Top 10 Best Headphone Preamp

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You can trust our selection for Headphone Preamp Reviews. Because We have worked hard studying and analyzing 46114 reviews for Headphone Preamp and rating them. It was a difficult job to list only ten products for Headphone Preamp where thousands of them available online. I hope it will help you to take final decision for Best Headphone Preamp.

Best Headphone Preamp
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Comparison Chart for Best Headphone Preamp

We found 46114 reviews when researching. We have considered users feedback on the Headphone Preamp and our suggestions includes only the finest of them in this article.

NoProductScoreAction
1Soundavo HP-DAC1 Digital to Analog Converter / Headphone Preamp DAC with S/PDIF9.8Check Prize On Amazon
2iFi Zen CAN Signature - Balanced Desktop Headphone Amp and Preamp with 4.4mm Outputs9.8Check Prize On Amazon
3Mackie HM Series, 4-Way Headphone Amplifier Mixer Accessory 1-ch x 4 headphones (HM-4)9.6Check Prize On Amazon
4Little Dot MK2 MKII 6J1 X 2 6N6 X 2 Tube Standard Hybrid Headphone Headphone Amp Pre-Amp Tube Amplifier (MKII)9.6Check Prize On Amazon
5Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 3rd Gen 2x2 USB Audio Interface Bundled with Headphones and 2 XLR Cables (4 Items)9.6Check Prize On Amazon
6iFi ZEN CAN Balanced Desktop Headphone Amp and Preamp with 4.4mm Outputs [US Pin]9.4Check Prize On Amazon
7AIYIMA T8 6N3 Digital Tube Preamplifier Bluetooth 5.0 Hi-Fi Headphone Vacuum Tube Preamp for Home Audio Amplifier Wireless Receiver Audio Decoder Preamp PC-USB DAC APTX + with Remote Control9.2Check Prize On Amazon
8Cambridge Audio DacMagic 200M Stereo Digital to Analogue Converter DAC Preamp9Check Prize On Amazon
9Hi-Fi Headphone Amplifier Portable Headphone Amp 3.5mm Stereo Audio Input Out (Headphone Amp)9Check Prize On Amazon
10Schiit Magni Heresy 100% Op-Amp-Based Headphone Amp and Preamp8.2Check Prize On Amazon

Table Of Content:

1. Soundavo HP-DAC1 Digital to Analog Converter / Headphone Preamp DAC with S/PDIF

  • High Resolution Sound Performance】Support HD audio and provides clarity, separation, less muffling and more detail sound and an apparent volume boost from what was output straight from your laptop.
  • Multiple Input Sources Selection】Select different inputs from USB, Optical Toslink S/PDIF and USB by using the push buttons conveniently located on the front with single-ended RCA outputs for connection to an outboard power amp or powered speakers.
  • S/PDIF Output】S/PDIF output supports digital surround multichannel formats such as AC3 / DTS
  • Make Your Headphones Sing】Built-in high-performace headphone amplifier (32 – 600 Ohm headphone impedance recommended), delivers clearer high, deeper bass and richer sound.
  • Easy Plug & Play Operation】Easy to install between both Mac OS & PC Windows 10, just plug it into any USB port on your computer, HDTVs, game console, or any audio source player.

2. iFi Zen CAN Signature – Balanced Desktop Headphone Amp and Preamp with 4.4mm Outputs

  • SUPERIOR ENGINEERING – Extremely low distortion and noise from a circuit design inspired by our flagship headphone amp which uses a dedicated input stage that level matches to your source, allowing the signal to flow freely through the Class A output stage, literally music to your ears.
  • POWER REALIZED – Maximize the performance of your headphones, more than just getting loud, but realizing the full dynamic range of the drivers and experiencing soft vocals as well as heart pounding drums, never missing a beat.
  • IMMERSIVE SOUND – Enhanced with our signature analog signal processing to deliver accurate and more natural bass frequencies through XSpace, and headphone corrections optimized for Sennheiser HD 6XX headphones.
  • THE INS AND OUTS – Features both a balanced 4.
  • ULTIMATE POWER – Every purchase of the ZEN CAN Signature includes the iPower2 power supply.

