A headphone amp is something that all music lovers need. It is an audio amplifier but a low powered one that is used to drive headphones instead of loudspeakers. You don’t always need a headphone amplifier unless you are using wired headphones. Especially when the maximum output of your source is lower than what your headphone requires to reach the output level you want. When someone is spending their hard-earned cash on a good pair of headphones, spending a bit more on a headphone amplifier may seem a bit much, however, it can really amp up your headphone game. There are a lot of expensive headphone amplifiers out there but after spending a good amount on your headphones, some may be searching for a cheap headphone amp. Check this list to find the best headphone amps under $100.
1. LOXJIE P20 Full Balance Tube Amplifier Headphone Amplifier
The LOXJIE P20 Full Balance Tube Headphone Amplifier is a high-quality headphone amp that works to enhance the sound of your headphones. It has Military-grade 6N3 electronic tubes along with carefully tuned circuits that are powerful drive circuits. These circuits have a high wattage to allow them to perform to their best of abilities. This Headphone amp is fully balanced as it also includes a balanced input interface. High-end volume control and a mute control also increases the control a user has over their music. This headphone amp is made of aluminum and has fine workmanship at its extremely low price. Hence proving that you don’t have to spend an abundance to get a good device. So all in all, it is one of the best headphone amps under $100.
Features:
- Made of Aluminum CNC and has fine workmanship hence, it is extremely durable
- It uses Military-grade 6N3 electronic tubes along with carefully tuned circuits to ensure the best sound
- High-end volume and mute control
- A balanced input interface
2. Schiit Magni 3 Headphone Amp
The Schiit Magni 3 Headphone amp is a powerful device that boosts your headphone sounds so you can enjoy the best of tunes at an extremely low price. It is designed to have low distortion, low floor noise, and a switchable gain. This allows you to have complete control over your music. The Magni’s gain stage is a new, fully discrete, high-speed design that is a unique feature found in more pricey headphone amps. It has a built-in time-delayed start-up and shut down to avoid any sort of glitches or pops through your headphones, It can be used with any sort of headphone as it has tremendous reserves of power making it extremely versatile.
The Magni 3 also has 3 preamp outputs that allow you to connect it to your desktop powered monitors for a complete system or even to a speaker. All these features make it one of the best headphone amps for under $100.
Features:
- It is designed to have low distortion, low floor noise, and a switchable gain
- Has a high quality fully discrete, high-speed, DC-coupled, current-feedback design
- It has a built-in time-delayed start-up and shut down
- Can be used with any kind of headphone
- Has 3 preamp outputs
3. Monoprice 615220 4-Channel Headphone Amplifier
A headphone amp is a perfect device for music lovers who wish to experience their old favorites and new music in high quality. The Monoprice 615220 4 Channel Headphone amplifier allows them to do just that. It has 4 35mm amplified headphone outputs that each have their own independent volume control. This device features an extremely clean amplifier circuit that allows it to produce a signal-to-noise ratio that is greater than 98db which makes the sound even more clear and enjoyable. This Mono price headphone amp is also capable of accepting line-level audio input over the stereo RCA jacks on the back or headphone level through the optional 1/4 TRS jack. These features coupled with its compact built, make it one of the best headphones amps for under $100.
Features:
- 4 35mm headphone inputs
- Each input has its own volume control
- It Has a clean amplifier circuit
- Accepts line level audio
4. Monolith Hi-Res DAC Headphone Amp
This high-quality amplifier by Monolith is a perfect device for those who are looking for something to bump up their wired headphone experience. The Monolith Savitech SA922 Headphone amplifier uses a patented 32-bit HyperStream DAC architecture and A Time Jitter Eliminator to enhance the audio you play. This device supports a large variety of sample rates and gives a signal to noise ratio of 122 dB. This device is small and easy to use as it is shaped like a USB. This also makes it portable and easy to pop in a bag and take it with you. Volume is easily adjustable with push-button controls that are on either side of the USB. Its rugged design, a myriad of features, and fair price make it one of the best headphone amps under $100.
