Some headphones, just like speakers, require amplification to sound better. Though smartphones and audio players come with built-in amplifiers, they lack the power to drive higher-impedance headphones. An external amp is the best bet to drive power-hungry headphones. If you’re looking for a cheap headphone amp, below are our best headphone amps under $100. And to complete your system, check out our list of the best budget audiophile headphones and Best DACs under 100.
Headphone Amps Under $100 Comparison Table
| HEADPHONE AMP | DAC* | RHI** | TYPE | DIMENSIONS | WEIGHT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FiiO E10K-TC | Yes | 16-150 Ohm | Desktop/Solid-State | 3.1 x 1.9 x 0.8″ | 78.0g |
| Nobsound NS-08E | No | 18-600 Ohm | Desktop/Tube | 2.72 x 2.87 x 4.37″ | 185g |
| Behringer Microamp HA400 | No | 80-600 Ohm | Desktop/Solid-State | 4.08 x 2.25 x 1.83″ | 370g |
| Donner Headphone Amplifier | No | 8-250 Ohm | Portable/Solid-State | 4.09 x 2.85 x 1.61″ | 145g |
| Fosi Audio K5 Pro | Yes | 16-300 Ohm | Desktop/Solid-state | 4.4×3.7×1.2″ | 251g |
| Fosi Audio T20 | Yes | 16-64 Ohm | Desktop/Tube | 5.06 x 3.86 x 1.35″ | 920g |
| Douk Audio U3 | No | 18-600 Ohm | Desktop/Solid-State | 5.8 x 4.4 x 3.4″ | 169g |
| HiBy FC1 | Yes | 32-50 Hhm | Portable/Solid-State | 4.41 x 4.09 x 2.28″ | 8.4g |
| Fosi Audio P2 | No | 16-600 Ohm | Desktop/Tube | 5 x 3 x 1″ | 249g |
| HF05 Headphone Amp | 40 Ohms | 16-300 Ohm | Portable/Solid-State | 6.69 x 3.54 x 0.67″ | 108g |
*DAC – Digital-to-Analog Converter
**RHI – Recommended Headphone Impedance
Best Overall Headphone Amp Under $100
1. FiiO E10K-TC
- Category: Desktop/Solid-State
- DAC: Yes
- Recommended Headphone Impedance: 16 - 150 Ohms
- What We Like: Balanced and neutral, Good build quality, Bass boost, Plenty of power
- What We Don't: Nothing given the price
If you’ve been around the audiophile world for a while, you should remember the FiiO E10, released in 2011. One of the most successful budget headphones amps propelled the company’s sales. It was upgraded to E10K in 2014, and now the legend is back under the name E10K-TC.
Visually, nothing has changed, and the amp is still smaller to be easily portable. The amp is made entirely of aluminum, giving it a very good build quality. The front panel has a potentiometer, headphone output, indicator light, and a bass boost switch. We have two analog and digital signal outputs on the back, a USB type C input, and the gain switch.
The amp’s interface is good, and you can use it with Windows OS after installing FiiO drivers or Mac OS without installing the drivers.
For the sound, the E10K TC is good and surprisingly better than its entry-level price would suggest. The sound was good with most headphones we tested the amp with, with no distortion and internal noise. The presentation is linear, and the amp does not color the sound in any way. The bass is full-bodied and tight, the mids stand out and are well-defined, while the treble is smooth with no hint of roughness.
Summing up the sound quality of the E10K TC, it is transparent and accurate while being engaging and enjoyable. It is no coincidence that FiiO brought back the E10K, one of their best-selling products. It is also the most recommended entry-level DAC/amp; there is no way to get wrong with it.
Best Vacuum Tube Headphone Amp Under $100
2. Nobsound NS-08E
- Category: Desktop/Tube
- DAC: No
- Recommended Headphone Impedance: 18-600 Ohms
- What We Like: Easy to use, Tube rolling, Budget friendly, Powerful amp
- What We Don't: Would be better if input was at the back
If you’ve seen a lot of good things written about the NS-08E, it is because this is an excellent cheap headphone amplifier you can get. Although we’ve categorized it as a tube amp, the Nobsound NS-08E is an integrated amp that uses tubes for pre-amplification and transistors for audio output.
The amp is nicely made with a gold-colored front panel that has a 3.5mm line-in and out jacks plus a large volume potentiometer. The top black casing has two 6J9 tubes that amplify the sound when plugged into the sockets. They fit tightly and are easy to install. You get a DC 6V power input at the back and a large red power button.
For the sound performance, the bass remains well extended, while the amp adds some warmth and fullness to the mids. The treble is also well extended. For sensitive IEMs, you can hear some background noise, but it’s not noticeable when the music is playing. When using the amp, it gets a little warmer, which you can touch without any accidents.
Overall, the Nobsound NS-08E is a solid performer for its budget-friendly price. It’s small, simple, and takes up very little space. We’re happy with this amp and would recommend it repeatedly.
Best Headphone Amp Splitter Under $100
3. Behringer Microamp HA400
- Category: Desktop/Solid-State
- DAC: No
- Recommended Headphone Impedance: 80-600 Ohm
- What We Like: Great built quality, small and compact, Decent sound quality
- What We Don't: AC adaptor and the power cord are a bit flimsy
If you have a home studio and you’re looking for a good channel splitter, the Behringer Microamp HA400 is a good option you can check out. It is great for tracking and simplifying most home studio tasks.
The HA400 is simple and all metal for the build quality, which feels surprisingly very premium for such a cheap amp. The amp’s top panel has four potentiometers that can be used to control the volume of each headphone individually. The back panel has four 6.3mm outputs, one 6.3mm input, and a power port.
