I’ve learned from personal experience that having headphones with a lot of power is important for getting the best sound. It can be hard to find the best headphone amplifier. I have seen a lot of new models come out in the last few years for portable audiophiles. The pros, cons, and prices of each of these amplifiers are all different. Recently, amp fans like me have been having a great time because it seems like every month there are new models coming out.
Chinese companies have kept the big brands on their toes by competing with them, which has been very good for customers like us. We can now choose from more options at lower prices than ever before. Previous models have been great and are still useful, but we wanted to keep things fresh and update our list of the top 10 headphone amps for 2023 because some interesting new models came out in the last year that you might have missed.
If you already own a good pair of audiophile headphones and want to make sure you get the full performance out of them, you should invest in a good headphone amplifier. Having a proper power supply for your headphones is a key element to getting the best sound quality possible. Choosing the best amplifier is not easy, as in recent years the portable audiophile market has been flooded with new models, all offering unique selling points, features and prices. Below, we have mentioned some of the best Headphone Amplifiers.
Best Headphone Amplifiers
AudioQuest DragonFly Cobalt
Specification | Details |
---|---|
Connectivity | USB-C |
DAC | ESS ES9038Q2M |
Amplifier | ESS Sabre 9601 |
Output Power | 2.1V RMS (RCA), 4.2V RMS (3.5mm) |
Headphone Impedance | 12 ohms – 600 ohms |
Sample Rates | Up to 24-bit/96kHz |
MQA Rendering | Yes |
The Cobalt is the first DragonFly to take flight since AudioQuest unveiled its black and red variants in 2015, offering smartphone compatibility for Android and iOS. We’re pleased to report that not much has changed in terms of fundamental functionality since then. These are products whose simplicity is part of their beauty, and a big part of what makes them so appealing is how easily they can clean up audio from your computer or (with the included dongle) a smartphone or tablet with just a plug-in and a little play.
That’s not to say AudioQuest just changed the colour and design of the case on their less expensive DACs. The PIC32MX274 microcontroller draws less power and accelerates processing by 33%, while the newer, more sophisticated ESS ES9038Q2M DAC chip promises to provide music that is not just clearer but also more natural. It is claimed that improved power supply filtering will increase immunity to cellular, Bluetooth, and Wi-Fi noise. Overall, this is one of the best Headphone Amplifiers that you can buy right now.
FiiO BTR5
Specification | Details |
---|---|
Connectivity | USB-C, Bluetooth 5.0 |
DAC | Dual AK4377 |
Amplifier | Dual AK4377 |
Output Power | 78mW (32 ohms) |
Headphone Impedance | 16 ohms – 300 ohms |
Sample Rates | Up to 32-bit/384kHz (USB), Up to 24-bit/96kHz (Bluetooth) |
Battery Life | Up to 9 hours (USB DAC mode), Up to 9.5 hours (Bluetooth receiver mode) |
Although the BTR5 is a plug-and-play DAC, you are not need to have it connected in in order to use it. The BTR5 replaces the inferior 3.5mm adapter that came with your phone when in wired mode. Additionally, it is a Bluetooth wireless receiver capable of transmitting high-quality audio to a set of high-end wired headphones. Many design cues from contemporary devices have been incorporated. It has the same glass sandwich design with rounded corners that we are all accustomed to. This is the best Headphone Amplifiers.
It does have a display, but it just occupies a small portion of the space behind that glass surface. Since it just needs to display the most essential data, such as power and volume levels, the Bluetooth codec being used, the sample rate, or the decoding of a MQA file, it doesn’t need to be extremely large. It would be wonderful if the screen were larger so that more information could be shown, but it’s not the end of the world if you don’t know the sampling rate of your MQA files or the current bit depth.
