How to Connect a Headphone Amplifier

With the growth of the sound quality of headphones and their popularity among music lovers, the task arose of creating special amplifiers for them.

Headphone amplifiers have gone through all the same development stages as classic hi-fi amplifiers. Today on the market there are tube, transistor and hybrid designs operating in various amplification classes for push-pull or single-ended circuits. However, connecting amplifiers from the simplest to the best overall headphone Amp can vary depending on the devices to which it is connected.

Headphone Amp

Connecting the headphone amplifier to an AV processor or AV receiver

As the demand for headphones with superior sound quality continues to surge among music enthusiasts, the need for tailored amplifiers has emerged. These amplifiers, akin to the evolution of traditional hi-fi amplifiers, have traversed various developmental phases. Presently, tube, transistor, and hybrid designs are prevalent in the market, each operating across different amplification classes for push-pull or single-ended circuits. Nonetheless, the method of connecting amplifiers, whether from basic to top-tier, to Denon vs Marantz sound quality, may fluctuate depending on the devices involved.

denon vs marantz sound quality

Connecting to PC

Analog: You can connect the headphone amplifier to your computer through the headphone jack or line out. Most computers have a 3.5mm mini-jack socket, and our equipment is equipped with RCA inputs, so you need this cable: 3.5mm – dual RCA.

Digital: You can connect our DACs to Windows, Mac and many Linux computers, as well as some Chromebooks via USB, as well as optical or coaxial digital output (depending on your computer’s hardware). The most common port is USB. To use it, you need a USB A-B cable.

Headphone Amplifier

Connecting to iPod / iPhone / iPad

Analog: You can connect a headphone amplifier to the headphone output. iPhone and iPod have a 3.5mm jack, and our equipment is equipped with RCA inputs, so you need this cable: 3.5mm – dual RCA.

Digital: iPad with 30-pin connector. Such a device can be connected via a USB port using the Apple 30-pin Camera Connection Kit. Use an active USB hub to avoid getting the “This device is consuming too much power” error. You will also need a USB cable.

Lightning connector: If you have an iPhone on iOS7 or an iPad on iOS6 or iOS7 with the new Lightning connector, you can use Apple’s Lightning to USB adapter with an active USB hub to avoid the “this device is drawing too much power” error. You will also need a USB cable.

Headphone Amplifier

Connecting to an Android smartphone or tablet

Analog: You can connect a headphone amplifier to the headphone output. The “Androids” have a 3.5 mm jack, and our equipment is equipped with RCA inputs, so you will need this cable: 3.5 mm – double RCA jack

Digital: You can connect DACs to many Android devices (version 5.0 and higher) using a USB OTG cable. Some Android devices will need to be connected through an active USB hub because their USB power bus provides enough power for the DAC to operate.

Connecting the DAC to an amplifier, preamplifier, AV preamplifier or receiver

These components are usually equipped with RCA inputs. You will need a stereo pair of RCA cables.