V-Moda's headphone amp is also an iPhone case

(Credit: V-Moda)

Is the music from your iPhone sounding a little lifeless? The Vamp could bring your audio back from the dead with a built-in headphone amplifier and digital-to-analog converter (DAC) that bypasses the iPhone's audio circuitry.

Designed for Apple's iPhone 4 and 4S, the Vamp is also a very solid-looking case that's made from "aircraft-grade metal." Inside, there's a high-quality DAC and two 150mW amps (at 32 omhs) to drive headphones of various sizes. A rechargeable 2,200mAh battery powers the setup for up to 8 hours, which isn't very impressive for a high-end headphone amp.

It also serves as a backup battery for your iPhone, which will undoubtedly leave you with even fewer hours of music.

The 3.5mm headphone jack also doubles as an optical output.

(Credit: V-Moda )

Other cool features in the Vamp include an optical audio output, which will come in handy when hooking up a hi-fi system, as well as two audio modes. The Pure mode is meant to reproduce audio naturally, while the VQ mode widens the soundstage while adding bass and treble enhancements.

This all-in-one package may sound like a godsend for portable audiophiles, but its price may give you pause. At $650, this amp is more expensive than many high-end portable varieties by brands such as ALO Audio and HeadAmp.

However, you do get a very attractive package here that should appeal to those who liked V-Moda's True Blood V-80 headphones.

(Source: Crave Asia via Gizmag)