Listen up audiophiles – we know that in order to be at the top of your sound game, a headphone amp is a must. Knowing which one to buy is always tricky, so to help you out, we’ve reviewed all the best portable headphone amps on the market and created a short list as well as our ultimate choice for which one to buy.
If you’re in the market for a headphone amp, no doubt you already have some pretty serious headphones. There’s no point in letting that go to waste by either not having an amp, or even having the wrong one. Every single ohm counts, after all. We’ll take a look at price, weight, and of course impedance (essentially just how much vibration, and therefore sound, the amp allows for).
Best Portable Headphone Amps Chart Comparison
[ws_table id=”31″]Why Buy a Portable Headphone Amp
There are two main reasons to buy a portable headphone amp:
- You want unbeatable sound quality on-the-go and at all times. Desktop headphone amps, while generally more powerful, are too big to be carried around. The best portable headphone amps are lightweight, powerful, and last for over 10 hours on one charge. That means that even on the longest international flights or road trips, you’ll be covered on the audio front.
- Headphone amps provide more power and better sound quality than your standard headphones can achieve on their own. Now, we know all of you probably don’t have “standard” or run of the mill commercial headphones. No, your specially designed headphones carry a lot more punch. Still, the sound quality and overall listening experience you desire cannot be transferred through just the cable of the headphones. Headphones would simply be too bulky if they were to deliver that kind of power. You need an amp to take your listening experience to the professional level.
Things to Consider
- Brand. Although the actual manufacturer may be becoming increasingly unimportant in many industries, headphone amps is not one of them. As you may have noticed in the chart above, FiiO and Schiit dominate the market. This is simple because they make the best products. You can trust either of these names.
- Cost. With that said, don’t buy the most expensive amp just because it’s made by one those companies. Price is still important to consider. The good news is that not only are FiiO amps dependable and powerful, but they are also among the cheapest.
- Your Headphones. Most of you in the headphone amp market probably have open-back headphones, as they are typically the best for mixing and mastering. Open-back headphones need more power than closed-back headphones, however.
- Preferred Music. If you listen to a lot of bass-heavy music, you’ll want an amp that comes with a bass boost feature. Conversely, if you’re a fan of classical music, bass shouldn’t be an important factor to your amp-buying process.
Breaking Down the 3 Best Options
1. FiiO E10K
The FiiO E10K portable headphone amp is lightweight, powerful, and provides tremendous bang for your buck. You’ll find this amp near the top of many “best headphone amp” review lists, but we’re declaring it to be the best of the best.
At 2.7 ounces, the E10K is actually the lightest of the bunch. Don’t let that fool you though, this amp delivers a serious thump. Bass-heads will love the built in 3dB bass boosting circuit. Flip the switch and the difference is definitely noticeable, which is exactly what you’d expect from the best product out there.
For those familiar with the E10, the K version is a big step up. E10K uses a different chip, the PCM5102 DAC, which makes a world of difference in the output power. The aforementioned bass boost also took a step forward, and the E10K uses a micro USB cable (the same found in Android phones) as compared to the mini USB in the E10.
If you’re looking to expand your audio experience with more clarity, warmth, and wide and detailed sound, then the FiiO E10K is for you. The value you get with this amp is simply unmatched.
2. FiiO E12 Mont Blanc
The E12 is heavier and more expensive than the E10K. It also does not come with the DAC chip. These are main reasons it falls just shy of the top spot. There are still a handful of advantages of the E12, however.
The aluminum body is very durable and can withstand more wear and tear than most amps. This is probably the E12’s best and most defining feature. Those who travel a lot might seriously consider the E12 for this reason alone.
Some people claim the bass is deeper in the E12 than other FiiO models, but we found them to be essentially the same. The sound stage, on the other hand, did feel broader. There are some clear advantages to the E12 and for the right person, this could be your top choice, but most people will be better off with the E10K.
3. Magni Headphone Amplifier
The Schiit Magni is the heavier than the E10K and the E12 combined (although still only 1.4 pounds). It falls in between those two in price while having its own set of unique advantages.
Perhaps the biggest of those advantages is the headphone input which fits the widest range, including many hard-to-drive orthodynamic models. The Magni also brings American-made muscle with a maximum of 600 Ohms, twice as much as the FiiO models. Although this may sound like a huge upgrade, most people will never need this much impedance.
If this amp falls short anywhere, it would be sound quality, which we felt was just slightly better in both the E10K and E12. The sound coming through your cans can feel a bit distant at times and lacking that all-encompassing breathe of sound. All in all though, the Schiit Magni is still a great value.