{"product_id":"lina-headphone-amplifier","title":"Lina Headphone Amplifier","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"pa-d5\" style=\"color:#080808;line-height:1.6;font-size:15px\"\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"margin:0 0 6px;font-size:11.5px;letter-spacing:.14em;text-transform:uppercase;color:#8d1935;font-weight:600\"\u003edCS · Lina\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"margin:0 0 14px;font-size:18px;line-height:1.45;font-weight:600\"\u003edCS's first stand-alone analogue component: a Class AB headphone amplifier with a DC-servo output stage, 2 W per channel into 30 Ω balanced, three analogue inputs and three headphone outputs, sized to stack with the Lina Network DAC and Master Clock.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"display:inline-block;margin:0 0 18px;padding:4px 10px;border:1px solid #d8d5ce;border-radius:2px;font-size:13px;color:#55524c\"\u003eAnalogue headphone amplifier with no DAC inside; takes any line-level source. Available to order.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"display:grid;grid-template-columns:repeat(2,minmax(0,1fr));gap:1px;background:#d8d5ce;border:1px solid #d8d5ce;margin:0 0 22px\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"background:#f7f6f2;padding:12px 14px\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"font-size:20px;font-weight:600;line-height:1.2\"\u003e2 W\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"font-size:12.5px;color:#55524c;line-height:1.35;margin-top:3px\"\u003eper channel into 30 Ω, balanced; 0.48 W into 300 Ω\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"background:#f7f6f2;padding:12px 14px\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"font-size:20px;font-weight:600;line-height:1.2\"\u003e110 dB\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"font-size:12.5px;color:#55524c;line-height:1.35;margin-top:3px\"\u003esignal-to-noise, A-weighted\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"background:#f7f6f2;padding:12px 14px\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"font-size:20px;font-weight:600;line-height:1.2\"\u003e3 + 3\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"font-size:12.5px;color:#55524c;line-height:1.35;margin-top:3px\"\u003eanalogue inputs and headphone outputs\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"background:#f7f6f2;padding:12px 14px\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"font-size:20px;font-weight:600;line-height:1.2\"\u003e7.5 kg\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"font-size:12.5px;color:#55524c;line-height:1.35;margin-top:3px\"\u003eweight (16.5 lb)\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"margin:0 0 12px\"\u003eThe Lina Headphone Amplifier grew out of the Class AB amplifier dCS designed for the Bartók Headphone DAC, rebuilt as a separate product with its own chassis and power supply. dCS describes the output stage as \"Super Class AB\": a bipolar Class AB design with a DC servo that corrects the incoming signal at source, intended to give the linearity of a Class A stage without its heat or its intolerance of varying loads, and without crossover distortion. The reasoning is practical. Headphones range from 16 Ω planars that want current to 300 Ω and 600 Ω dynamics that want voltage swing, and dCS set out to build one amplifier that drives all of them from the same outputs. The result is rated at 2 W per channel into 30 Ω and 0.48 W into 300 Ω from the balanced outputs, and 1.6 W and 0.2 W from the unbalanced jack. The chassis is machined from billet aluminium, which dCS chose for its acoustic and electromagnetic properties as much as its appearance.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"margin:0 0 12px\"\u003eMeasured performance is in line with the rest of the Lina system: THD+N below 0.005% at 1 kHz with 6 V rms into 30 Ω over an 80 kHz bandwidth, a signal-to-noise ratio of 110 dB A-weighted, channel separation better than 100 dB at 1 kHz and a bandwidth of 1 Hz to 100 kHz within +0\/-3 dB. Hi-Fi News measured the output impedance at under 1 Ω (0.65 to 0.73 Ω) and distortion of 0.00007% to 0.0005% across the audio band, and wrote that \"the Headphone Amplifier's weight and punch proved both thrilling and totally compelling\", calling it very powerful and able to drive demanding headphones convincingly. dCS's design brief was neutrality that respects the headphone's own character rather than imposing one; Headfonics described the result as neutral and revealing, with a harmonic balance that keeps it from sounding analytical, and found it had enough power for every headphone tried.