Reference Level Amp + Preamp Drives Demanding Headphones Effortlessly
It’s not every day that a new amplifier from Auris Audio comes across your desk. It’s also hard to believe that it’s been a whopping ten years since the release of the first Headonia 2A3 amplifier. There’s a reputation that comes with the name Headonia, a reputation that emotes quality, performance, and just about as high-end or end-game as you can get in the world of headphone amplifiers. The latest Headonia 300B tube amplifier is a statement piece - one that stops you in your tracks and makes you say “Whoa.” The design is unmistakable and premium in every way, so it’s not surprising that the sound quality coming from this amp follows suit. It’s industrial, modern, chic, and just cool-looking. Despite tube headphone amplifiers being the minority compared to their solid-state counterparts, there’s no denying their superiority for warmer tones, more body in your music, and all those neat-looking designs featuring multiple tubes and layouts.
The Headonia 300B is a beast of an amp and there’s a lot to go over with its design, sound, and more. With its eye-catching aesthetics and impressive sonic capabilities, it’s a piece that promises to redefine your listening experience. But is it the end-game headphone amp that you’re looking for? Let's dive into the details and find out what makes the Headonia 300B tick.
PROS
-Easy tube swapping/rolling
-Balanced and single-ended options
-Awesome design, timeless, vintage yet modern
-POWER!
CONS
About Auris Audio
Auris Audio is a distinguished name in the audiophile world, known for its dedication to crafting high-end audio equipment that delivers exceptional sound quality. Specializing in premium headphone amplifiers, Auris Audio combines meticulous engineering with elegant design to create products that appeal to both the ear and the eye. The company's product lineup includes a range of tube and solid-state amplifiers, designed to enhance the listening experience for discerning audiophiles. With a commitment to using top-quality components and innovative technology, Auris Audio continues to set the standard for excellence in the high-fidelity audio market.
Design
As I mentioned previously, the Headonia 300B is a statement piece - you're not going to want to hide this one away on you shelf. It's there to draw attention; and attention it deserves. Out of all the things to look and gawk at in this hobby, I have to say that tube amplifiers are one of my favorites. There's a style to them that nothing else has. It's something that says "I'm vintage and modern at the same time, and the fact that I'm still around after all these years means something."
Tube amplifier tech hasn't changed all that much over the years, because what audiophiles and music lovers want from them is what they did best back in the day and still continue to do so today: produce richness in sound, warm overtones, and dynamic music playback. The styling still stays within Auris' wheelhouse, but the newer, cleaner design makes it stand out from its earlier Nirvana siblings. The Headonia is a large amplifier, and the design is aggressive with the black matte finish and the metallic red accents. On the front of the tube amplifier, you'll find two large knobs with metallic red rings around them. The left is the Select wheel, allowing you to choose the balanced or single-ended inputs with a ratcheting motion (the fixed position is at 12 o'clock). There's also a push function built-in, which allows you to set the gain level from low, medium, and high.
The Headphonia 300B's chassis is milled from aluminum and is incredibly thick in places ranging from 8-10mm. This adds a substantial amount of weight to the unit, but it's designed this way in part to keep vibrations to a minimum and interference out. There are rubber/plastic/metal (combination) legs underneath the chassis to further reduce vibrations and increase the stability of the amplifier. This is incredibly important for tube amplifiers especially, since the tubes are an instrumental part of the audio quality, the glass and filaments are astoundingly susceptible to hits and vibrations, causing noise, microphonics, and distortion in the audio signal. You can try this yourself next time you're listening to music with a tube amplifier - just tap on the chassis or tap your hand hard enough on the table. You'll easily be able to hear the tube filaments vibrating from the impact. It's this kind of noise that you want to isolate with your headphone tube amplifier, and Auris does a superb job with building a literal tank to preserve your pristine audio quality.
On the back of the Headonia is a diverse selection of inputs and pre-outs for just about anything. For inputs, you'll find a balanced (stereo L&R XLR) input and two sets of single-ended stereo RCAs (L&R for Line 2 and Line 3 options). There are also both balanced XLR and single-ended RCA options for preamplifier outputs, allowing you to connect to an external power amplifier or speakers. Combined with 3 options to connect different sources and you have an incredibly versatile amplifier for just about every audiophile hi-fi system. The possibilities are endless.
