Great sound thanks to a headphone amplifier with DAC: tips and models

The jack socket on the laptop or mobile phone could be the weak point of the sound reproduction: noise, crackling and a weak bass. There is a very simple hardware solution that not only ensures crystal-clear and powerful sound for headphones.

Wired headphones are sometimes bitchy and just don’t want to sound good at the normal output of the laptop. One possible reason: Some over-ear models are more power-hungry than average – the integrated jack socket of the computer simply does not provide enough power for full sound at high volume. Depending on the requirements and technical equipment, it can be worthwhile to buy one Headphone amplifier with integrated DAC to acquire. With cheap notebooks, manufacturers like to save on the audio output, the result is a dull or even noisy sound. A simple solution is an inexpensive external sound card (eg Creative Sound Blaster Play! 3), the next step is a model with a dedicated headphone amplifier (KHV).

Not everyone can operate a high-end stereo system at concert volume at home without getting into trouble with the neighbors. For some audiophiles, the combination high-resolution music (e.g. Tidal), headphone amplifier with DAC and luxury headphones into a sinfully expensive stereo system.

The legendary Sennheiser HD 650 with a nominal impedance of 300 ohms is a good example of such a sophisticated high-end gadget, for which upgrading with an external sound card and a headphone amplifier is highly recommended. Anyone who spends several hundred euros on excellent headphones should make sure that both the source (e.g. FLAC or MP3 with 320 kbit / s) and the output signal are of correspondingly high quality – otherwise the potential for the finest musical enjoyment is being given away.

There is now an impressive selection Combination devicesthat combine both in a small box: They convert the digital sound signal (“digital-to-analog converter” / DAC) and then amplify the analog output signal to suit (sophisticated) headphones. They are connected to the laptop, tablet or smartphone via USB, sometimes no additional power supply is necessary. The professional Fostex HP-A3 can be seen in the picture above for around 300 euros. In principle, such DAC / headphone amplifier combinations do nothing else than the integrated sound card in the laptop – they just make it audibly better. The components are of higher quality, the entire circuit is designed for the highest sound quality, and an external housing is less susceptible to electromagnetic influences from inside the PC / laptop.

Headphone amplifier with integrated DAC: what types are there?

You can choose between stationary or mobile models distinguish. The latter have a battery on board and are explicitly advertised as a supplement for Android smartphones (or iPhones) or tablets (or iPads). The Creative Sound Blaster E5 is known as a “USB-DAC and portable headphone amplifier”, which lasts around eight hours per charge. The Fiio E10K, on ​​the other hand, is only intended for use on a PC or Mac, it does not have an integrated battery.

The jack output of a headphone amplifier with DAC can also be connected to an adapter (jack to cinch) Stereo system or a pair of active speakers (e.g. Adam Audio T7V). Depending on the quality of the loudspeakers, an improved sound can then also be determined here. Some models even offer their own output so that you can connect both headphones and a stereo system to the DAC at the same time without unplugging. The price starts at around 45 euros for stationary models, there is hardly any upper limit.

Headphone amplifier (KHV) with integrated DAC at a glance

Fortunately, models with consistently good ratings from the trade press and customers are already available in the double-digit price range. Anyone who looks around on Amazon will sooner or later come across the best seller FiiO E10K (69 euros) stumble. This is attractively priced and delivers, according to numerous test reports and customer opinions, a good performance. The FiiO is equipped with a 3.5 mm jack socket and an S / PDIF coaxial output, formats up to 24 bit / 96 KHz are supported. Comparable: The SMSL SA M3 for 85 euros.

Anyone getting started as DJ and works with the Traktor Pro software, for example, should take a look at the compact Native Instruments Traktor Audio 2 mk2 throw. The DJ audio interface offers two independent outputs, you can fill the club (or living room) with sound with one and listen to the next track with headphones with the other. The sound is crisp and powerful, and the performance is sufficient for most headphones.

Of the Fostex HP-A3 Headphone amplifier with D / A converter comes from the professional sector and is an entry-level model there. You can get it for 300 euros here Quality “Made in Japan”, which can obviously be heard: “With the HP-A3, Fostex has successfully combined a balanced converter and a pleasant sounding headphone amplifier under one roof and thus offers home users a good alternative to high-priced converter / headphone amp combinations”, writes Daniel Wagner from Bonedo.

The is recommended for uncompromising audiophile connoisseurs Sony TA-ZH1ES. The manufacturer promises a “sound experience like in a concert hall” – which explains the proud price of around 2,000 euros. But as already mentioned before: If you have the appropriate headphones and expect nothing less than the best possible experience with music, this is a logical investment and not a crazy luxury.

Also useful on the mobile phone

A 3.5 mm jack output will rarely be found on smartphones in 2021 – and when one is there, it often doesn’t sound convincing. Better: Special DACs that are connected to the USB-C or Lightning port (iPhones) and are equipped with a headphone output. It looks like this (you can see the Creative SXFI Amp):

You can get it for just under 15 euros Sharkoon Mobile DAC with USB-C. Demanding music listeners get the Audioquest Dragonfly Black (approx. 100 euros) and a USB-C to USB 3.1 adapter. If you have an iPhone, however, you need an Apple Lightning to USB camera adapter for an impressive 35 euros – it doesn’t look great together, but what do you do for good sound?

Headphone amplifier: Sometimes it works without it

Are all jack sockets on laptops bad? No not all. According to some reports in hifi forums, as an owner of a Macbook Pro Retina you already have one above-average headphone output equipped – here an external converter only really makes sense for very critical listeners. With a 2014 model (13 inch) compared to the Native Instruments Traktor Audio 2 mk2, I can personally confirm this: The sound of the integrated output of the Apple laptop is practically on par with the external solution. If you look around at professional music producers, you will often find an external audio interface with DAC and headphone amplifier in addition to the Macbooks that are popular there.