Top 10 Headphone Amplifiers: Editor Recommended
1. Monolith Desktop Headphone Amplifier and DAC with THX AAA Technology (Dual AKM 4493 DACs & Dual AAA-788 Modules)
Features:
- The worlds most linear amp technology: the THX achromatic audio amplifire (THX AAA) ensures the ultimate no-compromise Headphone audio experience
- True balanced operation: Each THX stereo amp module operates in a bridged configuration to maximize output power for each channel, each DAC operates in mono mode
- Dual AKM 4493 DACs: new flagship 32-bit stereo premium DAC. It supports PCM inputs up to 768kHz and a direct stream digital input of 2. 8/5. 6/11. 2 MHz
- Balanced & single ended Headphone output: Compatible with all headphones and items
- Tailor your sound: Use the powerful digital tools to tailor the sound to your personal preference. Does your headphone have a little sibilance? Set a peq to tame that frequency peak
2. SENNHEISER HDV 820 Reference Headphone Amplifier DAC – ESS 9028PRO Sabre with USB, S/PDIF, Optical, XLR, RCA Inputs and XLR-4, XLR, 6.3mm, Dual Pentaconn 4.4mm Outputs, 2-Year Warranty (Black)
Features:
- The HDV 820 delivers reference digital-to-analog conversion (DAC) and world-class headphone amplification in one audiophile-grade device
- Convert to analog from USB, S/PDIF coaxial and Optical sources with the ESS 9028PRO SABRE DAC
- Over 115 dB of pristine gain for vivid, dynamic sound reproduction with < 0.001 percent THD Screen reader support enabled.
- Inputs: Balanced XLR and unbalanced RCA inputs; Outputs: XLR3, XLR4, 6.3mm (1/4-inch), dual 4.4mm Pentaconn (balanced) and stereo XLR analog pass-thru
- Connectivity technology: Wired
- Included components: HDV 820, AC Cable, USB driver, owners manual
3. Fostex USA Fostex Desktop Headphone Amplifier with DAC Balanced Output (HP-A4BL)
Features:
- Equipped with 4-pin XLR balanced output; 1/4-inch unbalanced output
- Newly developed audio-grade capacitors; highly precise crystal with low phase noise
- Playback 24bit/192kHz PCM and 11.2MHz DSD audio; high performance DAC (Barrbrown PCM1792A)
- Asynchronous transfer up to 192kHz/24bit compatible with USB Audio 2.0
- HI/LO gain selection (10dB) for wider selection of headphones; digital filter selecting roll-off characteristics and cut-off frequencies
4. iFi Micro iDSD Diablo Purist Portable DAC/Headphone Amplifier – USB/SPDIF Input – 4.4mm Balanced Output – 4.4mm & 6.3mm Headphone Jacks
Features:
- ✅ HIGH RESOLUTION – Dual Core Burr Brown True Native chipset supports all hi-res audio formats up to PCM 32 bit / 768kHz, DSD512, and MQA (decoder)
- ✅ POWERFUL AMPLIFIER – Up to 4,100 mW headphone amplifier with balanced topology and 4.4mm output. Easily switch between Turbo (4,100mW) /Normal (785 mW) /Eco (265 mW) modes
- ✅ AMAZING SOUND – Ultra-Low noise, low distortion (0.00006%) OV2028 OpAmp, devil bass reproduction, and unbelievable resolution provide an unbeatable experience
- ✅ PORTABLE – Rechargeable battery provides 6-12 hours of listening, or play while charging
- ✅ CONNECTIONS – USB A, S/PDIF digital and optical audio inputs; 6.3mm and 4.4mm headphone outputs
5. HELM DB12 AAAMP Mobile Headphone Amplifier, THX AAA Technology, Analog Amplifier, 12 dB Signal Boost,+6 dB Bass Boost, THX Certified, Male 3.5mm to Female 3.5mm Audio Jack, Studio Sound On The Go
Features:
- STUDIO GRADE PORTABLE WIRED HEADPHONE AMPLIFIER: World’s smallest THX AAA amp design delivers incredibly clean and linear sound amplification. 6+ hours of continuous play time on a full charge and inline controls. Inline controls do not work on gaming consoles. *Note: Inline Controls are primarily designed for mobile devices and vary on PC, Gaming Consoles & Music Players. ** The Playback Device must support a male 3.5mm jack or compatible dongle for a 3.5mm.
