5W HEADPHONE AMP

The SMSL H200 is a fully-balanced headphone amplifier and desktop preamplifier designed for high-resolution headphone systems and two-channel audio. Built around a discrete PLFC+ amplifier architecture, a custom toroidal linear power supply, and a one-piece CNC-machined aluminum chassis, it combines high output power with measured low noise and distortion. Balanced and single-ended headphone outputs, multiple analog inputs, and dedicated preamplifier outputs allow the H200 to serve as either a dedicated headphone amplifier or the control center of an active speaker system.

Discrete fully balanced amplifier design

At the heart of the H200 is SMSL's discrete fully balanced PLFC+ amplifier circuit. Rather than relying on integrated amplifier chips, the design uses carefully selected discrete components to maintain a true balanced signal path from input to output. A balanced architecture helps reduce common-mode interference while preserving signal integrity throughout the amplification stage.

Volume is controlled through a relay-controlled precision attenuator, which maintains accurate channel matching throughout the adjustment range. This approach improves consistency during low-volume listening while preserving the amplifier's measured performance.

Power for a wide range of headphones

The H200 delivers up to 5 watts into 32 ohms through its balanced output, providing sufficient current and voltage for demanding planar magnetic headphones as well as high-impedance dynamic designs. Three selectable gain settings allow output to be matched to different headphone sensitivities, helping reduce residual background noise with efficient in-ear monitors while maintaining the voltage swing required by more challenging loads.

The front panel provides both a 4.4mm balanced output and a traditional 6.35mm single-ended headphone output, making the amplifier compatible with a wide variety of headphones without requiring adapters.

Linear power supply and measured performance

A custom toroidal transformer powers a dedicated linear regulated supply that separately feeds the analog and digital sections of the amplifier to minimize interference between circuits. Low-temperature-drift components help maintain stable operating performance, while integrated DC, over-voltage, and over-current protection circuits safeguard both the amplifier and connected headphones.

The H200 measures THD+N as low as 0.00007%, alongside a 131 dB signal-to-noise ratio and 131 dB dynamic range. Frequency response extends from 20 Hz to 100 kHz (-0.5 dB), allowing the amplifier to maintain linear performance across the audible range while accommodating the bandwidth of high-resolution source material.

Desktop preamplifier with flexible connectivity

In addition to headphone amplification, the H200 functions as a dedicated desktop preamplifier. Balanced XLR and RCA inputs allow connection to DACs and other analog sources, while balanced XLR and RCA preamplifier outputs make integration with active speakers or a separate power amplifier straightforward.

A full-laminated IPS display protected by tempered glass presents operating mode, selected input, gain level, and volume. The amplifier is housed in a one-piece CNC-machined aluminum enclosure measuring 200 × 175 × 47.9 mm (7.87 × 6.89 × 1.89 inches), providing a rigid chassis with a compact desktop footprint. Additional features include a grounding control switch and a USB service port.

Availability

The SMSL H200 is available now on Apos.