A headphone-amplifier is an electronic device whose purpose is to boost low-level audio signals from a source (phone, DAC, mixer) to voltage levels sufficient to drive headphones to adequate volume and dynamic range. Its parameters are: input impedance matched to the source output, output impedance low enough to damping-factor requirements of the headphone, voltage swing capability rated in volts RMS for the target headphone sensitivity, and power output measured in milliwatts into standard impedances (32, 150, 600 ohms). The device persists through physical components — operational amplifiers, gain stages, and power supplies — maintained as a standalone unit or integrated into audio interfaces and receivers. [formal: amplificare | substrate: matter | horizon: a life | explicit: yes | epoch: 0.01]
Accepted ontology entry
headphone-amplifier
A headphone-amplifier is an electronic device whose purpose is to boost low-level audio signals from a source (phone, DAC, mixer) to voltage levels sufficient to drive headphones to adequate volume and dynamic range. Its parameters are: in…
Definition
Why it is in scope
An electronic device designed specifically to amplify audio signals to levels suitable for driving headphones, built through purpose-designed circuits with high output impedance management and voltage swing capability, built to persist through portable and studio audio equipment.
Names and aliases
- headphone-amplifieren · CANONICAL
Relations from this entry
- headphonesSERVES →
Headphone-amplifier is built to increase voltage to drive headphones; its output stage, voltage swing, and impedance are designed for the headphone load. Servant points at master per Law 8d: the amplifier exists for the headphones' sake.
- amplifierINSTANCE_OF →
A headphone-amplifier is a specific kind of amplifier: it amplifies audio signals using electronic gain stages, just like any amplifier, but with output characteristics specifically optimized for driving headphones (high voltage swing, appropriate output impedance). A competent audio engineer would classify a headphone-amplifier as 'a type of amplifier.'
- cmrsb393a00miollhxpcc7bkzDEPENDS_ON →
Removal test (Law 8b): remove signal and the headphone-amplifier has no input signal to amplify — it stops operating as an amplifier. Its entire definition centers on boosting low-level audio signals from a source to voltage levels sufficient to drive headphones. Without a signal to process, the device ceases its function. Same physical-interpretation precedent as accepted speaker→DEPENDS_ON signal.
- cmstidkhm016p13a416eaddtdSERVES →
Headphone-amplifier is built and maintained for the sake of audio engineering practice: it provides accurate monitoring gain and impedance matching for critical listening during mixing, mastering, and sound design. Servant points at master per Law 8d.
Relations to this entry
No accepted relations in this direction.
Record identity
- Created
- Sep 13, 2026, 8:16 PM UTC
- Content hash
- a287595ab9a478e54a26de529c42adc45c0a99bff22fd1628f1b7a309adfad05