Campfire Audio Relay DAC/AMP - Portable HiFi Solution
The Relay brings a warm, cohesive musical voice to pocket-sized listening, pairing smooth, intimate mids with convincing punch and impressively spacious balanced playback. Amplify Audio Reviews highlights its tactile CNC build, physical controls and fatigue-free flow, while dual outputs, gain modes and high-resolution support make this a versatile portable DAC/amp for IEMs and moderate-demand headphones.
WATT RECOMMENDS
Save your favorites. Compare them anytime.
Create a free HiFi Hub account to save products to your Wishlist and compare your favorites side by side.
Nicely Roasted
Sound Quality
87/100
Build Quality
88/100
Features Usability
92/100
Value for Money
91/100
Pros
Warm, cohesive and fatigue-free tuning with smooth, intimate mids and convincing macro-dynamics.
4.4mm balanced output delivers stronger width, layering and imaging than the average portable DAC/amp.
Tactile CNC aluminum construction, dedicated playback controls and six filters make it feel more substantial than a typical dongle.
Dual gain and outputs support sensitive IEMs through moderately demanding headphones.
Cons
Not tuned for strict neutrality or maximum microdetail; its focus is musical flow over analytical inspection.
Cannot match a desktop stack’s staging scale and is not intended for the hardest-to-drive planar headphones.
At $229, its pricing is competitive rather than a clear bargain in a crowded dongle DAC market.
WATT RECOMMENDS
Save your favorites. Compare them anytime.
Create a free HiFi Hub account to save products to your Wishlist and compare your favorites side by side.
What Reviewers Are Saying
SOUND QUALITY PERFORMANCE 87/100
Reviews describe a warm, cohesive and musically engaging portable presentation rather than an explicitly neutral or analytical one. It offers convincing impact and notably capable staging from its balanced output, although it is not presented as a hyper-detailed desktop replacement and the reviews provide no direct noise-floor testing.
Transparency Resolution
88/100
Amplify Audio Reviews finds notes clear and well shaped, with soundstage and imaging ahead of the average portable solution. It stops short of calling the Relay hyper-detailed, and notes that it will not equal a desktop stack for outright scale.
Tonal Balance Musicality
91/100
The Relay is repeatedly characterized as warm, tactile, cohesive and easy to listen to. The reviewer particularly praises its sense of musical flow, while making clear that neutrality and absolute transparency are not its central aim.
Dynamics
90/100
Macro-dynamics are described as convincing, with natural swells and strong percussion impact. Microdynamic expression is said to be smoother, but the overall presentation retains satisfying punch for a portable DAC/amp.
Noise Floor
80/100
The available reviews do not directly assess hiss, hum, background silence or performance with highly sensitive IEMs. Its low-gain mode suggests an effort toward flexible portable use, but silent operation cannot be confirmed from the review evidence.
Headphone Compatibility
88/100
The Relay provides low- and high-gain modes, plus 3.5mm single-ended and 4.4mm balanced outputs reaching 4 Vrms balanced. Review coverage describes it as suitable from sensitive IEMs to harder-to-drive headphones, though it offers limited documented listening comparisons across specific headphone models.
Assessments of Build Quality, Usability, and Overall Propositions.
Build Quality
88/100
Amplify Audio Reviews praises the CNC aluminum chassis for its reassuring heft and density, likening its tactile feel to a mid-tier digital audio player rather than a typical dongle. The compact metal enclosure appears well executed, though long-term durability is not discussed.
Features Usability
92/100
This is a notably well-equipped portable DAC/amp, with USB-C operation across Windows, macOS, Android and iOS, PCM and DSD support, dual gain, a 60-step volume control, playback buttons and six digital filters. Both 3.5mm and 4.4mm outputs materially broaden headphone support, while reviewers describe operation as straightforward and plug-and-play.
Value for Money
91/100
At $229, Amplify Audio Reviews calls the Relay substantial for the money and a no-brainer at its asking price. Ecoustics considers its feature set competitive rather than a bargain, so the appeal rests on a strong package of sound, construction and balanced connectivity rather than a rock-bottom price.
Reviews & Sources
Professional reviews and sources for this product's Watt'n Potatoes analysis.
Online Reviews & Mentions
YouTube Reviews
Forum Mentions
No forum mentions found yet
Specifications
- Interface
- USB 2.0 Type-C
- Low Gain
- 1.35 Vrms (Single-ended) 2.7 Vrms (Balanced)
- High Gain
- 2 Vrms (Single-ended) 4 Vrms (Balanced)
- Playback
- PCM and DSD Playback
- Operating System
- Windows 7*/8*/10/11, Mac OS, Android, iOS
- Bit Depth and Sample Rate
- 16/24/32Bit, 44.1/48/88.2/96/176.4/192/352.8/384/705.6/768kHz
- Product Dimensions
- Approx 57mm x 23mm x 10mm
Manufacturer's Description — Campfire Audio
Description
Campfire's premium, portable DAC/AMP provides incredible sonic performance in a lightweight, durable, and convenient style.
- AKM SEQ 4493 DAC chip
- Two ultra-low-noise, high-output drivers
- High/Low gain modes
- Six selectable filter modes
- Media playback controls
- 60-step built-in volume controls
- 3.5mm single ended & 4.4mm balanced outputs
- DSD and PCM playback
Verified Dealers
Online Dealers
All Dealers
Zoom out the map to see more dealers
Authorized dealers for Campfire Audio Relay DAC/AMP - Portable HiFi Solution
- Ajasom — online and in-store — Amadora, Lisboa, Portugal (website)
- ARK Audio — online and in-store — Borensberg, Östergötlands län, Sweden (website)
- Audio 46 — online and in-store — New York, New York, United States (website)
- Audio Concierge — online and in-store — England, United Kingdom (website)
- Audio Magic - EU — online and in-store — Wola, Województwo mazowieckie, Poland (website)
- Audio Sanctuary — in-store — London, England, United Kingdom (website)
- AudioPerformance — online and in-store — Stenkullen, Västra Götalands län, Sweden (website)
- AV ONE — online and in-store — Singapore, Singapore (website)
- BAY BLOOR RADIO — online and in-store — Toronto, Ontario, Canada (website)
- Bloom Audio — online and in-store — Gibbsboro, New Jersey, United States (website)
and 27 more verified dealers