On the top of the amplifier, you'll see the real stars of the show: a pair of 300B tubes and another pair of CV181/6SN7 tubes. We'll get to more about them in the next section with sound impressions, but I really like the aesthetic they're going for here. The blackened glass and the copper bases of the tubes make for a nice and clean presentation, and guess what? They sound even better than they look! The amplifier features a headphone impedance selector on the top, offering options such as 32Ω, 80Ω, 150Ω, 300Ω, and 600Ω. There's also a really helpful tube timer in the settings where you can see the lifetime of the tubes as well as reset the time when you replace them. Let's talk about the sound of the Headonia 300B now.
Sound
Testing Gear: Auris Audio Headonia 300B Tube Headphone Amplifier + dCS Rossini Apex DAC/Network Streamer + dCS Rossini Master Clock + Silver Dragon Premium Headphone Cable for HiFiMan + HiFiMan Susvara Headphone
Yes, I am well aware that this is a ridiculous setup for a hi-fi headphone system. And by ridiculous, I mean that it's simply end-game in all the best ways possible. As if the Headonia 300B tube headphone amplifier wasn't enough, you at least need a source in the same price range to complete the sonic nirvana you're about to experience. Also, pairing the dCS Rossini Apex DAC and Clock wasn't by mistake - stay tuned for our review on these units coming very soon!
If you're looking at purchasing the Headonia 300B then chances are you have a nice headphone to go along with it. In all honesty, I tried a number of different headphones with the amplifier, I only highlight the HiFiMan Susvara to make the point that it can drive them effortlessly. Since the Susvara is the headphone equivalent of "Yeah, but can it run Crysis?" (shoutout to my gamer peeps out there), it's simply the benchmark to go by for super-hard-to-drive headphones. Right off the bat, we can check that box off.
Check out a quick look at the unboxing of the Rossini DAC and Clock that we paired with the Auris Audio Headonia 300B Tube Headphone Amplifier!
There's a reason Auris decided to highlight the 300B in the design and the name of the amplifier. First introduced in the 1930s by Western Electric, the 300B has stood the test of time and remains a favorite among tube amplifier designers and enthusiasts alike. The 300B is a directly heated triode (DHT) tube, which means that it uses a single filament to both heat the cathode and emit electrons. This simple design contributes to the tube's linear performance and low distortion characteristics. The 300B is highly sought after due to its lush and rich sound. There are still a handful of companies out there that carry the legacy and commitment to crafting tubes that meet the highest standards of quality and performance (see the EAT 300B, KR Audio 300B, and the Western Electric 300B tube options here). The 300B is known for its exceptional tonal balance, with a lush midrange, smooth highs, and deep, well-controlled bass. This combination of qualities allows the 300B to reproduce music with a sense of warmth, intimacy, and emotional depth that many solid-state amplifiers struggle to match.
Auris Audio also equips the Headonia 300B with the popular German-made Mundorf Capacitors. Mundorf capacitors are known for their ability to deliver transparent and clear sound, with minimal coloration or distortion. This makes them ideal for applications where preserving the integrity of the original audio signal is paramount. They are praised for their ability to reproduce fine details, enhance dynamics, and provide high resolution, allowing listeners to hear subtle nuances in the music. This makes them a perfect match for the Headonia 300B, and combined with Lundhal transformers, it's about as clean and pristine an audio signal and amplification can be. It pays off in the end too.
I'll go ahead and be honest about the fact that you're going to want to pair this reference tube headphone amplifier with a high-end reference headphone to get the most that the amplifier has to offer. You wouldn't want to give a 500-hp racecar to your grandma, so why would you pair anything but the best headphones with a headphone amplifier of this caliber? Regardless, the Headonia 300B will take them to the next level with amazing power and clarity.
