The HPA-1 headphone amplifier was designed ground-up to become what we believe is one of the very best sounding headphone amplifiers available today. With low feedback, wide bandwidth and a direct coupled MOSFET output stage, this musical instrument drives even the most difficult headphone loads with ease, power and grace. The HPA-1 also functions as a line-level preamplifier that sonically rivals much higher-priced competition. The measured performance is superb and the sound even better.
Stereophile Recommended Components – 2022
Stereophile.com
Stereophile Recommended Components – 2021
Stereophile
TAS Editors’ Choice Award – 2020
The Absolute Sound
Stereophile Recommended Components – 2019
Stereophile
“The Occasional”- Editors’ Choice Buyers Guide – 2019
“The Occasional”
Positive Feedback Brutus Award 2018
Positive Feedback
Best Audio Gear – 2018
The Absolute Sound
Stereophile Recommended Components – 2018
Stereophile
Blue Note Award 2017
Enjoy the Music
TAS Editors Choice Award – 2017
The Absolute Sound
Headphone Amplifier of the Year – 2016
The Absolute Sound
Best Headphone Amplifier – Best of Awards – 2016
HomeTheaterHiFi
“AudioQuest, and Master & Dynamic, JA declared that “in bass quality and authority, and in midrange transparency, the Pass Labs HPA-1 is without peer.””
Stereophile Recommended Components – 2022
“Also usable as a line-level preamp—it has a pair of single-ended RCA output jacks—the Pass Labs HPA-1 is a perfectionist-quality headphone amplifier that uses a MOSFET-based current-feedback amplifier to drive headphones ranging from 15 to 600 ohms.”
Stereophile Recommended Components – 2021
“To put it bluntly, Pass Labs HPA-1 is an exceptional, very addictive headamp/preamp combo every aficionado should at least audition once an opportunity strikes.”
HiFi Knights
” If I did not know that the HPA-1 was transistor-based, I would’ve been fooled: the HPA-1 had the natural warmth and slight fullness that mimic tubes.” ” In my view, headphone listening is about intimacy, and the HPA-1 is nearly perfect in this regard.”
HometheaterReview.com
“As far as headphones go, the HPA-1 is a brilliant amp which deserves every bit of praise I’ve thus far heaped on it.”
Part-Time Audiophile
“One Of The Best HPAs In The Audiophile World!”
Everything Audio Network
“The HPA-1 had an effortless quality that made recorded music sound more like the real thing.”
CNET
“Pass Labs, one of the most prestigious names in audio, has launched a terrific headphone amplifier”
Home Theater HiFi
“in bass clarity and authority and in midrange transparency, the Pass Labs HPA-1 is without peer”
Stereophile
“The Pass HPA-1 is on the top tier of the world’s finest headphone amplifiers”
Tone Audio
“This thing sounds so damn good twenty minutes out of the box”
Tone Audio
“An amplifier that drives headphones to exceptional performance”
alpha-audio.nl
“The best I’ve heard from a headphone amp anywhere near the HPA-1’s price.”
Enjoy The Music
“the Pass Labs HPA-1 is a bona fide muscle amp in the guise of an equal-opportunity preamp with headfi function.”
6Moons
“Dynamics and authority are two of the best qualities in all listening sessions with the HPA-1, regardless of the headphone. With a great current delivery it also drives any planarmagnetic headphone, with absolute control.”
www.oldnewsound.es
“I think it would be fair to say that the HPA-1 is one of the best headphone amplifiers I have heard.”
Audio Beatnik / Adam Labarge
