Why do you need a portable headphone amplifier? Portable Headphone Amplifiers: Divorce or Must Have? Why do you need a headphone amplifier

Little aluminum boxes will help you to hear your favorite music. Himself was surprised when she listened.

I, like many, music focuses in a smartphone. At any time, wherever you are, enough to get the headphones and immerse yourself in your favorite track list. With the development of streaming services and technological gadgets, cumbersome outdoor audio systems are gradually remaining only in the most revealed audiophiles.

Why do you need portable amplifiers

The overwhelming majority of our portable technology with you has fully similar sound, differing only by the software settings of the equalizer, which, by and large, only distort the sound.

Fact: Whatever cool headphones you have, the output of the playback is limited to the capabilities of a smartphone or player, or rather the absence of a powerful amplifier in them.

This is the main problem of all portable gadgets - to provide high-quality sound, you need to increase the output power of the built-in amplifier, which will inevitably lead to increased energy consumption.

With a portable amplifier you are guaranteed you hear your favorite tracks otherwise. In addition to gaining a signal, a portable amplifier can clear the sound by bypassing the restrictions of the built-in amplifier in your smartphone.

In addition, some portable amplifiers have their own processors for processing a signal (DAC), which allows you to get the sound of a completely different level. And most importantly - the real opportunity to pump your headphones is worth much cheaperthan new "monitors".

What portable amplifier to choose

I got into my hands a whole scattering baby from the Chinese company FIO, for every taste and wallet. The assortment has solutions simpler, a kind of booster for portable technology, and there are also real pocket monsters with their own audio adjustment, enhanced bass and built-in battery for continuous operation away from USB ports.

FIO E10K for tool music lovers

The model E10 has become popular among the connoisseurs received a new stuffing, small visual improvements and the letter "K" in the title. The built-in PCM5102 DAC from Texas Instruments, the presence of a low frequency filter and a bass amplification scheme, combine the sound picture for the better.

All this is good concluded in a compact case of black anodized aluminum with rifrance on the sides. On the rear panel there are a USB connector, a GAIN switch, a coaxial RCA-output SPDIF (allows you to use E10K as a USB converter role in SPDIF) and a linear yield of 3.5 mm TRS, with which you can get a signal into the built-in amplifier.

On the front panel there are volume control, a bright blue LED indicator, a bass enhancement function switch and access to headphones. This model is very unpretentious in the choice of load, and cope with sensitive internal and with large overhead headphones.

Specifications

Frequency range: 20 Hz - 20 kHz
Output power: 200 MW @ 32Ω
Output impedance:
Signal / noise ratio:\u003e 105 dB
Sibalance channels:
Common harmonic distortions:
Canal separation:\u003e 70 dB @ 1 kHz
Voltage scope: 7.39 in
Recommended Load Impedance: 16Ω - 150Ω
Login: Micro USB
Outputs: 3.5 mm TRS for headphones and linear
Food: USB bus, 5 V, 500 mA
Sizes: 79 mm x 49.1 mm x 21 mm
Weight: 78 grams.

The bass amplification function adds a little less than 6 dB, which has a beneficial effect on a common panorama, adds heat and volume compositions, and not devouring other frequencies in humidity. In its price segment FIO E10K has the full right to be one of the explicit leaders in all characteristics.

Test track:

LED Zeppelin - Stairway to Heaven: The composition is felt by air and clear separation of tools. The rhythm section is located behind the guitar and vocalist, there is a "flowable" plates. In general, FIO E10K is playing the composition very well.

FIO A1 for trance and drama

This compact amplifier in the metallic case is designed to solve the problem of lack of low frequencies, for which it has as many as three presets:

bass enhance 2.7 dB;
bass strengthening and weakening HF, which gives a 5.2 dB to the volume;
"Transparent" mode (the amplifier skips the sound through itself, without changing it).

The main task with which A1 copes with a bang is a sound correction in cases where the sound source does not pull intra-channel headphones with high resistance. In such situations, A1 simply makes the sound exactly how it should be in terms of and density. In addition, even in the "neutral" version A1 slightly "spurs" bass, and slightly smoothes average frequencies, which improves the overall feed.

