SMSL SH-9 THX AAA-888 Balanced Headphone Amp

An economic amp with a major power-up The SMSL SH-9 arrives almost exactly two years after the release of its predecessor, the SH-8. The SH-8 impressed reviewers by being a solidly performing balanced amp for under $200. It was a great choice for the budget-conscious audio lover looking to jump into balanced sound.  The SH-9 is a classic upgrade: it does everything its predecessor did, only better. The amp is both more powerful and more discreet. The screen is larger. The protruding volume knob is easier to operate. And to top it all off, the SH-9 matches the SU-9 and SU-9n DACs in size and aesthetics for easy stackability. Power you can feel Entry-level and mid-tier amps all beg the same question. Are they powerful enough to drive all my headphones? The answer in this case is (almost) definitely. With 6W at 16Ω and 3W at 32Ω, the SH-9 can power nearly everything. And if you need a little extra oomph, just toggle the gain switch for another 10 decibels.  (If you’re unsure about yo