EarMen L-AMP MK2 Review – Headfonia

March 12, 2026

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In this article we look at EarMen L-AMP MK2 tube DAC/AMP. This tube driven dongle is selling for €479 EURO or $550 USD.

Disclaimer: The EarMen L-AMP MK2 was sent to us free of charge by EarMan directly in exchange for this review. EarMen is in no way related to Headfonia.

EarMen

If ^EarMen doesn’t ring a bell yet, then the Serbian “Auris Audio” just might. In fact, if you’ve been following Headfonia you will know that we’re quite the Auris fans here. Their amps have won multiple of our awards, and models like the Headonia 300b and Lyre get praised all over the world.

A while ago Auris Audio decided to enter the portable market and to do so they came up with new brand name: EarMen. EarMen is registered in the US but all their products are built and assembled in Europe to ensure the highest standards in production quality.

EarMen is all about delivering the best possible value for money and their product line-up consists/consisted out of multiple models:

The EarMen Line-up

The Donald DAC – A USB-DAC only with an RCA output to hook up to your dedicated amplifier
The TR-Amp – A portable DAC/AMP solution
The Eagle – A single ended USB DAC/AMP dongle and DragonFly Cobalt competitor.
The Sparrow – A single ended and balanced USB DAC/AMP dongle.
The Tradutto – An ultra-high resolution fully balanced compact DAC with advanced BT streaming capability.
The Colibri – A dongle sized transportable DAC/AMP with volume control, lots of power and double outputs
The Angel, a fully balanced portable DAC/AMP
The CH-Amp – A mini sized fully balanced amplifier from the Tradutto range
The Staccato, a streamer from the Tradutto range
The ST-Amp, a compact desktop DAC/AMP with pre-out
The L-AMP original DAC/AMP

We with this L-AMP MK2 review have covered all of EarMen’s models. Let’s take a closer look at their newest Tube DAC/AMP dongle.

EarMen L-AMP MK2

Before continuing with this review, it’s probably best to read up on the original EarMen L-AMP first; you can do so here:

EarMen L-Amp Review

The EarMen L-Amp MK2 is the next-generation evolution of the original model. EarMen found they could improve the OG even further and they did so by implementing a true analog logarithmic potentiometer, refining the power-supply control, and improving mechanical isolation of the tubes from external vibration and interference.

Like every Auris creation, it’s built around one principle — Sound Above All.

Like the original and many other portable units, the EarMen L-AMP MK 2 uses NOS JAN6418 vacuum tubes from Raytheon and it delivers 1W @ 8 Ω. According to EarMen it’s capable of driving even demanding headphones while preserving the delicate tonal character only tubes can provide.

We’ll find out if that’s true later in this article, but let’s first see what this MK2 is all about.

Very important with these types of vacuum tubes in portable gear is how the tubes are integrated in the design. While many portable units suffer from pings and noise when moving the units around, the L-AMP MK2 is dead silent because of its advanced four-point silicone suspension system.

It minimizes vibration and mechanical feedback and as such you get a dead silent unit. Exactly how it should be.

New in the latest version is also the analog logarithmic potentiometer, which provides smooth and precise volume control with perfect channel balance. The volume control also hides a push-to-activate Bass X mode which enhances bass dynamics at lower listening levels. More on that later.

Miki from EarMen/Auris Audio also implemented a more refined power supply, with enhanced power regulation for improved dynamics and a quieter background. He and his team optimized filtering ensuring a clean, stable operation even with sensitive IEMs.

The EarMen L-AMP MK2’s circuitry is fully balanced, and it operates seamlessly in balanced (4.4 mm) and single-ended (3.5 mm) modes. The amp section is powered by Burr-Brown INA1620 SoundPlus™ op-amps while the DAC-section is home to an ESS SABRE DAC (32-bit / 384 kHz PCM, DSD DoP128).

You can find out all about the L-AMPMK2 on EarMen’s website here. You can purchase the unit directly from EarMen or through one of their dealers.

