How to choose a Headphone Amp!
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Updated 10/10/18
- 2,823 word post, approx. 7-8 min read.
Hi friend and welcome!
How to choose a headphone amp is such a great question, and it comes up often. Many times we don’t really think about when or why we need one. We just sort of choose based on reviews, or what’s popular. Today I want to really dissect the process from start to finish, and hopefully give you some insight on different scenarios in which you may or may not need one!
So grab a snack, sit back and relax because..
You’ve come to the right place!!
What I will bring you in this article
- Introduction
- How to choose a headphone amp
- Portable vs. Desktop
- Power Considerations
- Output Impedance of the Amp
- Impedance: Does it matter?
- Some Amp recommendations
- Final Word
So without further ado, lets get started!
Introduction
In your research for the best studio headphones for mixing, the best headphone under $500, etc. you probably came across an unexpected caveat: Needs proper amplification. Oh no! One of the things that discourages me most in my research is finding out that I have to do .. MORE RESEARCH! Lol.
Luckily for you, proper amplification doesn’t need to be such a chore. There are some really affordable, versatile, and quality options out there that consistently come up in reviews. Today I will attempt to concisely lay out some of my favorite options, inform you on when and how you should choose, as well as enlighten you on some of the most logical pairings.
How to Choose a headphone amp
It goes without saying that most of the low end models, ear buds, and generally sub-par offerings don’t need an amp at all. They are just meant to boost certain frequencies and provide a good listening experience for a low price. Sadly, most of the time they completely fail.
Have you ever purchased a $20 pair of headphones from CVS pharmacy and been utterly disappointed when you finally got home and put them on? Me too. It’s an unfortunate fact of life. These consumer grade cans are the worst of the worst. On the flip side, you may have been satisfied as well. I remember my very first Sony MDR V150’s. They were, and still are a pretty decent set, but the headband is famous for snapping under pressure. Sort of like Henry Hill in Goodfellas 😀
When you get into some of the decent entry level models, you still won’t need an amp. The Sennheiser HD 202’s are a similar price, but they are solid. They don’t need one. The Audio Technica ATH M50’s are an entry to mid-level pair, and they don’t need an amp either. Same goes with the Sennheiser HD 280’s.
Keep in mind: An audio interface, while not a headphone amp per se, does function as sort of an all around phantom power amplifier for your studio monitors, microphone, headphones, etc. Just don’t purchase one specifically as a headphone amp.
Portable vs. Desktop
The first question you should ask yourself is:
- Do my headphones need an amp? The simplified answer: If you spent more than $150, or the impedance of your headphones is above 100 Ohm, I would say yes. Every case is different however.
The second question is:
- Do I need a portable amp or a desktop amp?
Obviously, if you spend a lot of time in an isolated studio or home environment, a desktop amp is essential.
What’s nice is that you could instead purchase a portable amp and it functions in the same way. You can leave it on your desk as you’re listening, or take it on the go. A perfect example is the Oppo HA-2. It’s incredibly versatile and powerful. More on that later!
The third question is:
- Do I need a DAC? (Digital to Analog Converter)
Put simply, a DAC converts the 1’s and 0’s from your computer (the digital realm) into the analog sound that you hear, and vice versa. In recording, you scream obscenities (analog) into the microphone, and your computer makes sense out of it digitally for you to edit and EQ later. Learn more about this mind blowing process: Bit Depth vs. Sample Rate.
There’s also an internal DAC in your phone, mobile device, and pretty much anything that outputs sound. Your PC has an internal Soundcard that functions in the same way. What is a Soundcard?
All that said, only invest in a DAC if your Soundcard or existing DAC is poop. You’ll know because the sound will either:
- Not be loud enough.
- Sound like poop.
- Make lots of unnecessary noise/crackling, etc.
