HeadRoom Desktop Amp (no DAC)

The center of your desktop-based listening universe arrives in a small-footprint, lusciously curved black aluminum chassis surrounded by protective molded urethane bumpers. Our HeadRoom Desktop Amp delivers an integrated solution for all demanding audiophile headphone listening situations in both digital and analog domains regardless whether it's a headphone-only or a monitor-oriented application. So no matter if you connect to an iPod, laptop/PC computer, portable CD/DVD player, HeadRoom Power Amps, pre-amp, turntable phono stage, big home theatre, component stereo system, gamer box, or custom audio front-end, this nook-sized 'made in Montana, USA' HeadRoom rig driving your favorite reference headphones will transform personal and near-field headspace into pure sonic nirvana.

The Swiss Army Knife of Audio

Along with the standard dual analog RCA inputs, the 'DAC' (Digital-to-Analog-Converter) input available as an optional upgrade in the HeadRoom Desktop Amp allows the ability to connect any digital audio source directly to the unit via optical or co-axial digital inputs, OR from a computer’s USB connection. Go ahead and hook up everything at the same time -- up to five sources -- and then effortlessly select between them at the flick of a switch. That's just one of the many flexible "Audio Swiss-Army Knife" design features of our amazing HeadRoom Desktop headphone amp; The Desktop Amp can also easily act as an advanced switching center [i.e., 'pre-amp'] for all your various audio sources as it feeds into our own HeadRoom Power Amps nestled within a near-field, speaker-based Audiophile Desktop System on your workstation.

Features

The front panel of the Desktop Amp sports both full-size 1/4" and mini-plug 1/8” [3.5mm] stereo headphone jacks for use with most headphone terminations. The amp will easily drive two headphones simultaneously. A 3-position gain switch on the front panel lets you select the operating range for headphones with any impedance/efficiency rating. Discrete crossfeed and filter switches allow the user to adjust the audio presentation to your particular tastes, and, of course, an on/off power switch is also handily located on the front. The Desktop Amp has a rear panel connection for the included +/-15VDC linear regulated AC power supply. The rear of the amp also has a 2 independent sets of RCA-plug analog inputs with an input selector switch to choose your source, allowing you to have two analog sources connected to your Desktop Amp at all times. The Desktop Amp can also be used as a simple pre-amplifier, and features a variable RCA-plug output on the rear panel suitable for hooking up to powered bookshelf /computer speakers or for linking the HeadRoom Desktop Amp to a larger amplifier or home theatre system. The rear output can be defeated by a front panel switch when listening solely to headphones.

Electronics Module

The 'electronics module' is the internal circuit board chiefly responsible for the amp's sound quality. The module found in the Desktop Amp is the 'Home' electronics module which uses Burr-Brown 2134 op-amps while adding a series of constant-current sources to force everything into true "Class-A" biasing. This 'Home' analog module is tightly coherent, seamlessly smooth, and very accurate-sounding with precise musical detail resolution, an ultra-wide dynamic range extension, and an expressive, nuanced musical presentation throughout the entire frequency range.

Digital to Analog Converter (DAC)

The DAC is an optional internal board upgrade you may select when buying your Desktop Amp. A DAC allows your HeadRoom unit to accept any digital audio signal and convert it to warm analog sound using premium chip set electronics. The DAC then sends that converted analog audio signal to the headphone amp stage of the Desktop Amp for final clean amplification into your headphones. The HeadRoom 'Home' DAC is based on the Cirrus CS4398 chip which is their top-of-the-line, flagship DAC. There is frankly not too much we can do here at HeadRoom to make it sound even better but, as always, we give it a darn good shot. One thing we CAN do in-house is employ crazy-expensive Burr-Brown OPA627s op-amps in the audio chain of the DAC, which is exactly what happens in the 'Home' DAC stage. This installation offers superb overall audio performance from any digital-output audio source, an organic analog-like timbral smoothness, and cogent musical detail resolution while pushing the DAC stage into critical "Class-A" performance bias.

Power Supply

Included with our HeadRoom Balanced Desktop Amp is the "international voltage" Astrodyne Universal Power Supply that delivers correct, low-noise robust current on demand for the Balanced Desktop unit without having to necessarily shell out for the superior-performing, significantly better-sounding (but pricey) Desktop Power Supply. The Astrodyne power supply input voltage is auto-selecting and will operate with any worldwide voltage current by simply employing the proper IEC power cable appropiate for that country's AC wall-socket configuration. (An IEC power cable is just like the three-prong cables used for most electronics like computers or monitors, for example. The IEC cable's 'wall-plug' end will have the proper terminations appropiate to where on the planet you’re plugging in your HeadRoom audio oasis.) IEC CORD IS NOT INCLUDED!

If you need help choosing your HeadRoom amp, please contact us for personalized help, by emailing sales or calling our knowledgeable sales staff at 800.828.8184. You can also learn more about our electronics modules, D-A converters, and volume controls. If you would like a particular configuration of Desktop Amp not offered on this page, please visit our Special Order Amp page to learn about available tweaks and special-ordering information.

Accessories

The HeadRoom Desktop Amp does not include any interconnect cabling. A USB cable will allow you to digitally hook up your Desktop Amp (with a DAC installation) directly to a computer. If using the optical input, you will need an Optical Digital Cable, and if you are using coaxial inputs then take a look at this coaxial cable. To hook up your Desktop Amp to a portable audio player with an 1/8” (3.5mm) output, you will need a mini 1/8" to 1/8" cable. We recommend the Cardas 6 inch or 12 inch mini to mini cables, or for longer runs we suggest the Cardas 1 meter or 2 meter versions. If you are using a source with an RCA output, you will need an RCA cable. Or, take a look at all of our cables.

Dimensions

The HeadRoom Desktop amp measures 6 ¼” x 6 ¼” x 3 1/3” tall and weighs in at around 1.8 lbs of lovely audiophilic delight.

All HeadRoom Desktop products are hand-built in Montana, USA.