Bottom End: The thing I love about tube amplifiers is the body and musicality of the presentation. The Headonia performs above and beyond in this regard, delivering well-rounded and articulate low-end. It helped to fully flex the sonic muscles of any headphone I threw at it, whether it was a planar magnetic or dynamic driver. Planars had the better articulation of the two along with accuracy in the low end. The 300B tubes allowed the lower frequencies to be impactful without any bloat whatsoever. The balance was more pronounced when listening to older recordings like the Beatles - with more lows evening out the often high-heavy sound of more treble-friendly mixes. Articulation was enhanced with larger ensembles like in Hans Zimmer's score from the Last Samurai. Oftentimes the layering and subharmonics he likes to incorporate with subtle synthesizers in his mix go unnoticed from lesser audio systems, but the Headonia 300B brings them fully into the fold, exposing the low basses or sub-synths as if they were a new recording entirely.
Mids: Talking about mid-frequencies is like determining how much mashed potatoes and gravy you want to eat at Thanksgiving, right? You either like them super chunky, pureed, no gravy, or a 4:1 gravy to potato ratio. Mids are tricky to talk about and define, I think partially because it's so easy to talk about lows and highs. But don't be mistaken by what I'm trying to say here: mids aren't just "everything in between." There's a surprising amount of definition and articulation that can come from an amplifier that delivers a well-balanced midrange and soundstage. I'll give you a tip here: always listen to the vocals for midrange as a start. The human voice is incredibly diverse and usually falls in the wide spectrum of midrange frequencies. Males typically fall in the lower mids and female voices in the higher midrange. How well the vocals stand out against small ensembles versus larger ensembles is a great indicator of the breadth of frequency clarity of an amplifier (combined with the soundstage or imaging that a headphone provides for instance). A system with poor mid-performance would deliver music that sounds claustrophobic or a little muddled. Beastie Boys is a great example of how this midrange can still stay well-defined and dynamic with a lot going on in the song. The Headonia 300B delivers great midrange clarity in just about every genre I've thrown at it. Juxtapose that with something on the opposite end of the spectrum like Jon Foreman's (lead singer of rock band Switchfoot) new solo album "In Bloom," and you have an amplifier that brings intimacies to a whole new level. Singer/songwriter and jazz genres benefit greatly from the 300B's warmth and personality, with lively and dynamic vocal performances. It delivers proximity to the recording like only a high-end tube amplifier can. I would recommend this amplifier based on the midrange performance alone.
Highs: Higher frequencies can either make or break a piece of audio gear. Too much in the higher frequencies and the sound becomes harsh and fatiguing. Too little in the highs and the music becomes a muddied, bloated, ill-defined mess. Right off the bat, with the Headonia 300B being a tube amplifier we don't have to worry about the former. The tube combination of the Headonia is perfect for a balanced and well-defined presentation. The performance of the higher frequencies will vary based on what headphones you decide to pair the amplifier with, but overall they were extremely pleasant in everything I listened to. Articulation really shines here. Take for instance the acoustic picking features in Jon Foreman's album: the highs define the instrumental performance of his playing, with the precision of the thumb and finger plucking or strumming of the strings balancing perfectly with the body and fullness of the resonance after the string vibrates. The highs are perfectly married with the rest of the frequency spectrum in a way where each performance, each song, and every album expresses its own distinct emotion in the way it was designed. That is the mark of a truly great headphone amplifier, and the Headonia 300B sets the bar at a completely new level for headphone tube amps. It's really a remarkable piece of equipment.
by Jon Foreman
by Beastie Boys
by The Beatles
Features
Tube Amplification: The Headonia 300B showcases a timeless tube amplification design, employing a pair of 300B tubes in a single-ended configuration. Celebrated for their warm, rich, and natural sound signature, these tubes provide a harmonically rich audio experience that audiophiles highly covet. The 300B tubes excel in delivering exceptional midrange clarity and smooth, organic tones, making the Headonia 300B a standout in reproducing lifelike vocals and instruments. This amplifier’s design ensures a listening experience that captures the essence and nuance of live performances, making it an ideal choice for those who seek unparalleled audio fidelity and musicality. Whether enjoying the subtleties of a jazz ensemble or the powerful dynamics of a symphony, the Headonia 300B offers an immersive and authentic sound that brings music to life.
