Heed Audio Canamp II Headphone Amplifier [ex-demo]

Heed CanAmp is Heed Audio’s best-selling headphone amplifier and does not require an external power supply, connecting directly to the mains via the included power cord.

Headphones can be considered high-quality loudspeakers, but with much lower power requirements. For this reason, they exhibit distortion levels that are an order of magnitude lower than those of conventional loudspeakers, making them more sensitive to any shortcomings in the amplifier. Additionally, headphones are typically single-driver systems—with very few exceptions—which means crossovers do not interfere with sound quality. As a result, a headphone amplifier must deliver the highest possible sound quality, even at very low volumes, while essentially functioning similarly to a true power amplifier.

The CanAmp, our best-selling headphone amplifier, fully meets all these criteria, offering an uncompromising solution in a realistic form factor. It is the ideal auxiliary amplification for most headphones, including many top models from the most renowned manufacturers; even some notoriously low-impedance models can be driven by the CanAmp with surprisingly good results. The synergy between the AKG K701 and the Heed CanAmp is legendary.

The CanAmp is a two-stage amplifier. While the first stage—voltage gain—is based on a high-grade audio integrated circuit, the second stage—power gain—is a single-ended, pure Class A amplifier. This allows the CanAmp to drive virtually any headphone, from around 30 ohms up to 600 ohms or more. The signal path on its printed circuit board is kept to a minimum, resulting in clean, noise-free sound.

The CanAmp is equipped not only with a line-level input but also with a line output; it can therefore be connected to the TAPE MONITOR output of an amplifier, leaving the TAPE output available for additional components. The RCA terminals are gold-plated and soldered directly onto the fiberglass PCB.

FEATURES

– two-stage topology

– class A power amplifier section

– high grade components


SPECIFICATIONS

Inputs:1x analogue

Outputs:1x 6.35mm headphone / 1x line out

Frequency response (+0, -1 dB): 10 Hz – 50 kHz

Input impedance: 10 kΩ

Power: 300 mW (100 Ω)

SNR: > 85 dB

Max. consumption: 15 W

Weight: 1.2 kg

Dimensions (W x H x D): 9.5 x 7.5 x 25 cm

Heed Audio at a glance

Heed Audio is not just another hi-fi electronics manufacturer with British audio heritage in its DNA — it is a manifesto of authenticity, passion, and independent vision. Founded in Hungary, the brand stands out for its radically human approach to sound reproduction. In a market so often dominated by numbers, measurements, and technological catchphrases, Heed chooses a different path: that of the listening experience as an absolute value.

Every Heed product is designed to serve the music, not the machine. The amplifiers, DACs, and external power supplies are built according to a philosophy that places musicality, tonal coherence, and natural soundstaging at the very centre. There are no gimmicks — just tonal integrity and emotional balance that recall the finest British electronics of the golden era, reimagined with elegance, craftsmanship, and a modern spirit.

And that’s exactly where it all began — with one defining example:

In the 1980s, those who brought home an ION Obelisk experienced something rare and precious: the feeling of having discovered one of hi-fi’s best-kept secrets. It wasn’t a flashy amplifier, nor did it shout its specifications. But from the very first listen, many enthusiasts realised that something extraordinarily musical was happening.

Here’s what it felt like:

• A sense of wonder: at how such a compact device could drive even demanding speakers with such ease and refinement.

• Emotion: because the Obelisk didn’t impress through brute power, but through its ability to tell the story of music — with fluidity, dynamic range, and a sense of timing reminiscent of valve amplifiers.

• Deep satisfaction: the kind that comes from extended listening sessions, free of fatigue, drawn into a sound that keeps you there.

• A sense of uniqueness: because owning an Obelisk meant making a choice that went against the grain — a commitment to musical substance over passing trends.

In short, those who welcomed such a device into their home discovered an amplifier that didn’t try to dazzle with figures or appearance, but that won them over gradually, listen after listen, by speaking directly to the heart.

And on this front, Heed Audio makes no compromises. It doesn’t follow fashion. It’s not made for everyone. But those who discover it rarely look back. Because listening with Heed isn’t about technical showmanship — it’s about returning to music as a deep, living, and emotionally resonant experience.

If you’re seeking the soul of sound, Heed is a name worthy of your attention — and your respect.