Massive Power, Miniscule Distortion
The Gustard H16 Amp follows hot on the heels of the Gustard X16 DAC, a DAC which implements the world’s first DAC chipset with an in-built MQA renderer. The X16 has been turning heads with its best-in-class SINAD rating. Every DAC needs an amp, and the H16 can be thought of as the X16’s partner in crime. It offers massive power without contributing noise or distortion.
The H16 uses a fully-balanced architecture, making it perfect for anyone looking to power balanced headphones (especially power-hungry ones). With four outputs, three of which are balanced, it can accommodate an array of listening scenarios.
Massive output power
If you’re wondering if the H16 can drive your headphones, the answer is almost definitely yes. It delivers huge amounts of power at any impedance: 3700mW @ 64Ω, 2268mW @ 150Ω, 1133mW @ 300Ω, and 566mW @ 600Ω.
To put this in headphone terms: the H16 can easily power the Meze Audio Empyrean (31.6Ω impedance), the HiFiMan Susvara (60Ω impedance), and even the Audeze LCD-4 (200Ω impedance). In fact, to date there’s not a headphone in our store the H16 can’t power.
(If you’ve got some truly beastly pair of high-impedance headphones, we encourage you to calculate how much power they require with this handy headphone impedance calculator , courtesy of Digizoid, before buying the H16.)
Clean amplification with ultra-low distortion
Gustard designed the H16 to pair with the X16 DAC. An ultra-clean DAC deserves an ultra-clean amp, and that’s exactly what they’ve provided.
The H16’s signal-to-noise ratio is over 118dB, meaning that you’d have to crank it to dangerously high levels to hear any hiss or other unwanted noise. To put that number in perspective, the loudness of a jackhammer is 110dB, an ambulance 120dB. So in any normal, healthy listening scenario, you’re going to hear nothing but pure signal.
Product highlights
Clean amplification with ultra-low distortion
Fully-balanced architecture
Ultra-low output impedance
Massive output power
Inputs
XLR (balanced)
RCA (unbalanced)
Outputs
4-pin XLR (balanced)
3.5mm (balanced)
4.4mm (balanced)
6.35mm (unbalanced)
Output Power:
3700mW @ 64Ω
2268mW @ 150Ω
1133mW @ 300Ω
566mW @ 600Ω
6.35mm unbalanced output impedance: 0.1Ω
Balanced port (4.4, 3.5, 4-pin XLR) output impedance: 0.2Ω
Frequency response range: 20,000 - 80,000Hz
SNR (headphone output): >118dB
SNR (pre-amp output): 120dB
Channel crosstalk (headphone out): -118dB
Channel crosstalk (pre-amp out): -120dB
THD+N (headphone out): <0.0005%
THD+N (pre-amp out): <0.0004%
AC Power supply: AC 115V/230V 50/60Hz
Power consumption: <20W
Dimensions: 8.6 x 1.9 x 6.6” (220 x 50 x 170mm)
Weight: 5.5lbs (2.5Kg)
What pairs well