The Best Headphone AMPs: Enjoy Hi-Res Audio Wherever You Go

FiiO Q1 Mark II

The Best Budget Headphone AMP for Apple Devices

The Q1 Mark II has an official Apple MFi certification (Made for iPod/iPhone/iPad) and comes with dual outputs (single-ended and balanced). Since it is a DAC (digital to analog converter) and Amplifier, it can decode up to 384kHz/32-bit PCM (pulse-code modulation) and up to DSD256.

All these numbers and terms mean that the Q1 Mark II is capable of high audio resolution, delivering realistic and authentic sounds to the user. The amplifier is designed to be used with smartphones (especially iPhones) but it also works with laptops and PCs, Sony Walkman players, and other devices.

The good news is that the USB interface automatically determines the settings for the device it is paired with. This way, you don’t have to worry about manually making the switch between settings. But, if you want to customize the experience, you can. The Q1 Mark II comes with two switches: one for gain and one for bass levels. By playing with them, you fine-tune the audio experience to your personal liking.

Overall, the Q1 Mark II can be used with a wide array of headphones and is easy to carry it around. It also comes with several useful accessories, from cables to the carrying pouch.

EarStudio ES100

The Best Portable Headphone AMP for Wired Headphones

The ES100 is compact and comes with a clothes clip, so you can use it on the go. It supports both USB and Bluetooth 5.0 connections and sends the improved audio signal to a wired pair of headphones. This is a 16-bit DAC that works in a plug-and-play system and doesn’t have any device-related preferences.

As such, you can connect it with both iOS and Android devices, laptops and PCs, tablets, and even speakers. Furthermore, the Bluetooth connection supports advanced codecs such as Sony LDAC, Qualcomm aptX audio, aptX HD, AAC, and SBC.

The ES100 works with both balanced and unbalanced headphones and is equipped with two AK4375a, one for each channel. Also, using the Android/iOS companion application, you get a 10-band built-in equalizer that lets you fully customize the experience.

As you can see, with this little guy, you don’t need studio headphones to enjoy a customized and high-res audio experience!

Schiit Magni Heresy

Solid Amp for the Money

This amp comes with a toilet paper roll in the retail package, which reads: SCHIIT happens. This is as funny as it gets, and puts you in a good mood before trying out the amp. Speaking of which, for something like $100 give or take, you’ll end up with an US made 100% op amp based headphone amp and preamp, with enough power, performance, low noise and versatility to drive almost any pair of cans.

Needless to say, the Magni Heresy offers a lot of bang for the buck asked, and it basically works by improving your headphones’ soundstage, making the tone slightly clearer, offering great imaging, and amazing instrument separation.

Build quality is solid, and audiophiles will be happy to learn that this amp offers 20 bits of dynamic range which matches the best DACs out there at a fraction of the price. Frequency response is dead flat in both to 40 kHz, and the amp provides an incredible amount of drive and stellar response even in power hungry headphones, such as the Sennheiser HD 650.

Bass detail and dynamic range are impressive for such an inexpensive amp, and bottom line, the Schiit Magni Heresy is a great little amp for the price, with great sound, great gain and virtually no noise.

FiiO BTR5

Discover the True Potential of your Headphones

The BRR5 is a portable Bluetooth Dac Amp with LDAC that will put your headphones in beast mode. Equipped with Hi-fi DACs(ES9218P*2) for extremely detailed reproduction of sound and the Xmos XUF208 chip for the ultimate in decoding performance, this DAC supports up to 384kHz and native DSD.

It is also fitted with a Bluetooth 5.0 receiver that delivers studio-quality sound to headphones and even speakers. To make it easier to use, the BTR5 DAC has both balanced 2.5mm and single-ended 3.5mm outputs.

The device can be paired with the FiiO Music app (for both Android & iOS) in order to adjust the 10-band EQ, distortion compensation, and more.

AudioQuest – Dragonfly Cobalt

Improve your Audio Experience

This tiny USB device can be used as a DAC, a preamplifier, and a headphone amplifier. Its job is to ignore the audio settings of the smartphone or computer that’s playing the music and replace it with its own high-end circuitry that delivers a natural sound and impressive quality.

As such, you can use the Dragonfly Cobalt with headphones, audio systems, or even powered speakers and you’ll feel the difference. Furthermore, it works with all music files and is compatible with Apple and iOS devices. However, keep in mind that mobile devices require a specific adaptor (Lightning for iOS and USB for Android).

Overall, this small device can completely transform your audio experience and you can take it everywhere you go!

XDUOO XD-05

Powerful, Portable, Affordable Amp

The improbably named XDUOO XD-05 (also impossible to pronounce) retails for something like $150, give or take, and it makes for an affordable and, most importantly, portable headphone amplifier.
The XS-05 offers strong game audio and video capabilities for peanuts money, in a compact form factor. The amp works great with virtually any type of device, ranging from smartphones, tablets, laptops or desktops, and delivers HI-FI sound for gaming platforms such as PC, PS4, and XBOX.

The amp is built using high quality components and professional digital and analog audio circuits, with the end result being life-like surround sound effects on headphones and active speakers, which translates into an immersive audio experience.

The output is flexible, in such it will automatically match different impedance headsets, and needless to say, in terms of value for money, the XD-05 is hard to beat, as you will be hard pressed to find another DAC/amp combo that can be used on the desktop with a switch to use only power supply to drive the unit.

You can also go fully mobile by switching to battery, and, on top of that, you can upgrade the amp by adding Bluetooth modules that support LDAC, not to mention the fact that the XD-05 supports you swapping out the op amp to fine tune your listening experience, and you get all of this in a $150 device, which is kind of amazing.

Sound BlasterX G6

The Best Gaming DAC

If you want to improve your gaming experience but you’re not ready to invest in an expensive gaming rig, the Sound BlasterX G6 is the perfect option! The device works with any gaming console and PCs and it can be connected using one of the three available ports: optical, USB, or line-in.

In terms of audio performance, the DAC has Dolby Digital decoding support and 7.1 virtual surround sound. As a result, you will be able to hear even the tiniest of sounds like the opponents’ footsteps and whispers in the background.

The main purpose of this DAC is to drive gaming headsets and it does so exemplarily due to the custom-designed Xamp discrete headphone amplifier. This way, both audio channels are being amplified individually, which leads to more detailed audio on highs, mids, and bass.

iFi DAC Portable DAC Headphone Amp

The Best DAC for Android or iPhone

This tiny DAC device fits in the palm of your hand and is so slim that you can put it in your pocket and forget about it. It’s also compatible with a multitude of platforms due to the USB input and inputs for balanced 4.4mm or S-Bal 3.5mm headphone plugs.

The sound it delivers is warm and musical, while the XBass feature truly boosts up the low end in a very well-executed manner. Furthermore, the sound is wide and spacious and users can customize it using the available controls.

Now, it may take a bit to understand all the settings (especially if you’re not experienced with sound customization) but it is worth the effort. Also, the device supports a wide range of high res audio formats and has native digital to analog conversion.