---
product_id: 226896925
title: "U3 Headphone Amps, Mini Hi-Fi Amplifier for Home Desktop PC 6.35mm / 3.5mm Headsets, Class A, RCA Input, DC 5V"
brand: "douk audio"
price: "58739CFA"
currency: XOF
in_stock: true
reviews_count: 9
category: "Douk Audio"
url: https://www.desertcart.sn/products/226896925-u3-headphone-amps-mini-hi-fi-amplifier-for-home-desktop
store_origin: SN
region: Senegal
---

# Class A 1300mA large current output Pluggable op-amp socket for upgrades Wide 5-20V input voltage U3 Headphone Amps, Mini Hi-Fi Amplifier for Home Desktop PC 6.35mm / 3.5mm Headsets, Class A, RCA Input, DC 5V

**Brand:** douk audio
**Price:** 58739CFA
**Availability:** ✅ In Stock

## Summary

> 🎶 Elevate your desktop audio game with powerhouse precision and DIY flair!

## Quick Answers

- **What is this?** U3 Headphone Amps, Mini Hi-Fi Amplifier for Home Desktop PC 6.35mm / 3.5mm Headsets, Class A, RCA Input, DC 5V by douk audio
- **How much does it cost?** 58739CFA with free shipping
- **Is it available?** Yes, in stock and ready to ship
- **Where can I buy it?** [www.desertcart.sn](https://www.desertcart.sn/products/226896925-u3-headphone-amps-mini-hi-fi-amplifier-for-home-desktop)

## Best For

- douk audio enthusiasts

## Why This Product

- Trusted douk audio brand quality
- Free international shipping included
- Worldwide delivery with tracking
- 15-day hassle-free returns

## Key Features

- • **Compact Yet Mighty:** Miniature footprint fits perfectly on any desktop or home setup while driving most high-impedance headphones effortlessly.
- • **Versatile Voltage Range:** Operates seamlessly from 5V to 20V, ensuring consistent high-voltage 26V performance and minimal background noise.
- • **Customizable Sound Signature:** Easily swap op-amps with the pluggable socket design to tailor your audio experience and indulge your DIY audiophile side.
- • **Powerful Class A Amplification:** Experience ultra-low distortion and warm, detailed sound with a 1300mA large current output transistor.
- • **Audiophile-Grade Clarity & Imaging:** Reveals intricate instrument details and precise soundstage depth, lifting the veil on your favorite music genres.

## Overview

The Douk Audio U3 is a compact, Class A headphone amplifier designed for home and desktop use, featuring a wide 5-20V input range, a high-current 1300mA output transistor for warm, low-distortion sound, and a pluggable op-amp socket for customizable audio tuning. It supports 6.35mm and 3.5mm headsets, delivers excellent clarity and dynamic range, and drives high-impedance headphones with ease, making it a top-tier budget choice for audiophiles and professionals alike.

## Description

desertcart.com: Douk Audio U3 Headphone Amps, Mini Hi-Fi Amplifier for Home Desktop PC 6.35mm / 3.5mm Headsets, Class A, RCA Input, DC 5V : Electronics