For instance, my laptops internal Soundcard does not output at a listenable level. For me to achieve the volume that I’m looking for, some sort of DAC is required. My current desktop solution is the Schiit Magni 2 Amp paired with the Modi DAC. A great combo!
Portable USB Headphone Amp/DAC combo
(Digital to analog converter)
What’s great about these is that they provide your headphones with a built in digital to analog converter + amp. The problem with computers is that the manufacturers rarely make audio a main concern. The result? An internal sound card that does a sub-par job of converting signal, and amplifying that signal to a listenable level (Discussed above).
For instance, if I were to plug my headphones into the 3.5mm jack on the side of my laptop, I would be in for a world of pain like Smokey from The Big Lebowski (mark it 8 dude). Well, not so much a world of pain as a really bad listening experience. Noise, latency, interference, and low volume levels can run rampant here.
Luckily, the Amp/DAC combo takes care of all that. You’re provided with an exceptional sound card (DAC) and amp at a reasonable price (in
The FiiO E10K to the right is a good example of a nice budget option. I’m really enjoying this amp right now actually with my Sennheiser HD600’s!
- Click here to read some Amazon Reviews!!
- Learn more: FiiO E10K USB DAC Review!!
My Video Review
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Generally speaking, the better your DAC is, the more accurate the sound will be. This doesn’t necessarily mean the sound will be better, but the representation of that sound will be. If the source of your music is bad, then your sound will still be bad. But, if you’re playing music from a good source, a good DAC will improve upon all of the qualities of your music. A good DAC:
- Takes care of the clarity of the sound.
- The definition of the sound.
- Takes care of noise.
- Effectively interpolates gaps left in digital media.
A good example of a DAC that excels in all areas is the Cambridge Audio DAC Magic 100. It really is magic! I found the A/D conversion absolutely pristine, to the point of extreme excitment like Arnold when he relates the Gym pump to climaxing. 😛
- Learn more about the DAC Magic 100 here!
If you plan to use it on the go, a lot of the portable models can also run off of battery power in addition to being plug and play USB!
As of late, the portable DAC craze seems to really be taking off. Maybe I had been out of the loop a few years back, but all sorts of brands continue to pop up, and now more than ever before it’s extremely affordable to invest in one.
A great example of a portable Amp/DAC combo is the Audioquest Dragonfly Red. This tiny
You can also use it with your phone paired with the right adapter! Interested in learning more about this bite sized wonder?
Learn more: Audioquest Dragonfly Red Review.
Desktop Amp/DAC
These boys are pretty nifty as well, but are a little bulkier and are meant to be used in studio only. They sort of resemble audio interfaces actually. The difference is they have a lot less knobs and buttons overall, as they aren’t meant for plugging anything else into (i.e. your mic or studio monitors). What are studio monitors?
Another big difference between this and a portable combo is that the DAC and Amp are both stand alone. So to hook them up, the set up would look something like:
Computer/laptop > DAC > Amp > Headphone.
This is a relatively simple way of illustrating it. Amps such as the Magni paired with the Modi DAC sort of “stack” on top of each-other, as seen above. Magni 2 vs. Magni 2 Uber.
They also need a digital to analog converter so that your brain can make sense out of the numbers. It functions much like an audio interface. The sound is a jumbled mess until it is converted to a signal that we can process. This signal is meant to be of a much higher quality than your standard built in DAC that comes with your laptop or CPU (as previously discussed).
- More about Bit depth vs. sample rate! (how your computer sends and receives data).
- Your audio interface!
So how does this relate to the headphones themselves? Let’s find out!
Power
As an example, a headphone like the 300 Ohm HD600 requires 20mW of power to perform optimally. The Schiit Magni 2 provides 260mW of power into 300 Ohms. You can see why it’s such a valuable piece of equipment. It can effectively power nearly any headphone, and in reality provides much more than is needed in most cases.
The takeaway here is to simply make sure that the power output of the Amp in question is sufficient for the headphones Impedance.
