EarMen Sparrow

$199 (about £175) FROM earmen-shop.com FEATURES Portable DAC/amp, USB-C interface, supports 32-bit/384kHz audio, 3.5mm and 2.5mm (balanced) outputs, 12g

The lightweight Sparrow weighs just 12g, but it’s a heavyweight performer. The EarMen device provides high-quality audio, along with a built-in amp to give your music an extra boost. It has USB-C and USB-A cables for Macs and iPads, although you’ll need an adaptor for devices with Lightning connectors.

The Sparrow is aimed at serious hi-fi buffs, as it supports high-res audio formats all the way up to

32-bit/384kHz (far higher than anything available on Apple Music), as well as specialist audio formats, such as DSD and MQA, that are used on other streaming services – with MQA being ideal for a Tidal account. There’s no internal battery, so it needs to draw power from your Mac or iOS devices.

VERDICT

True hi-fi audio quality No rechargeable battery