Specifications

Amplifier: TPA6130A2.
Effect Module: 74HC4052PW + OPA2322AID
Microcontroller: MSP430.
Output power: ≥78 MW @ 16Ω
Output impedance: ≤0.2Ω
Channel Separation: ≥65 dB
Channel Laustainment: ≤0.2 dB
Maximum output voltage: 4.52 VP-P
Maximum output current: 50 mA
Battery: 160 mA / h
Opening time at one charge: ≥13 h (with a load of 32Ω)
Charging time: ≤90 min
Sizes: 42 mm × 40.7 mm × 9.4 mm
Weight: 20 g (including clips)

Feelities, this is the most convenient portable amplifier: inexpensive, easy to use and configuration - what you need to become your first device of this kind.

Test track:

Beastie Boys - Body Movin ': With FIO A1 and so the drive composition acquires greater depth and volume. All frequencies are in their places, and rhythm fascinates with elastic bass.

Fiiio K1 for computer gickers and gamers

A portable flash drive format amplifier copes with its audio improvement duties. Inside the aluminum case hides the PCM5102 DAC, the same as in the Hi-Fi FiO X1. The scenario of using this amplifier model involves connecting it to a computer or laptop using a Micro-USB cable.

K1 is definitely not suitable for low-frequency lovers - there is no enhancement of bass. In general, the sound of K1 has a light shade, while listening through it in the compositions, the smeared buzz decreases, the sound becomes more dense and clearer. The upper frequencies are slightly striking, but do not harm the overall impression of the compositions.

Specifications

DAC: TI PCM5102
Oh: TPA61332A.
USB Interface: SA9023A
Frequency range: 20 Hz ~ 20 kHz
Output Power: 75 MW @ 16ω, 35 MW @ 32Ω
Maximum output voltage: 3.25 VP-P
Maximum output current: 35.93 mA
Common harmonic distortion + noise:
Signal / noise ratio: ≥100 dB
Delibrants of the channels:
Separation of channels: ≥70 dB
Output impedance: ≤1Ω
Login: MicroUSB.
Exit: 3.5 mm TRS
Food: from USB port
Supported signal: up to 96 kHz / 24 bits
Dimensions: 50 mm × 20,5 mm × 8 mm
Weight: 11.3 g

If you summarize the impressions, then the character of the tool is transmitted with better, they sound more naturally, the imaginary scene becomes wider, and sound sources are located on it in more detail. Unfortunately, this model does not work with smartphones, but for its price is an excellent "Prober" into the world of high-quality sound.

Test track:

DIE STRAITS - Telegraph Road: The crystal guitar and fascinating vocals are inserted into the ears. The overall sound passes the most of the nuances of the composition no worse than some floor home stereo. The sound in computer games is pleasantly surprised by its panorama.

Fio Taishan for home lovers

The Taishan model has optical and coaxial inputs for feeding a digital stream, as well as RCA connectors and a mini-jack jack. The device is ideal for working in a bundle with vinyl and other players, televisions or mini-systems to enhance the overall quality of sound.

Specifications

DAC: 24 bits / 192 kHz
Inputs: Optical, Coaxial, USB (power only)
Outputs: Stereo RCA, Stereo Mini-Jack
Frequency range: 20 Hz - 20 kHz
Nonlinear distortion coefficient: less than 0.01%
Signal / noise ratio: more than 95 dB
Separation of stereokanals: more than 85 dB
Noise: less than 0.05 mV
Strengthening: 3.5 dB
Output signal: 1.5 V
Power supply: 5 W (USB)
Dimensions (w x in x d): 62 x 21 x 49 mm
Weight: 50 g

Despite the simple appearance, Taishan provides much higher sound quality than the built-in converters of most DVD models and BD players, as well as media players. Unfortunately, this device is designed to work only with PCM stream, and cannot decode audio information in Dolby Digital or DTS. Speaking easier - the device gives only stereo sound.

Fio Q1 for those who have already heard good sound

I personally liked this amplifier more than anyone else - both stylish design and its own features. The housing is made of rough black aluminum, front and rear panels with control elements - plastic.

The back panel is a Micro USB port for charging a device or connecting to a PC, and two switches - one selects the gain coefficient, the second - allows forced to turn off the USB charging. Nearby there is a combined nest of linear input and exit.

When connected via USB, this connector plays the role of a linear output when there is no USB connection, an analog sound source can be connected to it, and then Q1 will act as an amplifier.

The front end are: Multicolor Turning and Charging LED, headphone output, Bass enhancement switch, and analog volume control, combined with power inclusion.

