Headphone Amplifiers

Headphone amplifiers give your headphones their own power stage and volume control, instead of relying on the socket on a laptop, phone or integrated amplifier. Our range covers dedicated amps, DAC and amp combinations, and STAX drivers for electrostatic headphones, from Gold Note, Rotel, Musical Fidelity, Ferrum, Fezz, Luxsin and STAX.

Dedicated amps, from fully balanced to valve

If you already own a DAC or streamer, a dedicated amplifier takes its analogue output and drives the headphones. The Musical Fidelity MX HPA is fully balanced and converts single-ended inputs to balanced. Gold Note's HP-10 Deluxe and HP-10 BT use a dual-mono Class A balanced circuit with four headphone outputs, crossfeed and a preamp bypass so they can sit inside a speaker system.

The Ferrum Oor is another dedicated option. For a tube headphone amp, the Fezz Ovo uses a single-ended Class A triode output stage (a 12AX7 and two EL84 valves) with LOW, MID and HIGH impedance settings, so it is designed to suit headphones from 16 to 600 ohms.

Amps with a built-in DAC

Combination units save a box on the desk. The Rotel DX-3 pairs an ESS ES9028PRO DAC with PC-USB, coaxial, optical and aptX HD Bluetooth inputs, offers 6.35mm and 4.4mm headphone outputs, and adds XLR outputs for powered speakers. The Luxsin X9 combines a DAC, headphone amp and preamplifier in one balanced chassis, built around an AKM AK4499EX converter, with HP-EQ correction profiles for more than 2,500 headphones. If you'd rather choose the converter separately, our DACs range is the place to start.

STAX drivers for electrostatic headphones

STAX electrostatic headphones, which STAX calls earspeakers, work differently from conventional headphones. A very thin, electrically charged diaphragm sits between two perforated plates that carry the signal, so they need a high-voltage bias supply and a much larger signal swing than a normal headphone socket provides. That is why STAX makes its own driver units (often called energisers), and why those units are built for STAX headphones rather than dynamic or planar models.

The STAX range here includes the valve SRM-700T and SRM-500T, the semiconductor SRM-700S and SRM-400S, and the compact SRM-270S, the driver in the SRS-X1000 system. The SRM-D50 adds a DAC with USB, optical and coaxial inputs, and the SRM-D10 II is a portable driver with a built-in DAC and battery.

Questions we get asked

Do I need a headphone amplifier?

Not always. Many headphones run happily from a phone or laptop. An amplifier earns its place with high-impedance or low-sensitivity headphones, when you want balanced connections, or when the source's own output is the weak link. Electrostatic headphones always need a dedicated driver.

Headphone amp or DAC, which do I need?

A DAC turns digital files and streams into an analogue signal; the amplifier then drives the headphones. Every digital source needs both stages somewhere: inside the source itself, as separate boxes, or in one unit such as the Rotel DX-3, Luxsin X9 or STAX SRM-D50.

What's the best headphone amplifier for my headphones?

The one that matches their impedance, sensitivity and connector, and your sources. A 4.4mm or XLR balanced lead, a 600 ohm pair or a STAX system each narrows the list quickly, and the team can help with headphones and amps together.

Call the team to talk through your headphones and sources, or visit the Murarrie showroom. Demos are arranged by calling or messaging first.