Updated October 2026 · prices checked Oct 10, 2026.
Short answer: the Topping DX5 II (~$299) is the best balanced headphone amp for most people in 2026: big balanced power, a DAC and Bluetooth in one box. The two former picks on this page, the Schiit Magnius and the Drop + THX AAA 789, are no longer sold new.
4.4mm + 4-pin XLR outputs, about 6.4 W into 32Ω and 990 mW into 300Ω balanced, plus DAC and Bluetooth LDAC. The one-box answer.
The cheapest sensible way into balanced: DAC + 4.4mm output, about 1.3 W into 32Ω and 8 V into 300Ω.
$499 amp (DAC card optional): 6 W into 32Ω and 1.2 W into 300Ω balanced, per Schiit. For planars that need real power.
First, the honest part: do you need balanced?
Probably not. A balanced headphone output roughly doubles the voltage swing of the same amp’s single-ended jack, so it delivers up to about four times the power. That’s the entire real-world benefit at a desk. The noise-rejection story belongs to long cable runs between pro-audio gear, not the 2 m between your amp and your head. The electronics are explained in balanced vs single-ended headphone amps .
So the real question is whether you own, or plan to own, a headphone that needs the extra power:
- A planar magnetic such as a HiFiMAN Sundara , HE400SE or Audeze LCD-2. Balanced power is useful here. Keep reading.
- A 300Ω dynamic such as an HD 600 , HD 650 or HD 660S2 . These need about 2–2.5 V, and good single-ended desktop amps already deliver 8–11 V. Balanced is a nice-to-have; the 660S2 ships with a 4.4mm cable, so you can try it for free.
- IEMs or efficient closed-backs. Skip balanced and put the money into better headphones.
The shortlist
| Amp | Price | Balanced power (32Ω / 300Ω) | Single-ended (32Ω / 300Ω) | Balanced jacks | DAC built in? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Topping DX5 II | ~$299 | 6.4 W / 990 mW | 2.2 W / 250 mW | 4.4mm + 4-pin XLR | Yes, + Bluetooth |
| FiiO K11 R2R | ~$170 | ~1.3 W / ~220 mW | ~0.5 W / ~50 mW | 4.4mm | Yes |
| FiiO K13 R2R | ~$319 | 2.4 W / 600 mW | 1.22 W / 150 mW | 4.4mm | Yes |
| Schiit Jotunheim 3 | $499 | 6 W / 1.2 W | 2.0 W / 330 mW | 4-pin XLR + 4.4mm | Optional card |
| Schiit Asgard X | $399 | 2.8 W / 380 mW max (Schiit) | same rating | 4.4mm | No |
| iFi Zen DAC 3 | ~$229 | >300 mW / >70 mW @600Ω | >210 mW @32Ω | 4.4mm | Yes |
Manufacturer specs. Schiit prices from schiit.com, Oct 10, 2026. The K11 R2R figures vary slightly between FiiO’s retailer listings.
For scale: an HE400SE needs about 80 mW for 110 dB peaks and a Sundara about 40 mW. Every unit above covers both; the bigger numbers buy headroom for harder planars and very loud listening.
The picks
Topping DX5 II: best overall
The DX5 II is the most power per dollar in a box that also has a DAC. It’s balanced on both 4.4mm and 4-pin XLR, and still strong single-ended (about 8.7 V into 300Ω). Add Bluetooth LDAC and a remote and it covers nearly every desk. Buy it if you have or plan a planar. Skip it if your hardest load is an HD 600: the K11 R2R or a Magni does that for far less.
FiiO K11 R2R: cheapest sensible balanced
A DAC and amp with a 4.4mm balanced jack for about $170. Balanced, it’s about four times the single-ended power into 300Ω, which matters because its single-ended output is the weak side (about 50 mW into 300Ω). For 300Ω Sennheisers and budget planars, buy a 4.4mm cable and this is all you need.
Schiit Jotunheim 3: most power
$499 from Schiit, with an optional DAC card. Schiit rates it at 6 W into 32Ω and 1.2 W into 300Ω balanced, and under 0.8Ω output impedance balanced. That’s the kind of headroom an Audeze LCD-2 or a low-sensitivity HiFiMAN wants. It has 4-pin XLR, 4.4mm and ¼-inch headphone outputs and accepts both XLR and RCA inputs, so it works with any DAC. Sold direct only. Successor to the Jotunheim 2.
Schiit Asgard X: Class A with a 4.4mm jack
The $399 replacement for the Asgard 3. Schiit describes it as fully discrete with a Class A-biased output and no feedback, rated 2.8 W into 32Ω and 380 mW into 300Ω (Schiit lists one maximum power figure). Output impedance is 0.7Ω single-ended and 3.5Ω from the 4.4mm jack. Fine for planars and 300Ω dynamics; slightly high for very low-impedance IEMs on the balanced jack. Buy it for the design rather than for balanced power. See today's price for the Schiit Asgard X from Schiit ↗
Also good
- FiiO K13 R2R (~$319): more balanced power than the K11 R2R, with an R2R DAC. Against the DX5 II it has less power and costs about $20 more, so it’s for R2R fans. See today's price for the FiiO K13 R2R on Amazon ↗
- iFi Zen DAC 3 (~$229): USB-powered with a 4.4mm output. Fine for HD 600s and easier headphones balanced; not for hungry planars. See today's price for the iFi Zen DAC 3 on Amazon ↗
- Schiit Midgard ($219): amp only, nearly 5 W into 32Ω through either its ¼-inch or 4-pin XLR jack (Schiit). The XLR jack is a connector option here rather than a power upgrade, but it’s a lot of amp for the money. schiit.com
What happened to the Magnius and THX 789
- Schiit Magnius: no longer in Schiit’s line-up. It needed a DAC with XLR outputs, which made it a two-box purchase anyway; the DX5 II or K11 R2R now does the job in one. Old review: Schiit Magnius .
- Drop + THX AAA 789: Drop closed on March 31, 2026, so it’s used-market only. If you find one cheap and have a DAC, it’s still a fine amp. Old review: THX 789 .
Building the chain
- ~$170 + cable: FiiO K11 R2R and a 4.4mm cable for your headphone. Enough for HD 600s and budget planars.
- ~$299 + cable: Topping DX5 II. Enough for nearly any planar in the Sundara/Edition XS class.
- $499+: Jotunheim 3 with its DAC card, or with a separate DAC, for the hardest loads.
If this guide talked you out of balanced, the best headphone amps under $200 list covers single-ended amps that serve most headphones just as well.
Related: Balanced vs single-ended explained · Best amp for Sundara · Headphone amp reviews, ranked · What is a DAC? · HD 800 S amp guide