Specifications

DAC: PCM5102.
OU: MAX97220.
Digital signal: up to 96 kHz / 24 bits
Frequency range: 20 Hz - 20 kHz
Output power: 190 MW @ 32Ω, 75 MW @ 150Ω
Common harmonic distortion + noise:
Canal separation: ≥75 dB
Maximum output voltage: 7.2 VP-P
Maximum output current:\u003e 75 mA
Sibalance channels: 0.2 dB
Signal / noise ratio: ≥107 dB
Output impedance:
Battery: 1400 mA / h
Opening hours at one charge:\u003e 30 h
Charging time: ≤4 h
Dimensions: 97 mm × 56 mm × 13.1 mm
Weight: 100 gr.

The musical panorama is revealed almost on any headphones connected to Q1. The bass is transmitted dense and accented, not conflict with average frequencies. The low-frequency gain function is restrained, but gravity adds, increasing the depth. In fast compositions, the division of the tools of the lower register drops slightly, but on the slower tracks bass pleases its volume.

In general, without much voltage wins the struggle from the built-in audio chips of the overwhelming majority of consumer media devices, revealing new music nuances.

Performs two tasks: Provides the necessary volume and quality. When using the built-in amplification in the usual household equipment, it may be lacking and volume and quality. At the same time, not all amplifiers, which cope with the volume, are able to convey music with fitting quality or in priority.

According to the components used, the amplifiers can be divided into lamps, transistor and hybrid.

Lamp amplifiers In most cases, they have warm and comfortable sound. A special charm of these amplifiers give lamps glowing in the dark. When you select a lamp amplifier, pay attention to the next moment, if the lamps are used outside the housing and are not covered with nothing, the amplifier should not be located in those places where children or pets can be reached. Lamps in such amplifiers are hot and the amplifier itself must be in a well ventilated place. The amplifiers whose lamps are inside the case, do not look so impressive, but they can be used everywhere.

Transistor amplifiers Often, the sound is reproduced very accurately and clearly, without any taste color. Also, unlike lamp amplifiers, transistor amplifiers work well with low-level headphones. Transistor amplifiers are often more compact and consume less energy.

Hybrid amplifiers - These are amplifiers using both transistors and lamps. Such amplifiers combine all the advantages and disadvantages of transistor and lamp strengthening. As a rule, such amplifiers are good for low-level headphones, where the lamp gives the softness of the sound, and the transistor gives the power necessary for low-level headphones.

In most cases, the amplifier is designed under a certain type of headphones, some work with low-sensitive "tougy" headphones, and others, on the contrary, with highly sensitive. It is with the type of headphones that the amplifier was developed, the sound will be the most complete and comfortable. Excessive power in the amplifier in this case does not have a big advantage.

Most often, transistor amplifiers are designed for low-level headphones, and lamps on high-resistant.

To write a post pushed me interview which we recently spent. A joke was made by the answer "What is an amplifier for headphones". Suddenly, this item scored 20% of the vote.

Having gathered with thoughts, we decided to talk a little on this topic.

The most important question that occurs is why such an amplifier needs. After all, almost on any device, be it a radio, player, or sound card, there is an output for connecting headphones.

It can be assumed that the amplifier is needed to increase the volume of the sound, but usually the headphones are already issued a fairly comfortable volume level, even with a decent reserve. This means that some amplifier is already in these devices. Let's call it "built-in".

If you dig a little on the Internet, you can find many articles on external amplifiers. Usually everything comes down to the fact that using an external amplifier improves sound quality. It suggests that the parameters of the built-in amplifiers leave much to be desired.

Then the question arises: "Why an audio signal passing through the" bad "amplifier, and then through" good ", improves. After all, according to logic, if the built-in amplifier adds distortion, then the external should only increase them.

Let's try to figure it out.

If it is measured by built-in amplifiers at idle (without load), then you can make sure that in general the parameters of the built-in amplifiers are not bad. But the picture is seriously changing when headphones are connected to the output of the amplifier. The parameters deteriorate sharply. This is usually due to poor coordination of low-voltage load (headphones) and amplifier. It is not surprising that this leads to a serious deterioration of sound quality.

If high-wing headphones are used, then the situation becomes a little better. But in this case, the built-in amplifiers usually lacks the voltage reserve to obtain an acceptable volume in headphones.

Now consider the situation when an external amplifier for headphones is connected to the headphone output.

Immediately it should be noted that the input resistance of the external amplifier is large, usually at least 20 com. Work on such a high-quality load is not for the built-in amplifier of special difficulties. It looks like a job without a load (the maximum possible features are achieved for this device). In this case, the internal amplifier easily exercises everything that should no extra distortion. And the rest of the work takes on a specialized amplifier, which is created for this.