- HIGH FIDELITY SOUND ON THE GO: Experience a no-compromise headphone audio experience. Greater dynamic range, sound pressure level, and an enhanced (or as we prefer to refer to it “UNMASKED”) stereo field for better spatial imaging.
- SMARTPHONE, TABLET & PC COMPATIBLE: Connect through 3.5mm audio output. Ready to feed high-impedance, high-current, and high-sensitivity headphones with +12 dB gain of clean power. NOTE: If connected to a video game console DB12 Volume Controls do not work. On iOS devices it’s recommended to use only an MFI approved dongle. Please contact our support team if you have any connectivity questions.
- SERIOUS BASS BOOST: DB12 AAAMP can independently add +6 dB of low end to the signal. Music, Movies, Video and Gaming never sounded so good. *Note: Inline Controls are primarily designed for mobile devices and vary on PC, Gaming Consoles & Music Players.
- THX CERTIFIED: Studio-quality audio in a tiny fob-style design to step up your mobile device’s audio output with infinitesimally low levels of noise, distortion, and power consumption for all brands of wired headphones.
6. SONY PHA-2 Headphone Amplifier
Features:
- Full Hi-Res audio: PCM 192kHz/24 bit, DSD 2.8/5.6MHz
- Direct Digital Connection for PC and Apple devices1
- Enhances non hi-res music sources (via analog input)
7. Drop + THX AAA 789 Linear Headphone Amplifier – Desktop Amp with Balanced XLR and Single-Ended RCA Inputs
Features:
- The World’S Most Linear Amplifier — Announced At Ces 2018, The Drop + Thx Achromatic Audio Amplifier (Thx Aaa) 789 Is A Linear Bipolar Amplifier With Feed-Forward Error Correction
- Fatigue-Free Listening — Made In Collaboration With Thx Ltd , It Features The Company’S Groundbreaking Thx Aaa And Feed-Forward Topology, Which Reduce Distortion By 20 To 40 Db For Realistic, Fatigue-Free Listening.
- Thx Aaa Technology — Capable Of Driving Any Headphones, Including High-Impedance, High-Current, And High-Sensitivity Types, The Thx Aaa 789 Amp Transmits The Original Audio In Its Purest Possible Form.
- Additional Features — Each Channel Of The Thx Aaa 789 Amp Is Equipped With A Low-Bias Class-Ab Main Amplifier And An Auxiliary Error-Correction Amplifier, The Former Providing The Majority Of The Power And The Latter Providing A Realtime Low-Power Error-Correction Signal.
8. Topping A30 Pro NFCA Headphone Amplifier SE Balanced XLR Earphone Amps XLR 4.4mm 6.35mm Output 6000mW x 6000mW Balanced Headphone Amp for D30 Pro (Black)
Features:
- ▶ APX555B Limited Our Measurement Again: The THD + N of A30 Pro is no higher than 0.00006%, which means the A30 Pro accurately restores 99.99994% of the original sound, what you get is what you input.
- ▶ Pushing The Envelope: A30 Pro uses the new specifically redesigned NFCA based circuit is optimized for terrific single ended performance. Massive paralleled high performance audio opamp architecture along with UHGF technology provides excellent DC and AC performance.
- ▶ 4-PIN-XLR + 4.4mm +6.35mm Output: Since then, buying headphones does not have to consider whether the plug matches the headphone amplifier, because the A30 Pro already provides you all in a compact body, including 4-PIN-XLR, 4.4mm, 6.35mm.
- ▶ ≥250Ω = Cass A: A30 Pro is designed with ample quiescent current. When the headphone impedance is greater than 250 ohms, itwill fully work in Class A operation.
- ▶ SE + BAL Input Pass Through: When shutting down, the input signal is directly output to RCA or TRS without amplification, which will be more suitable for active speakers / monitor speakers when the DAC has pre-amplifier functions. Even better when used with D30 Pro, the excellent noise performance of D30 Pro is not wasted.
9. BEHRINGER 8-Channel High-Power Headphones Mixing and Distribution Amplifier, Silver & Black, (HA8000V2)
Features:
- Professional, multi-purpose headphones amplifier system for stage and studio applications
- Highest sonic quality with virtually all types of headphones even at maximum volume
- 8 totally independent stereo high-power amplifier sections in one rack space
- 2 stereo Main inputs for two independent mixes, accessible from all 8 output channels
- 8 independent Direct inputs provide up to 8 individual stereo mixes