A great pair of headphones can only perform as well as the power behind them.
In this Audio Advisor Learning Center video, Ray Miller answers one of the most common questions in personal audio: What does a headphone amplifier actually do—and why does it matter? Using real-world examples, Ray explains the fundamentals of headphone power, impedance, and sensitivity, and how proper amplification directly affects clarity, dynamics, bass control, and soundstage.
You’ll learn why phones and laptops often fall short, how different headphones place different demands on an amplifier, and what sonic benefits a dedicated headphone amp can unlock. Ray also walks through the key differences between solid-state, tube, and hybrid designs, helping you understand which approach makes sense for your listening habits.
Whether you’re listening at home with Sennheiser HD600, building a desktop system around the iFi ZEN DAC, traveling with the Chord Mojo 2, or exploring tube amplification from Woo Audio, this video explains why amplification is often the missing link in a headphone system.
If your headphones sound flat, underpowered, or lacking energy, this lesson will help you understand what’s holding them back—and how to fix it.