Headphone Amplifier Designed for Mixing with Headphones

The Alctron HA660 - a fully-featured headphone amplifier designed for mixing that doesn't break the bank.

When it comes to music production, whether at home or in the studio, budget is always a consideration when buying new equipment. When the time comes to pick out a nice pair of high-impedance headphones for mixing and mastering your tunes, the accompanying search for a suitable headphone amplifier can be a bit of a lengthy and expensive experience.

There are a few things to consider when buying such a device whether it's "can this thing actually power my headphones" or "does this have all the features I'd need from it". Even if you manage to find a suitable model you're usually spending upwards of $500 or even $1000 for something from a big name brand that you might just set-and-forget.

The latest introduction to the Alctron range of headphone amplifiers is the HA-660, a fully-featured and sleek-looking headphone amplifier that does everything you'd need it to at a super reasonable price point. Sporting their classic sleek design philosophy, this unit not only functions great but also looks the part as a professional audio product.

The HA660 is a professional stereo headphone amplifier that works via the use of a magnifying electronic circuit, carefully amplifying each individual signal whilst maintaining the natural sound coming out of your interface or DAC. Meanwhile, the low-distortion circuit designs inside of the unit provide a lower-noise and cleaner signal than some other models on the market. Its easy-to-use 3-input selector allows you to patch into the unit using XLR, TRS, or RCA allowing you to choose between your balanced or unbalanced input. This is especially useful since not every DAC or interface has the same type of outputs, and you can often become stuck having to buy splitter or converter cables which further adds to the cost of your purchase. With a nice large volume knob on the front and 1/4" stereo jack output, these core features make this unit perfect for home studios, hi-fi setups and mixing.

The functionality doesn't just stop there. Alctron has incorporated some excellent speaker simulation technology into the device with the use of the Feed, Centre, and Angle switches on the front of the unit. The use of these controls allows you to accurately simulate listening on a pair of high-quality studio monitors without having to worry about acoustically treating your room or even owning an expensive pair. The feed knob on the front allows you to select from predetermined amounts of stereo feedback, which essentially models what you'd hear in real life - a bit of the right signal going into your left ear and vice-versa. The angle functionality is a crucial control that allows you to determine the hypothetical angle that the speakers make with your ears. The centre functionality allows you to accurately correct for the potential drop in mid-frequencies that may occur when utilizing the other two controls.

With these three controls combined, it's easy to switch on this amazing functionality to get an accurate listen to your mixdown in a different context without even having to take off your headphones. This allows for budget-conscious musicians and producers to get the most out of their mixes without having to spend ridiculous amounts of money. Let's be honest - good speakers are not cheap. This product may just be the answer you've been looking for.

This one has quickly become a staff favourite for use with open-back cans such as the Audio Technica ATH-R70X. For more information on the HA660 Premium Stereo Headphone Amplifier visit the product page.