Headphone Amps to keep your head banging
For your electronic devices, that need an extra boost.
There comes a time when the output of your electronic devices usually has one headphone output (that’s if you count Bluetooth as an output source. That will come later for now. We are dealing with the amplification of portable sound) and you may want multiple outputs; weather its digital-to-analog; Need a warm sound or graphically equalized. Graphic equalizers were very popular in the 80s. Given the regular volume, an extra boost of bass and treble.
Fast forward to 2021. Here are my top picks of portable boosters and enhancers from today and the past I have used over the years.
SoundBlaster E1
The Subpac is a bass enhancing wearable tech that outputs low frequency feel from games, music; and movies. More on wearable tech in another Blog.
If you bought a Personal Computer (PC) in the late 90s early 2000s. Your PC probably came with an 8-bit SoundBlaster sound card. Unless you were a super-duper user, that option for another brand. The SoundBlaster model E1 increases the level of audio detail for your headphones or passive speakers. The unit has a charging internal battery that makes it a portable Amp on the go. I use it for boosting my Subpac to give a more robust bass feel. The Subpac is a Bass enhancing wearable tech that outputs low frequency feel from games, music; and movies. More on wearable tech in another Blog.
The E1 model can also play second fiddle for a laptop's external sound card. For those users that need a branded boost than the generic Sound Cards that typically come with most laptops. Since most laptops, apart from the gaming variants, are becoming more generic.
One of the headphone jacks has a combo output jack with a microphone. This jack is similar for us users who still use the headphone jack on our cell phones. Better known as TTRS Jack. It enables you to chat with a combo headphones and mic whether to talk on the phone or in-game chat.
Bluetooth is an added touch towards its functions. It can only receive sound (RX) Bluetooth; In other words, it does not broadcast sound (TX). you send sound effects from your phone or music to be heard from the output of E1 device. Very strong unit to consider from a trusted brand.
BrainWavz AP001 Headphone Amplifier
This headphone amp is so good and basic that I keep it in my travel bag for different types of Airlines. Not all airlines provide planes with great amplification from the Jack. Yes ok, I shouldn't buy the cheap seats, coach is better known as Economy tickets. The jacks may sound bland and you have very little seat space to get a portable amplifier for your listening needs. In comes the BrainWavz which can boost the volume sound 50 decibels on top of the listening level you set from your armrest. The audio is extra crisp with Noise Canceling headphones of your choice. The battery power lasts 8 hours enough for a 7.5 hr. Flight. (Flying to the UK from the Midwest takes that long on a good day). This unit may be sold from multiple private labels so it may not be sold as BrainWavz; So, happy hunting for this product.
SRS iWOW 3D
This is the only mini-amp that came out during the iPods and all the original iPhones up version 4S. On one end there’s a 30 pin and a headphone connector. The button on the center of the body controls the amplification of sound. flat, midrange, and bass heavy. I haven’t used the device since I’ve upgraded to iPhone 6. I may give it a demo run one day on video.
(Drum-roll Please)
Sony SEQ-50 Graphic Equalizer
I had this graphic equalizer back in the mid-eighties it has served well probably for 10 of its normal years. It has a 5-Band Stereo Graphic Equalizer with an on and off defeat switch. Two headphone output and input lead cable with a 2.5 male jack. It operates with two double AA batteries. You can imagine back in those days batteries came in 4 packs. Two would go in your Sony Walkman the others ended up in your graphics equalizer. It gave the sound of your cassettes enough thump especially if you're using cro2(Chrome type 2 ) Cassettes. The sound was loud and clear and the bass and treble had nice sound cutoffs. Later on when portable CD players came aboard using the SEQ-50 EQ. The sound was like listening through on a full-sized stereo amplifier.
I have a video link if you like to see them visually. I get a lot of requests to make the Sony Graphic Equalizer solo video. It will come during the 2020 Xmas season of tech videos I’m releasing.
Here’s the link for the video.
Five Classic Headphone Amps