It turns out that the external amplifier helps to reveal the potential of the audio device and hear what the headphones are really capable of.

At one of the forums met an interesting comparison that listening to headphones without an external amplifier - it's like watching a TV without an antenna. The rational grain in this statement really is.

Well, personally for me to use the amplifier for sensations was akin to the transition from the built-in sound card. In familiar compositions, the details appeared, which before that was not heard. Most of all I was struck that this transfiguration happened with ordinary inexpensive headphones I used for several years and did not even suspect that they could play.

Therefore, if you have the opportunity, I advise you to try a good external headphone amplifier. I am sure that you will not disappoint. And if there was already experience in using such amplifiers, it is interesting to hear your opinion in the comments.

Want to try your headphone amplifier yourself? Then we have a ready-made solution - the designer of the amplifier "Gamma". All articles dedicated to the project "Gamma" can be found through the navigator

Order Designer of the amplifier "Gamma" can be found on our website: al "philosophy of sound"

Community for discussion of designers - "Electronic Designers" . Join.

It often happens that after the purchase of expensive intra-channel headphones (like Westone 4 or Sony XBA-4) sound quality rises far from that stage that is expected from the top model. A similar picture is observed with full-size models (large headphones, like Audez'e LCD2): It seems that the volume is good, but the sound itself is some turbid, lifeless and sharply annoying.

Usually this situation is typical when connecting headphones to a cell phone, music center or built-in sound card. In search of the decision, it turns out that a specialized heap amplifier needs. Let's try to figure out what role he plays, and what its possible technical parameters are.

Remember physics

The power consumption of the device included in the rosette is taken to express through the power, which is known to depend on the resistance of this load. Amplifiers for acoustic systems, as a rule, columns with resistance in 4 Ohm or 8 ohms are connected. Manufacturers usually indicate the maximum power for each type of columns, and such information is sufficient to roughly estimate the outcome volume developed by the system. Headphones have a number of typical resistance numbers 11 values, from 8 ohms and up to 600 ohms. Unfortunately, manufacturers do not provide complete information about maximum power on each of the load denominations.

By connecting the headphones or speakers to the amplifier, we use the volume controller to set the voltage level submitted to this load. Current current is proportional to the voltage and inversely proportional to the load resistance. The reader can recall the formula from the school course of physics i \u003d u / r, where I - current, u - voltage, and R is the resistance. In order not to go into subtleties and terms, it suffices to imagine the relationship between the chain parameters at the level of the above proportions: "More resistance is less than the current", etc. Accordingly, the lower the resistance of the headphones, the greater the current level should be given to the amplifier, while high-resistant headphones, on the contrary, need a slight current.

Here you need to pay attention to the difference between the amplifier from the instrument included in the electrical outlet, where it supports the variable voltage of the constant level (its average value is known to all - 220 V). At the output of the amplifier, we can set 1 V, and 10 V, and any other tension. But if the power consumption will be directly proportional to the power consumption of the current, then the headphone amplifier is not so: current consumption will depend on the level of the output voltage and the load value.

Reverse side of economy

Each amplifier has two limiting factor: these are the levels of maximum voltage and maximum output current. In the case when we set as high volume that the amplifier lacks voltage or current, noticeable and unpleasant distortions occur in the output signal.

Colorfly C3.

Low-level headphones, as a rule, have high sensitivity, and they do not need an amplifier with a high output voltage threshold. In cell phones and players, a frequent amplifier is limited to the output voltage level of 0.2 - 0.3 V, and in powerful players such as Hisound or ColorFly C3 - the level of about 0.5-0.7 V. The first voltage level is enough for low-level intra-channel headphones. , and the second is even for full-size large headphones. However, such headphones consume a high current, and mobile and portable devices are trying to avoid it.

The savings on which they are going to appear either to use the maximum economical amplifier chips (with high efficiency, low current consumption, but as a result with low sound quality), or in restricting the power of the amplifier, as a result of which it works with distortions. However, manufacturers save on power consumption without vain: these measures allow a cell phone or player to work for a single charge of a compact battery, which is very important, taking into account the modest dimensions of these devices. But the sound quality is sacrificed.

On external nutrition

The highest-quality players for today - such as Colorfly C4 Pro and Ibasso DX100 are quite large dimensions just because their manufacturers did not save on power consumption. In addition to such players, there are portable amplifiers that feed from their own battery and connect to any power source. Thanks to the high resistance at the entrance, they practically do not consume energy from the phone or player and allow you to listen to music for a long time, as if the phone played it at a very low volume level. Portable amplifiers can be designed both for intra-channel headphones, like Ibasso D-Zero and for large headphones, like Ibasso D12 Anaconda. For owners of tablets and laptops, these amplifiers can even be connected via USB, as if a compact external audio card.