Review: Absolutely stunning - when you consider the price vs what it does for music - Occasionally, all or most of us at least, wind up purchasing an inexpensive audio device, expecting that it will perform far below expectations - yet our curiosity (based on having seen advertisements or word of mouth) have enticed us to complete the purchase. Such was the case for me when I happened to stumble upon this particular Douk Audio U3 mini head amp on desertcart - noticed the price - and wondered if it would even approach marginal status. And since I happened to have several budget level DAC's such as the Schiit Modi 3, the SMSL M100, and a few others, I thought, "Why not try out this budget head amp to see if it can hold up?" When it arrived I was not prepared to be impressed the way I was. To begin with, the U3 is built like a small tank, exceptionally well crafted with a logical, simple, and impressive front and rear panel layout. The craftsmanship of the U3 is more reminiscent of far more expensive products. Additionally, for those who understand and appreciate being able to make various modifications to electronic devices, the U3 has a pluggable op-amp socket design, which allows one to experiment with different sound signatures - with op-amps being a dime a dozen now-a-days (and desertcart has quite a few of them). Now it is important to note that this is a "Head Amp" only. If you have a DAC and want to connect it to a Head Amp which also has outputs on the rear of such a device to connect to speakers, etc., that will not be possible. The U3 has RCA inputs only (no outputs), so it will serve as a headphone amplifier only. And regarding the U3 being a great Head Amp - well, the best compliment I can give it is to remark, "The U3 truly gives good head...." Haaaaaaaaaaaaaa I first paired the U3 with the SMSL M100 - a simple, yet impressive entry level DAC. Now normally, I always allow audio gear to go through a period of burn-in for 24-48 hours (which I eventually did with the U3), but just for the heck of it, I began playing music through it immediately. Headphones used were the HiFiMan 400i 2020 version, Sivga 007, Philips SHP 9500, Status Audio CB-1, and the Brainwavz HM5. Music being used for evaluation were various large orchestral classical, big band jazz, Latin jazz, and other larger orchestral varieties. For evaluation purposes, It is always a good idea to listen to large orchestras that feature a wide variety of instrumentation. This gives you a good reference point how an audio component can relay orchestral timbres of each instrument. Even upon the first turn-on, I was immediately struck by the musicality of the U3 and the ability for it to further separate various instruments with the proper air or space around their locations. Previously, when I listened to headphones through the likes of the iFi ZenDAC, Soundavo HP-DAC1, Micca OriGen G2, Fiio K5 Pro, and FX-Audio DAC-X6 Mk II, they all displayed different sound signatures - with some models displaying a very bright sound signature, while others sounded bland, and some being very good for the money. With the U3, I was now hearing instruments that previously were not noticeable because of the blending of the sound within the various orchestras. Small, quiet instruments such as cymbals, triangles, and others, were no longer buried behind the entire orchestra. Rather, they were lifted and open to where you could hear them distinctly. All the instruments playing - whether via a full symphony orchestra or a smaller, more intimate jazz group - had this openness to the performances. It was as if a substantial veil had been lifted between the listener and the music. Additionally, imaging (the placement of instruments on an imagery stage) was so precise that you could envision the musicians and exactly where they were located. Depth was also exemplary. However, do keep in mind that if you are running a horrible recording or a poor stream of lower quality music, the U3 will let you know. I should also add that this particular budget head amp is a great device to determine how good your headphones really are. Now do note that I've long discovered (and believed) that warming up/burning-in an audio device is essential because the sound signatures can change over time. When you first turn on the U3 and begin listening, it is very detailed (with the stock Op Amp that comes with it) and dynamic - and perhaps may sound bright to some. As time goes on - in my case being just 48 hours being left on all the time - the overall audio character warmed up - yet the sound was still detailed with plenty of dynamics. As an aside, you should leave your DAC's and/or Head Amps on all the time as they use negligible power. It's just not good to turn off and on (constantly) audio components, and you'll eventually discover that your audio components will have a longer shelf life in the process. Another positive aspect about the U3 is that musical instruments have an accurate timbre to their sounds - not colored at all. I kept mumbling to myself, "Is this thing really a thirty-something dollar head amp?" If ever there was a piece of audio gear that defied expectations (for the better), the U3 meets that scenario. Following my discovery of the U3's capabilities, I then wondered that if the U3 sounded superb with the likes of the entry level SMSL M100 or the Schitt Modi 3 DAC's, what would it do with far more expensive and higher end DAC units? In fact, in my opinion, I'd still call it a bargain if the U3 was priced at $100-$125 - it is that good. Like I said, it makes you now want to pair it with far better (more expensive) DAC's to evaluate the sound quality, which I can only imagine would be improved even more so. Look - I do quite a few blogs and reviews about various audio gear. This Douk U3 threw me for a loop - I found it that stunning, given its ridiculously low price. I strongly suggest picking one up before the price rises. I'm actually in the process of ordering a second one - mainly so I can change out op amps in one, while keeping the other with the stock op amp. At this price, it's a no-brainer. Given my previous experiences with evaluating high performing, yet very inexpensive audio items - which after a series of excellent reviews - were predictably followed by price increases by the vendor. I believe that once Douk sees the reviews on the U3, like anything else, they may very well raise the price. Now let's address the ability to easily remove and change out the Op Amps. This is something I had initially not considered doing with the U3, but since Douk specifically advertised this feature, that piqued my interest. So I purchased several Op Amps and tried them all. And yes, there were sound