Portable source for Meze Empyrean 2

[Geo2160]

Since the Empyrean 2 are so easy to drive, I want to get portable source to use them on the couch, either stand-alone (DAP) or with my phone. I thought about allocating ~400eur for this device, but if I can get away with something cheaper, I would gladly go for it.

Features I take into account:
- Small form factor
- Battery life (if it is battery powered)
- balanced out (only because I already own a 4.4mm cable), but a 3.5mm output is fine as long as the device has enough power
- digital source is a Samsung S24 Ultra (Tidal + UAPP) so USB-C port on the device is pretty much mandatory
- PEQ would nice, but not mandatory, I don't feel the need to use EQ with the Empyrean 2

I went to the local AV retailer yesterday and got to test the following:
- Fiio BTR17 - noticeable static noise on USB, noticeable sound quality degradation on Bluetooth, not good
- iFi Go bar - noticeable static noise on USB, but cleaner than the Fiio, good enough sound quality
- Chord Mojo 2 - no static noise on USB, perfectly clean signal, also sounded better to my ears than the Go Bar, more detailed, but I'm not sure why, since I don't understand the filter options. However, I'm reluctant to spend ~400eur on a device that needs Micro-USB in 2025. It also got unconfortably warm to the touch, I expect it to overheat in the 40°C summer that is to follow.
- Samsung USB-C dongle - surprisingly, no static noise, but i felt it needed a little more power, it's just a little below my usual listening volume at max; sound quality is decent

My desktop device is an RME ADI-2 DAC FS, which serves as reference.

 

[JustAnAudioLover]

Qudelix 5K

I use it with a Meze Empyrean (1) and it seems to work great. Power is plenty enough, no noise, built-in parametric EQ, great battery life, super small, works with USB-C too.

 

[Geo2160]

Thank you. I already ordered a Qudelix T71 on Friday since I thought I needed a little bit more power (I was wrong) and I really want to try the surround sound DSP. Maybe I'll post a review when I get it.

 

[Von Nassau]

Since the Empyrean 2 are so easy to drive, I want to get portable source to use them on the couch, either stand-alone (DAP) or with my phone. I thought about allocating ~400eur for this device, but if I can get away with something cheaper, I would gladly go for it.

Features I take into account:
- Small form factor
- Battery life (if it is battery powered)
- balanced out (only because I already own a 4.4mm cable), but a 3.5mm output is fine as long as the device has enough power
- digital source is a Samsung S24 Ultra (Tidal + UAPP) so USB-C port on the device is pretty much mandatory
- PEQ would nice, but not mandatory, I don't feel the need to use EQ with the Empyrean 2

I went to the local AV retailer yesterday and got to test the following:
- Fiio BTR17 - noticeable static noise on USB, noticeable sound quality degradation on Bluetooth, not good
- iFi Go bar - noticeable static noise on USB, but cleaner than the Fiio, good enough sound quality
- Chord Mojo 2 - no static noise on USB, perfectly clean signal, also sounded better to my ears than the Go Bar, more detailed, but I'm not sure why, since I don't understand the filter options. However, I'm reluctant to spend ~400eur on a device that needs Micro-USB in 2025. It also got unconfortably warm to the touch, I expect it to overheat in the 40°C summer that is to follow.
- Samsung USB-C dongle - surprisingly, no static noise, but i felt it needed a little more power, it's just a little below my usual listening volume at max; sound quality is decent

My desktop device is an RME ADI-2 DAC FS, which serves as reference.

I have listened to an Meze Elite connected to an iPhone with an lightning to Jack adaptor.
It still made me cry (literally) because it sounded so freaking awesome. It was a track with a female singer.

But I can recommend the small Fiio BTR7 which I use with my SONY MDR-Z7 headphones that btw have some other qualities than the Meze Elite. The BTR7 can easily power the Meze and have balanced 4,4mm (which I use) and ordinary 3,5 mm.

You can also listen to it using LDAC which is quite good although the treble feels more open with more details when playing with pcm and cable from my phone or iPad.

 

[Somafunk]

Thank you. I already ordered a Qudelix T71 on Friday since I thought I needed a little bit more power (I was wrong) and I really want to try the surround sound DSP. Maybe I'll post a review when I get it.

Qudelix 5k is an awesome bit of teeny tech so I imagine the T71 will be just as awesome (but a bit more involving/in-depth in use cases