In recent years the use of headphones has eventually grown. With this growth, people have also started using headphone amps to improve sound quality. A headphone amp is used for raising the low-voltage audio signal to a high-level audio signal hence improving the audio level. Sometimes when the user has low-performance headphones at that time to experience high-quality music, one may use a headphone amp for this.
An amplifier takes input as a signal from any source and creates a larger copy of the original signal offered before it is sent to the speaker part. A good headphone amp not only improves the sound level but also limits crosstalk between two channels and gives a high-quality Sonic experience to the user. The user must research about few best headphone amps before purchasing any product.
Things to Consider Before Buying a Headphone Amp
The qualities users look for while buying any headphone amp:
- Portability– Any device with a convenient design is considered fit for the user, so the portability of any device is a more significant concern while purchasing devices.
- Price– The users always look for the best product but under their budget. Best headphone amps must have all the features at an affordable rate, making them convenient for the users.
- Purpose– Before buying any product, users must know why they purchase it. If they want to buy a headphone amp for a gaming experience or they want to buy it for listening to music, why should they buy it according to their purpose only?
Best Headphones Amps Under $200
The few best headphone amps have been mentioned below:
1. Behringer MICROAMP HA400
Behringer is one of the most trusted brands for the purchase of headphone amplifiers. This Headphone amplifiers of the Behringer brand improve the audio quality by almost 75% -100% giving it a full 3D effect. This product adds extra power to the audio, making it sound louder than the original one. This headphone amplifier provides low impedance and high sensitivity making the audio quality super powerful.
This headphone amplifier has a very compatible design making it more portable to carry anywhere. The model name is HA400 comes with auxiliary connectivity technology. This headphone amp contains almost four high-power stereo amps, which are responsible for high sonic quality audio levels.
Key Features:
- It has a very compatible design adding to its portability.
- It has four high-power stereo amplifiers with excellent sound-level features.
- Exceptionally high sound quality, even at maximum volume
- It comes with a DC 12-volt adaptor.
2. FiiO BTR5-2021 Headphone Amps
FiiO BTR5 has an excellent rating and is considered a highly recommended product. This headphone amplifier helps in providing better clarity and high-definition sound to the user. Those headphones have inferior sound quality and cannot impact the user’s wish; their quality can be improved by the addition of the FiiO BTR 5 headphone amplifier to these weak headphones and hence providing a more robust and impactful audio quality to the users.
It supports full high-resolution wireless Bluetooth format, i.e., using Bluetooth 5.0 connectivity which is a high-resolution format. It comes with 3.5 + 2.5 mm dual outputs, super high-quality noise cancellation feature, USB audio adapter mode, etc. built-in features.
Key Features:
- Capable of asynchronous audio decoding and can decide up to 384 kHz rate.
- Supports MQA Rendering, giving it high-resolution sound quality
- Has OLED display
- Dual crystal oscillator modes
- It has low latency,aptX HD, and LDAC of up to 96Hz
3. Schiit Magni Heresy
Schiit Magni Heresy headphone amplifier amplifies sound quality to a decent level. They are very portable and can be carried anywhere due to their handy design. These headphone amplifiers offer low impedance and, thus, improve the sound level of any audio. This headphone amplifier gives higher signal path quality; hence as an output, the users get higher sound quality.
It is very convenient to buy this headphone amplifier if the user makes use of low-impedance headphones. It provides wired connectivity. They are made from super high-quality parts, which also include a multiple paralleled output stage with feed-forward.
Key Features:
- Exceptionally higher performance
- Highly versatile and compatible with all types of device
- It comes with two years of warranty
- Low noise addition to the sound signal
- High power (volume )
4. FiiO K5 Pro Headphone Amps
FiiO K5 Pro headphone amplifiers are the following highly rated headphone amplifiers as it affects the sound not only by improving the sound quality but in other ways also, which include isolation of the current running inside the device to crosstalk that is interference between the stereo channels, which complicate the end product.
It comes with an amplifier DAC combo. It also supports high-resolution digital audio up to 96 kilohertz or 24 bits. It has AK4493 DAC chips giving out ultimate decoding performance and supporting native DSD.
It is equipped with an XMOS XUF208 USB chip, AKM AK4493 DAC, Op-amps OPA1642, and flagship TI TPA6120. Has marvelous headphone amplification of up to 1.5 W under a 32Ω load.
