What are Headphone Amplifiers and Why do we need them?
Understanding headphones preamps for studio applications.
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Headphone amplifiers have a cult-like status in the global hi-fi headphone communities. Let’s find out why and how we can use this knowledge to get better results when working on headphones.
Key Facts about Headphone Amplifiers:
- Headphone amplifiers ensure the consistency of signal quality and power sent to studio headphones, improving the monitoring accuracy for tracking, mixing, and mastering applications.
- Popular open-back studio headphones like the Sennheiser HD-600*(300 ohms) require more amplification than is provided by the headphone jacks of most laptops and budget audio interfaces.
- It’s important to differentiate between single-channel headphone amplifiers for impedance matching and multichannel distribution amps for sending headphone signals to multiple performers.
- High-end headphone amplifiers offer high headroom and low distortion solutions that improve transient articulation and dynamics, helping you trust your decision-making when mixing.
We’ve discussed studio headphones previously, but let’s look at the difference between these and hi-fi headphones.
Understanding Headphone Amps:
Studio vs. Hi-Fi Headphones
Studio headphones are designed with two main applications in mind:
- Isolation is key while tracking, so a closed-back design is generally preferred for monitoring.
- When mixing, the translation properties of your headphones are essential, and you want to minimize ear fatigue. So, an open-back or a semi-open design generally suits this best.
Hi-Fi headphones are selected based on a different set of criteria:
- If you need a particularly discrete listening solution, a closed-back headphones design offers better isolation.
- While studio headphones aim to provide a degree of neutrality, hi-fi headphones may add a distinctive colour or character to the sound to enhance the listening experience.
Impedance
You’ll find that each model of headphones has its own impedance rating, usually in the range of 8 and 600 ohms. Headphone impedance is determined by the design of the voice coils and plays an essential role in the overall performance of a set of headphones. Headphone amplifiers usually provide a minimum impedance rating within their specifications.
This will help you avoid mismatched impedance, which can result in two scenarios:
- The headphone impedance may be below that of the headphone amp’s minimum rating, which can produce distortion at higher volume levels.
- Higher impedance headphones (250-600 ohms) may be underpowered by your headphone amp, which makes them underperform. The signal might be soft and lacking in clarity, even with the volume turned way up.
Headphone Amplifiers vs Distributors
Another possible point of confusion is the difference between headphone amplifiers and distributors:
Headphone amps ensure that the integrity and dynamics of a signal are maintained and easily controlled when using headphones with different impedance ratings. Alternatively, headphone distributors split the signal and provide level controls for multiple sets of headphones.
While you can find decent multichannel headphone amps on the upper end of the market, it’s important to note that these are two separate functions and applicable to different situations.
Choosing Headphone Amplifiers:
Almost every audio interface is equipped with a built-in headphone amp, but not all of them are created equal, unfortunately. We’re going to look at solutions that provide the means to drive high-impedance headphones at different price ranges. So we’ll take a look at headphone amps for practice, monitoring, mixing, and hi-fi listening.
Headphone Amplifiers: Darkglass Element
The Element is a pedal from Darkglass Electronics that provides a headphones solution for electric guitar and bass players while practicing, but it offers plenty of other useful features too.
It has two headphone outputs, an aux-in, and Bluetooth for playing along with another song. This makes it useful too for both collaboration and teaching, and the choice of five cabinet simulations means you won’t blow your neighbours away with your Marshall stack.
Additional cab sim IRs can be loaded via USB-C, and the Element also functions as a DI-box with a balanced XLR output for recording. Get it at Thomann.*
Headphone Amplifiers: Heritage Audio O.H.M Amp
The O.H.M Amp is a straightforward desktop headphone amplification solution for unbalanced (RCA), balanced (XLR combo), and Bluetooth signals, dressed in the familiar Neve 1073-style Heritage Audio theme. With an Alps “Blue Velvet” output gain control, you can precisely control your levels for recording, production, and mixing applications.
Meanwhile, there are six impedance settings, including 600, 250, 80, 50, and 32 ohms, as well as a low mode for low impedance-rated headphones. This allows you to optimize the performance and gain staging of a wide range of headphones. What’s more, the Bluetooth input runs through a Burr Brown DA conversion stage, and supports codecs such as APTX, APTX LL, AAC, APTX HD, and SBC.