Features:
- Uses a 32-bit Hyperstream DAC architecture and a time jitter eliminator
- The device supports a large variety of sample rates
- Volume is easily adjustable with push-button controls
- It is small and portable as it in the shape of a USB
- It has a rugged and durable design
5. Rockville RHPA4 4 Channel Professional Headphone Amplifier
The Rockville PHPA4 4 Channel Headphone Amplifier is a professional amplifier to fulfill all your needs to hear clear and crisp sound on your headphones. It has 4 outputs, with 4 1/4” TRS and 4 3.5mm headphone outputs that run in parallel. This essentially means that 8 headphones, 2 per channel, can be run. Each output has an individual volume control set into the thick metal casing that is made of high-quality materials. It also has potentiometer knobs for each channel and a Power On LED light. It has a 5V USB power supply meaning it has low power consumption and can be used on the go as you just have to plug it into your laptop or power bank to get it to work. This makes this device one of the best headphone amps under $100.
Features:
- Has 4 1/4” TRS and 4 3.5mm headphone outputs in parallel. Hence, it can run 8 headphones.
- Individual volume control and potentiometer knobs for each output
- High-quality exterior and knobs
- It has a power-on LED
- It has a USB power supply
6. Sabaj Audio PHA2 Portable Headphone Amplifier
A good amplifier is one that is apt at its job of improving the sound that you hear from your headphones. The Sabaj Audio Headphone Amplifier does just that. It has a built-in patented boosting power module that works to increase the input power from 5V to 15V. It works to allow you to hear Audiophile quality sound through your headphones. This device is extremely heavy-duty as it is made of good CNC aluminum. The Sabaj audio Headphone amplifier uses RCA analog signal input for amplifier or active speaker connection. All these features make this device the best headphone amps for under $100.
Features:
- Built-in Sabaj patented boosting power module which increases power output from 5V to 15V.
- 5V power input by Micro-USB or power adapter
- Made of High-quality material
- Gives audiophile quality sound
7. Behringer Headphone Amplifier
A headphone amp is extremely important for those music lovers who want their audio to be crystal clear and of high quality. The Behringer Headphone amp is an extremely compact device that is made of high quality and is perfect to be used for studio and stage applications. It has 4 independent stereo high-power amplifier sections that each have their own knob for complete control. This device promises audio of the highest quality even at a maximum volume which is when most devices start to falter. This device provides almost all the features that its more expensive counterparts do proving that these devices don’t have to be expensive to be good. However, this is not the case with the Behringer Headphone amp. All these features make this one of the best headphone amps under $100.
Features:
- It is a compact and portable device
- It has 4 independent stereo high power amplifier sections
- High audio quality at every volume setting
8. Headphone Amplifier DAC Portable Amp for HiFi Audio
A headphone amplifier is a high-quality device that works to provide you with the clearest audio you have ever heard. This headphone amplifier uses high-end US ESS technology and pro decoding chips that are also compatible with both ios and android devices. It also has a long battery life of 10 hours which means you can take it with you wherever you go. It’s aluminum matte design makes it extremely durable yet this headphone amplifier remains portable and lightweight. It makes your audio sound stronger and adds bass to it which instantly improves its overall quality. All these features make this device one of the best headphone amps under $100.
Features:
- Has 10 hours of working time
- It is made of Aluminum Matte which makes it extremely durable
- It is portable and lightweight
- Makes the audio stronger
9. AudioQuest DragonFly Headphone Amp
This high-quality headphone amplifier by AudioQuest by Dragonfly is a device that is made to take the quality of your audio to another level. It offers a tremendously enhanced sound that is of higher value. The device is also apt at consuming low power and is also compatible with both apple and android devices as well as with PC. This versatile DAC improves the detail, transparency, immediacy, richness, and tone of your audio. It is also capable of playing many different kinds of audio. Thus, it is one of the best Headphones amps for under $100.
Features:
- Offers an enhanced sound, higher value, and lower power consumption
- Works with Apple and Android
- It helps improve detail, transparency, richness, etc of the sound
- It is capable of playing many different kinds of audio.
