Our Pick of the 11 Best Headphone Amps on the Market
TL;DR: Moon Audio's guide to the 11 best headphone amps helps audiophiles enhance their listening experience. Featuring portable, high-end, and tube amps, plus amp/DAC combos, these picks offer something for every preference. Plus, find honorable mentions for the best guitar amp headphones on the market.
- Why Use a Headphone Amp? Amplifies sound and improves audio quality for high-impedance headphones.
- Key Amp Features: Superior sound quality, power, build, and customization options.
- Categories Covered: Portable amps, high-end setups, tube amps, amp/DAC combos, and bonus category best guitar amp headphones.
- Top Picks Include: iFi xDSD Gryphon, Chord Mojo 2, and Pass Labs HPA-1.
For audiophiles, finding the best headphone amps can be a game-changer. Whether you're aiming to unlock the full potential of your high-end headphones, enjoy a warmer, more immersive sound profile, or simply elevate your listening experience, the right amp can make all the difference.
With so many options on the market, ranging from portable USB DAC amps to premium desktop setups and vintage-inspired tube amplifiers, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. That’s where we come in.
At Moon Audio, we’ve curated a list of the best headphone amps available today. Each pick was carefully selected for its exceptional performance, versatility, and value. This guide is designed to help you navigate the world of headphone amplifiers, highlighting models that excel in various categories. Plus, we’re sharing our favorite headphones to use with guitar amps to transform your playing experience.
No matter your preferences or budget, this guide will help you find the perfect amplifier to enhance your sound quality and elevate your listening sessions to audiophile nirvana. Keep reading to find your next amp today!
Why Do You Need a Headphone Amp?
The combination of high-quality audiophile-grade headphones and music in a rich audio format is a match made in heaven. With the right set of wired headphones, you can shut your eyes and imagine you’re in the room with your favorite artists. Immersive soundstage and imaging can light up your senses while accurate, high-fidelity sound ensures you don’t miss a single detail.
The best headphone amps on the market can bring even that transcendent listening experience to the next level.
Many source devices, such as phones, laptops, or turntables, produce a fairly low-voltage audio signal. Even electric guitars and microphones tend to produce low-voltage sound. This can cause signal degradation, reducing the quality of even the best tracks. Likewise, they can make impedance matching a challenge.
That’s where your headphone amp comes in. The role of the amp is to amplify the low-voltage audio to a level suitable for driving speakers—such as your favorite pair of wired headphones.
Many headphone amps also include a DAC, which stands for Digital to Analog Converter. You need a DAC specifically to convert digital signals into analog signals so your amp can convert them into the rich, detailed sound you crave.
A lot of digital devices have headphone amps and DACs built in, but the quality of those devices varies. At best, you can expect a built-in amp to produce decent audio. However, many smartphones and laptops come with extremely low-quality built-in amps. While a casual user might not notice or care, that low-grade tech is often not enough to satisfy an audiophile.
The bottom line? You need the best headphone amp to drive sound to your headphones so you can hear high-quality tracks the way you were intended to hear them. You’ll achieve improved clarity and more volume and get more out of high-impedance headphones.
What Makes a Great Amp?
Now, what separates the best headphone amps from built-in amps or mediocre, consumer-grade amps?
Sound Quality
Audiophile-grade headphone amps deliver pristine audio reproduction with minimal distortion and noise. Their sound quality should either be neutral and transparent to deliver audio fidelity or have a deliberate tonal character. Most importantly, they preserve the details and dynamics found in the highest-quality digital audio formats.
Power Output and Impedance Matching
The best headphone amps have enough power to drive high-impedance or low-sensitivity headphones. They typically have adjustable settings that make impedance matching simpler.
Components and Build Quality
Audiophile-grade amps feature premium components. They ensure durability and lower distortion compared to built-in amps. Their construction can also improve thermal dissipation. Some even have additional tuning features for ultimate audio customization.
Customization and Features
The best headphone amps offer features like balanced inputs/outputs, tube/solid-state options, and fine volume control.
Noise Isolation and Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR)
Audiophile-grade amps have a higher SNR. This is ideal for revealing the most subtle details. You can also anticipate less electromagnetic interference compared to built-in or consumer-grade amps.
Design Philosophy
Audiophile-grade headphone amps put sound quality first. They are made by acoustic engineers specifically to ensure a high-fidelity listening experience. In contrast, consumer-grade amps tend to prioritize cost-effectiveness and size over the listening experience.