Colorfly C4 Pro.

Ibasso D-Zero

For home headphones, it may be necessary as an amplifier with a large output threshold and a low voltage level for low-voltage models and, on the contrary, with a low threshold for output current and a high threshold for output voltage. Therefore, amplifiers shall be divided into universal (working with almost any headphones resistance) and on devices that work mainly with a certain amount of load, which makes it possible to better optimize the amplifier circuit and get an increase in quality.

Raising noises to a minimum

And why not use instead of the headphone amplifier a regular amplifier for speakers, which is voltage, and current can give more? Unfortunately, the speaker amplifiers are initially designed for a high level of signal, and at low levels, either many distortion is obtained, or the background noise of the amplifier is well heard. From the speakers with lower sensitivity, the noise is practically not heard, even when the ear is made directly to the dynamics, but the headphones have a speaker and more sensitive, and is located too close to the ear. For this reason, the headphone amplifier is designed in such a way that the background noise is as low as possible.

Due to the large number of typical resistance, conditionally divided into low-level and high, some amplifiers contain two exits for headphones. The entrance for low-level headphones is usually quieter and better works at low volume levels.

On lamps or on transistors?

Special mention is worthy of lamp amplifiers. Today, the lamp is rarely used in amplifiers, because Not economical compared to the transistor, requiring a lot of energy consumption, and also does not allow to make an amplifier compact and "cold". Nevertheless, the lamp amplifiers are very musical and do not pass positions in the audio systems that connoisseurs of high-quality sound.

Laconic Lunchbox 6 Pro

Laconic Night Blues Mini

One of the most budget and compact amplifiers is Laconic Lunchbox 6 Pro, designed mainly to work with high-level headphones. Typically, the transistor is able to skip the high level of current, but is limited by voltage level, while the lamp, on the contrary, can work with high voltage, but the current is small enough. For this reason, the bunch of high-oiled headphones and a lamp amplifier is most optimal. For low-level headphones, more complex lamp amplifiers are made, where the amplifying stage operates with high voltage, which, in turn, is fed to a lowering transformer. After that, low voltage is obtained at the outlet and a good stock rate is sufficient to work with low-level headphones. A bright example of such a device can serve as a model Laconic Night Blues Mini.

We select amplifier

What is the parameter to pick up the amplifier? Ideally, this requires a table in which the maximum power would be indicated for each type resistance of headphones. However, in the device's technical data, only the maximum power level is specified, based on which it is not always possible to calculate the maximum level of current and voltage for the remaining types of resistance. In this situation, it remains to rely on the specified resistance tolerances with which the amplifier works. For example, if the lower limit is 30 ohms, then this means that the headphones with the resistance of 16 ohms will reproduce the sound with distortions. If the maximum resistance of 300 ohms is indicated, then, it means that the headphones with a resistance of 600 ohms will be not loudly played. All other characteristics, such as the frequency range and the level of distortion, are mainly reference.

Surely almost each of us knows or at least heard about audio amplifiers. However, when it comes to such devices as a "headphone amplifier", many are lost. Let's try to figure out how to deal with specific amplifiers.

The most important question that occurs is why such an amplifier needs. After all, almost on any device, be it a radio, player, or sound card, there is an output for connecting headphones.

If you dig a little on the Internet, you can find many articles on external amplifiers. Usually everything comes down to the fact that using an external amplifier improves sound quality.

It suggests that the parameters of the built-in amplifiers leave much to be desired.

The most important question that occurs - why do you need an amplifier for headphones.

Let's figure it out.

It is not surprising that this leads to a serious deterioration of sound quality.

If high-wing headphones are used, then the situation becomes a little better. But in this case, the built-in amplifiers usually lacks the voltage reserve to obtain an acceptable volume in headphones.

Now consider the situation when an external amplifier for headphones is connected to the headphone output. Immediately it should be noted that the input resistance of the external amplifier is large, usually at least 20 com. Work on such a high-quality load is not for the built-in amplifier of special difficulties.

It looks like a job without a load (the maximum possible features are achieved for this device). In this case, the internal amplifier easily exercises everything that should no extra distortion. And the rest of the work takes on a specialized amplifier, which is created for this.