Key Features:
- More accurate ADC volume control
- Powerful headphone amplification
- Offers ultimate decoding performance
- Supports multiple interfaces
5. FiiO K3 Type-C USB DAC Headphone Amp
FiiO K3 type c USB DAC headphone amplifier makes use of a USB DAC or DSE stick to improve the sound directly from the USB port. It provides power of more than 10mW. It supports higher voltage output and then, therefore, gives higher capacity in terms of volume level.
Even if the headphone is very quiet, an amplifier can raise the production to a higher power by increasing its volume. Supports USB Type-C DAC of up to 384kHz/32bit. Comes with various ports, i.e., lineout single-ended/ balanced headphone output coaxial and optical.
Key Features:
- High-performance discrete headphone drive
- Ensures circuit protection
- Power supply through USB ports
- Easy, convenient, and safer to use
6. AudioQuest DragonFly Black v1.5
AudioQuest dragonfly headphone amplifiers provide amplification such that it balances the impedance and boosts up the voltage of any audio signal. This headphone amplifier allows high-impedance headphones to reach their whole potential. This brand assures one of the best headphone amplifiers.
The headphone amplifier is highly durable and can be used in the long run. It has a 32-bit ESS 9010 Sabre DAC, Also supports USB 2.0 Connector type. Can play everything ranging from MP3s to high-resolution files up to 24-bit/96kHz
Key Features:
- It has a versatile DAC improving every detail
- Flexible can be used with Apple, Android phones, and tablets
- Offers tremendously enhanced sound
- Lower power consumption
7. Bravo Audio V2 Class A 12AU7
Bravo is categorized under the top 15 best headphone amplifier brands because of the power added to the audio by using these Headphone amps. It boosts the audio signal. The addition of this amp to the headphone can give a very notable improvement in the audio clarity and sound effect.
It is a high-performance headphone amp that every user thinks of buying. Has a high-quality Shuguang 12AU7 tube. Provides parallel 3.5mm and RCA stereo inputs.
Key Features:
- Gain control using Japanese ALPS potentiometer technology
- High-power stereo amplifier
8. Nobsound NS-08E Vacuum Tube Headphone Amplifier
Nobsound Headphone amps convert the sound signal with greater accuracy and power. It continuously alters the source sound signal to match it better with the connection. This amp is highly recommended due to the performance and benefits provided.
Key Features:
- Highly versatile
- Low added noise ratio
- Provides switchable gains
- Powerful headphone amplification
- Supports multiple interfaces
9. Monoprice 111567 Desktop Headphone Amplifier
Sometimes the high impedance or Hi-Fi headphones may also need the best headphone amps to reach their maximum potential level. The audio quality can be significantly varied by using headphone amplifiers as it generates and adjusts the sound signal appropriately.
If a user purchases Monoprice headphone amps, they can never be regretted; hence, it is always considered worth buying this headphone amp.
Key Features:
- It has a very compatible design adding to its portability
- Exceptionally high sound quality, even at maximum volume
- It can be used with all types of headphones
- Capable of asynchronous audio decoding and can decide up to 384 kHz rate.
- Master-level audio quality experience
10. Fosi Audio Q4 Headphone Amplifier Mini Stereo DAC
The quality offered by Fosi headphones amps is up to the mark, and it is worth spending a few dollars to experience good quality audio. It is considered one of the best headphone amps due to frequency response and commendable load impedance. The electrical gain observed for this headphone amp is excellent, giving it a more robust voice level.
Key Features:
- Bluetooth and USB DAC 96KHz/24bit
- Has embedded double-precision equalizer
- 500mA Li-Po Battery / 6~20 hours use
- Enhanced sound
- High-power stereo amplifier
11. Audioengine D1 Portable Desktop Headphone Amp and DAC
These headphone amps support sample rate, which means the speed of the digital audio signal matches with the headphone amp DAC. This is the most highly demanded feature, as failure to do this may result in distortion of audio quality. It has a lower noise floor or noise-to-signal ratio, which means that it adds a low amount of noise to the audio signal, making it sound clearer.
Key Features:
- Consists of precise front panel volume control
- Supports ESS ES9018 DACItem 3
- Supports ES9601C headphone driver
- Supports CT7601 USB audio bridge.