You can do this by checking out the specifications of the amp, as most spec sheets will give a rundown of how much power each Ohm rating can receive. For the Magni 3, the list is as follows:
- Maximum Power, 16 ohms: 3W RMS per channel
- Maximum Power, 32 ohms: 2W RMS per channel
- Maximum Power, 50 ohms: 1.3W RMS per channel
- Maximum Power, 300 ohms: 430mW RMS per channel
- Maximum Power, 600 ohms: 230mW RMS per channel
So the Magni 3 actually provides even more power than the 2. Awesome! (I still have the 2).
Output Impedance of the Amp
Another way to determine if your amp will suffice for the headphones in question is to check the output impedance of the amp.
A simple formula is as follows:
- Take the Impedance of the Headphone. In this case we’ll use the HD600, which is 300 Ohms.
- Divide 300/8 to get 37.5.
- Next, check the output impedance of the amp. We’ll use the Schiit Magni 3, which is less than 0.3 Ohms.
- To ensure that the amp in question will work, make sure that the output impedance never exceeds the Headphone Impedance. In our case it doesn’t. 0.3 Ohms is astronomically less than 37.5. We’ve got a winner!
Does impedance matter?
For the most part, yes. Impedance is a great indicator of whether or not your headphone needs an amp. A lot of entry level closed back models have relatively low impedance ratings, and don’t need one, but can benefit from one. The Audio Technica ATH M50x is a good example. What is Headphone Impedance?
In general, the higher the impedance, the more likely you will need an amp to raise the volume to a listenable level. Why? Because it needs more Voltage (or power).
- less than 100 Ohm: An Amp is not mandatory, but depending on the headphone, could improve the sound a little or a lot.
- greater than 100 Ohm: An Amp is highly recommended, if not outright mandatory for optimal listening.
What is impedance anyway?
To put it simply, there’s a lot of math involved when you really get down to it. And since I suck at math, we won’t talk about it. Lol. Here’s a video if you’re really interested. Don’t say I didn’t warn you 😛
Seriously though, impedance is the combined resistance and reactivity the headphones present to the amplifier as an electrical load.
- High impedance cans: Need more voltage (power) to reach an acceptable listening level. They often benefit from an amp.
- Low impedance cans: They may require more current to lower the damping factor between the amp and headphones. Will be driven loud enough from your portable players. The quality of the sound may be dramatically improved with an amp. Just be aware though that pairing a very low impedance can or earbud with an amp is more susceptible to blow out in certain instances. In other words, you won’t even have to turn the dial past 9 or 10 o’clock in most cases.
One exception is the AKG K701. This is a classic example of a low impedance set that is somewhat deceptive. At 62 Ohms you may think you don’t need an amp. But in my research I have found that the 701 actually won’t sound good without one, and is particularly picky about which amp you choose to boot!
Tube amp vs. Solid State
Some headphones like the H800 will sound better with tube amplification. Check out this article: Tube amp vs. Solid State for more information!
Some Amp recommendations
Rather than giving you a whole slew of different amps, I’m going to name off a few popular audiophile headphones and then give sort of a “great option” for each. Keep in mind that this is highly subjective, but we’re also dealing with entry level, as well as mid-fi gear. These are Amps/DACS that I’ve come across time and again as solid options. You won’t really need a high priced amp unless you have a high priced can on your hands!
Sennheiser HD 600/650
Impedance: 300 Ohm
- Used for: mixing/reference/casual
- Amp picky: No
- Great options: Magni/Modi combo, JDS Labs Objective 2, Oppo HA-2, Audioquest Dragonfly Red, FiiO E10K.
Check out some more helpful articles regarding these two headphones that I’ve written!
- Sennheiser HD 600 Review
- Sennheiser HD 650 Review
- Sennheiser HD 600 vs. 650
- The Best Headphone Amp for the Sennheiser HD650
Sennheiser HD 598
- Impedance: 50 Ohm
- Used for: mixing/reference/casual
- Amp picky: No
- Great option: Fiio E10K, Audioquest Dragonfly Red, anything that works for the HD600 (above).
