Sennheiser is mainly known for its powerful delivery sound performance and that means that you have already made a perfect choice by opting for the best amp for Sennheiser. While it’s not an absolute requirement to get an AMP/ DAC for your HD headphones, a high-quality amplifier and DAC (digital-to-analog converter) can improve the sound quality considerably. HD Sennheiser headphones were originally designed for music professionals and powerful studio audio setups.
If you have high-end audio gear in your house you may not need one, but nowadays, many users listen to music on smartphones, PCs, laptops, and many other media playback devices. These kinds of compact devices are built with low-quality DACs that won’t do justice to your HD headphones, Because of that, most users beef up their setup with an AMP/DAC to get the most out of headphones.
There are lots of different amplifiers capable of doing wonders with Sennheiser headphones. I will show you some of the best amps for Sennheiser HD 600, HD 650, and HD 800 models. Given the specs on these headphones, I have intentionally skipped the very cheap, low-end amps that really won’t perform well enough for these models.
To make it easier for you to select the particular amp, I have included all kinds of information like specifications, features, reviews, ratings, and many other necessities included in the amplifier. Each one of them speaks premium, quality, and reliability and is highly recommended by the users to bring out the best one for you, helping you fulfill your music expectations.
So without any further delay let’s get into the details of each of the Amps and find the one that best suits your needs. Also, If u are a game lover you can look out for our list of best Sennheiser headphones for gaming.
Best AMP For Sennheiser HD 560 S & HD 580
Fosi Audio Q4
The Fosi Audio Q4 is a very good value-for-money amp/DAC although most budget equipment requires a few cuts in materials or quality to achieve that price.
It comes with a 3.5mm output, which is one of the most important and widely utilized audio components. The jack on the Fosi Audio Q4 is not particularly sturdy, therefore improper handling or rough usage can easily ruin it. Thus, as a result, you must use it with care.
There are better amp/DAC combos available, but they are more expensive. This is an inexpensive device, therefore there will be compromises aside from two flaws.
The structure is sturdy, as it is composed of high-quality materials. The amplifier is built to last a long period. Then there are the different connectivity choices, which allow you to connect to a variety of devices. It’s also simple to install as it’s a true plug-and-play device. Finally, the audio quality is excellent for a budget amp/DAC. Excellent for everyday use and if you love music with a lot of bass and treble.
To summarize, the Fosi Audio Q4 is the best amplifier and DAC for the Sennheiser HD 560 S and there is enough juice to power the headphones while maintaining excellent sound quality.
Best AMP for Sennheiser HD 600
The Sennheiser HD600 is one of the best headphones available on the market when looking at over-ear headphones in their respective price range. If you own a pair of Sennheiser HD 600, you are already getting top-notch sound quality offered by them but wait! These headphones can provide you with a sound of better quality than what you hear by default.
Ocean Mini Valve Class A Tube Headphone Amplifier
This amplifier comes at a very affordable price and when it comes to amplifiers that are highly rated by audiophiles, the Ocean Mini Valve is easily one of the best out of the cheaper options that you can find on the market right now.
It comes with an aluminum case, which prevents heat from concentrating at a particular spot and allows the product to be working continuously for hours without having to worry about overheating issues making it an ideal fit for the HD 600.
This tube amp by Bravo Audio works with most sources as it comes with a variety of different plugs which allow easy connectivity with a PC, Mac, or any other device. This amp is especially good at getting the best sounds out of heavy-bass music and if you’re into electronica or rock, this could be the perfect choice for you.
E10K USB DAC and Headphone Amplifier by Fiio
This AMP/DAC by Fiio also works fine with the HD 600. This DAC amplifier increases the quality of any audio device via a linear filter, that you connect to it and an added benefit is that they work very well with the HD 598 and other similar HDXX models as well. This is an affordable pick for anyone looking to boost the performance of HD headphones without burning a hole in their pocket.
The sound quality generated by this amplifier is certainly one of the best you’ll find in this price range. The EK10 is a great amp & DAC combo capable of connecting via USB and offering a variety of different connections that include PCs, Laptops, Macs, and other playback devices.
Unfortunately, the Fiio EK10 is not designed for higher impedance headphones like the Sennheiser HD 600 and HD 650/HD6XX. The amplifier produces an audible sound, but several characteristics like bass and detail retrieval won’t be on par with more powerful headphone amplifiers and are better suited for the 150-ohm HD 58X and HD 660s.
Portable AMP/DAC for Sennheiser HD 650
AudioQuest – DragonFly Red USB DAC/Headphone Amplifier
Connectivity includes a USB adapter that can connect to any device with a USB port naturally.
All you have to do is connect your Sennheiser HD650 headphones to your USB-compatible device and you’ll be set to enjoy music at the highest standard that the headphones can provide.