Impedance Matching: Unlike many tube amplifiers, the Headonia 300B boasts an impedance selector switch for the output transformer secondaries. This innovative feature allows users to precisely match the amplifier's output impedance to their headphones, ensuring optimal performance and sound quality across a wide range of headphone impedances. Whether you're using high-impedance studio headphones or low-impedance portable models, the Headonia 300B delivers exceptional versatility and adaptability. This capability ensures that every pair of headphones can achieve its full sonic potential, making the Headonia 300B a standout choice for audiophiles seeking both flexibility and superior audio performance.
Premium Build Quality: Crafted with meticulous attention to detail, the Headonia 300B features a robust chassis made from milled aluminum, ranging in thickness from 8 to 10 mm. This solid construction significantly minimizes interference and vibrations, providing a stable platform for pristine audio delivery. The amplifier is equipped with innovative rubber-plastic-metal sandwich legs, which further reduce vibrations, ensuring a cleaner and more accurate sound. This thoughtful design enhances the overall audio experience by eliminating unwanted noise and resonance.
The Headonia 300B's robust build not only contributes to its exceptional durability but also adds a touch of luxury to its aesthetic. The thick aluminum chassis exudes a sense of premium quality and reliability, while its sleek finish complements the amplifier's high-end performance. This combination of sturdy construction and elegant design makes the Headonia 300B not just a piece of audio equipment, but a statement piece in any audiophile's collection. Whether you're listening to delicate vocals or powerful instrumentals, the Headonia 300B delivers an unparalleled auditory experience, backed by its impeccable build quality.
High-Quality Components: Auris Audio has meticulously integrated top-tier components into the Headonia 300B, ensuring exceptional performance and sound quality. Among these components are the renowned Japanese Alps potentiometers, celebrated for their precision and smooth operation, allowing for accurate volume control and a seamless listening experience. The inclusion of German-made Mundorf capacitors, known for their superior performance and reliability, contributes to the amplifier's exceptional sound clarity and depth. Enhancing the amplifier's audio capabilities further, Auris Audio has incorporated Lundahl transformers on the balanced inputs. These high-quality Swedish-made transformers are recognized for their ability to maintain signal integrity and deliver a clean, detailed sound. The combination of these premium components results in an immersive listening experience that captures the nuances of every musical note.
The Headonia 300B's advanced engineering ensures signal purity and dynamic sound reproduction, making it a standout choice for audiophiles seeking unparalleled audio fidelity. The careful selection and integration of these high-caliber components demonstrate Auris Audio's commitment to excellence and craftsmanship, providing users with an amplifier that not only performs exceptionally but also stands the test of time. Whether you're enjoying the intricate details of a classical symphony or the powerful beats of modern music, the Headonia 300B delivers a rich, immersive auditory experience that elevates your listening sessions to new heights.
Balanced and Single-Ended Inputs: The Headonia 300B features both balanced and single-ended inputs, offering unparalleled flexibility for connecting various audio sources. The balanced inputs are equipped with high-quality Lundahl transformers, which ensure optimal signal integrity and exceptional noise rejection, providing a clear and pristine audio signal. This makes the balanced inputs ideal for high-end audio setups that demand the utmost in sound purity and performance. In addition to the balanced inputs, the Headonia 300B also includes single-ended inputs, which offer compatibility with a wide range of audio devices. This versatility means that whether you have a professional-grade DAC with balanced outputs or a more conventional source device with single-ended outputs, the Headonia 300B can seamlessly integrate into your system.
This dual-input design caters to audiophiles who have diverse setups and prefer different input methods based on their source equipment. It allows for easy switching between sources without compromising on sound quality, making the Headonia 300B a versatile and adaptable component in any high-fidelity audio system. Whether you are connecting to a turntable, a digital audio player (DAP), or a high-end DAC, the Headonia 300B's balanced and single-ended inputs ensure that you can enjoy your music with the highest possible fidelity.
Versatile Connectivity: In addition to its exceptional inputs, the Headonia 300B amplifier also features a preamp output, offering users the ability to connect to external power amplifiers or speakers for a comprehensive audio system setup. This functionality allows audiophiles to expand their audio environment, creating a versatile and dynamic listening experience that can be tailored to individual preferences and room acoustics. The Headonia 300B is equipped with both 6.3mm (1/4 inch) and 4-pin XLR headphone outputs, accommodating a wide range of headphone connectors. This versatile connectivity ensures compatibility with various headphones, from high-impedance studio models to low-impedance portable options. The inclusion of these outputs provides users with the flexibility to enjoy their favorite headphones without the need for additional adapters or converters.
