Audma BRIOSO PHPA1 Portable Headphone Amplifier

The Audma Brioso PHPA1 is a portable headphone amplifier and DAC that brings Audma's patented ELISA psychoacoustic technology to a device you can hold in your hand, shrinking the out-of-head soundstage reconstruction of the flagship Maestro HPA1 into a chassis the size of a smartphone. Handcrafted in Italy. Powerful enough to drive the HiFiMan Susvara. Battery-powered for up to 5 hours of portable use.

Type and Technology

Portable headphone amplifier and DAC with ELISA psychoacoustic soundstage technology. ELISA circuit with front-panel analog controls for Bass, Stage, and Angle, physical knobs for direct sound shaping without menu navigation. AKM AK4499EXEQ DAC chip paired with AK4191EQ modulator (VELVET SOUND technology), the same flagship DAC chipset used in high-end desktop DACs, separating digital filtering and D/A conversion for ultra-low distortion. Supports PCM up to 768kHz and DSD256. Rear-panel switches for voltage (±3V / ±10V) and gain selection, enabling clean, hiss-free operation with sensitive IEMs and full-power driving of demanding planars from the same device. Output power up to 4W at 64 ohms (balanced). Inputs: USB-C digital, 4.4mm balanced analog, 3.5mm single-ended analog. Outputs: 4.4mm Pentaconn balanced, 3.5mm single-ended. Rechargeable 1,600mAh 7.4V battery (up to 5 hours). Anodized aluminum chassis with premium silk-effect finish. Handcrafted in Italy.

Sound Character

The ELISA circuit on the Brioso functions the same way as in the Maestro HPA1, reconstructing a front-facing stereo loudspeaker perspective through the headphones, with adjustable Stage width and Angle for fine-tuned spatial presentation. The AK4499EXEQ DAC provides an exceptionally low noise floor and clean dynamic envelope, giving ELISA's processing maximum resolution to work with. The result is a portable amplifier that sounds like nothing else: music placed in front of you, with depth and dimension, in a pocketable device.

Build and Finish

Full anodized aluminum chassis with silk-effect finish at 8.1 x 1.9 x 13.8cm, 240g. Top panel with three analog control knobs. Made in Italy by Audma.

Best For

Audiophiles who want out-of-head ELISA soundstage reconstruction in a portable format, and those who need a single device capable of driving both sensitive IEMs and demanding full-size planars without a gain switch compromise.

What's in the Box

• Audma Brioso PHPA1 portable amplifier/DAC
• USB-C charging cable
• Documentation

Specifications