Amp For Planar Headphones

When it comes to amps for headphones designed for planar, you'll need one with enough power to drive them. Planar headphones require more power and voltage than dynamic headphones, which require only a a small amount of current.

Find an amplifier with a recommended range of headphone impedance. The majority of amps will have this information on their spec sheet or website.

AP10H+

The NVA AP10H+ is a headphone amplifier designed and hand planar magnetic driver made in Great Britain. It is a powerhouse that can drive virtually any pair of planar headphones (and some of the more dynamic ones) available regardless of their sensitivity or impedance. Its high voltage output and current can also give you an outstanding dynamic headroom, which produces an impressive sound.

Planar magnetic headphones unlike speakers, are essentially resistive loads. They are therefore easy to drive. They require a higher level of drive than that which can be achieved by the majority of receivers. To achieve their 130dB SPL, they need 4V5-10V5 at 1mW of input. This is why solid state amplifiers in class A are the best option for them.

The AP10H+ has an output transformer that increases the voltage to a much greater degree, and comes with a volume-matching resistor that works with the majority of headphones. This allows the AP10H+ to deliver more than twice the amount of power to a pair of 32 ohms dynamic headphones.

Nirvana IV

The Nirvana IV tube amp has an appealing warm sound profile. This powerful amplifier is capable of driving magnetic headphones that what are planar magnetic drivers planar with ease and offers a variety of output modes to support the majority of headphones with different impedances. It is equipped with an external power supply unit of high quality that delivers constant currents to the amplifier. The amplifier is made in Serbia by Milomir Trosic and uses hand-made transformers that provide exceptional musicality.

The Nirvana IV is a single-ended amplifier that can deliver 6.5W pure class A power. It can drive high-impedance headphone and is capable to handle the HiFiMan Susvara Planar magnetic Driver magnet open-back headphone with ease. The bass response and dynamic depth are outstanding. The Nirvana IV has a rich midrange, smooth highs and a dazzling amount of detail.

The amp is similar to the Auris ha-2SE and Headonia amplifiers, but it's a better one in general because it has more balanced and precise sound. When paired with the right headphone, it can reveal the hidden layers of music, and is a joy to listen to. Its balanced mode is impressive, adding a layer warmth and smoothness that is hard for other headphone amplifiers to achieve.

Many enthusiasts of headphones love the warm, rich sound of vacuum tube amplifiers. They aren't easy to operate and require a large investment. They also generate a lot of heat, so choose one with a sturdy cooling system. The Nirvana IV is a good option for discerning audiophiles, because it can be customized with a variety of different tubes.

The Cayin HA-6A what is a planar headphone an excellent choice for anyone looking to feel the power of a tube amplifier at a low cost. This amplifier can be used with a variety of headphone models, and is compatible with most well-known digital audio formats. Its output switch allows you to choose from three gain settings, which are suitable for medium, low and high-impedance headphones. It includes a remote as well as an external power source.

Dragon Inspire IHA-1

The Dragon Inspire IHA-1 has serious hi-fi pedigree It was designed by (and is produced under the watchful eye of) Dennis Had, founder of Cary Audio. In spite of its sexy red paint, it has a timeless appearance that evokes classic tube gear.

The IHA-1 can be used with any headphone since it utilizes a pair 6SN7 dual triodes for driving headphones. It also features transformer coupling at both inputs as well as outputs. It is also small and has an uncluttered signal path that does not have feedback loop.

The IHA-1 has a full, harmonic sound that we have found to be a hit with listeners who love a rich listening experience. It's an excellent choice for classical, alternative/indie, and the acoustic genres. It's an excellent amp for tracks in pop country, R&B, and rock. However, it's slightly warm side for high-energy genres such as EDM and Metal. It is possible to compensate for this with tube rolling.

The IHA-1 isn't an exception to this rule. In general, headphones that have higher sensitivity are more likely to work with tube amplifiers. We tried it on a wide variety of models for headphone which included the Focal Clear, HiFiMan HE-560, Grado RS-1, and Mr. Speakers Alpha Prime. The IHA-1 provided a rich round sound, with an impressively precise lateral imaging and 3D space perception that was truly amazing.

The standard IHA-1 includes a pair 6SN7 Russian tubes. However, it is able to be upgraded to a NOS RCA GZ34 tube for an additional $100. The GZ34 is more warm than the 5Y3GT that was reissued, but it offers a more natural sound and has a lot of bass. It also has a sweet treble response that's recessed enough to make listening glorious and fatigue-free.

The IHA-1's amazing 3-D soundstage was particularly apparent when paired with the Focal Utopia headphones. The Focal's already precise soundstage could expand forwards and outwards to reveal an expansive soundscape. Listening to 'Nublado' by Sera Una Noche [MA Recordings, 16/44.1], for instance, was akin to walking around a vast hall that happened to include headphones.

Cayin HA-6A

This tube headphone amp from Cayin is billed as an "Tube Rolling Paradise." It's an affordable portable amplifier that's quite powerful. It can drive headphones that are planar like the HiFiMan SUSVARA easily and also sounds great when used with dynamic headphones like the Audio-Technica ATH A1000X. It's also highly adaptable, making it a great option for music lovers with different preferences in listening.

The HA-6A is a transformer-coupled model with output transformers that are matched to offer true balanced output. The power supply has also been fully controlled to minimize the ripple effect that is caused by voltage amplifying. The circuitry is handcrafted with premium wires and point-topoint wielding, resulting in superior transparency and integrity of the signal. This amp also features an ultra-high-quality UV meter which displays the signal's levels.

HA-6A features a switchable triode/ultralinear mode to offer a distinct sound experience based on your preferences. If you're looking for an enveloping, rich sound, you can use the EL34 tubes which have a medium output impedance in triode mode. On the other hand, if want an exceptionally precise and fast sound with plenty of power, use a pair of KT88 tubes in ultra-linear mode, with a low output impedance.

For those who prefer more neutral sound, the HA-6A comes with an option of tube rectification that improves the overall sound quality of the amplifier. This feature is ideal for people who listen to a wide range of genres, from hip-hop and EDM to classical and Planar Magnetic Driver orchestral music.

This amp also comes with a large custom-made transformer with premium nickel plating. This ensures the amplifier is robust and durable. It also features an innovative current adjustment feature that will allow you to match the impedances of various headphones.

The Cayin Ha-6A, unlike the Schiit Vali 2+ has a little bit of tube bloom. Its sound stage is also not as big or detailed. It also has a much faster decay time than Vali 2+ and an overall more neutral tone. It has a forward midrange, with more detail and a higher bass than the Vali 2+. However it does not have the same amount of treble.