Small headphone amplifier for Hifiman Sundara with EQ

[dr_j]

I'm looking for a headphone amplifier to put beside my bed, so the physically smaller, the better. It must however have enough power to drive HiFiman Sundara headphones, which are a demanding headphone in this respect. According to the review here about the Sundara, it performs better with EQ so this feature would be nice to have, although not essential. Also nice to have would be an optical out port.
Lastly, since I will be supplying it from my iPhone, I have two options for connecting it to the DAC, audio in or USB in. With the USB adapter solution, I have read that it only works with devices that draw less than 100mA, so I think audio in may be the better option.

 

[staticV3]

Hi @dr_j! Welcome to ASR.

To the best of my knowledge, a small analog in headphone Amp with proper EQ does not exist.

Some devices that get close:

Proper EQ:
-Qudelix 5K
-Qudelix T71
-Neutron HiFi DAC V1
-FiiO BTR5/7/13/15/17

Limited EQ:
-E1DA PowerDAC V2
-Chord Mojo2
-JDS Element III

Simple bass boost:
-iFi hip-dac 3
-iFi uno
-iFi Zen Air DAC/Zen Air Can
-more iFi

No EQ:
-Topping DX1

Devices with their own battery can be connected via USB/Lightning/Bluetooth without draining your phone.

For USB-powered devices, you can get OTG cables like this or this that'll unlock up to 400mA, so that 100mA limit you read about is not empirically true.

And if you want to use a USB-powered device without draining your iPhone's battery, then you can use the Apple Lightning to USB3 Camera Adapter.

 

[RoA]

I use a Sundara with a FiiO K11 (No EQ) and Mojo 2. No issues but neither have optical out (Coax out on K11)

 

[Ufasas]

BTR7 has been best so far

 

[mlsstl]

I have the open back Sundara phones and use them with a Schiit Midgard headphone amp. Tons of power and good sound. While the Midgard does not have EQ built in, you could pair it with any of the WiiM streamers (Mini, Pro, Pro Plus, or Ultra) which all have 10 band EQ buiilt in, in either traditional graphic or parametric format.

 

[dlovesmusic]

No eq, but Schiit is clearing out their magni+ for $59!!! Just pair it with a wiim with built in eq