differences - some making the U3 sound brighter, some harsher, and some warmer. I found that upgraded Burson Op Amps - albeit a bit more expensive - did the best and noticeably elevated the sound performance of the U3. The Burson V5 version homogenized the sound, had a warmer upper register, yet still maintained excellent detail/definition, and had quite a bit of weight to the music. Also keep in mind (remembering about what I wrote above about allowing an audio device to be broken-in), when you switch Op Amps, as they warm up, their sound character will also change and usually for the better (meaning an increased warmth to the audio). So when you first insert an Op Amp in the U3, it may at first sound brighter, but don't let that dissuade you. Give it a few hours or up to 48 hours to be able to notice a discernible change in sound character. Be careful with op-amps though because if you insert it the wrong way (like backwards), you will immediately burn out/destroy the op-amp (not the unit). So before you do any op-amp rolling, PLEASE - be careful and know what you are doing. Given that, the op-amp that comes with the U3 is quite competent and musical sounding. Well, how about any negatives you may ask? Well, yes there is one (subjective) - and that is the front blue light which indicates on/off status of the U3, is rather large (and bright) when compared to the rest of the unit. It features an overly bright blue light which can light up a room at night (without exaggeration). When it's on, especially at night - and your sitting close to it such as by a desktop computer while listening to music - it can be extremely distracting because of its brightness. And when that light is "blue," somehow it becomes more pronounced. It would have been nice if Douk designed the light to be either red or green, which would have toned down the effect somewhat. So that's the only negative thing I can report really. I was so impressed with the U3 that I purchased a second one shortly after getting the first copy. Now when it comes to support - wow, are they good! After 4 months or so, one of my U3's developed a loud hum in the headphone jack. At first I thought it was the headphone I was using, but soon discovered that something happened with the U3. So here it was - June - and I contacted Douk via desertcart. They were quick to respond - didn't ask any questions - and sent me a new U3 in a jiffy manner. Now that's support to the maximum. So, based on its uncanny low price vs its ridiculously high performance ratio, I am enthusiastically rating the Douk Audio U3 mini head amp with 5 stars. It's just that good!!!!
Review: Excellent value for money, hitting way above its price in performance. - I bought this amp to hook up to my Schiit Modius, in order to be a secondary amp that would mount to the bucket seat of my racing sim set up. I didn't want to have to span headphone cables across the room, and figured running RCA to my sim set up would be easier, and was originally planning on buying a Schiit Magni at bstock just to be frugal. I now have it directly attached to the side mount of my seat and I can take my Sennheiser HD660s from my desk to my sim rig without having to mess with the headphones and without too much loss in quality. My set up: Schiit Modius and Magnius running HD660s. The Douk is connected to the single ended out on my Modius, as the magnius is being used for headphones as well as the desk speakers I have. Sound: For $38, this thing is performing well above its price range. I have used one of the old cheap apple power cube bricks to power the amp, and so far I have not had any issues with noise or interference. I have the volume set to around 9 o clock position, and easily am getting plenty of power to the 150 Ohms Senns, with enough power to probably blow out my ears. Sound quality is very good especially coming from an amp plugged into a mid to high end DAC. One thing I have not tried is plugging the amp into a usb port for power, but based on past experience with tech like this, I would not recommend that in the first place. I know most people in this price range are looking for good power and clean signal, so if you do take the steps, you can easily achieve that. I will say, it is still early for me to give a good representation of sound in comparison to more common amps, but I will probably come back to update this review once I have had it for a bit. First impressions are that the sound is definitely not hindered in any way when given a good clean power source and signal. Build: Again, for $38, quality is phenomenal. I would be paying $100 plus for this quality any other day, but the price to performance makes this that much more worth it. The power button is solid and defined to use, and does not wiggle around in its casing. Volume knob is extremely nice, and the Volpot has small clicks for each level of volume, very satisfying. The materials used for the casing are great as well. The front panel appears to be more of a rose gold compared to the image which seems to make it look bronze orange ish. Finish on the front plate as well as the body are even and clean, and the unit I got did not appear to have any blemishes. 1/4 jack has presented no issues either. The unit comes with 4 stickon rubber feet, which on first glance made me think they were screw in. Since I was removing them to attach the amp to my sim frame, I could see they didn't cheap out on the small details like this. Features and Value: The things you can do with this amp will vary greatly depending on your creativity and need. I believe that for anything headphone related, assuming you are on a budget from $0 to $150, I would recommend this, as it does everything any other headphone amp does if you set it up properly. The blue light on the front of the unit is indeed bright, but I won't be leaving this amp on anyway, so it doesn't matter to me. Small things to consider: Make sure you give it good clean separate power NOT from a usb port on a computer. When powering off, you will here a fizz sound as the power drains out of the unit, I don't think this is any sort of issue, but if it develops into one, I will update the review accordingly. When you turn the unit on for the first time, make sure the volume is turned all the way down, or you will blow your ears or your headphones out. Or both, who knows. Conclusion: If you are on a budget and want the best amp you can buy under $40, get this. The unit is very capable and can be paired with a lot of different hardware to accommodate various use cases. I personally will probably buy a few of these in case they go out of stock. Office use, gifts to friends, similar things all seem to fit the U3 Mini extremely well.

