Best Headphone Amplifier Under 200 Reviews

The best headphone amp under 200, what is it? Basically, most of the products in this price range are the best budget models in terms of price / quality ratio.

In any case, every high-quality music lover has his own requirements for a headphone amplifier. That is why, for the convenience of selection, all models presented in this review are subdivided into categories. So you can go straight to those models that are suitable for solving your specific tasks at a minimal price.

So, if you want to make the right choice, which will later serve you for many years, then first you need to decide on the conditions under which the amplifier will be used, as well as what mandatory functions it should have.

Our pick

Audioengine D1

The best headphone amp under $200

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The D1 is a premium 24-bit DAC and headphone amplifier for your computer, TV, and more.

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Best Headphone Amp Under 200 Reviews

Best Desktop Headphone Amps Under 200

Best headphone amps under 200 are suitable for home use. This type of amplifier is large enough and can take up a lot of space, so transferring the amplifier can bring some discomfort to lovers of high-quality music. So, if you use it in the same conditions, then this is a great option.

Audioengine D1 – best overall

The Audioengine D1 may be the best headphone amp under 200. Firstly, although it is a desktop amp, it will take up very little space on your desk, while making the sound crystal clear and much louder thanks to the built-in 24-bit DAC.

To adjust and control the amplifier, only a volume lever is needed, there is also a power indicator.

As for inputs, there is everything you need for excellent operation of the amplifier – USB input, RCA output, of course a headphone input and an optical input.

That being said, the striking feature is the excellent optimization of this amplifier. You don’t need any additional drivers to connect to any laptop or even Apple TV.

FiiO K5 Pro

This is an affordable amp model that has a recognizable design and listener love. Fiio K5 Pro integrates an AK4493 DAC from Asahi Kasei, an XMOS XUF208 USB decoding chip, and a TPA6120 amplifier from Texas Instruments.

The brand describes the sound as smooth and detailed. However, the most remarkable point remains the power delivered to the headphone output, greater than 1.5 W for a 32-ohm load.

The amplifier module of the Fiio K5 Pro is paired with an NJRC NW1195A volume-controlled, ensuring high volume adjustment. This set shows great musicality and a distortion rate of only 0.004%. With a frequency response ranging from 20 Hz to 80 kHz, the Fiio K5 Pro is ideal for fully exploiting HD audio files. It can therefore power with no difficulty any headset or pair of headphones with an impedance between 16 ohms and 300 ohms.

Schiit Magni 3

This amplifier is slightly cheaper than the previous version, but for the difference in price, some technical characteristics may suffer.

Its power is 1300 mW / 50 Ohm, which, of course, is quite enough for good and uninterrupted operation.

The volume is adjusted using the wheel. The amplifier is adapted for excellent operation in the frequency range from 20 to 20,000 Hz, and here we see the difference compared to the first amplifier.

There are built-in PCA inputs and outputs, as well as a headphone input.

Enclosed in a metal case, the accelerator has a stylish look and is quite easy to carry, despite the fact that it is considered a desktop one.

Best Tube Headphone Amps Under 200

Most professionals and amateurs prefer tube amplifiers, and there is a rational explanation for this. The sound they transmit is considered cleaner, softer and warmer than other types of amplifiers.

At the same time, they do not differ much in price, which makes them even more attractive to buyers.

Little Dot MK2

This tube amplifier is one of the best in its price range.

It does a great job of boosting the volume of your headphones, while also enhancing the sound quality.

A 6.5 mm input is used as the main one, but an adapter for a 3.5 mm jack is included in the kit.

Suitable for work with frequencies from 20 Hz to 50,000 Hz, which makes it more useful, than other amplifiers presented in the review.

The maximum distortion is less than 0.1 percent. The output power of the amplifier is 300 mW (600/300 ohms), and the impedance ranges from 32 to 600 ohms.

Great circuitry of this amplifier improves heat dissipation, reducing the chance of overheating the amplifier.

Rockville BluTube

Consider another headphone amplifier that has a rather interesting design and stands out from the competition with tubes that are framed by a protective structure.

This approach was because Rockville Blutube has a single configuration that combines a solid-state amplifier and a tube amplifier. This design provides smoother sound propagation and makes it easier to get satisfactory sound from a range of supported sources.

The circuit is based on four 70-watt tubes. This selection of components makes the sound of the headphones quite rich and, at the same time, very balanced.

And the features of the amplifier do not end there. For communication with external devices, it is equipped with a USB 2.0 port and Bluetooth protocol. The port will allow you to connect to any sources that allow you to play music via USB. But the wireless function is worth dwelling on in more detail since the built-in Bluetooth has a fairly wide range (33 feet) and supports almost all possible devices from a regular speaker to a home theater.

Best Portable Headphone Amp Under 200

EarStudio ES100-24bit

This portable amplifier helps you enjoy great music wherever you are.

This device provided by Ir Studio is truly unique, if only because with its help your wired headphones will be able to become wireless once and for all.

This is due to the fact that a Bluetooth module is preinstalled in this amp.

In addition to this, there is a DAC inside the amplifier, which makes the sound cleaner.

Measuring 1 x 2 x 0.5 inches, it can be carried in a pocket or bag without any problems, and it weighs just 0.704 ounces.

There is a headphone jack and two volume buttons for convenience.

The lithium battery is enough for excellent work in active mode for 14 hours. There is also a built-in noise canceling microphone.