This amplifier and digital-to-analog converter are some of the most portable devices that you can get and the size makes it ideal to be carried around, and the fact that it works using your device’s battery solves the issue of having to replace or charge the batteries constantly.
You’ll get more out of this device if you own a set of expensive headphones and if you don’t, buying better headphones will surely make a huge difference than purchasing this AMP/DAC device. If you own an older Dragonfly amplifier, the difference will be quite noticeable as well. The HD650 is ideally compatible with this product.
The software is also well-made and supports any firmware upgrades that could be made and you shouldn’t need to worry about buying a new amplifier for quite some time.
Best Desktop AMP for Sennheiser HD 650
The HD 650 is a top-quality pair of headphones that Sennheiser has to offer and delivers great sound quality with an open-back design, just like its 600 counterparts. This allows both designs to create a great acoustic environment without generating an echo that tends to happen with closed-back designs.
Although the sound quality could be easily improved with an amplifier and since the HD 650 already sounds pretty great, you might want to look for one of the higher-end amps that you can find on the market. However, since I don’t want you to spend your money blindly, I’ll tell you about my top amp choice for this headphone model.
BasX TA-100 by Emotiva
The TA-100 is a premium product although, on the pricier side, it offers one of the best sound-improving attributes on the market if you own a pair of HD 650s, this amplifier should make them sound incredibly good and in fact even if you own other professional headphones, you might want to get your hands on the TA-100.
It powers up almost any type of sound device. The amp is very reliable and can sustain heavy wear-and-tear thanks to its top-quality build and its sound-enhancing features make it one of the best choices to power up an already powerful set of headphones like the 650.
You can try other less expensive and more portable options, of course. The amps I recommended for the HD 600 should do a good job with this model as well, but I do suggest purchasing one of the higher-end choices if you plan on getting the best out of your headphones.
Best High-End AMP/DAC for Sennheiser HD8XX
Sennheiser HDVD 800 Headphone Amplifier with DAC
This amplifier should be able to comfortably turn your laptop or music player into an audiophile-quality system without any issue. Being connected to a Sennheiser product, you would expect it to work pretty well with the headphones and that is exactly the case. It excels when used with the Sennheiser HD800 (or HD800 S) headphones, it should since it was especially for them but also works fine with the HD 700 and other high-end models.
There is also one more thing that you should consider while purchasing this product, that is, the best way to use it is with music directly downloaded to your computer which means that the DAC software will not work very well with streaming services, and your music won’t have the same clean sound if you use an app such as Spotify with this device.
This multipurpose amplifier comes with USB support, so you can set up everything pretty easily regardless of the device that you’re using. The product enhances bass like no other amplifier available and improves in such a way that instruments are reproduced through your speakers.
The HDVD800 can reproduce high-quality sound from classical music to modern electronica and EDMs and you will also be able to single out which instruments are being played and enjoy the purest lifelike sound.
AMP/DAC Combo for Sennheiser HD800
Sony PHA3 PHA-3 Headphone Amp
This incredibly powerful amplifier is one of Sony’s best AMP/DAC all-in-one products on the market available right now and is definitely worth considering if you are on the fence about the HDVD800 or don’t have the budget for it.
If you’re looking for a headphone amplifier then you most likely feel that there’s so much more than your HD 800’s can offer and if you don’t already own an amplifier, you’re probably right. The HD 800 is a very high-quality headphone model, but a proper amplifier with a built-in DAC could definitely enhance your experience to the fullest.
While looking at the Sony PHA3, the first thing you may have probably noticed is its size. Carrying this product around is absolutely easy as it has a portable and space-friendly design that most audiophiles are likely to appreciate whenever they are on the go.
If you want to get the best out of the PHA3 with your HD-800 headphones, you might want to set the HD800 to its high-power balanced setting, as a result, the sound quality will improve massively, have no doubts about it.
This amplifier comes with a built-in battery that has a relatively sufficient life but it would be better if you used it while the device is plugged into a power source relieving stress from the battery. It accepts audio input from any device regardless of its brand.
The Sony PHA3 has the capability to reproduce digital data and sound that no other amplifiers can match on the market and you’ll be able to clearly hear everything without having to worry about static noises or audio interference. It has balanced output features that you can use while operating on different channels, and the product’s single-channel feature can provide you with over-the-top sound quality.
Conclusion
Every product mentioned on this list is well-certified and tested by the company with happy user experiences. I have arranged the products from a lower range to a higher range of prices where you get an option to choose the amplifiers that fit right into your budget. The price ranges may differ on these amplifiers, but they do not compromise on reliability and quality.
So what are you waiting for? Go ahead and invest in the best amplifiers for Sennheiser headphones available on the market to get the music experience that you deserve.