The 10 Best Headphone Amplifiers to Make Your Favorite Music Sound Even Better
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Thanks to smartphones and laptops, most of us listen to music on headphones these days. Leaps in audio technology mean your trusted set of cans probably sound great, but if you want an even better listening experience, you’ll want a headphone amplifier.
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The headphone amp is a device that uses a digital-to-analog (DAC) converter to turn the low-voltage audio signal from your digital audio device into a higher quality signal that sounds infinitely better. This means the audio coming from your headphones will sound closer to what you would expect to hear from a set of bigger, more powerful speakers. So, if you want to get the best sound from your headphones, no matter how high-end, you’re going to want an amp. As an added bonus, some feature multiple jacks so you and others can listen to sound from the same audio player.
If you want to see just how good your headphones actually are, you’ll want a headphone amplifier. Here are four of the 10 best currently available.
Burson Audio Conductor 3 Headphone Amp
High-end sound comes with a high-end price. Burson Audio’s headphone amp definitely fits the bill, offering you detailed sound and, perhaps most importantly, the ability to adjust filters and reconfigure the DAC setting. Yes, you’re able to tinker and customize whatever you’re listening to—even allowing you to swap out the op-amps. Admittedly, it may not be the most stylish of the lot (the industrial exterior and controls are outdated), but the aforementioned features, along with the excellent processing power and Bluetooth 5.0 receiver, more than makes up for this snag.
Buy Now on Adorama:
SMSL SH-9 Headphone Amp
If you want to avoid the change in overall tone often brought on by headphones, SMSL has the headphone amp for you. For a great price, the brand offers a device that takes away any coloration, offering transparency, also known as neutral sound among audiophiles. Example: You’re able to hear, say, the drums or base with more clarity, as if a song was being played on booming speakers. Not to be outdone is the SH-9’s exterior, with its sleek controls and digital display.
Buy Now on Walmart:
Naim Uniti Atom Music Streaming Player Headphone Amp
Speaking of incredible design, Naim’s Uniti Atom is practically unmatched. From the size and silhouette to the terrific display settings, this headphone amp deserves pride of place on any desk or mantle. To wit: It offers a full-color screen—something not so common. It also works great with external amplifiers and other headphone systems, bolstering sound quality even further.
Buy Now on Amazon:
FiiO Bluetooth Headphone Amp
Usually, you plug your headphone amplifier into your digital audio source and your headphones into the amp. But with FiiO’s excellent device, you can skip the first step thanks to Bluetooth 5.0 connectivity. Despite this, the amp will still upgrade the quality of your music or podcast. The device also features both balanced 2.5 mm and single-ended 3.5 mm outputs, which is great news for audiophiles.
Buy Now on Amazon:
Rupert Neve Designs RNHP Headphone Amp
Rupert Neve Designs’s RNHP may appear like a standard headphone amp, something that shouldn’t be bragged about, but looks, as is often the case, can be deceiving. This device receives high marks for its reference-grade amplification, really enhancing the sound quality of your headphones, allowing you to experience a song with greater transparency.
Buy Now on Amazon:
Schiit Audio Magni+ Headphone Amp
If you’re looking for something straightforward, devoid of bells and whistles, something that doesn’t scratch and offers low-level tracking, Schiit Audio Magni+ is the headphone amp for you. A clear, balanced sound, without distortion, is what this device offers, along with three gain levels that’ll accommodate your headphone needs.
Buy Now on Amazon:
JDS Labs The Element III Headphone Amp
A great headphone amp should envelope you in sound, providing you with the clearest pitch and changes in tone. Indeed, the other products on this roundup all accomplish this feat. What sets the Element apart, though, is the visuals. It looks just as good as it performs. Yes, we’ve featured devices that feature a beautiful exterior, especially the Uniti Atom (see above), but they come at a high premium. JDS Labs, however, offers an incredible design that won’t break the back too much.
Buy Now on JDS Labs:
Donner Headphone Amp
Headphone amps tend to be big and powerful or small and portable. Donner’s amp manages to be both. Despite being small enough to clip to your belt, this device will massively upscale the quality of the audio signal from your digital listening device. If that wasn’t enough, it also features two headphone jacks so you and someone else can enjoy massively improved audio quality.
Buy Now on Amazon:
Fifine Headphone Amp
Fifine amp is a high-tech device with not one, not two, but four headphone jacks, so you and your friends can all listen to audio from the same stereo source. Designed specifically for in-studio and on-stage performance, it’ll allow you to make sure that what you’re listening to sounds exactly how it should. What’s more, each listener has a dedicated volume knob to ensure everything is as loud as it should be.
MYPIN Headphone Amp
Headphone amplifiers are designed for function, not portability. Still, MYPIN’s allows you to improve the sound of your headphones even when you’re on the go. It may not offer the customizability of other options on this list, but it makes up for that by being small enough to fit in your shirt or pants pocket. Thanks to this, the pump-up music you listen to on your morning commute will sound better than ever.
Buy Now on Amazon:
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1. FiiO Bluetooth Headphone Amp
Usually, you plug your headphone amplifier into your digital audio source and your headphones into the amp. But with FiiO’s excellent device, you can skip the first step thanks to Bluetooth 5.0 connectivity. Despite this, the amp will still upgrade the quality of your music or podcast. The device also features both balanced 2.5mm and single-ended 3.5mm outputs, which is great news for audiophiles.
FiiO Bluetooth Headphone Amp
2. Fifine Headphone Amplifier
Fifine amp is a high-tech device with not one, not two, but four headphone jacks, so you and your friends can all listen to audio from the same stereo source. Designed specifically for in-studio and on-stage performance, it’ll allow you to make sure that what you’re listening to sounds exactly how it should. What’s more, each listener has a dedicated volume knob to ensure everything is as loud as it should be.
Fifine Headphone Amplifier
3. MYPIN Headphone Amplifier
Headphone amplifiers are designed for function, not portability. Still, MYPIN’s allows you to improve the sound of your headphones even when you’re on the go. It may not offer the customizability of other options on this list, but it makes up for that by being small enough to fit in your shirt or pants pocket. Thanks to this, the pump-up music you listen to on your morning commute will sound better than ever.
MYPIN Headphone Amplifier
4. Donner Headphone Amplifier
Headphone amps tend to be big and powerful or small and portable. Donner’s amp manages to be both. Despite being small enough to clip to your belt, this device will massively upscale the quality of the audio signal from your digital listening device. If that wasn’t enough, it also features two headphone jacks so you and someone else can enjoy massively improved audio quality.
Donner Headphone Amplifier
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