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Headphone Amplifiers

ASUS Xonar Essence STU

High value mid-priced DAC/amp from Asus

A review on: ASUS Xonar Essence STU
by project86
project86

Pros: Lots of features, clean and clear presentation with nice details, good looks, upgrade potential

Cons: Could be a little bright or bass light in the wrong system, output impedance not ideal for low impedance headphones

        Asus is a well known tech company. They make laptops, desktops, tablets, motherboards, video cards, and a few other odds and ends. Around here, they are most known for their highly regarded Xonar Essence series of sound cards. The Essence ST and STX are likely among the most widely used "entry-level audiophile" products out there - especially when you...
(read more)
Great value and functionality
Great value and functionality
Arrow HE 4G - Tiny Amp / Fantastic Amplification
Arrow HE 4G - Tiny Amp / Fantastic Amplification

Headstage Arrow 12HE

Pros: Form factor, battery life, flat SQ, auto on/off, hardware EQ, dual headphone out

Cons: Didn't notice much effect from the crossfeed, imbalance on volume pot at very low level, not suitable for very sensitive IEMs

Good value for $100
Good value for $100

Schiit Magni

Pros: Value - can power orthos

Cons: Bright, slightly cold for my tastes

Categories

Amp/DACs
Desktop Amps
Portable Amps

Manufacturer

FiiO
Nuforce, Inc
Schiit
JDS Labs
WooAudio
Audio-gd
Maverick Audio
Yulong
Electric Avenues
HeadAmp
Little Dot
Ray Samuels
Apex High Fi Audio
Burson Audio
Meier Audio
Musical Fidelity
Violectric
Headstage
HeadRoom
Audinst
Ibasso
ALO Audio
digiZoid
Leckerton Audio
Centrance
Epiphany Acoustics
iFi
Purity Audio
Graham Slee
Bravo Audio
Cypher Labs
Matrix
Musical Paradise
Arcam
Darkvoice
Red Wine Audio
Firestone Audio
Audioengine
Fostex
Luxman
SMSL
Grace Design
HiFiMAN
Hippo
Lehmann
Benchmark Media Systems
Stax
Decware
ASUS
C&C
Practical Devices
VentureCraft
Beyerdynamic
Cavalli Audio
Analog Squared Paper
Bottlehead
Grant Fidelity
Ortofon
Triad Audio
TTVJ
J Sound Lab
Leben
PS Audio
GoVibe
Rolls
Cambridge Audio
Eddie Current
ART
NuForce
Rudistor
Cavalli Audio DIY
EMU
Qables
Aphex
Audiotrak
Aune
Blossom
Pro-Ject Audio
QES Labs
Shonyun
Sound Performance Lab
Trends Audio
Generic
Glow
Project Sunrise
Traformatic Audio
Tralucent Audio
V-MODA
Yamamoto Sound Craft
Cary Audio
DIY
Naim
Erzetich
HA-Info
Harman Kardon
Virtue
American Music and Sound
ecp audio
Fischer Audio
Furutech
Grado
Grado Labs
Icon Audio
Indeed
Just Audio
Lead Audio
Mapletree
M-Audio
Neco Soundlab
Ordnance
Qinpu
Sennheiser
Shanling
Sony
Sugden
Vorzuge
Almarro
Analog Design Labs
Argon
Audiotailor
Blue Circle
Calyx Audio
Dared
Denon
Emmeline
esi
Goldpoint
Heed
HRT
JH Audio
Kao Audio
Lear
Linear Designs
Live Wire Solutions
Meier Audio corda aria
MFE
Pyle
RATOC Audio Lab
Sherwood
SPL Phonitor
Syba
Tangent
Vivid Technologies
Lake People
Audiophile Products
AUDIO TECHNICA
Behringer
TOPPING
Marantz
NAD
Ramsey Electronics
Vincent Audio
Astro Gaming
Earmax
Milian Acoustics
Ming Da
Rogue Audio
Rotel
Styleaudio
Atoll
Carot One
Channel Islands Audio
Creek
DA&T
DNA
Elekit
Emotiva
Emotiva Audio Corporation
Fidelity Audio
Indeed Hi-Fi Labs
La Figaro
Lepai
Millett
MiniBox
MUSE
NJC
ONKYO
Opera Audio
Peachtree
Pro-Ject
Rudistor-Pacific Pte Ltd
Sac Thailand
Sain Store
Singlepower
Travagan's
Wadia
Yaqin
Abacus
AMB Laboratories
Antique Sound Lab
April Music
AsusTeK Computer Inc.
Audia
Audio
Audio Note
AudioNoteKits
Audio Poutine
Audio Source
Audiovalve
Auzentech
Avenson Audio
Behringer USA
Bellari
Beresford
Bob Carver
Boostaroo
Bryston
BURSON
Cayin
CENTRANCE Brand
Creative Labs
Creek Audio Limited
Crossroads
David Yee
Dayton
Dayton Audio
Dodge
EAR
Ear Stream
Edirol
Edwards Audio
Electro-Harmonix
Fanmusic
FLUX LAB
Fosgate
Furman Pro
Garage1217
Google
GPinto
Grommes
G&W
Hagerman Technology
Harmony Design
HDL Distributing
HDTVHOOKUP
HeadRoom Corporation
Heir Audio
High Resolution Technologies
Holmes Powell
Intercity
Jim Dunlop
Jolida
KECES
Koolertron
Korg USA Inc.
Lexicon
Linnenberg
Little Bear
MalValve
Manley
MaxiSound
Melos
MH Audio
Miniwatt
Miu Audio
MS Audio Laboratory
MUSIC HALL
Musiland MD 10 Bit Select USB DAC
Musiland MD 10 Modified
MyST
NADY
Napa Acoustic
Octavart
Orb Audio
Peachtree Audio
PenguinAmp
Phasemation
Phenix
Pioneer
PMI Audio Group
Portaphile
PreSonus
Primare
PurePiper
Qinpu Audio
Rane
Rega
Rockhopper
ROLLS CORPORATION
Samson
Scythe
Sheer Audio
SM Pro Audio
Smyth Research
Sonett
Sonosax
Soundmagic
Talisman Audio
Tandberg
Tektron
Teufel
Tianyun
Topping Brand
Tube Amp
Turtle Beach
UPBEAT AUDIO LLC
Wavelength Audio
Whirlwind
White Bird Amplification
Wyred4Sound
Xiang Sheng
Xin Feng
Yamaha
Yamaha Electronics
YJ
Zalman USA
Zero
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788 Results
Electric Avenues PA2V2

