On-the-go music and movie lovers are going to be very excited about the new portable amp that was unveiled at this week’s NAMM music trade show. Apogee, a big name in high-end audio technology, has added to their array of headphone amps and designed a portable USB DAC and amp called the Groove.

Apogee’s goal was to create a high-quality amp that would significantly boost a laptop’s sound without consuming a lot of space. The Groove is about the size of a thumb drive and is USB-powered, keeping it small and eliminating the hassle of batteries or remembering to charge it. Contained within are four Quad Sum DACs per channel that provide a high dynamic range and the least distortion possible. It can handle up to 24 bit/192kHz audio and provides an output of up to 225mW into 30 ohms. Apogee, a company best known for creating some of the most prestigious audio recording equipment in the U.S., said they set out to provide “a music listening experience of unparalleled quality, as it was originally captured in the recording studio”. Yeah, they get it.

The Groove works with both Mac and PC systems, and has a 1/8-inch minijack Analog Output to connect to headphones or speakers. Ease of use goes without saying – plug the Groove into your laptop and then your speakers or headphones into the Groove and get your Groove on! (Sorry, I couldn’t resist). Apogee used a constant current drive for an “ultra smooth frequency response for any headphones” and equipped the amp with an ESS Sabre DAC. The enclosure is made of aluminum and houses multi-colored LEDs for status and level indications as well as on-board controls for muting and volume adjustments. No word yet on what the little sound booster will set you back, but Apogee states the device should be available in Spring 2015.