V-MODA VAMP promises crystal clear iPhone audio

If you absolutely need the best audio quality from your smartphone while you're on the go, then you probably need a portable amp. V-MODA has been putting out headphones for a while that caters to the audiophile market, and is now ready to launch its own iPhone amp, dubbed the VAMP. It's a chunky little package, but perhaps a little more portable compared to other products that promise similar audio qualities.

V-MODA's VAMP features a 150mW x 2 Hi-FI amplifier, digital-to-analogue converter, optical audio output and a 2,200mAh battery. Everything is packed into a metal casing that attaches to the back of the iPhone 4 or 4S. The VAMP is said to bypass the iPhone's internal DAC and extracts the original digital signal, with the battery rated for up to 8 hours of music playback. The volume knob at the top of the case also gives you some fine precision over the volume levels.

On top of all of that, V-MODA has included two equalizer modes for the amp. The first is a PURE mode, which passes the audio through in its unaltered form, while the VQ mode adds "light spatial 3D soundstage, tightened bass and increased treble attack." The whole thing weighs around 135g, and comes with a one year warranty. If this sounds like the portable amp you need, it's available right now for an eye-watering $650.