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"margin:0 0 12px\"\u003eThree stereo inputs are provided: unbalanced RCA at 48 kΩ, unbuffered balanced XLR at 16 kΩ, and buffered balanced XLR at 96 kΩ, the last for sources that prefer a high-impedance load. Headphone outputs are a pair of 3-pin XLRs for left and right, a single 4-pin XLR and a 6.35 mm jack, so most balanced and single-ended cables connect without adapters. A gain switch under the volume control lowers the noise floor for sensitive headphones and in-ear monitors. Power Link connections on RJ45 synchronise power-up and standby with the Lina Network DAC and Master Clock, and the volume is set here, in the analogue domain, rather than at the DAC. The amplifier accepts any line-level source, so it also serves as the headphone stage for a Bartók APEX DAC or Rossini APEX DAC, or for an analogue preamplifier's output.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"margin:0 0 20px\"\u003eWithin dCS, the alternative is the \u003ca href=\"\/products\/bartok-apex-headphone-dac\"\u003eBartók APEX Headphone DAC\u003c\/a\u003e, which builds a smaller Class A amplifier (1.4 W into 33 Ω) into the DAC chassis. The Lina Headphone Amplifier offers more power, more inputs and three output connectors, and it completes the three-box Lina system that Hi-Fi News and others have reviewed as a whole. Pearl Audio does not currently have the Headphone Amplifier on demonstration; the \u003ca href=\"\/products\/lina-network-dac\"\u003eLina Network DAC\u003c\/a\u003e and \u003ca href=\"\/products\/lina-master-clock\"\u003eLina Master Clock\u003c\/a\u003e are in the Portland showroom, and the amplifier is available to order, with an audition arranged on request.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 style=\"margin:0 0 8px;font-size:16px\"\u003eKey technologies\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul style=\"margin:0 0 20px;padding-left:18px\"\u003e\n\u003cli style=\"margin:0 0 5px\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSuper Class AB output stage.\u003c\/strong\u003e A bipolar Class AB design with a DC servo that corrects the signal at source, for Class A linearity without the heat, load intolerance or crossover distortion.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli style=\"margin:0 0 5px\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eThree analogue inputs.\u003c\/strong\u003e Unbalanced RCA (48 kΩ), unbuffered balanced XLR (16 kΩ) and buffered balanced XLR (96 kΩ) for sources that prefer a high-impedance load.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli style=\"margin:0 0 5px\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eThree headphone outputs.\u003c\/strong\u003e Dual 3-pin XLR, 4-pin XLR and 6.35 mm jack, so most balanced and single-ended cables connect without adapters.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli style=\"margin:0 0 5px\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eGain switch.\u003c\/strong\u003e A two-position switch lowers the noise floor for sensitive headphones and in-ear monitors.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli style=\"margin:0 0 5px\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBillet aluminium chassis.\u003c\/strong\u003e Machined from solid for its acoustic and electromagnetic properties, in the 220 mm Lina format.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli style=\"margin:0 0 5px\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePower Link.\u003c\/strong\u003e RJ45 connections synchronise power-up and standby with the Lina Network DAC and Master Clock.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3 style=\"margin:0 0 8px;font-size:16px\"\u003eFinishes\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul style=\"list-style:none;margin:0 0 6px;padding:0\"\u003e\n\u003cli style=\"display:flex;align-items:center;gap:10px;margin:0 0 6px\"\u003e\n\u003cspan style=\"flex:0 0 18px;width:18px;height:18px;border-radius:50%;background:#c3c4c6;border:1px solid #d8d5ce\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSilver\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003cspan style=\"color:#55524c\"\u003epainted machined aluminium\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli style=\"display:flex;align-items:center;gap:10px;margin:0 0 6px\"\u003e\n\u003cspan style=\"flex:0 0 18px;width:18px;height:18px;border-radius:50%;background:#1d1d1f;border:1px solid #d8d5ce\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBlack\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003cspan style=\"color:#55524c\"\u003epainted machined aluminium\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"margin:0 0 20px;font-size:13.5px;color:#55524c\"\u003eBoth finishes are the same price. The 220 mm chassis stacks with the Lina Network DAC and Lina Master Clock.