Our Picks for the Best Headphone Amps on the Market
Now that you know what to look for in the best headphone amps, it’s time to dive into our favorites. The curated products below deliver the high-quality, detailed listening experience audiophiles crave and deserve.
We’ve divided our picks into a few categories so you can find an amp or accessory to deliver your ideal listening experience:
- The best portable headphone amp
- The best high-end headphone amps
- The best tube headphone amps
- The best headphone amp/DAC combos
- Bonus category: The best headphones for guitar amps
Portable Powerhouses: Best Portable Headphone Amps
Just like with audiophile-grade headphones, not all headphone amps are designed with portability in mind. However, if you want to take your music on the go, you’ll need a compact, robust amp that can hold up to jostling. Here are our picks for the best portable headphone amps for al fresco audiophile enjoyment.
The iFi xDSD Gryphon stands out as the best portable headphone amp due to its exceptional versatility. It can support both wired and wireless connections with advanced Bluetooth codecs and high-resolution audio. Compact yet feature-packed, the Gryphon delivers audiophile-grade performance on the go.
The iFi GO Bar Kensei is a premium portable headphone amplifier and DAC that delivers exceptional audio performance for discerning listeners. Its powerful output and advanced processing make it compatible with a wide range of audiophile-grade headphones. Encased in a precision-made stainless-steel enclosure for enhanced EMI shielding, the GO Bar Kensei combines durability with superior audio quality.
The Chord Mojo 2 is a portable DAC and headphone amplifier that delivers exceptional audio quality. Its advanced FPGA technology and 'Ultra HD' digital signal processing provide detailed and clear audio reproduction. Meanwhile, the compact design ensures portability without compromising performance.
With versatile connectivity options, including a new USB-C input, and dual headphone outputs, the Mojo 2 offers flexibility and convenience for various audio setups.
Desktop Dynamos: Best High-End Headphone Amps
If portability isn’t a priority, you’re going to love the options for high-end headphone amps. These audiophile-grade amps pair best with equally high-end audiophile-grade headphones. They’re best for dedicated studio or listening environments where audio fidelity takes centerstage. Basically, if you have the budget for a truly premium listening experience, start your search for an amp here.
The Pass Labs HPA-1 is a high-end headphone amplifier renowned for its exceptional audio performance. Its Class A direct-coupled MOSFET output stage and low-feedback and wide-bandwidth discrete design ensures precise and dynamic audio reproduction across a wide range of headphone impedances (15 to 600 ohms).
Additionally, the HPA-1 can function as a high-quality standalone line-level preamplifier. It offers versatility and value in a compact form factor.
The Chord Hugo TT 2 features advanced FPGA technology and proprietary filtering providing unparalleled detail and clarity. This amp’s robust output stage can drive even the most demanding headphones with ease. With versatile connectivity options and a sleek design, the Hugo TT 2 offers both functionality and aesthetic appeal for discerning listeners.
Warmth and Character: Best Tube Headphone Amps
While some value high-fidelity audio, others yearn for the natural warmth of tube amps. Tubes work by generating even-order harmonics, which add depth and richness to sound.
As a result, it can feel fuller and more engaging for the listener. They soften harsh frequencies and offer a more three-dimensional presentation compared to traditional headphone amps. You can even try tube rolling or swapping tubes to tune your headphones to your unique listening preferences.
If you’re open to a slightly higher maintenance amp that consumes a lot of power, tube headphone amps are the best bet for you. We recommend the models below for the highest-quality experience.
The Dragon Inspire IHA-1 Tube Headphone Amplifier is a collaboration between Moon Audio's Drew Baird and Cary Audio's founder Dennis Had. This spectacular tube amp is celebrated for its warm, dynamic sound signature, making it a top choice for audiophiles seeking premium tube amplification.
Hand-built with meticulous point-to-point wiring, each unit is personally tested, ensuring exceptional craftsmanship and performance. Its versatile output options and preamp RCA outputs accommodate a wide range of headphones and audio setups, offering both flexibility and superior audio quality.
The Cayin HA-3A Tube Headphone Amplifier is a compact, high-fidelity amplifier that delivers a rich and smooth sound signature. Its versatile output options, including 4-Pin XLR, 4.4mm, and 6.35mm headphone outputs, accommodate a wide range of headphones and audio setups.
