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Definition: headphone amp
(1) A device that drives multiple headphones from a mixing console for studio recording.
(2) An amplifier designed to output the required wattage for headphones. The sound in low-end headphones can be improved; however, music lovers claim that a headphone amp is essential when high-quality headphones are used. Headphone amps can be analog only, boosting the stereo signal from any preamp output or from the headphone jack of a music player. However, they are often combined with a DAC and accept digital audio from computers, providing support for higher resolutions than the built-in sound card (see DAC/headphone amp and USB DAC).
A High-End Headphone Amp
Portable Headphone Amp
(2) An amplifier designed to output the required wattage for headphones. The sound in low-end headphones can be improved; however, music lovers claim that a headphone amp is essential when high-quality headphones are used. Headphone amps can be analog only, boosting the stereo signal from any preamp output or from the headphone jack of a music player. However, they are often combined with a DAC and accept digital audio from computers, providing support for higher resolutions than the built-in sound card (see DAC/headphone amp and USB DAC).
Accepting analog and digital inputs, OPPO's HA-1 is a Class A amplifier for headphones. It also accepts digital output from iPods, iPhones and iPads. Resting on top are OPPO's Planar Magnetic headphones. (Image courtesy of OPPO Digital, Inc.)
OPPO's HA-2 was designed for PCs, Macs and mobile devices with USB On-The-Go (see USB OTG). It includes two gain settings to match the headphones. (Images courtesy of OPPO Digital, Inc.)