Price, Packaging & Accessories

The L-AMP MK2 comes in a simple but nice box as you can see in the pictures. It’s good but nothing to carry on about.

On the inside of the box you’ll find the nicely presented unit. Next to that you’ll also find a soft cloth which you certainly need to wipe of the fingerprints, a USB cable, a rubber band to go old-school portable, and the traditional warranty card.

For the $550 (or €479) selling price, that’s an ok package, though I would love to have seen a leather case for the unit. Like you get with all the DAPs at this price-level.

Sound

Introduction

This is the section where we find out how the brands are describing the sound of their new unit.

For the EarMen L-AMP MK2 we find the following:

The L-AMP MK2 merges vintage tube warmth with modern engineering precision, delivering an emotionally engaging listening experience in a compact portable format. The MK2 delivers a warm, rich, and natural sound signature for an organic musical experience.

Let’s find out if we can agree.

General

For this section we used the EarMen L-AMP MK2 with a whole series of headphones and IEMs, both using my laptop and Oneplus Open phone as source.

When I reviewed the original L-AMP, I was already impressed with its performance for such a small device, and the unit received our Recommended Buy Award. With the MK2, I wasn’t sure what to expect, but from the very first seconds listening to the device, it was clear this was a serious step up in performance.

This 2^nd revision of the L-AMP elevates the performance, and you get a higher level of precision, and the unit now sounds even more revealing. The L-AMP MK2 is richer sounding, and the timbre is even more special, ear pleasing and addictive. The bass, mid and top end presentation are sublime.

As said, the MK2 is more silent now and that’s always a plus. The MK2’s sound stage now is wider in all directions, and the mids are more spacious and even more natural sounding. The layering and depth also got a huge upgrade in this version, and you could think you’re listening to a desktop amp.

With the right headphone the sub bass performance is impressive, as is the layering and precision. The top end now is a bit livelier and more energetic, which helps with the dynamics and contrast. All positive.

Like with the MK1, EarMen is still perfectly blending technical excellence with musicality and tube smoothness. Of all the units I have listened to, this is the perfect example of how it should be done in this type of tuning.

As a result, the EarMen L-AMP MK2 is not only engaging but also immensely addictive. I on multiple occasions at home preferred using this tiny portable device over a desktop DAC/AMP setup, and that means a whole lot.

Like before the L-AMP is not the fastest paced DAC/AMP. Instead, it puts the tube smoothness, romanticism and musicality first. Of course, this isn’t the type of DAC/AMP to get if you prefer an analytical, flat signature with excellent PRaT. In that case an R2R DAC based unit perhaps is more suited to your preference.

Pairing notes

Both for IEMS and headphones there is nothing to worry about. The MK2 is refined and silent, powerful and controlled.

Driving the regular popular selection of IEMS and headphones is no issue at all for the MK2. Of course, don’t expect it to make a Susvara, HD800 or hard to drive DCA sound its absolute best.

Honestly, I never found the need to turn on the extra bass feature, but the option is there if you feel your IEM or headphone is missing a bit of oompf.

As mentioned somewhere in this article, the EarMen L-AMP MK2 can easily compete and beat desktop sized gear. For a portable device, its performance is extraordinary, and you can easily replace your work-office setup with this portable solution.

One unit for both portable and desktop use, what’s not to like?

Design, Build Quality

The EarMen L-AMP looks and feels premium, and the timeless design is just lovely with the tube window on the front and the Astell&Kern style volume knob.

The MK2 version is a bit larger in size than the original, but it is easier to work with. Like the first unit, the MK2 has perfect build quality, and the finishing is at a very high level.

As you can maybe see in the pictures, the original L-AMP has quite a bit of usage scars, and with the MK2’s glossy, shiny design, this is bound to happen to it again. To prevent this, a nice leather cage would come in handy.

That said, carrying the MK2 around and using it on the go, is quite safe. This thing is built like a tank and can take a beating. I carry it with me all the time in my laptop bag without the pouch and it can take it, no worries.