The HA-3A is hand-crafted with meticulous attention to detail. It features modern engineering with classic tube amplifier aesthetics, appealing to both the ears and the eyes.
Multi-Tasking Marvels: Best Headphone Amp DAC Combos
Do clarity, detail, and precision matter to you? Digital audio only sounds as good as your amp/DAC combo.
Even if you invest in an audiophile-grade amp, a weak, built-in DAC can tank your fidelity. If you’re working in a studio environment, a great amp and DAC combo will ensure your tracks are clean and precise. With the right combo, you’ll experience ideal dynamics, soundstage, and volume control without distortion. Plus, the combo can simplify your setup and help eliminate cable clutter.
Our picks for the best headphone Amp DAC combos are below.
The Chord Hugo 2 is a high-end DAC and headphone amplifier that can be used portably and connected to a home system. Its advanced FPGA technology and proprietary filtering provide unparalleled detail and clarity. Simultaneously, the Hugo 2’s output stage can drive even the most demanding headphones with ease.
Encased in a sleek, portable chassis, the Hugo 2 combines cutting-edge engineering with an elegant aesthetic. We consider it the ultimate all-in-one tube-like amplifier and DAC solution for those who demand excellence in sound quality and flexibility.
The TEAC UD-701N is a versatile all-in-one unit that combines a high-performance USB DAC, network player, analog preamp, and headphone amplifier. It’s an excellent choice for audiophiles seeking a comprehensive solution.
Its newly-developed TEAC ΔΣ (Delta Sigma) discrete DAC supports playback of up to 22.5MHz DSD and 384kHz/32-bit PCM, ensuring exceptional audio quality. With a dual mono, fully balanced circuit structure, and versatile connectivity options, the UD-701N delivers outstanding channel separation and flexibility for various audio setups.
The iFi NEO iDSD 2 is a versatile DAC and headphone amplifier that supports high-resolution audio formats, including PCM up to 32-bit/768kHz and DSD512. Its advanced Bluetooth 5.4 technology, featuring aptX Lossless, allows for wireless streaming of CD-quality audio without compression.
With a fully balanced dual-mono circuit design and enhanced analog processing modes like XSpace and XBass II, the NEO iDSD 2 delivers a customizable and immersive listening experience. We consider it a top choice for those seeking high-fidelity sound in a compact form factor.
The iFi iDSD Diablo 2 is a high-performance portable DAC and headphone amplifier that delivers exceptional audio quality for audiophiles seeking an exceptional sound experience. Its advanced dual-core DAC design and support for high-resolution audio formats ensure precise and dynamic sound reproduction.
With versatile connectivity options, including support for multiple Bluetooth formats and a robust build quality, the iDSD Diablo 2 offers both flexibility and durability for audiophiles.
Bonus Picks for Specialized Gear: Best Headphones for Guitar Amps
Electric guitars produce an analog audio signal, which means they don’t need a DAC to function at their best. The role of a guitar amp isn’t to reproduce accurate, transparent audio. Instead, guitar amps are designed to shape and amplify sound, contributing sonic character and shaping tonal qualities.
With that said, some headphones are a better match for guitar amps than others. Our picks for the best gear to pair with your guitar amp are below.
The Grado Signature HP100 SE headphones are a contemporary homage to the original HP1. They feature newly engineered 52mm drivers that deliver exceptional high-frequency resolution, midrange smoothness, and bass energy with low distortion.
With a frequency response of 3.5 Hz to 51.5 kHz and an impedance of 38 ohms, they are well-suited for use with guitar amplifiers. These headphones provide a detailed and accurate representation of your instrument's tone.
The inclusion of a detachable cable and redesigned headband assembly enhances durability and comfort. We consider them a reliable choice for musicians seeking high-quality headphones for their guitar setups.
The Audeze LCD-X headphones are renowned for their exceptional clarity and neutral sound signature. That’s why they’re our choice for guitarists seeking accurate amplification of their instrument's tone.
Their low impedance and high sensitivity ensure compatibility with a wide range of guitar amps. Additionally, the sturdy build quality and comfortable design make the LCD-X suitable for extended practice and recording sessions.
Find Your Next Incredible Headphone Amp at Moon Audio
Discover how the right headphone amp can transform your listening experience with enhanced sound quality, depth, and clarity. Find the perfect amp to bring your favorite music to life!