This brings us to the last find in our list of Best Headphone Amps under $100 on Amazon in 2020.
10. Syba Sonic Headphone Amplifier
The Syba Sonic Stereo Headphone Amplifier is an intelligent device that makes use of all its components to deliver clear and high-quality audio to your headphones. It has noise reduction chip filters which efficiently alleviates the sound quality. This headphone amplifier has a 3.5mm headphone jack that supports almost all kinds of headphones and allows you to attach your headphones to it. It also has a microphone input which increases its effectiveness and versatility. This device is a testament to the fact that headphone amps don’t have to be expensive to be good as it is affordable yet filled with good features. This makes this device one the best headphone amps under $100.
Features:
- It has noise reduction chip filters
- Has a 3.5mm headphone jack that supports almost all kinds of headphones
- It also has a microphone input
Conclusion on the Best Headphone Amps under $100 on amazon
A headphone amplifier is an essential piece of equipment for most audiophiles as it allows them to experience their favorite tunes in the best quality. However, mist headphone amplifiers are not cheap but with the right guidance and a bit of research, you can find many headphone amplifiers that are cheap yet extremely useful and full of features you need and even some that you didn’t know you needed. Check out the list above to find the best headphone amps under $100.
Buyer’s Guide
- Why Do you need an amp?
A headphone amplifier is a device which when attached to a headphone allows you to make your audio more cleaner and controlled. It is used to make your audio more comfortable to listen o as it works to remove distortions that may be irritating and distracting. A headphone amp will provide you with a listening experience that is unlike any other you have ever experienced before.
Most headphones have a built-in headphone amplifier however, in small devices like a phone and computer, space is limited and hence the size of the amplifier. These limitations cause the manufacturers to make compromises which show up in the audio quality. A headphone amplifier works to deliver enough power to a pair of headphones that makes the overall sound much more enjoyable as it becomes cleaner and more controlled.
A headphone amplifier also becomes necessary when you have a set of headphones but your audio component doesn’t have a headphone jack. It is also a very useful device for when you have a pair of high impedance headphones and you can’t play them loud enough as they require a lot of power to play loud enough. Hence, a headphone amplifier will help make your headphones come to life and play your music to it’s highest abilities. A headphone amplifier is also a great device to own when you want to use your headphones on the go or in another room. The right choice of headphone amp will allow you the freedom of choice to go wherever you want and still listen to your audio on your best pair of headphones.
However, Not all headphones and headphone users need a headphone amplifier. Many headphones have the ability to reach a good listening level with room to spare. If your headphones do that then you probably don’t need to spend money on a headphone amp. These devices can be very expensive if you go for a good one but that is not always the case. There are some really good headphone amps under $100 as listed in the list above.
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Best Amplifiers for $100
A good amplifier doesn’t have to extremely expensive and causes you to break your bank. Some incredible headphone amplifiers under $100 get the job done just as well if not better. It is a device that is small, compact, and powerful.
- LOXJIE P20 Full Balance Tube Amplifier:
The LOXJIE P20 Full Balance Tube Amplifier is a high-quality headphone amp that is made of aluminum CNC and has fine workmanship which helps in its durability. It is compact and has military-grade 6N3 electronic tubes along with carefully tuned circuits. These help you hear that the sound you want through the headphones to the absolute best to allow you to fully enjoy it. This headphone amp comes with high-end volume control and mute control while also having a balanced input inference
- Schiit Magni 3 Headphone Amplifier:
At a close second is the Schiit Magni 3 Headphone Amplifier. This headphone amplifier is designed to have low distortion, floor noise, and a switchable gain. It also sports a high-quality fully discrete, high-speed, DC-coupled, current-feedback design which gives it an edge over its competitors. The built-in time-delayed start-up and shut down is another cool feature that the Magni 3 has. This device is extremely versatile as it has 3 preamp output and can be used with any kind of headphone
- Monoprice 615220 4 Channel Headphone amplifier:
In third place, we have the Monoprice 615220 4 Channel Headphone Amplifier. This device has 4 35mm headphone inputs that each have their own volume control. This device boasts a clean amplifier circuit that allows the sound to become much clearer and sharp as the volume raises. It also accepts line-level audio which makes it versatile as compared to others on the market. It is also a way cheaper vehicle essentially doing the exact same job. Hence proving that money does not always equal quality.