Helpful Articles:
Beyerdynamic DT880
- Impedance: 250 Ohm
- Used for: mixing/reference/casual
- Amp picky: No
- Great option: JDS Labs 02, Schiit Magni/Modi, Oppo HA-2.
Helpful articles:
- Beyerdynamic DT 880 Pro, 250 Ohm Review
- Beyerdynamic DT880 vs. Sennheiser HD600
- Beyerdynamic DT 770 vs. 880
Beyerdynamic T1
- Impedance: 600 Ohm
- Used for: critical listening/reference
- Amp picky: Yes
- Great option: Schiit Valhalla.
Helpful articles:
AKG K701 & K702
- Impedance: 62 Ohm
- Used for: mixing/reference
- Amp picky: Yes
- Great option: Vioelectric V200.
Helpful articles:
- AKG K701 vs. AKG K702
- AKG K701 vs. DT880
- Sennheiser HD650 vs. AKG K701
- Sennheiser HD600 vs. AKG K701
Final Word
Choosing a headphone amp isn’t really that complicated of a process. Don’t be overwhelmed by the countless Amps/DACS out there. Really the Schiit and FiiO brands will more than suffice for the majority of your higher impedance headphone models. The difficulty comes when you’re purchasing expensive headphones like the Sennheiser HD 800. A set like that is more than amp finicky. It has the potential to sound completely different from amp to amp! A scary thought indeed. Luckily a lot of these entry to mid level audiophile headphones do well with a lot of the same gear.
In a nutshell:
- The Schiit Magni/Modi combo
- Audioquest Dragonfly Red
- Oppo HA-2
- Schiit Vali
- Schiit Valhalla
- Schiit Asgard
- JDS Labs 02
- FiiO E10K
All of these should be on your radar if you’re looking to buy a headphone amp in the near future!
Interested in the Schiit Stack?
CHECK OUT MY OFFICIAL SCHIIT MAGNI 2 REVIEW!!
What about the super portable Dragonfly?
CHECK OUT MY OFFICIAL AUDIOQUEST DRAGONFLY RED REVIEW!!
AND
SEE THE GLOWING REVIEWS FOR YOURSELF!!
How about the sensational HA-2?
CHECK OUT MY OFFICIAL OPPO HA-2 REVIEW!!
SEE IT FOR YOURSELF ON AMAZON!!
Well that’s about it for today my friend! I hope you have a better idea on how to choose a headphone amp, and came away with some valuable information. Speaking of,
Did I provide enough information? Let me know!
If you have any other questions, or felt that I left something out, leave a comment below or Contact me! I very much look forward to speaking with you.
All the best and God bless,
-Stu
Can’t decide which headphones to purchase? Interested in a complete buyers guide outlining over 40 of the best options on the market? Click on over to the best audiophile headphones to learn more!!
Be sure to also check out my Reviews and Resources page for more helpful and informative articles!
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About The Author
Stuart Charles Black
Stu is determined to provide the truth about all things audio, and strives to deliver excellent content to you the reader! In his spare time, he likes to fish, paint, play guitar, attend church, take photos, record videos, graphic design, and more. His attention to detail and perfectionist attitude are what allow him to excel, but it can be both a blessing and a hindrance at times.
Nice reviews on this website!
I see that you have used both HD201 and HD202 from Sennheiser. I have HD201, and planning on buying HD202 model, as it is definitely better by many’s opinions.
But.. As I am almost always listening music from my mid-level Asus laptop or Nexus 5 phone, would buying a headphone amp (or building one) would make a difference, as HD202 are only 32ohm?
Also, my laptop’s 3.5mm output is total crap with lots of noise and not that clear sound, would there be a difference with using some kind of DAC instead of on-board sound output?