The robust design of the Headonia 300B extends to its user-friendly features, making it an ideal centerpiece for any audiophile setup. Whether you prefer the detailed sound of balanced XLR connections or the convenience of a standard 6.3mm jack, the Headonia 300B caters to your needs, ensuring that you can enjoy high-fidelity audio with any headphone type. By incorporating both preamp outputs and multiple headphone outputs, the Headonia 300B stands out as a versatile and adaptable component in any high-end audio system. It not only delivers impeccable sound quality but also offers the convenience and flexibility to integrate seamlessly with existing audio equipment. This makes the Headonia 300B an invaluable addition to any audiophile's collection, providing a gateway to superior sound and an enhanced listening experience.
Stunning Design: Beyond its exceptional performance, the Headonia 300B exudes elegance with its sleek and timeless design. The classic tube glow emanating from the 300B tubes adds a touch of vintage charm, making it a statement piece in any audio setup. The amplifier's aesthetic appeal is matched by its functionality, creating an eye-catching centerpiece that also delivers top-tier audio performance. Its design harmonizes modern engineering with classic tube amplifier aesthetics, appealing to both the ears and the eyes. The Auris Audio Headonia 300B headphone amplifier is not just an audio device; it is a piece of art that brings unparalleled sound quality and elegant design to any audiophile's collection. With its combination of premium components, meticulous build quality, and versatile connectivity, it stands as a pinnacle of high-fidelity audio reproduction.
About Headphone Amplifiers
Headphone amplifiers, often referred to as headamps, are essential devices for audiophiles seeking great sound quality. They are designed to drive high-impedance headphones with precision, offering a superior audio experience compared to standard headphone jacks on most devices. These amplifiers come in various forms, including standalone units and amp combos, integrating both a headphone amplifier and a desktop DAC (Digital-to-Analog Converter). One of the key features of a high-quality headphone amplifier is its power supply, which ensures consistent and clean power delivery, critical for maintaining audio fidelity. Many audiophile-grade headphone amps operate in Class A mode, known for their linearity and low distortion, resulting in a rich and pure sound. Some headphone amplifiers also double as USB DACs, allowing direct connection to computers and enhancing digital audio playback. Additionally, certain models incorporate vacuum tube technology, providing a warm, natural sound signature that many enthusiasts prefer.
Headphone amplifiers vary in their output power, which is an important consideration depending on the headphones' impedance and sensitivity. Many units feature multiple headphone jack options, such as balanced and unbalanced outputs, to accommodate different types of headphones. For those who enjoy both headphones and speakers, some headphone amplifiers also include speaker amplifier functionality, making them versatile additions to any audio setup. Furthermore, models with mono capabilities can drive individual channels in a multi-amp setup, offering precise soundstage control. Lastly, a few high-end headphone amplifiers include phono inputs, allowing users to connect turntables and enjoy vinyl records with exceptional clarity.
Dragon Audio Cables
For my testing session, I stacked the Auris Audio Headonia 300B Headphone tube amp with the dCS Rossini Apex DAC and Master Clock. It's about as end-game as you can get for a headphone system setup, so that's why we recommend pairing the system with our top-of-the-line Silver Dragon Interconnects. Sold in Pairs, the Silver Dragon V2 is our top-of-the-line silver conductor-based interconnect. With a braided geometry and amazing shielding, this interconnect is a remarkable solution where noise isolation is key. We also recommend our Silver Dragon USB Audio Cable. The Silver Dragon USB cable is our best-selling digital USB cable at Moon Audio, offering an extraordinary amount of detail and resolution to your hi-fi system. The Silver Dragon USB cable is designed to transfer digital audio from your source device (like a computer, phone, tablet, or digital audio player) to a USB-capable DAC. It is built to USB Audio specs. The Silver Dragon USB Cable is meant for audio data transfer only - meaning that this cable should not be used for high-speed data transmission (for external hard drives). Because of the high-quality materials and cable geometry, our USB cables will greatly reduce stock USB cable issues such as packet loss and jitter.