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What to look out for in an Amplifier
Buying a headphone amp is a big step for anyone and no one should go in to buy anything blindly. When spending a considerable amount of money on headphones amplifiers, there are a few things that you should always look out for.
- Headphone Connections:
When looking at a large variety of headphone amps, one can feel a bit confused and overwhelmed. One of the many things they should focus on is choosing an amplifier that has the right output for the headphone you intend to use with it. If you disregard this very important step, you will end up having to buy an adapter. Most headphones have a 3.5mm miniplug connection or a 1/4 inch connection. Most headphone amps already have both these but some budget one may have one or the other.
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Music Source Connections:
There are many different aspects to a headphone amp that people should consider before they drop a large amount on this device. Music source connection is one of those aspects. You should make sure that the headphone amplifier that you are buying has the inputs you will need to connect to your music source. This has to be taken under consideration otherwise you will have trouble using it and will end up buying even more adapters just to listen to your audio. If your amp has a DAC, you will need to make a digital connection that will require you to have a digital cable like an optical, coaxial, or USB. If you intend on making an analog connection, you will need a stereo RCA cable.
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Impendence:
Impendence is another factor that you have to keep in mind when you take the plunge to buy a headphone amplifier. A low impendence headphone requires low power to drive them so you don’t need a high power headphone amplifier. However, if your headphones are high impendence, you will need more power so you need to make sure that the headphone amplifier you end up picking is up for the job. Some headphones amplifiers have selectable impendence which is the best of both worlds. That way you can change up headphones without having your old headphone amplifier going to waste.
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Form Factor:
You should also take into account the size and weight of the headphone amplifier you are choosing. If you end up with one that is too bulky or big in size, you will not be able to carry it around. An amplifier should always be portable (a pocket-sized one is best) so that you do not have to be limited to using it in one place. One might think that weighted stuff would be of good quality but it will limit you. Always go for a portable one if you can.
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Different types of Amplifiers
Headphone amplifiers are made in many different types to ensure that they cater to the many different headphone types there are. They also have to cater to the many different kinds of music source connections that are present in many devices. Hence, there are many types of headphone amplifiers for example:
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Tube Amplifiers:
Tube amplifiers are the oldest kind of amplifier but are still one of the more popular kinds. These kinds of amplifiers are versatile in the sense of audio production. These kinds of amplifiers work around triodes. Triodes are tubes that consist of three electrodes inside. Which is one triode more than the usual two you would find in any other tube amplifier. The filament heats up and frees the electron. This helps in improves electrical performance which everyone can appreciate. Tube amps create a distortion sound that is warm and that makes up for the difference and the vibrant sound. They have also driven voltage through the output device which differentiates it from other types of headphone amplifiers. Tube amplifiers are also capable of tube rolling that instantly improves the sound output.
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Solid-State Amplifiers:
Solid-State amplifiers are another kind of headphone amplifier that uses a diode, transistor, and other solid-state electronics. The use of these allows these headphone amplifiers to amplify the electrical signal which in turn bumps up the audio and allow you to enjoy your music at the best quality. These amplifiers do not use a tube hence, the sound they produce does not have the warmth characteristics that you might be familiar with if you’ve used a tube amplifier however, these amplifiers have a sharp and detailed sound. This sounds will be a change but it might be a welcome one for some. These amplifiers have a solid circuitry which makes them reliable to use and portable.
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Hybrid Amplifiers:
Hybrid amplifiers are the in-between amplifiers because they are neither tubed amplifiers nor solid-state amps rather they are a mixture of the two. These hybrid amps use tube technology in the preamp state and use the solid-state amp for the power section. Hence, employing the best of both in a single device. This hybrid of the two kinds of amps results in the sound having a warm tone as they’re more like a tube amp than a solid-state amp.