The O.H.M Amp is at home on your studio’s desktop, but you can also mount it on a mic stand, using the 5/8-inch fitting. Also, there is a pair of TRS through ports for chaining multiple headphone amps together. Overall, the O.H.M Amp provides a great combination of studio-grade quality, modern compatibility, and vintage styling. Get it at Thomann.*
Headphone Amplifiers: Lake People
The Lake People G-series is a range of highly-regarded headphone amplifiers that spans from high-end home audio to studio-grade units used in professional studios. With high internal operating voltage, models in the G-series can drive headphones with high impedance ratings (up to 600 ohms). Meanwhile, the discrete transistor circuitry delivers heavy current for planar magnetic headphones.
The phrase “built like a tank” is certainly applicable here, with the signature black anodised aluminium housings that can also be opened to access the internal pre-gain jumpers for accurately matching the gain sensitivity, whether you’re using IEMs or open-back headphones. Unlike some precise, analytical studio designs, the G-series delivers an organic, neutral sound, without colouring the response of your headphones.
The Lake People lineup starts with the bus-powered G101 for multimedia use, while the G103 MKII is a basic pro model with unbalanced (RCA), balanced (XLR), and Dante versions. Meanwhile, the G105 MKII expands on this platform, with a balance control, polarity invert, and mono mode switches.
From the G108 upwards, all models add a 4-pin XLR input, while the G111 MKII adds premium components like an Alps RK27 volume control and a toroidal transformer on the power supply. Finally, the G118 tops the range, taking this design into rackmount format, while the MC50 adds monitor control. Get it at Thomann.*
Headphone Amplifiers: SPL
The SPL Phonitor series represents a gold standard in headphone amplification, with precision engineering and unique features that set it apart from other available options. Possibly the most interesting thing about the Phonitor series is the Phonitor Matrix, an analogue signal matrix that compensates for the discrepancy in the stereo image between studio monitors and headphones.
With the crossfeed control, you can adjust the bleed between the channels for a more familiar stereo image that translates better onto other systems. Also, at the top of the range, models like the Phonitor three are designed with SPL’s VOLTAiR 120V rail technology with custom op-amps, providing the highest possible headroom and the lowest distortion levels.
SPL’s range of headphone amplifiers starts with the HPm 500-series module, while the Phonitor One is a perfect solution for most home studios. Meanwhile, the Phonitor 3 is the most complete solution, as it also has a DAC version, and its monitor control system can be expanded for up to four sets of stereo speakers. Get it at Thomann.*
Headphone Amplifiers: Rupert Neve Designs RNHP
For those looking for console-grade audio quality, the RNHP is based on the RND 5060 Centerpiece headphone amp section. It’s a 24V precision reference headphone amp with multiple input formats, including XLR, RCA, and mini-jack.
When complete transparency is a requirement, the RNHP is built with the highest-grade materials to ensure the integrity of the audio you’re listening to, with any set of headphones up to 600 ohms.
The rugged steel chassis is also VESA 100 mounting compatible, so you can easily incorporate the RNHP into your desktop setup or vocal booth. Get it at Thomann.*
Headphone Amplifiers: elysia xpector
While “elysia xpector” does sound like something Harry Potter would say, there is certainly some magic behind the design of this particular headphone amp. In fact, the xpector isn’t only a headphone amp, it’s a complete monitor management system for your home studio.
There are two headphone channels, one for the engineer and one for the artist, and each channel can be fed from either Direct or DAW input signals. The xpector also has five different operating modes, including a mid-side monitoring mode, and there’s a two-band shelving EQ for the artist’s mix.
Overall, the xpector is a complete solution that offers far more routing functionality than any other headphone preamp. However, having this almost console-like box in your studio will set you back a pretty penny. Get it at Thomann.*
FAQ: Headphone Amplifiers
- What does a headphone amplifier do in a recording studio?
A headphone amplifier ensures the audio signal sent to your headphones has consistent quality and power, especially for high-impedance headphones (150 ohms and above). This improves monitoring accuracy during tracking, mixing, and mastering.