Why Dragon Cables?
You’ve heard the saying that a chain is only as strong as its weakest link, right? Well, the same applies to your brand-new audiophile-grade headphones or other audio components. The weakest link, in this case, is your stock audio cable or the cheap interconnects the manufacturer threw in the box just to get you up and running. Why is the audio cable always an afterthought, when it’s just as important as the rest of your system? At Moon Audio, we use the purest and best raw materials in our cables to unveil your music. We believe that materials matter and your audio cables should have the same care and craftsmanship that manufacturers put into their audio components and headphones. Audio cables are ultimately the connection to your music. The fact remains that cabling is often considered the last priority to that of the main product and a means to cut down the overall production costs. It’s as simple as that. Dragon Cables elevate every note - as if you were hearing your favorite music for the very time.
Verdict
There are really only two words that can sum up the Headonia 300B: End game. It's interesting because at this level of audiophile tech I find it hard to recommend specific gear for analytical listeners or more warm and musical ones, primarily because when you're at this tier it just sounds amazing. The level of audio fidelity is heart-stopping for music lovers of every age, listening preference, and genre. Sure, if you like a more warm and musical presentation then you're automatically going to lean toward the tube amp sound. It's full and rich, but with everything that Auris Audio added to the overall audio circuit and design, I dare say that there's plenty here that analytical-leaning listeners will love too. Despite the tube design, clarity and detail are everywhere. It's a more balanced presentation than I expected, but a welcome one for sure. It's the perfect marriage of full-bodied sound with precision in sound design that you can only expect from an end-game amplifier like this. Add some Silver Dragon Interconnects and you have about as clean an audio signal as you can possibly achieve. It's not a warm tube sound like you would expect. At this level you're experiencing top-tier reference sound that few can compete with.
But that's not the only takeaway. The really fun is that there's still plenty of room to customize and tailor the amplifier to what you like. Despite being designed for the 300B, you can still change out the triodes to something different, for a variation in the flavor of sound. The other nice aspect of a headphone amplifier is that the headphones play another big role in the overall sound of the system. Depending on what kind of cans you own, the Headonia can handle it all - all the way up to the Susvara and beyond. If it's power you want, power output is plentiful for any situation or system.
If you're looking for an end-game headphone amplifier you can stop looking. The Headonia 300B delivers an unprecedented level of audio fidelity and sound that every audiophile on the planet deserves to hear. Yes, it's expensive, but you get what you pay for in this regard: peace of mind that you have one of the best headphone tube amps out there. It doesn't get much better than this, folks.
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What's in the Box
- Auris Audio Headonia 300B Headphone Tube Amp
- Remote Control
- Power Cable
- Tubes: 2 x 300B; 2 x CV181/6SN7
- User Manual
- Warranty
Specifications
Analog Inputs: 2 x RCA, 1 x XLR
Analog Outputs: 1 x 6.3mm, 1 x XLR
Pre Out Outputs: 1 x RCA, 1 x XLR
Tubes: 2 x 300B, 2 x CV181/6SN7
Max Power Output: 7W
Output Impedance: 32/80/150/300/600 Ω
Dimensions (L x W x H): 46 x 44 x 31 cm, 18.11" x 17.32" x 12.20"
Headphones SE Out: 7W
Headphones BAL Out: 7W
Max Power:
- 32 Ω: 15V
- 80 Ω: 23.5V
- 150 Ω: 32.5V
- 300 Ω: 46V
- 600 Ω: 65V
THD+N: 0.45% dB at 1W
Frequency response: ±0.45 dB at 1W; ±0.9 dB at Max Power
SNR: 100 dB
Input Sensitivity (for max power/voltage at output):
- SE input: 0.8V
- BAL input: 3.1V
*Max Power is the same for any impedance [32, 80, 150, 300, 600 Ohm]. Use the impedance selector to match it with the headphone impedance!
Pre Out
Max Output voltage: 17V
THD+N: 0.06% for VOL<20 [Vout=7V]
Frequency response: ±0.2 dB for VOL<20 [Vout=7V]
SNR: 100 dB