For most people reviewing the HA400, the lack of 3.5mm ports is a major complaint. However, you should be aware of the function of this amp to know why that is the case. In a recording studio, most equipment uses 1/4: TRS connectors as opposed to 1/8″, which has very little application in the studio.
The sound from the amp is good, and it does the amplification part well. However, it is not fancy if you want a headphone amplifier. However, if you want a headphone amp splitter, this is a used one to add to your tool adds to your recording studio.
Overall, the HA400 is a helpful tool for studio use. For those complaining about 6.3mm connectors, getting a 6.3mm to 3.5mm adapter, like this one, should solve that problem. If you want to push your high-impedance headphones, this is not for you. However, for studio use to push multiple headphones from a single source, we have no problem recommending the HA400.
See the Behringer Microamp HA400
Headphone Amplifier Buying Advice
Why Do I Need a Headphone Amp?
A headphone amplifier is welcome to just about every headphone. Like full-size speakers, headphones also can benefit from a better power supply from amps. Smartphones and other portable devices come with miniature amps inside them. This is the reason most headphones do not require a headphone amp. However, some reasons can make you get an external headphone amplifier.
First, you will benefit from a headphone amp if your headphones have a high impedance. Higher-impedance headphones require more power to reach sufficient volume levels. Smartphones and other portable music players do not have the juice to power high-impedance cans, thus requiring an external headphone amp.
FiiO E10K-TC With Its-Package and Accessories
Second, you most likely need an amp if your headphones have low sensitivity. Sensitivity in headphones directly correlates to the volume level. The lower the sensitivity of your headphone, the more power you will require to reach a good listening volume. A headphone amplifier is a good addition if you have low-sensitivity headphones.
Third, if you want to improve your cans’ overall audio performance, get a headphone amp. With a boost of voltage from the headphone amp, the audio quality is significantly improved, revealing subtle details that make the audio sound better. A DAC/amp combo can also improve the audio signal for a cleaner sound. Read more about headphone amps.
Types of Headphone Amps Explained
There are three main types of headphone amps: tube, solid-state, and hybrid. All these sound different and have pros and cons; ultimately, your preferences will determine your choice.
Tube headphone amplifiers are also called valve or vacuum tubes. These are the type you see with glowing tubes on them. Tube amplifiers amplify sound by using the tubes which control the electrical current. If you want to enjoy a warm sound, tube amplifiers are for you. Tubes are also great in effecting a gentle distortion in the audio, which makes the audio sound much better. This is why most audiophiles push tube amps to the limit seeking this benign distortion in their audio.
The Nobsound NS-08E With its Two Tubes
Solid-state amplifiers, unlike tubes, uses a transistor circuit as a power source to alter electrical signals to audio signals. They are the most popular type of amplifier around. Solid states have a more neutral and clean sound, intending to reproduce sounds are accurately as possible.
Hybrid amps use a versatile design that includes a tube stage to create voltage gain and a solid-state stage in the output stage. This clever design benefits from the low output impedance of solid-state amps and adds the sound of tube amplifiers.
Portable vs. Desktop Headphone Amps
A portable headphone amp is versatile and light to move around. This means you get to experience better audio quality on the go. On the other end, desktop headphone amps sit at home, sacrificing portability for functionality.
HiBy FC1 Portable DAC/amp
The choice to choose either of these two options is dependent on your preferences. However, you get more outputs, inputs, and power for desktop amps. Most portable amps have a built-in DAC to help clean up the audio for better fidelity. However, you also need to worry about the battery life in some models.
For a pair of IEMs, a portable headphone amp will do great. However, to power demanding headphones, a desktop headphone amp is the best choice to pick.
Headphone and Amp Matching Explained
You need to ensure compatibility between your headphone amplifier and headphones. This is the key to getting the most out of your headphone drivers. A simple way to do this is to check the spec sheet of your headphone amp or the manufacturer’s website.
Sometimes the manufacturer lists the recommended headphones impedance to be used with your chosen headphones. If your headphone impedance falls in the range given, you are good to go.
DACs Explained
A DAC, short for a Digital-to-analog converter, is used to convert digital to analog audio signals. They are found in smartphones, laptops, portable music players, and every other tech reproducing sound. Unless you’re listening to analog sound systems like vinyl, you will require a DAC.
All music players come with built-in DACs. However, the quality is not always good. To improve the sound, an external DAC is recommended. There are several amps in this list that include built-in DACs. We have a detailed explainer on headphone amp vs DACs.
Behringer Microamp HA400
Headphone Amp/DAC Combos Explained
DAC/Amp combos make getting both an amp and DAC in one device possible. This is a convenient option for those seeking a convenient one.
Most portable headphone amps include a DAC that can help clean up the audio. Going for a DAC/Amp combo might not be the best for most audiophiles. However, if it saves money and matches your preferences, why not go for it?
Headphone Amps vs. Stereo Amps
Headphone amps and stereo amps are used for different purposes. Headphone amps power your headphones, while stereo amps power speakers. The only thing headphone amps and speaker amps have in common is they amplify audio signals and drive voice coils.
While headphone amps cannot be used to amplify speakers, some integrated amps can power headphones. These integrated amps come with a headphone output port to power headphones. An integrated amp with a headphone output can be great if you switch speakers to headphones.
However, getting a dedicated headphone amplifier for your headphones will be much better. The circuitry of a headphone amp is not an afterthought, which might be the case with an integrated amp.
Fosi Audio K5 Pro Gaming Amp DAC With Its Cable
Electrostatic Amps Explained
Your smartphone and digital audio players can power most headphones. However, electrostatic headphones are very different. Electrostatic headphones require special amplifiers to power them.
Electrostatic headphones use electrostatic force to create sound. The diaphragm is sandwiched between two stators that are charged. These stators need very high voltage to move the diaphragm, thus requiring a special electrostatic headphone amplifier.
