Pico Slim Portable Amp: Pre-Ordering Now Open
December 10, 2009

The Pico Slim Portable Amp can now be pre-ordered here: http://www.head-fi.org/forums/f38/headamp-pico-slim-amp-pre-order-requests-459464/

We are offering a special price for any amps ordered during the pre-order period, which will be open until the first amps are ready to ship.

Also, a lifetime warranty and lifetime batteries is being offered for the first 250 units only.  This special status will be engraved onto each amp.  See the pre-order thread for more details.

Pico Slim Portable Amp: Update
November 25, 2009

Please keep checking the Head-Fi Pico Slim Sponsored Thread for the latest updates on the Pico Slim portable amp.

Pico USB DAC/Amp: All Colors Now in Stock
June 10, 2009

The Pico USB DAC/Amp is now in stock in all colors.  Please always check the Order page for the latest status.

Pico Slim Portable Amp: A Preview
May 5, 2009

A release of a new portable amp, the Pico Slim, is planned for late summer.  What will the Pico Slim offer?

- Thinner than an iPod Classic or iPhone (about 0.4" thin).
- 1.75" wide front panel with 3.5mm input & output, volume knob, and illuminated power switch; 3" length.
- Up to 4.2V/250mA output per channel
- 40 to 50 hour battery life (Lithium Polymer).
- Charging by USB or DC Adapter.
The above specifications are subject to change.

But most importantly the Pico Slim is different.  The heart of the Pico Slim is a feature not found on any other portable amp.  With the growing popularity of IEMs that have extreme sensitivity, portable amps have enough power but fall short in other areas.  The Pico Slim will solve these problems and still be a fraction of the size of other portable amps.  That's why the Pico Slim will make the most sense as the amplifier in your portable rig.

A few months ago, an early prototype was sent to a Head-Fi member for evaluation.  Here are his thoughts.  Parts of these impressions have been removed to hide details of the Pico Slim's design.

"I believe that [the Pico Slim] is the perfect solution for IEMs. It's the no holds barred approach to dealing with providing an amp for IEMs. The degree to which you can ___________ is insane. [The Pico Slim] is a design tailored specifically to address the issues with current tech portable amps, namely the fact that it is impossible to ____________. So [HeadAmp] dealt with this in a way that as far as I know has never been done in any headphone amp, portable or otherwise. So you custom IEM freaks might want to be on the lookout, you ain't seen nothing like it."

For now, we're keeping the feature that sets the Pico Slim apart under wraps.  More info will be revealed this month at CanJam 2009 - be sure to bring your IEMs and full-size headphones too!

Some DIY Parts Now Available
May 2, 2009

We are now offering some quality DIY parts for sale on our Order page.  These are the same parts used in our amplifiers or DACs.  We have to stock these parts in large quantities, so why not offer a few to DIYers?  You'll find the prices are unbeatable!  Right now the parts include stepped attenuators, volume potentiometers, and RCA jacks.  More components may be added later if they have wide appeal and are suitable for DIY projects.

Pico Upsampling USB DAC Available for Pre-Order
March 9, 2009

The Pico Upsampling USB DAC is now available for pre-ordering.  We are taking pre-orders through a Sponsored Thread on Head-Fi.  You can also place a pre-order by sending an email to justin@headamp.com.  Please specify what color you want (black or silver), the country you live in, and if you want a USB Mini-B cable for $5 - they are available in 1, 3, or 6 foot lengths.  See the Sponsored Thread on Head-Fi for detailed information about the Pico Upsampling USB DAC.

Blue Hawaii SE Electrostatic Headphone Amp
March 9, 2009

The first Blue Hawaii SE (BHSE) electrostatic headphone amp has been completed and shipping will begin.  The BHSE has sold out, but another run is planned for this summer.  Please see our Order page if you're interested in reserving a spot for a BHSE.

Some photos of the first unit are below (click for enlargements).

Electrostatic Headphone Amp Page Updated
January 28, 2009

The Electrostatic Headphone Amp page has been updated with a spot for the upcoming Blue Hawaii SE (BHSE).  Some photos of the prototype unit have been made available.  The first BHSE orders will begin shipping in about 3 weeks.

HeadAmp Audio in 2009
January 2, 2009

Here are some updates and new products to expect from HeadAmp in the first few months of 2009.

  • The Pico USB DAC/Amp will be in stock for next day shipment in most of the popular colors

  • The Pico USB DAC will be released - this will be just a DAC, with both RCA and mini line outputs.  It's the same great DAC found in the Pico USB DAC/Amp, but no headphone amp, battery, or charger.  Check Head-Fi for a sponsored thread soon.

  • Wait time on the GS-1 and GS-X amps will drop to no more than 1 week.

  • The Gilmore Lite and AE-2 have been in stock and that will continue.

We'll also be creating a newsletter for new product announcements, special offers, and even asking for your input on future products.  The first newsletter will be sent out to all email addresses that have placed an order with us before.  If you have never placed an order but would like to be added to the subscriber list please send an email to justin@headamp.com.

HeadAmp Order Page Updated
December 14, 2008

We have extensively updated the Order page.  Here is a summary of the changes.

Please Contact Us if you find any bugs, mistakes, or have questions about the new Order page.

HeadAmp Pico USB DAC/Headphone Amp
December 2, 2008

The HeadAmp Pico is a new portable headphone amp, with a unique optional 24/96 USB DAC.

We have been taking orders through a Sponsored Thread on Head-Fi.org, or you can send an email with your request to justin@headamp.com. As time permits, the Pico Pre-Order List page will be updated.

The current wait time is 4-6 weeks, and once the order backlog has been cleared they will be available for purchase on our Order page. However, the fastest way to get a Pico is to ask now!

Blue Hawaii SE Electrostatic Headphone Amp
December 2, 2008

A new version of the Blue Hawaii electrostatic amp will be shipping soon to those who have made a reservation for one of the 20 units to be built. All have been reserved and because of the demand, another run of the Blue Hawaii SE will be built to ship in Spring/Summer 2009.  A reservation can be made with a refundable 25% deposit on the Order page.

The Blue Hawaii SE features a separate power supply of a new design, many improvements to the amplifier circuitry, higher quality components, and build quality on a new level for electrostatic headphone amps. Inputs are 2 RCA and 1 XLR, and a set of XLR and RCA tape outputs. There are 2 headphone outputs, which can be for Stax or Sennheiser Orpheus, or one of each. The volume control is a DACT CT2 stepped attenuator or an optional Alps RK50 potentiometer.