Gadgetwise Blog: Better Sound From Your Smartphone

The Vamp Verza headphone amplifier from V-Moda.

When V-Moda introduced its Vamp headphone amplifier last year, it won over critics and fans by offering richer, more lustrous sound.

But the Vamp worked only with the iPhone 4 and 4S, which limited its usefulness. Aiming for greater versatility, V-Moda created the Vamp Verza, for iOS as well as Android devices.

In a nutshell, the Vamp bypasses a device’s digital-to-audio converter and runs music through its own high-fidelity processor. The result is noticeably better sound with clear vocals and firmer bass. The amp also has a lithium-ion battery that can provide power to your smartphone.

The original Vamp cradled an iPhone in a case with a dock, making it a single unit. The updated Vamp Verza has no case, just a strong rubber band and some micro-USB cables to connect the amplifier to any device, even a Mac or PC.

For those who don’t care for the hard-core look of a phone strapped to an amplifier, V-Moda offers the Metallo case for the iPhone 5 and Samsung Galaxy S3. Each case has a removable back plate that allows the case to slide onto the Vamp Verza and lock into place. Made of lightweight, anodized aluminum, the case looks gorgeous.

But all that aural and visual beauty comes at a cost. For starters, there’s the price tag: $598 for the Vamp Verza and $101 for the Metallo case. Ouch!

But there are other trade-offs. The Vamp Verza does not have a touch screen or an app, which would make the controls easier to maneuver. The amp has several external switches and buttons that serve to intensify the sound, but don’t include play or pause functions. The Metallo case provides little protection from shocks and bumps, and once the phone is finally locked into place (a process that involves four tiny screws and an Allen wrench), it’s awfully hard to remove.

Over all, the Vamp Verza stands out for creating a pure listening experience; however, this device was made not for the masses, but for producers, musicians and other audio connoisseurs.