Chord Mojo 2
Specification | Details |
---|---|
Connectivity | USB-C, Optical, Coaxial, RCA |
DAC | Xilinx Artix 7 FPGA |
Amplifier | Xilinx Artix 7 FPGA |
Output Power | 1V RMS (Unbalanced), 2V RMS (Balanced) |
Headphone Impedance | 4 ohms – 800 ohms |
Sample Rates | Up to 32-bit/768kHz (USB), Up to 32-bit/768kHz (Coaxial, Optical) |
Battery Life | Up to 7.5 hours |
Mojo 2 utilises exclusive British digital audio technology that has been honed over more than 20 years, clearly different from all other devices, along with a potent “FPGA” processor. With the ability to easily drive any set of headphones, the outcome is excellent sound quality that can be enjoyed both at home and when travelling. Mojo 2 is the only portable device that puts you as close to the music as the artist intended. Thus, this product is one of the best Headphone Amplifiers available right now.
Monolith Liquid Platinum Headphone Amplifier
Specification | Details |
---|---|
Connectivity | RCA, XLR, 4-Pin XLR |
Amplifier | Balanced Class A |
Output Power | 6W (32 ohms), 4W (50 ohms) |
Headphone Impedance | 16 ohms – 600 ohms |
THD+N | < 0.001% (1kHz, 32 ohms, 1W) |
Signal-to-Noise Ratio | > 100dB (A-weighted) |
Bass from tube amps is well-known for being deep and powerful. A pair of blazing vacuum tubes pass an audio signal through, and the sound quickly becomes warm and saturated. A pair of 6922 tubes are used to power the Liquid Platinum tube amplifier. Because we don’t want to bore you too much, we will not go into the esoteric and obscure the world of tubes, but we will say that the 6922 are well-known for their quality and have been around since the late 1950s.
When rolling in tubes, the Liquid Platinum accepts any tube from the 6DJ8 range, which is diverse enough to appeal to all tastes. In actuality, it is a hybrid amplifier that combines solid state and tube circuitry. Even while it’s unquestionably among the best Headphone Amplifiers available, the cost is prohibitive.
iFi Zen DAC V2
Specification | Details |
---|---|
Connectivity | USB |
DAC | Burr-Brown True Native |
Amplifier | iFi custom circuitry |
Output Power | 280mW (32 ohms), 6.3V (unbalanced), 12.6V (balanced) |
Headphone Impedance | 16 ohms – 600 ohms |
Bit Depth | Up to 24-bit |
Sample Rates | Up to 384kHz |
Naturally, these advancements behind-the-scenes aren’t immediately noticeable, making it difficult to tell the new Zen DAC apart from its predecessor when comparing the two. With the exception of the new model’s subtle “V2” corner insignia, their exteriors are identical. A USB Type-B input, an RCA line, and balanced 4.4mm Pentaconn outputs are located next to it, same like on the V1’s control panel.
The Pentaconn output is quite a specialised connection for this level of equipment, but it is available when you need it. The Zen DAC’s output can be adjusted between fixed and variable, allowing the iFi to be used as a digital preamp if needed. Similar remarks apply to the front panel’s balanced Pentaconn output, which is located alongside a more traditional unbalanced 1/4″ headphone connection, a dependable volume control, and buttons for two modes. Currently, one of the best Headphone Amplifiers that you can buy right now.
FiiO K3
Specification | Details |
---|---|
Connectivity | USB |
DAC | AKM AK4452 |
Amplifier | OPA926 |
Output Power | 320mW (16 ohms), 220mW (32 ohms) |
Headphone Impedance | 16 ohms – 150 ohms |
Bit Depth | Up to 24-bit/96kHz |
This is a FiiO reprint of the wildly popular K3 model. A new high-quality XMOS USB chip, an updated ESS DAC, and two crystal oscillators have all been added by FiiO to the device. FiiO K3 maintains a reasonable pricing with a list price of €119.99. By switching from the AK4452 to the ESS9038Q2M, the signal-to-noise ratio is improved by 14dB, and distortion is decreased by 13dB. FiiO estimates that this results in a 12% overall improvement in performance. This is the most popular Headphone Amplifiers that you can consider.