## Features

- Adopting innovative circuit design, DC 5-20V wide input working voltage, the amplifier circuit can always work at a high voltage of 26V, and the background noise index is excellent. With wide frequency response extension, excellent transient response, excellent purity and transparency, and good dynamic range.
- Adopting original TI-NE5532 classical op amp and transistor expanding current circuit, using 1300mA large current output transistor working in class A status, with ultra-low distortion, and the sound is warm and delicate, full and mellow.
- Pluggable op amp socket design, convenient to upgrade different op amps and bring much DIY fun and playability for audiophiles. Smooth and mellow sound, suitable for listening to vocals or string music, classic or pop music, and even with unique charm when playing rock.
- Mini size with exquisite appearance and most cost-effective, brings big surprise for all audiophiles, easily to drive most headphones in the market, providing larger power, better sound field and details, very suitable for home/office desltop audio system use.
- With strong drive power, easily to drive most high-impedance headphones such as: HD580/HD600/HD650/K701/K702/Q701/DT880/T70/T90/SR225/SR325/RS1e

## Technical Specifications

| Specification | Value |
|---------------|-------|
| ASIN | B08C2MKBGN |
| Customer Reviews | 4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars (813) |
| Date First Available | June 30, 2020 |
| Item Weight | 5.9 ounces |
| Item model number | XZ-U3 |
| Manufacturer | Douk Audio |
| Package Dimensions | 5.2 x 3.62 x 3.27 inches |

## Images

![U3 Headphone Amps, Mini Hi-Fi Amplifier for Home Desktop PC 6.35mm / 3.5mm Headsets, Class A, RCA Input, DC 5V - Image 1](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/61Q-w-nktiL.jpg)

## Questions & Answers

**Q: What is the advantage or disadvantage of using a power supply voltage higher than the 5v you get through the usb to dc cable?**
A: The USB power plug included, when plugged into the PC directly just have an overwhelming hiss.  The hiss left when I used a 1A 5V USB charger, but the best sound came when I found an old large "wall-wart" 12V 1A with the same plug.  The jump from 5V to 12V added a lot of warmth and detail.  Get the linear supply wall-worts, not the switching kind (generally smaller in form-factor).  I also used ferrite snap-on cores on the audio from the pc, high quality shielded audio cables.  I'm most pleased with this unit when it's properly powered.

**Q: Is this a decent headphone amp for a turntable that has a built in pre amp?**
A: Signal source is irrelevant as long as it is a low impedance line level.

**Q: Can someone post a link to a good DC power adapter for this sold on Amazon?**
A: When I purchased this item recently from Amazon, I had a similar concern about the power supply, because I live in a 220V 50Hz electric supply zone. In my case, I received the amplifier with a charging cable having a standard (I think) plug on one end and a USB A plug on the other end. This end can be plugged into any phone charger with a USB A port. I found the amplifier works very well if this is also plugged in the USB port on the computer.

