Cary Audio HH-1

The new HH-1 headphone amplifier from Cary Audio is an all-new hybrid design, featuring a tube input stage feeding a single-ended MOSFET output stage. These MOSFETs were chosen as they have sonic characteristics very similar to tubes, and the entire amplifier operates fully in class-A at all output levels. It is extremely simple to connect and operate, featuring a pair of RCA input jacks and a loop-through output pair, a power switch and a volume control. Top quality parts are mounted on a heavy gauge fiberglass circuit board, and only two stages of amplification are used for the shortest possible signal path. A power transformer, rated at three times what is required for the amplifier’s design, feeds a fully regulated discrete power supply for the best sound quality. It is designed to drive headphones with an impedance between 30 and 600 ohms. A 30-second muting circuit prevents any annoying pops and clicks when turning on the HH-1 headphone amplifier, and ensures that all circuits are fully stabilized before each listening session.