- Do I need a headphone amplifier for studio headphones?
This depends on the impedance rating of the headphones and the audio interface you intend to use. High-impedance open-back headphones usually require a dedicated preamplifier for optimum performance.
- Can a headphone amplifier improve mixing decisions?
Yes. By improving the overall performance of your headphones, a premium headphone amplifier can increase monitoring accuracy by ensuring the headphones are fed a consistent, distortion-free signal.
- What’s the difference between a headphone amplifier and a headphone distributor?
A headphone amp ensures your headphones are sufficiently powered, while a distribution amp splits the signal, allowing multiple headphone feeds to be sent to each musician in a band during a recording session.
- Can a headphone amplifier reduce headphone bleed?
Headphone bleed typically occurs during vocal recording when the monitoring level is loud enough to leak from the headphones and be picked up by the mic. While a headphone amp doesn’t eliminate this, it can improve the listening clarity, even at lower levels.
More about Headphone Amplifiers:
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6 responses to “What are Headphone Amplifiers and Why do we need them?”
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Every headphone amplifier has some additional features that nobody really needs. Obviously, these additional functions are only built in to distract from the essentials. And what is the essential? I believe essentially that you don’t need any headphone amp at all. Even not when mastering anyway, because if you want to master with headphones, you probably have to know that this is not possible at all. Otherwise, you only need multiple outputs for multiple monitors, e.g. A typical multi headphone amplifier, which would also make sense to supply several band members with their own volume. But as a single supply to only one listener I see no use in it.
I use the RNHP in my studio as a gold standard. that paid with a pair of hd600 is how that audio sounds good sure. for fun hifi listening I use a balanced little bear tube headphone amp
One thing nearly all headphone amps lack is any form of EQ. There are a few scenarios where a little extra bass or something like that if you’re using in ears that might be a little light at the bottom. You don’t want to tubby up your main outs, just compensate at the headphone out.
The fact is, not all headphones are flat. A switchable EQ section is sorely missing…
hello,I how do I get the headphone amp,with headphone I want listen to music on the go.im deafness in both ear i wear hearaids for sound i read lip.please I been try find one ,
Hi there, perhaps consult your local audiologist before getting recommendations from anyone else.
Great info! Maybe more than a novice really needs. Some headphones are easy to power off of just about anything. Those are the ones with high sensitivity. Others require a little help from a low-wattage amp. Others require a lot of help from a high-wattage amp.
The two factors most often looked at are the impedance and the SPL/sensitivity. A headphone with a lower impedance (Ohms) and a higher sensitivity (dB) is easier to run; one with a higher impedance and a lower sensitivity is harder to run.
Some headphones don’t need any help at all. Grados, with their 32 Ohm drivers and a sensitivity of 99.8 dB, can run off of anything.
Some headphones could use a little help. The Sennheiser HD600 (300 Ohms/97 dB) is functional on its own but not very loud. You’re never going to hear it at its best without an amplifier. On the other hand, you don’t need much amplification to get excellent results from it. A small, portable amp will suffice. Even so, this headphone scales with better, more powerful amps.
Some headphones need a lot of wattage. You can run them without an amp but you’ll only get a fraction of the performance without a high-wattage amp. Even a modest amp will make them louder but you still won’t hear everything they’re capable of unless you pair them with an amp with some serious muscle.
The HiFiMan Susvara has an impedance of only 60 Ohm, so you’d think it would be easier to run than an HD600. But its sensitivity is 83 dB. You can hear it on your MacBook Pro but you won’t know why you spent $6,000. You can pair it with a lot of amps and still not get more than a fraction of its performance. The Ferrum Oor, on the other hand, outputs 8 watts per channel, enough to handle the Susvara and the Abyss AB-1266 (50 Ohm/88 dB), another tricky headphone to power.
Most headphones don’t need that much wattage, especially your first set of headphones. The HiFiMan Sundara, for example, is easily powered at 37 Ohms/94 dB. It will function without an amp but at limited volume and fulness. Still, a small amp will get you there, which is one of several reasons it provides great bang for the buck.