3. Mackie HM Series

  • Share a single stereo source with up to 4 pairs of headphones
  • Individual level control for each output
  • Powered via the included 12V AC adapter
  • Built-like-a-tank construction

4. Little Dot MK2 MKII 6J1 X 2 6N6 X 2 Tube Standard Hybrid Headphone Headphone Amp Pre-Amp Tube Amplifier (MKII)

  • Little Dot MKII greatly increases sound quality, dynamic range, output impedance, and harmonic distortion.
  • Little Dot MKII also gains the driver tube-rolling options from the rest of the MK-series with the ability to roll 6JI, WE403A/B, GE5654, M8100, CV4010, EF95, etc at its factory jumper setting, and with jumper pins shorted, EF92, CV131, and all equivalents and drop-in replacements.

5. Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 3rd Gen 2×2 USB Audio Interface Bundled with Headphones and 2 XLR Cables (4 Items)

  • BUNDLE INCLUDES: Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 3rd Gen 2×2 USB Audio Interface, Knox Gear TX-100 Closed-Back Studio Monitor Headphones, and a 25-feet XLR Male to Female Microphone Cable.
  • SWITCHABLE AIR MODE: Features two upgraded Scarlett mic preamps with switchable Air mode to give your vocal and acoustic recordings a brighter and more open sound.
  • EASY TO CONNECT: The high impedance, high-headroom instrument inputs allow you to record guitar or bass without any clipping or unwanted distortion, while Gain Halo metering makes it easy for you to set the input level.
  • INCLUDED SOFTWARE: Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 comes with all the software tools you need to get started, including two comprehensive digital audio workstations: Ableton Live Lite, three months of Splice Sounds, three months of Avid Pro Tools subscription, and Focusrite Plug-in Collective.

6. iFi ZEN CAN Balanced Desktop Headphone Amp and Preamp with 4.4mm Outputs [US Pin]

  • SUPERIOR ENGINEERING – Extremely low distortion and noise from a circuit design inspired by our flagship headphone amp which uses a dedicated input stage that level matches to your source, allowing the signal to flow freely through the Class A output stage, literally music to your ears.
  • POWER REALIZED – Maximize the performance of your headphones, more than just getting loud, but realizing the full dynamic range of the drivers and experiencing soft vocals as well as heart pounding drums, never missing a beat.
  • IMMERSIVE SOUND – Enhanced with our signature analog signal processing to deliver accurate and more natural bass frequencies through XBass, and to present a wider soundstage that brings the music out in front of you through our 3D matrix which replicates speaker listening without the cumbersome setup.
  • THE INS AND OUTS – Features both a balanced 4.
  • INCLUDED – RCA Cables, Standard 5v Power Supply and 3.5mm to 6.3mm adaptor.

7. AIYIMA T8 6N3 Digital Tube Preamplifier Bluetooth 5.0 Hi-Fi Headphone Vacuum Tube Preamp for Home Audio Amplifier Wireless Receiver Audio Decoder Preamp PC-USB DAC APTX + with Remote Control

  • Multiple audio input methods,It Support Bluetooth 5.
  • Tube T8 be used as a headphone tube preamplifier,Can Enjoy high-quality lossless music at any time,RCA/3.
  • QCC3031 Bluetooth 5.
  • Adopt 6N3 tube vacuum design for easy replacement(such as 6N3,6H3,GE5657,396A,2C51,12B4A,GE5670,6H3n-E)with DC 12V power adapter,provide warm retro tube sound,With independent gain adjustment design for treble and bass.

8. Cambridge Audio DacMagic 200M Stereo Digital to Analogue Converter DAC Preamp

  • AMAZING SOUND CONVERSION.
  • ARTIST APPROVED AUDIO.
  • POWERFUL PROCESSING.
  • EASY CONNECTING.
  • TECH SPECS – Dual ESS ES9028Q2M DACs, Frequency Response 10Hz to 50kHz (±1dB), Max Power Consumption 12W, Signal to Noise Ratio >115dB (A-Weighted), Digital Filter: Selectable (Fast – Slow – Short Delay), Dimensions 2.

9. Hi-Fi Headphone Amplifier Portable Headphone Amp 3.5mm Stereo Audio Input Out (Headphone Amp)

  • Mini HiFi headphone amplifier,which make it convenient to carry, can output remarkable sound without distortion.
  • Amp Using Time: More Than 5 Hours, Load Impedance: 16-300Ω.
  • Two-stage gain switch enhances the signal input into the amp circuit for optimal performance of the headphones.
  • 5mm AUX input and output and SNR>120dB and Distortion 0.
  • Compatibility MP3, MP4, Phones, laptop Computer and 3.5mm Audio a Various of Digital Devices.

