Tagged: headphone amps

8 articles we've published with this tag.

IEMs through a valve amp: the pairing question nobody asks properly
In-ear monitors and valve amplification seem like an odd match, but output impedance decides whether it works. Here's how to actually get it right.
By Priya Anand
Headphone soundstage: why some pairs sound "wide" and others don't
Soundstage in headphones isn't magic or marketing. It comes from crossfeed, driver geometry and pad depth — here's what's actually happening and what you can change.
By Hannah Reid
Open-back headphones at your desk: when the room actually matters
Open-back headphones leak sound and let room noise in. Here's how to work out if your desk, your flatmates and your walls can actually cope.
By Jonno Fraser
Headphone output impedance: the spec that quietly changes your sound
Output impedance shapes bass, treble and damping on multi-driver headphones and IEMs more than most amp reviews admit. Here's what to actually check.
By Marcus Vale
Headphone amps and the "why bother" question: when your desktop actually needs one
Not every pair of headphones needs a dedicated amp. Here's how to tell whether you're actually current-starved or just chasing a placebo.
By Jonno Fraser
Headphone impedance and power: why your amp's output matters more than watts
Watts on a spec sheet don't predict how a headphone amp will actually drive your cans. Here's the impedance and output-impedance story that does.
By Marcus Vale
Desktop headphone setups: getting the desk itself right first
Before you chase another DAC or amp, sort the desk. Reflections, cable strain and monitor height quietly wreck more desktop headphone rigs than gear ever does.
By Jonno Fraser
Why your DAC's output impedance matters more for headphones than its DAC chip
The chip inside your DAC gets all the marketing. The output stage that actually drives your headphones gets almost none. Here's what to check.
By Eleanor Shaw