**Q: How do I pick another power supply for this? I’d like to replace it but don’t know how to figure out if something will work with this.**
A: I’m using a Radio Shack 12volt 1000ma power adapter. It comes with different tip sizes so I used one that fit and that had a positive center like shown printed on the back (near the receptacle) of the amp. The range required of the Douk is 5 volts to 20 volts so mine being 12 volts is good. In the reviews someone  commented that they had issues with using 5 volt chargers. That’s why I went with a little more power. 
Check your manual in case they made changes to this unit since the time bought it( earlier this year)

## Customer Reviews

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Absolutely stunning - when you consider the price vs what it does for music
*by B***N on February 28, 2021*

Occasionally, all or most of us at least, wind up purchasing an inexpensive audio device, expecting that it will perform far below expectations - yet our curiosity (based on having seen advertisements or word of mouth) have enticed us to complete the purchase. Such was the case for me when I happened to stumble upon this particular Douk Audio U3 mini head amp on Amazon - noticed the price - and wondered if it would even approach marginal status. And since I happened to have several budget level DAC's such as the Schiit Modi 3, the SMSL M100, and a few others, I thought, "Why not try out this budget head amp to see if it can hold up?" When it arrived I was not prepared to be impressed the way I was. To begin with, the U3 is built like a small tank, exceptionally well crafted with a logical, simple, and impressive front and rear panel layout. The craftsmanship of the U3 is more reminiscent of far more expensive products. Additionally, for those who understand and appreciate being able to make various modifications to electronic devices, the U3 has a pluggable op-amp socket design, which allows one to experiment with different sound signatures - with op-amps being a dime a dozen now-a-days (and Amazon has quite a few of them). Now it is important to note that this is a "Head Amp" only. If you have a DAC and want to connect it to a Head Amp which also has outputs on the rear of such a device to connect to speakers, etc., that will not be possible. The U3 has RCA inputs only (no outputs), so it will serve as a headphone amplifier only. And regarding the U3 being a great Head Amp - well, the best compliment I can give it is to remark, "The U3 truly gives good head...." Haaaaaaaaaaaaaa I first paired the U3 with the SMSL M100 - a simple, yet impressive entry level DAC. Now normally, I always allow audio gear to go through a period of burn-in for 24-48 hours (which I eventually did with the U3), but just for the heck of it, I began playing music through it immediately. Headphones used were the HiFiMan 400i 2020 version, Sivga 007, Philips SHP 9500, Status Audio CB-1, and the Brainwavz HM5. Music being used for evaluation were various large orchestral classical, big band jazz, Latin jazz, and other larger orchestral varieties. For evaluation purposes, It is always a good idea to listen to large orchestras that feature a wide variety of instrumentation. This gives you a good reference point how an audio component can relay orchestral timbres of each instrument. Even upon the first turn-on, I was immediately struck by the musicality of the U3 and the ability for it to further separate various instruments with the proper air or space around their locations. Previously, when I listened to headphones through the likes of the iFi ZenDAC, Soundavo HP-DAC1, Micca OriGen G2, Fiio K5 Pro, and FX-Audio DAC-X6 Mk II, they all displayed different sound signatures - with some models displaying a very bright sound signature, while others sounded bland, and some being very good for the money. With the U3, I was now hearing instruments that previously were not noticeable because of the blending of the sound within the various orchestras. Small, quiet instruments such as cymbals, triangles, and others, were no longer buried behind the entire orchestra. Rather, they were lifted and open to where you could hear them distinctly. All the instruments playing - whether via a full symphony orchestra or a smaller, more intimate jazz group - had this openness to the performances. It was as if a substantial veil had been lifted between the listener and the music. Additionally, imaging (the placement of instruments on an imagery stage) was so precise that you could envision the musicians and exactly where they were located. Depth was also exemplary. However, do keep in mind that if you are running a horrible recording or a poor stream of lower quality music, the U3 will let you know. I should also add that this particular budget head amp is a great device to determine how good your headphones really are. Now do note that I've long discovered (and believed) that warming up/burning-in an audio device is essential because the sound signatures can change over time. When you first turn on the