10. Schiit Magni Heresy 100% Op-Amp-Based Headphone Amp and Preamp

  • Utilizes super high quality parts, including a multiple paralleled output stage with feedforward.

Headphone Preamp Buying Guide


Does the thought of finding a great Headphone Preamp stress you out? Has your mind been juggling between choices when it comes to buying Headphone Preamp in general, specifically regarding which model to choose?
If that’s the case, know that you’re not alone. Many people find it tough to buy the perfect Headphone Preamp for themselves. We understand the stress associated with the buying process!
Since you’re here, you are obviously curious about Headphone Preamp Reviews. You’ve been bombarded with information, so you need to find a reputable source with credible options before you make any decisions on which product would be best for your needs.
There are many sources that’ll provide you with that information- buying guides or ratings websites, word-of-mouth testimonials from friends or family members, online forums where users share their personal experiences, product reviews specifically found all over the internet and YouTube channels. Only thorough research will ensure that you get the right product.
But that’s not always easy, right? That's why we've taken time to compile a list of the best Headphone Preamp in today's market, on your behalf, so that there will be no more worries for you.
How did we come up with the list, you ask? How did we create this buying guide?
  • First, our algorithms collected as much information available about these products from trusted sources.
  • We employed both Artificial Intelligence and large data volume to validate all collected information.
  • Then our AI ranked them on their quality-to-price ratio using industry-standard criteria that let us pick the best Headphone Preamp currently on the market!
The products aren’t chosen randomly. We consider several criteria before assembling a list. Some of the criteria are discussed below-
  1. Brand Value: What happens when you go for a not-so-reputable brand just because the price seems cheap? Well, the chance of getting a short-lasting product goes higher. That’s because the renowned brands have a reputation to maintain, others don’t.
Top Headphone Preamp brands try to offer some unique features that make them stand out in the crowd. Thus hopefully, you’ll find one ideal product or another in our list.
  1. Features: You don’t need heaps of features, but useful ones. We look at the features that matter and choose the top Headphone Preamp based on that.
  2. Specifications: Numbers always help you measure the quality of a product in a quantitative way. We try to find products of higher specifications, but with the right balance.
  3. Customer Ratings: The hundreds of customers using the Headphone Preamp before you won’t say wrong, would they? Better ratings mean better service experienced by a good number of people.
  4. Customer Reviews: Like ratings, customer reviews give you actual and trustworthy information, coming from real-world consumers about the Headphone Preamp they used.
  5. Seller Rank: Now, this is interesting! You don’t just need a good Headphone Preamp, you need a product that is trendy and growing in sales. It serves two objectives. Firstly, the growing number of users indicates the product is good. Secondly, the manufacturers will hopefully provide better quality and after-sales service because of that growing number.
  6. Value For The Money: They say you get what you pay for. Cheap isn’t always good. But that doesn’t mean splashing tons of money on a flashy but underserving product is good either. We try to measure how much value for the money you can get from your Headphone Preamp before putting them on the list.
  7. Durability: Durability and reliability go hand to hand. A robust and durable Headphone Preamp will serve you for months and years to come.
  8. Availability: Products come and go, new products take the place of the old ones. Probably some new features were added, some necessary modifications were done. What’s the point of using a supposedly good Headphone Preamp if that’s no longer continued by the manufacturer? We try to feature products that are up-to-date and sold by at least one reliable seller, if not several.
  9. Negative Ratings: Yes, we take that into consideration too! When we pick the top rated Headphone Preamp on the market, the products that got mostly negative ratings get filtered and discarded.

These are the criteria we have chosen our Headphone Preamp on. Does our process stop there? Heck, no! The most important thing that you should know about us is, we're always updating our website to provide timely and relevant information.
Since reader satisfaction is our utmost priority, we have a final layer of filtration. And that is you, the reader! If you find any Headphone Preamp featured here Incorrect, irrelevant, not up to the mark, or simply outdated, please let us know. Your feedback is always welcome and we’ll try to promptly correct our list as per your reasonable suggestion.

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