The Best Headphone Amps Under $500 || iFi, AudioQuest, Pro-Ject

[@AudioAdvice]

‣ iFi Audio Hip-dac Portable DAC Headphone Amp: audioadvice.io/iFiHipdac ‣ iFi Audio Zen CAN: audioadvice.io/iFiZENCAN ‣ AudioQuest DragonFly Red: audioadvice.io/AQDragonflyRed ‣ AudioQuest DragonFly Cobalt: audioadvice.io/AQDragonflyCobalt ‣ Pro-Ject Pre Box S2 Digital Preamplifier: audioadvice.io/ProJectS2 ‣ iFi Audio Zen DAC V2: audioadvice.io/iFiZenDACV2

[@jonathanvanier]

A quick correction: higher impedence doesn't mean more power, it's actually the reverse way around. However, the higher the impedence, the lower the voltage, and therefore the lower the sound level. That's why high impedence headphones can sound weak on basic amplifiers; it's not that the amplifier cannot provide enough "power," it's that it doesn't have enough (voltage) gain.

[@AudioAdvice]

Thanks for your comment! The exact electrical engineering science behind amplication and impedance is more complex, but we tried to distill both the essentials and the semantics in this "101" video for people just getting started in the hobbie. Perhaps we should have made it clearer, but we love comments like these as they provide helpful context for people just starting out, so please keep them coming and thanks for watching!

[@georgiafan6618]

I have the iFi hip dac. It’s a great little dac/amp for the money and it’s small enough to fit in a jacket pocket. Use the larger balanced jack for best sound. 👍

[@AudioAdvice]

Awesome, glad you enjoy it! Thanks for sharing

[@sethfm9773]

Some great options for harder to drive headphones. A great addition to get more out of a good pair of headphones.

[@AudioAdvice]

Glad you liked it

[@nickthequick]

Provided me with exactly the information I needed before purchasing the Dragonfly Cobalt; namely that it can drive a pair of high impedance open-back headphones and not just in-ear buds (which I hate ...)

[@AudioAdvice]

We are glad we could be helpful to you. Thanks for watching

[@burghelvasile3313]

Hello. In my country I can choose between: Cambridge magic 200m/ Ifi zen one signature/ ProJect pre box S2/ Topping E 50/ Topping E30mkii. I have Marantz PM 6006 + Dali Oberon 3. What do you recommend? Thank you.

[@paulwoaert]

For use exclusively with headphones (in my MacBook Air M2), is the Zen AIR Can less efficient than the Zen CAN ? For example, is the XSpace function of the AIR equivalent to the 3D function of the more expensive Zen CAN ? The problem with the AIR version is that it does not include the RCA cables or the electrical adapter block (the 2 are included in the Zen CAN box). My intention is to connect the Can or Can AIR in my Zen DAC Air. I would also like to know how is long the cable of the power adapter is included with the Zen CAN, this is an important detail for me.

[@AudioAdvice]

Please reach out to our team at www.audioadvice.com to discuss your specific needs.

[@paulwilson3961]

I bought a drgaonfly cobalt to pair with my Grado 325s and then lost it! Replaced with ifi Hipdac 2. The Hipdac was too powerful for the Grados. Sound quality wqs great but, even at very low volume, the dac felt like it was overwhelming the headphones and it was uncomfortable to listen to after a while. The cobalt was perfect. I will buy another.

[@AudioAdvice]

Awesome! We love the cobalt! You can purchase it through the link in our description 😁

[@mydogsareneat]

Just asking here because idk where else to ask. If i plug this into a hifi portable speaker. Do i than have something packing an actual punch?

[@AudioAdvice]

Which model are you asking about?

[@martybrazill7935]

Great video. A good headphone amp is a great way to instantly upgrade the sound quality on most quality headphones.

[@AudioAdvice]

We agree! Thanks for watching, Marty.

[@chrisgargiulo304]

Good stuff!

[@AudioAdvice]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@n.s.3812]

I've got the iFi Zen (the DAC/not the CAN) and the pro-ject pre box - I think both are GREAT DACs, but don't think either of them are good headphone amps. Not terrible, but honestly the headphone out in some old cassette decks I have sound better and provide equal power. I ended up grabbing a Topping a50s and found that to be a far better headphone amp than either of these (no DAC obviously, though). Much much much better. Considered getting the Schitt instead, but I wanted a balanced jack for my Senns. I will say the iFi is great for the money, considering a balanced jack and also being a DAC though, but having the pro-ject as a DAC and the topping to drive headphone is the way to go if you can pull it off.

[@AudioAdvice]

We agree IFI and Pro-Ject are making some excellent little headphone amps for the money. Thanks for watching!

[@stretch90]

Does the Zen can work as a DAC as well, or should you have one to connect to it?

[@AudioAdvice]

Great question, but the Zen Can is just a very good analog headphone amp. Yes, you could connect a DAC to its analog input. Thanks for watching

[@CmJr328]

Wow, great info here. Thanks for breaking this down. Always wondered why an external headphone amp was important. Now I have a pretty good idea and some good options to get started. Thanks again!

[@AudioAdvice]

Glad it was helpful! Thanks for watching.

[@guipe43]

I wonder about that beautiful guitar behind you, about what model it is. Thanks!

[@AudioAdvice]

Fender Stratocaster - thanks for watching!

[@ROYALVIDEOS_ROYALVIDEOS]

Way are you just using ifi as reference when there are lots of better dac and amp like. Topping, FiiO and S.M.S.L you should have just talked about the dac amp and not the brand. Get the Topping DX5 MQA Full Decoder ES9068AS*2 it rated the best Dac Amp under 500$ dollars.

[@samlee2562]

I need advice on how to make my eyebrows dance like happy caterpillars..??? 🐛🤔

[@AudioAdvice]

Haha, thanks for watching

[@blaise2628]

What, no FiiO's in your comparisons?

[@AudioAdvice]

Thanks for watching our video. Our list is based on price, features and performance to complement music listening under $500. FiiO makes some great products too, but these are simply the best of breed in terms of high-performance, and are the ones that really stand out to us within this price-category. Hope that helps and thanks for watching!

[@JohnClarkW]

@@AudioAdvice I would put the Fiio BTR5 well above the Hip-DAC and it uses USB-C for data and power. It is a fraction of the size, and typically a bit cheaper. They are normally around $120, but prices are up lately.

[@Chigidoc]

I think you mean the best ones that you happen to sell.

[@carlosalvarez7445]

Pffff... sorry but in a "best" headphone amp list not including Cord Mojo and either Schiit Magnius or Jotunheim makes it impossible to take the list seriously.

[@olapousette]

This guy ruins all info with his disturbing hands..

[@AudioAdvice]

Thanks for the feedback.

[@SheikhN-bible-syndrome]

I have the ifi zin can and there's no way in hell it puts out 15v rms not in a million years but it does sound good

[@AudioAdvice]

That is what the specs say, but yes, that seems like an awful lot. It does sound good though