12. Qudelix-5K Bluetooth USB DAC AMP with LDAC, aptX Adaptive, aptX HD, AAC
Qudelix headphone amplifier delivers enough power to the headphone so that it can work with clarity and precision without causing any distortion in the amplified audio signal. It ensures to give high sensitivity improving the sound quality. It offers a satisfactory amount of the most critical factors, that is, efficiency and impedance for the best headphone amps.
Key Features:
- Can play high-resolution audio format
- It can also convert native digital to analog audio
- Tremendously enhanced sound
- High-power stereo amplifier
13. iFi Hip-dac2 – Portable Balanced DAC Headphone Amplifier for Android, iPhone
This headphone amplifier provides balancing with high-end headphones. The unique features of this headphone amp are that it avoids cross talk as it does not have any standard signal return wire. Also, it doubles the voltage applied, improving its clarity and amplitude.
Key Features:
- Powerful headphone amplification
- Offers ultimate decoding performance
- Supports multiple interfaces
- Ensures circuit protection
14. FiiO NEWK3 Amplifier Headphone Amps
The FiiO NEWK3 headphone amplifier has relatively high performance when compared with other best headphone amps at the same price in the market. It is affordable as well as offers good features like good sound quality with high precision and accuracy, no cross talks, and its portability makes it a suitable product for the users to buy.
This headphone amp has a modern USB Type-C input interface giving it a stable connection. It also has a double-filter circuit ensuring power supply stability.
Key Features:
- It comes with an XMOS USB receiver chip
- Double-filter circuit is present, which ensures power supply stability.
- It can be used with all types of headphones
- Relatively high audio quality experience
15. Neoteck Portable 3.5mm Headphone Amplifier
Neoteck headphone amplifier is a highly portable headphone amp. The precision offered by this headphone amp is incredible, with wide-open Sonic performance ability, which can drive any pair of headphones to up to 600 ohms. This headphone amplifier is very accurate, with a frequency response of about 10 hertz to 150 kHz.
Key Features:
- It comes with 3.5mm AUX Input and Output, SNR>120Db, and THD+N 0.0003%
- It has a rechargeable Lithium Battery
- It can work for more than 8 hours
- Very fashionable design along with an Aluminum Matte Surface
Comparison Table
| Name of product | Portability | Affordability |
| Behringer MICROAMP HA400 | Highly portable and easy to carry | Quite affordable |
| FiiO BTR5-2021 | Highly portable and easy to carry | very affordable |
| Monoprice 111567 Desktop Headphone Amplifier | Highly portable and easy to carry | affordable |
| AudioQuest DragonFly Black | Not portable | affordable |
| Schiit Magni Heresy | Not portable | Very affordable |
| FiiO K3 | Highly portable and easy to carry | High price not much |
| FiiO K5 Pro Headphone Amps | Not portable | affordable |
| Bravo Audio V2 | Not handy design | not much affordable |
| Nobsound NS-08E | Highly portable and easy to carry | affordable |
| Audioengine D1 | Highly portable and easy to carry | affordable |
| Fosi Audio Q4 Headphone Amplifier | Not portable | not much affordable |
| Qudelix-5K | Not handy design | affordable |
| iFi Hip-dac2 | Highly portable and easy to carry | not much affordable |
| FiiO NEWK3 | Not handy design | affordable |
| Neoteck Portable 3.5mm Headphone Amplifier | Highly portable and easy to carry | affordable |
FAQs
Is it necessary to have DAC in the best headphone amps?
DAC is essential to improve the quality of the amplifier. It processes the external audio and interprets information, audio tracks, and many more things. Also, to process high-resolution audio for that also, DAC is needed.
What is the most desirable audio range for a headphone amplifier?
Safer frequency for ears and earphone range from 20 hertz and 20000 Hertz above. This can be considered hazardous for the year, and users must take to this range.
What is impedance, and how does it matter in a headphone amp?
Impedance measures how much power the headphone needs and is measured in ohms. Also, some headphones need more power, so amplifiers are added to them. If headphones do not have enough power, then sound may not be impactful.
Learn more about impedance and its impact in headphones here: What does ohm and impedance mean in headphones?
Conclusion
Hence headphone amps are worthy of buying and can be considered an excellent investment if users have high-fidelity headphones. However, it cannot change to improve sound quality, but it can potentially increase the level of audio effect. It effectively multiplies the audio quality by 100X.
It also increases the electrical power of a signal so that it is strong enough to produce high sound waves.
After this, let us tell you about some of the best headphones for rock music: 7 Best Headphones for Rock Music
