There are a few good reasons for using a headphones amplifier. Maybe you just want better sound since, just like a normal stereo amplifier has a big influence over the sound of your speakers, a headphones amplifier can have a big influence over the sound of your headphones. Of course, you might be looking for a way to connect multiple sets of headphones up to one piece of equipment. In either case, you're in the right spot.
Hooking Up an Analogue Stereo Hi-Fi Headphone Amplifier
Analogue headphone amplifiers can have balanced or unbalanced inputs or both. Unbalanced left and right RCA ports (also known as cinch sockets) are fitted to a lot of off-the-shelf audio gear, where the white port carries the left stereo channel and the red port carries the right stereo channel. A balanced 3.5mm mini-jack carries both the left and right stereo channels and can be useful for hooking up other external devices like a phone, tablet or laptop. Some models will also have balanced inputs like two 6.3mm TRS jack inputs or two XLR inputs so your headphone amplifier can be connected to professional audio equipment like a mixer or audio interface.
The Best Mini Headphones Amplifiers
A headphone amplifier doesn't have to be big, like a stereo amplifier for speakers. You can get headphone amplifiers that will fit in a standard 19 inch rack and most of the time, these models will have multiple channels for multiple sets of headphones. Smaller battery-powered headphone amplifiers fitted with an XLR or jack input are ideal for running a set of non-wireless in-ear stage monitors. In that case, your headphone amplifier can be hooked up to the AUX output of the mixer.
Plugging Multiple Sets of Headphones Up to One Device
If you're playing in a band or as part of an ensemble, then it can be handy if every musician has their own set of headphones so that everyone can hear everyone else. You could use a splitter for the job, but that would mean that you don't have control over the volume going through each set of headphones. As such, it's usually a lot more practical to go for a headphone amplifier with multiple outputs. Even simple models will have a stereo input and maybe four headphone outputs, while more extensive models will also have a stereo input alongside an AUX input for each headphone channel so that every musician can be fed their own monitor mix.
USB Headphone Amplifiers: Headphone DAC Explained
Headphone amplifiers with a USB port have a built-in sound card which is also known as a DAC. DAC stands for Digital to Analogue Converter. D/A audio conversion is an essential step in any audio chain, so if you're a die-hard audiophile, it's best not to leave the job to the converters that came built into your phone or laptop, but to use a high-end DAC instead. If that's what you're looking for, then see our dedicated
DAC department
. Smaller DACs, like USB-stick-style models are not designed to serve as amplifiers. They're just designed to improve audio quality.
Frequently Asked Questions About Headphone Amplifiers
How do you hook a headphone amplifier up?
Most of the time, a headphone amplifier will have one or more line-inputs. RCA inputs or 3.5mm mini-jack inputs are more designed for consumer-grade gear like a phone, tablet or CD or DVD player. If you want to connect your headphone amplifier up to more professional gear like a mixer or audio interface, then you'll need a headphone amplifier that comes fitted with a pair of TRS jack inputs or XLR inputs.
What makes a good headphone amplifier?
A good headphone amplifier has a low impedance, which makes it better equipped to support an array of different sets of headphones without colouring the sound too much.
Do I need a headphone amplifier for my Bluetooth headphones?
Bluetooth headphones always have a headphone amplifier built in, so there's no need to use an external headphone amplifier.