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdetails open style=\"border-top:1px solid #080808;margin:0 0 6px\"\u003e\u003csummary style=\"cursor:pointer;padding:12px 0;font-size:16px;font-weight:600\"\u003eSpecifications\u003c\/summary\u003e\u003ctable style=\"width:100%;border-collapse:collapse;font-size:14px;margin:0 0 14px\"\u003e\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"padding:7px 10px 7px 0;border-bottom:1px solid #d8d5ce;vertical-align:top;width:40%;color:#55524c\"\u003eType\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"padding:7px 0;border-bottom:1px solid #d8d5ce;vertical-align:top\"\u003eAnalogue headphone amplifier; Class AB bipolar output stage with DC servo (dCS \"Super Class AB\")\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"padding:7px 10px 7px 0;border-bottom:1px solid #d8d5ce;vertical-align:top;width:40%;color:#55524c\"\u003eInputs\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"padding:7px 0;border-bottom:1px solid #d8d5ce;vertical-align:top\"\u003e1 stereo pair unbalanced RCA (48 kΩ); 1 stereo pair unbuffered balanced XLR (16 kΩ); 1 stereo pair buffered balanced XLR (96 kΩ)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"padding:7px 10px 7px 0;border-bottom:1px solid #d8d5ce;vertical-align:top;width:40%;color:#55524c\"\u003eHeadphone outputs\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"padding:7px 0;border-bottom:1px solid #d8d5ce;vertical-align:top\"\u003e1 × dual 3-pin XLR (left and right); 1 × 4-pin XLR balanced; 1 × 6.35 mm (¼ in) jack\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"padding:7px 10px 7px 0;border-bottom:1px solid #d8d5ce;vertical-align:top;width:40%;color:#55524c\"\u003eOutput power\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"padding:7px 0;border-bottom:1px solid #d8d5ce;vertical-align:top\"\u003eBalanced: 2 W per channel into 30 Ω, 0.48 W into 300 Ω. Unbalanced: 1.6 W into 30 Ω, 0.2 W into 300 Ω\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"padding:7px 10px 7px 0;border-bottom:1px solid #d8d5ce;vertical-align:top;width:40%;color:#55524c\"\u003eGain\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"padding:7px 0;border-bottom:1px solid #d8d5ce;vertical-align:top\"\u003eTwo-position gain switch (Headfonics reports a 10.5 dB difference); values not published by dCS\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"padding:7px 10px 7px 0;border-bottom:1px solid #d8d5ce;vertical-align:top;width:40%;color:#55524c\"\u003eOutput impedance\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"padding:7px 0;border-bottom:1px solid #d8d5ce;vertical-align:top\"\u003eNot published by dCS (Hi-Fi News measured 0.65–0.73 Ω)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"padding:7px 10px 7px 0;border-bottom:1px solid #d8d5ce;vertical-align:top;width:40%;color:#55524c\"\u003eFrequency response\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"padding:7px 0;border-bottom:1px solid #d8d5ce;vertical-align:top\"\u003e1 Hz–100 kHz, better than +0\/-3 dB\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"padding:7px 10px 7px 0;border-bottom:1px solid #d8d5ce;vertical-align:top;width:40%;color:#55524c\"\u003eTHD+N\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"padding:7px 0;border-bottom:1px solid #d8d5ce;vertical-align:top\"\u003eBelow 0.005% at 1 kHz, 6 V rms balanced output into 30 Ω, 80 kHz bandwidth\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"padding:7px 10px 7px 0;border-bottom:1px solid #d8d5ce;vertical-align:top;width:40%;color:#55524c\"\u003eSignal-to-noise\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"padding:7px 0;border-bottom:1px solid #d8d5ce;vertical-align:top\"\u003e110 dB, 20 Hz–20 kHz A-weighted, referenced to 6 V rms balanced input and output\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"padding:7px 10px 7px 0;border-bottom:1px solid #d8d5ce;vertical-align:top;width:40%;color:#55524c\"\u003eChannel separation\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"padding:7px 0;border-bottom:1px solid #d8d5ce;vertical-align:top\"\u003eBetter than 100 dB at 1 kHz; better than 80 dB, 20 Hz–20 kHz (balanced in to balanced out, 30 Ω)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"padding:7px 10px 7px 0;border-bottom:1px solid #d8d5ce;vertical-align:top;width:40%;color:#55524c\"\u003eDimensions\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"padding:7px 0;border-bottom:1px solid #d8d5ce;vertical-align:top\"\u003e121.5 mm H × 220 mm W × 356 mm D (4.8 × 8.7 × 14.0 in)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"padding:7px 