Electric Avenues PA2V2

16 Reviews

“ For quite some time that I wanted to get a portable amp that could make the sound more lively, with low noise and still be able to pump enough juice to some more power hungry cans, and PA2V2 definitely suited me.   The amp was used with different gear, so I could check it was a good purchase (aside from all raving reviews) and I couldn't be happier. I listened through Philips...” --Roller

100% Positive Reviews
NuForce Icon HDP (High-end Headphone Amp, USB DAC, Preamp)

NuForce Icon HDP (High-end Headphone Amp, USB DAC, Preamp)

18 Reviews

“ I purchased the Nuforce Icon HDP along with Sennheiser HD 650 headphones as my first desktop setup about six months ago. I'll start off by saying that the HDP has been a fantastic purchase that I am thrilled with and enthusiastically recommend, especially as a starter desktop setup.   The HDP has loads of power and easily drives my Sennheiser HD 650s and other high impedence...” --Sid-Fi

100% Positive Reviews
FiiO E11

FiiO E11

17 Reviews

“   There has been a lot of talk lately about affordable portable amps. Coming from using high end portable amps in the past I was quite skeptical. I thought that there is no way a sub 200.00 amp could compete with RSA and Headamp. I had the same mentality towards portable amps as I did towards customs. I guess I thought that if you could not afford the big boys then you really did not...” --chef8489

100% Positive Reviews
FiiO E17

FiiO E17

21 Reviews

“ Have tried many headphone DAC/Amps in the £50 - 200 range and nothing comes close to the resolving, enjoyale nature of this bit of kit. Western manufacturers should take note. Quality, performance and a great price point can all exist together! :) Had mine for almost a year now and have no intention of letting it go... ” --Krisman

100% Positive Reviews
Maverick Audio TubeMagic D1

Maverick Audio TubeMagic D1

11 Reviews

“I'll make this a short review and just make several points.   - Excellent unit for beginners. You can use it so many ways, it's really an all-in-one. - Build quality is great, I haven't heard of any dead units. Some minor problems here and there but they are quickly resolved. - Superb support from the company. Fast and helpful emails. - Upgrade and resale potential. You can use this as a DAC...” --_Spanky_

100% Positive Reviews
JDS Labs CMoyBB

JDS Labs CMoyBB

12 Reviews

“ great little tin of sweets - brings a new layer to familiar tracks when compared to straight from iPod.  Nicely balanced sound with option of bass boost.  Order the 18V for hi impedance cans and ask for a jumper to short the second battery terminal (making it a 9V amp) when listening to lower impedance cans.  Only marked it down to 4.5 stars on quality because its an old sweet...” --JRKO

100% Positive Reviews
Schiit Valhalla

Schiit Valhalla

10 Reviews

“   REVIEW – Schiit Audio Valhalla Tube Headphone Amplifier     What Sort of Schiit is This?   I read, as did many of you, the head-fi threads about the very popular and attractively priced Schiit Asgard.  But to be quite candid, I personally had about as much interest in an inexpensive solid-state headphone amp as I did in weeding behind my garage.  As such, I have never heard the...” --Skylab

100% Positive Reviews
Headstage Arrow 12HE

Headstage Arrow 12HE

10 Reviews

“   The GOOD: -- Size: very small and pairs well with a J3, iTouch, Sony X-Series, iPod Classic or similar device. -- Battery life: as said before, simply amazing! -- Construction: very solid and well built.  Great switches, with a firm feel and nice "click" to them -- Form Factor: Second to NONE!  All of the inputs, outputs and switches are perfectly placed. --...” --SoulSyde

100% Positive Reviews
FiiO E7 USB DAC and Portable Headphone Amplifier

FiiO E7 USB DAC and Portable Headphone Amplifier

16 Reviews

“Received new FiiO E7 today from Micca in Fairfax, Va (hi ex-neighbor - used to live in Arlington.)   Did much reading on this forum and other reviews and truly appreciate the candid and (sometimes) brutal thoughts of recent purchasers.  After just a few hours experience, can only share my first impressions - all of which are positive.   Unpacked, reviewed instruction sheet, plugged in USB...” --TomT

94% Positive Reviews
FiiO E5 Headphone Amplifier

FiiO E5 Headphone Amplifier

10 Reviews

“   Got myself a FiiO E5 portable headphone amplifier for a long bus and ferry trip. It was £14.44 delivered,  including a car charger from mp3amplifier on Amazon.. I then went a bit daft (maybe, read on) and also bought a line out dock (LOD) to connect the ipod to the amp from ebay seller saradam62, search iphone line out dock with cable, for £19.99 including delivery.    The E5 is tiny,...” --Prog Rock Man

100% Positive Reviews
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