The only problem with high-end headphones is, the only way to unleash their fullest potential is by pairing them up with an equally high-end headphone amplifier. This probably doesn’t sound like much of a problem in the first instance – high end stuff is great! But when you consider just how difficult it is to get hold of high-end headphone amplifiers (getting hold of high-end headphones is easy!), you might understand the problem. Especially if you have the likes of the Abyss or the Hifi Man HE-1000 at your disposal!
Let me put it this way: even though very high-end headphone amplifiers are out there, they are typically independently made. Usually by a very small team, or even just one man in his garage. While the amps are often amazing and very unique, demand understandably is much higher than supply. This results in huge waiting lists and very little in the way of manufacturer’s guarantees and the like. Well, if you have high-end headphones and no way to meet their vast potential, there is now something for you. And you can get it quickly.
That right there is the Audio Technica AT-H5050H Reference, a very high-end (entirely reference level) headphone amplifier that’s made by a big brand. This is practically unheard of, and there hasn’t been much like it for some time, so you can understand why any high-end headphone fan should be excited!
Up until this point, our highest end head amps were the Sennheiser HDVD800 (the glorious HD800s’ perfect match!) at £1499 and the immensely popular Oppo HA1 – with some special editions that go up to £1899 (a dream when paired with the Oppo PM-1!). Both of them amazing, especially when paired with their respective headphones, but still not quite high-end enough to handle the big boys.
Remember the Abyss? There wasn’t much out there that could do them justice. Well, the AT-H5050H can, and does. That’s how good this thing is. And at £4500, you would expect very little else! It sounds incredible, as though the veil has finally been lifted from the headphone sound. It has a touch more bass than you’d expect, and a much, much bigger range. Higher, wider, deeper… simply more!
It’s also beautifully designed, looks stunning in the flesh (much better than in photos) and is quite unusually much smaller and more compact than most high-end headphone amps tend to be. At just over a foot in dimensions, it’s perfect for the desktop. This is quite handy really when you consider it comes with a USB DAC, making it perfect for use with whatever Mac/PC set up you have. But you’re not limited to that! It also has XLR and RCA inputs (very rare for headphone amps!) with different impedance levels specifically dedicated. You can even select the VU level with a toggle, which is really really cool. A true nod to the purist days of old, and simply not something you’re likely to get on anything else!
The only thing we can see that is likely to rival this is the upcoming Orpheus range. But that is something else, altogether. Oh, and it comes fully certified, with a guarantee and everything!
Sound good? You can read more and check out its incredible specs by clicking here, or you could even contact us to arrange a demo as it will be in our showroom by the time you read this!