10px 7px 0;border-bottom:1px solid #d8d5ce;vertical-align:top;width:40%;color:#55524c\"\u003eWeight\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"padding:7px 0;border-bottom:1px solid #d8d5ce;vertical-align:top\"\u003e7.5 kg (16.5 lb)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"padding:7px 10px 7px 0;border-bottom:1px solid #d8d5ce;vertical-align:top;width:40%;color:#55524c\"\u003ePower\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"padding:7px 0;border-bottom:1px solid #d8d5ce;vertical-align:top\"\u003e90–120 V \/ 230–240 V, 50\/60 Hz, automatic voltage switching; 2 × Power Link (RJ45)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"padding:7px 10px 7px 0;border-bottom:1px solid #d8d5ce;vertical-align:top;width:40%;color:#55524c\"\u003eFinish\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"padding:7px 0;border-bottom:1px solid #d8d5ce;vertical-align:top\"\u003eSilver or black painted machined aluminium\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"margin:0 0 14px;font-size:13px\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/lina.dcsaudio.com\/products\/lina-amplifier\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"\u003edCS Lina Headphone Amplifier product page and specifications\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003c\/details\u003e\n\u003cdetails style=\"border-top:1px solid #080808;border-bottom:1px solid #080808;margin:0 0 22px\"\u003e\u003csummary style=\"cursor:pointer;padding:12px 0;font-size:16px;font-weight:600\"\u003eWhere it sits in the range\u003c\/summary\u003e\u003cdiv style=\"padding:0 0 14px\"\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"margin:0 0 8px\"\u003eThe analogue component of the three-box Lina headphone system.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul style=\"margin:0;padding-left:18px\"\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/lina-master-clock\"\u003edCS Lina Master Clock\u003c\/a\u003e: two-output word clock for the Lina DACs\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003edCS Lina Headphone Amplifier\u003c\/strong\u003e (this model)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/lina-network-dac\"\u003edCS Lina Network DAC\u003c\/a\u003e: half-width network DAC\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/lina-x\"\u003edCS Lina DAC X\u003c\/a\u003e: full-width Lina DAC with rotary volume control and remote\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"margin:10px 0 0\"\u003eThe one-box alternative is the \u003ca href=\"\/products\/bartok-apex-headphone-dac\"\u003eBartók APEX Headphone DAC\u003c\/a\u003e, with a 1.4 W Class A amplifier built into the DAC.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\u003c\/details\u003e\n\u003ch3 style=\"margin:0 0 8px;font-size:16px\"\u003eReviews\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul style=\"margin:0 0 22px;padding-left:18px\"\u003e\n\u003cli style=\"margin:0 0 5px\"\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.hifinews.com\/content\/dcs-lina-system-dacheadphone-amp\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"\u003eHi-Fi News: dCS Lina System DAC\/Headphone Amp\u003c\/a\u003e (Andrew Everard and Paul Miller, November 2022)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli style=\"margin:0 0 5px\"\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/headfonics.com\/dcs-lina-headphone-amplifier-review\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"\u003eHeadfonics: dCS Lina Headphone Amplifier Review\u003c\/a\u003e (undated)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"padding:16px 18px;background:#f7f6f2;border-left:3px solid #8d1935\"\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"margin:0 0 4px;font-weight:600\"\u003ePlan your dCS system with Pearl Audio\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"margin:0;font-size:14px\"\u003ePearl Audio is an authorized dCS dealer. The Lina Network DAC and Lina Master Clock are on demonstration in our Portland showroom; the Lina Headphone Amplifier is available to order, and we can arrange an audition on request. Call \u003ca href=\"tel:+15032222599\"\u003e(503) 222-2599\u003c\/a\u003e or email \u003ca href=\"mailto:sales@pearlaudio.com?subject=dCS%20Lina%20Headphone%20Amplifier\"\u003esales@pearlaudio.com\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"dCS","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":42848286507106,"sku":"LINA-AMP","price":9750.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/2475\/2780\/files\/dcs-lina-about-section.jpg?v=1777590857","url":"https:\/\/pearlaudio.com\/products\/lina-headphone-amplifier","provider":"Pearl Audio","version":"1.0","type":"link"}