portable DAC.

What is a portable DAC?

When you listen to your music through one of the best music streaming services, or even downloaded files, you start with a digital feed of 1s and 0s. Listen to those straight from the source, and it's less "wow, delicious mountain water, fresh from the spring" and more "what on earth is this horrible noise, make it stop."

You need something to take that signal and make it something that you would recognise as "music." That's where a DAC comes in. It stands for Digital to Analog converter, and it takes those digital tracks and "converts" the digital 1s and 0s to something you actually want to listen to.

There's lots more to it, of course — I would suggest Black Magic, but I'm told it's a lot more scientific — but that's a DAC in its simplest terms.

You'll find DACs in basically anything that can make sound. Your iPhone 17 Pro Max has a DAC. Your TV has a DAC, and even your Nintendo Switch 2 has an internal DAC. But not all DACs are created equal. While the digital file that goes into the start of the chain is the same every time, the DAC's ability to translate that file depends on how good it is.

A cheap DAC, like the one in your phone, won't produce an analog signal that's as nice to listen to as something that costs a little more. That's why so many of us buy separate DACs. They bypass the DAC built into your device and make your music sound better.

A portable DAC is a compact DAC that you can fit into your pocket. Still with me? Good! Let me show you the DAC I use, and why you need one — but also that it doesn't need to cost loads of money.

My DAC

The portable DAC I use is called the Chord Mojo 2. It's a stunning little device, and its incredible conversion internals are considered some of the best in the biz. Without going to far into it, it really does make your music sound spectacular.

There's more detail, more bass weight, and a wider soundstage. The Mojo 2 takes the same digital track, sure, but then it's able to spit out a far better analog signal than the DAC that lives in my phone.

I love how old-school the Mojo 2 is as well. There are moving things inside it. It clunks and clicks when you turn it, like a massive amplifier in your pocket. It does help that it's also a fairly potent headphone amp as well, lending more power to drive even the most demanding headphones on the go.

It's been my portable musical companion for the last four years — although getting hold of one isn't cheap. The version I've got costs $639 from Amazon and other retailers. That's a lot of money.

You don't have to spend loads

You don't have to spend loads and loads of money to get a DAC that completely outperforms the one built into your phone, tablet, or laptop. The iFi Go Link Max is a portable DAC that connects into the USB-C port of your device, and looks like a particularly bulky headphone dongle.

It's not as powerful as the Chord Mojo 2, but it does a surprsingly good job with thirstier headphones. It also brings some of the extra sonic merit of the Chord device, although not quite as refined. On account of it being tiny.

It's the perfect portable audio companion that isn't going to break the bank. You'll thank me later, as you get lost in your favorite music all over again. Afterall, even wiring your Bluetooth headphones in is going to make a difference.

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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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