U3 and begin listening, it is very detailed (with the stock Op Amp that comes with it) and dynamic - and perhaps may sound bright to some. As time goes on - in my case being just 48 hours being left on all the time - the overall audio character warmed up - yet the sound was still detailed with plenty of dynamics. As an aside, you should leave your DAC's and/or Head Amps on all the time as they use negligible power. It's just not good to turn off and on (constantly) audio components, and you'll eventually discover that your audio components will have a longer shelf life in the process. Another positive aspect about the U3 is that musical instruments have an accurate timbre to their sounds - not colored at all. I kept mumbling to myself, "Is this thing really a thirty-something dollar head amp?" If ever there was a piece of audio gear that defied expectations (for the better), the U3 meets that scenario. Following my discovery of the U3's capabilities, I then wondered that if the U3 sounded superb with the likes of the entry level SMSL M100 or the Schitt Modi 3 DAC's, what would it do with far more expensive and higher end DAC units? In fact, in my opinion, I'd still call it a bargain if the U3 was priced at $100-$125 - it is that good. Like I said, it makes you now want to pair it with far better (more expensive) DAC's to evaluate the sound quality, which I can only imagine would be improved even more so. Look - I do quite a few blogs and reviews about various audio gear. This Douk U3 threw me for a loop - I found it that stunning, given its ridiculously low price. I strongly suggest picking one up before the price rises. I'm actually in the process of ordering a second one - mainly so I can change out op amps in one, while keeping the other with the stock op amp. At this price, it's a no-brainer. Given my previous experiences with evaluating high performing, yet very inexpensive audio items - which after a series of excellent reviews - were predictably followed by price increases by the vendor. I believe that once Douk sees the reviews on the U3, like anything else, they may very well raise the price. Now let's address the ability to easily remove and change out the Op Amps. This is something I had initially not considered doing with the U3, but since Douk specifically advertised this feature, that piqued my interest. So I purchased several Op Amps and tried them all. And yes, there were sound differences - some making the U3 sound brighter, some harsher, and some warmer. I found that upgraded Burson Op Amps - albeit a bit more expensive - did the best and noticeably elevated the sound performance of the U3. The Burson V5 version homogenized the sound, had a warmer upper register, yet still maintained excellent detail/definition, and had quite a bit of weight to the music. Also keep in mind (remembering about what I wrote above about allowing an audio device to be broken-in), when you switch Op Amps, as they warm up, their sound character will also change and usually for the better (meaning an increased warmth to the audio). So when you first insert an Op Amp in the U3, it may at first sound brighter, but don't let that dissuade you. Give it a few hours or up to 48 hours to be able to notice a discernible change in sound character. Be careful with op-amps though because if you insert it the wrong way (like backwards), you will immediately burn out/destroy the op-amp (not the unit). So before you do any op-amp rolling, PLEASE - be careful and know what you are doing. Given that, the op-amp that comes with the U3 is quite competent and musical sounding. Well, how about any negatives you may ask? Well, yes there is one (subjective) - and that is the front blue light which indicates on/off status of the U3, is rather large (and bright) when compared to the rest of the unit. It features an overly bright blue light which can light up a room at night (without exaggeration). When it's on, especially at night - and your sitting close to it such as by a desktop computer while listening to music - it can be extremely distracting because of its brightness. And when that light is "blue," somehow it becomes more pronounced. It would have been nice if Douk designed the light to be either red or green, which would have toned down the effect somewhat. So that's the only negative thing I can report really. I was so impressed with the U3 that I purchased a second one shortly after getting the first copy. Now when it comes to support - wow, are they good! After 4 months or so, one of my U3's developed a loud hum in the headphone jack. At first I thought it was the headphone I was using, but soon discovered that something happened with the U3. So here it was - June - and I contacted Douk via Amazon. They were quick to respond - didn't ask any questions - and sent me a new U3 in a jiffy manner. Now that's support to the maximum. So, based on its uncanny low price vs its ridiculously high performance ratio, I am enthusiastically rating the Douk Audio U3 mini head amp with 5 stars. It's just that good!!!!