The L-AMP MK2 isn’t just an upgrade — it’s a rebirth of pure analog sound for the modern era. A tribute to timeless engineering and musical emotion.

Not only the externals are nice though. As said, the MK2 uses EarMen’s advanced four-point silicone suspension system on the inside and the MK2 sports gold-plated PCBs and connectors to maintain pristine signal integrity. Each unit is hand-built and individually tested to meet the highest EarMen standards.

Lay-Out, Usability

Compared to the OG, the latest edition is a bit different in lay-out and design. It’s now larger, more substantial and with the new buttons and volume control, it’s easier to work with.

No, you don’t longer have the play/pause functionality, but the improved dead silent and perfectly balanced volume control quickly make you forget about that. There are no pops and clicks at startup either and the MK2 guarantees a silent on/off operation.

On the front of the unit, we have the EarMen logo, unit name and the tube window with LEDs underneath. The top of the unit sports the 3.5mm and 4.4mm headphone outputs, while you at the bottom find EarMen’s typical dual USB connectors: One for data, one for external power — protecting your source battery.

The L-AMP MK2 is compatible with USB power banks or external power supplies for continuous playback. It also features an automatic Power Protection that safeguards headphones and circuitry from overload.

On the left side of the unit, we find the IEM/Headphone selector while we on the right have the analog volume dial, which also serves as the Bass X activator. More on that later.

The back of the unit features 2 well-placed rubber guards with safely and securely let you put the unit on your desk. The Limited Edition label with the founder’s signature is a lovely design touch.

Using the unit with your laptop or phone is as easy as it gets, a true plug-and-play device.

Comparisons

Vs L-AMP OG

For this section I used the brand new Audeze LCD-5S, together with my laptop (ROON & Tidal).

The original L-AMP was around $200 USD cheaper, but it simply performs at a lower level, even if it was good already. The OG sounds simpler, flatter and lighter in body. It just doesn’t have the balance, body and driving power of the new version. As such you needed the Extra Bass function much faster than now.

A huge difference is also how noisy the OG is compared to its newer brother, and this regarding the audible pings when pushing any of the unit’s buttons or moving it around too fast.

Where the OG sounded lighter with a more vocal forwardness, the MK2 is better balanced, and it excels in blending everything together. On top of that, the EarMen team has managed to make the MK2 sound more precise, energetic (top end) and extended. The MK2 simply is more revealing, richer sounding and a technically much stronger performer.

Think about spaciousness, decay, depth and layering. Listening to the MK2 is a pure pleasure to the ear, and it makes going back to the OG very hard.

What EarMen kept from the original are the musicality, engagement, pace, and tube smoothness. The new MK2 however is just better on all other fronts.

Vs Woo Audio Tube Mini

We already concluded last time that the L-AMP performance wise had the edge over the Tube Mini, and the MK2 takes this a step further with a higher technical level, less noise and a more dynamic and engaging tonality.

The Tube Mini sounds a little basic versus the L-AMP MK2, which sounds fuller and more powerful. The EarMen’s richness is on a whole other level, and the overall timbre is more special. It comes technical precision and tube smoothness in a more complete, engaging and enjoyable way.

I’m a big fan of Woo Audio and their newest WA33 Gen 2 is getting most of the playtime in my office, but the Tube Mini simply can’t compete with EarMen for portable performance.

Conclusion

What a pure pleasure it is listening to this device. I can’t find any flaws in its tuning and this is the perfect example of a well-designed, top-sounding tube-based DAC/AMP.

The EarMen L-AMP MK2 is technically strong, musical sounding, engaging, dynamic, powerful, tubey smooth and easy to the ears. What an accomplishment. For the portable tube driven DAC/AMP competition, this is the unit to beat, and I wish them all the best as it will be very hard to do so.

I absolutely love this unit. It’s perhaps a bit too expensive for the regular DAC/AMP dongle user, but it’s well worth it if you ask me. It’s an easy top recommendation for a portable tube-based DAC/AMP, and it replaces the MK1 in our list of Best portable DAC/AMPs.