SMSL HO100 Balanced Headphone Amplifier 3000mW×3000mW RCA/XLR Input 6.35mm/4.4mm Balanced Headphone Output HiFi Home Audio Headphone Amp with Gain Control

Using the HO100 as part of my desktop system and really enjoying this amp driving my closed back 38Ω M50x and 50Ω Monoprice open back planars. Config is MB -> D30p -> Headphones, and never need the volume past 1/2 way, runs cool to the touch, is well built and was on sale.When coupled with the right source (like a high SINAD DAC) with XLR connections this amp is dead silent and has plenty of power to drive my headphones listed above and is highly rated on ARS (see attached pics).So now when I heard any noise on those remaster tracks I know that the noise is fully coming directly from the master tracks during the recording process and not my system, and where they have high SINAD baked into the recording process my system also reveals that.So when the music fades (or slams) to black it's absolute pure silence (and bliss) just like the big difference when I switched from LED to OLED TVs on the picture side of things. When it comes to sitting near-field or listening with a headphone amp I'm a convert to these high SINAD, great measuring, low cost, balanced connected devices.If you only have RCA connections or need more power for hard to drive headphones then the Schitt Magni Heresy is a good choice and about the same price when shipping is included.https://smile.amazon.com/Schiit-Heresy-Op-Amp-Based-Headphone-Preamp/dp/B081Y7D7JK/Or if you're just starting out and need a good DAC/HP amp + BT combo the Topping DX3 Pro+ is a good choicehttps://smile.amazon.com/Topping-ES9038Q2M-Bluetooth-Headphone-Amplifier/dp/B09HBS8SLJ/Or if you need an all in one with a desktop speaker amphttps://smile.amazon.com/LOXJIE-MA12070-Headphone-Amplifier-Bluetooth/dp/B08J7Z8TN6

I really like this amp. I also own the SMS HO 200 and Gustard H16.I am using this with balanced inputs. I realize the amp itself is not balanced at output but with S/N ratios and distortion as low as this amp has, the few db you would gain in fully balanced output is negligable.It also has enough power for full sized headphones, but all the iems I have tried have been a low gain setting. For the purchase cost having true balanced XLR inputs and a built in power supply is awesome.If you are looking for a very low distorion, clean sound headphone amo with small foot print, look no further.

Great little unit. I use it with the SMSL DO100 USB DAC for living room headphones and it works excellently. Well made and designed. Highly recommended.

Powers my Beyerdynamic DT 880 600 ohm headphones perfectly. Balanced inputs make quite a difference too. Can’t beat it for the price.