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Excellent value for money, hitting way above its price in performance.
*by R***Z on August 5, 2021*

I bought this amp to hook up to my Schiit Modius, in order to be a secondary amp that would mount to the bucket seat of my racing sim set up. I didn't want to have to span headphone cables across the room, and figured running RCA to my sim set up would be easier, and was originally planning on buying a Schiit Magni at bstock just to be frugal. I now have it directly attached to the side mount of my seat and I can take my Sennheiser HD660s from my desk to my sim rig without having to mess with the headphones and without too much loss in quality. My set up: Schiit Modius and Magnius running HD660s. The Douk is connected to the single ended out on my Modius, as the magnius is being used for headphones as well as the desk speakers I have. Sound: For $38, this thing is performing well above its price range. I have used one of the old cheap apple power cube bricks to power the amp, and so far I have not had any issues with noise or interference. I have the volume set to around 9 o clock position, and easily am getting plenty of power to the 150 Ohms Senns, with enough power to probably blow out my ears. Sound quality is very good especially coming from an amp plugged into a mid to high end DAC. One thing I have not tried is plugging the amp into a usb port for power, but based on past experience with tech like this, I would not recommend that in the first place. I know most people in this price range are looking for good power and clean signal, so if you do take the steps, you can easily achieve that. I will say, it is still early for me to give a good representation of sound in comparison to more common amps, but I will probably come back to update this review once I have had it for a bit. First impressions are that the sound is definitely not hindered in any way when given a good clean power source and signal. Build: Again, for $38, quality is phenomenal. I would be paying $100 plus for this quality any other day, but the price to performance makes this that much more worth it. The power button is solid and defined to use, and does not wiggle around in its casing. Volume knob is extremely nice, and the Volpot has small clicks for each level of volume, very satisfying. The materials used for the casing are great as well. The front panel appears to be more of a rose gold compared to the image which seems to make it look bronze orange ish. Finish on the front plate as well as the body are even and clean, and the unit I got did not appear to have any blemishes. 1/4 jack has presented no issues either. The unit comes with 4 stickon rubber feet, which on first glance made me think they were screw in. Since I was removing them to attach the amp to my sim frame, I could see they didn't cheap out on the small details like this. Features and Value: The things you can do with this amp will vary greatly depending on your creativity and need. I believe that for anything headphone related, assuming you are on a budget from $0 to $150, I would recommend this, as it does everything any other headphone amp does if you set it up properly. The blue light on the front of the unit is indeed bright, but I won't be leaving this amp on anyway, so it doesn't matter to me. Small things to consider: Make sure you give it good clean separate power NOT from a usb port on a computer. When powering off, you will here a fizz sound as the power drains out of the unit, I don't think this is any sort of issue, but if it develops into one, I will update the review accordingly. When you turn the unit on for the first time, make sure the volume is turned all the way down, or you will blow your ears or your headphones out. Or both, who knows. Conclusion: If you are on a budget and want the best amp you can buy under $40, get this. The unit is very capable and can be paired with a lot of different hardware to accommodate various use cases. I personally will probably buy a few of these in case they go out of stock. Office use, gifts to friends, similar things all seem to fit the U3 Mini extremely well.

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Great desktop high-power analog headphone amp.
*by A***R on August 31, 2025*

Great value desktop headphone amplifier and volume control for use with analog line-level audio output. If your computer only comes with a line-level or low-power headphone audio output, or if you have a line-level output DAC preamp for your speakers, this adapter will provide full power over the full range of output suitable even for high-impedance headphones. I use this to power Sennheiser 620S and 660S2 and get full-volume bass response. It is sturdy and well-built. The op-amp is socketed for those who want to tinker. NOTE a good quality USB-A power supply is NOT provided and is required to use the unit; an older Apple unit works for me, but I have had some buzz when I tried cheaper generic units.

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**Shop now:** [https://www.desertcart.sn/products/226896925-u3-headphone-amps-mini-hi-fi-amplifier-for-home-desktop](https://www.desertcart.sn/products/226896925-u3-headphone-amps-mini-hi-fi-amplifier-for-home-desktop)

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*Product available on Desertcart Senegal*
*Store origin: SN*
*Last updated: 2026-03-03*