Name: Gustard H26 Class A Headphone Amplifier
Brand: Gustard
Price: 1149.0 USD
Availability: InStock

The Gustard H26 is a fully balanced discrete Class A headphone amplifier and preamplifier, Gustard's flagship analog amplifier, built around 8 pairs of power transistors, two dedicated 50W toroidal transformers (one per channel), and a matrix relay volume control system for precision-matched levels across all four channels. Up to 12W of maximum output power makes it capable of driving the most demanding headphones on the market, while its design also accommodates sensitive IEMs without noise or hiss. Remote control included.

Type and Technology

Fully balanced discrete Class A headphone amplifier and preamplifier. Eight pairs of power transistors provide robust drive and current delivery. Two custom 50W audio-grade toroidal transformers, one dedicated per channel, for minimal inter-channel interference and a genuinely dual-mono power architecture. Matrix relay volume control ensures matched attenuation across all four channels simultaneously without channel imbalance at any setting. High-speed, low-noise rectifiers and four Nichicon capacitors for main filtering. Two LME49720 dual op-amps in the preamplifier section for seamless switching between headphone and preamplifier use. Headphone amplifier can be switched off independently for pure preamplifier operation. Two gain settings: Low gain for IEMs and sensitive headphones, High gain for full-sized over-ear designs. Three headphone outputs: 6.35mm single-ended, 4.4mm balanced, 4-pin XLR balanced. Preamplifier outputs: XLR balanced and RCA unbalanced (both 100 ohm output impedance). Inputs: 1x RCA, 2x XLR balanced. Remote control. Universal 100-240V AC power input.

Sound Character

Resolving, holographic, and tonally natural, the H26 delivers a refined, spatially expansive presentation with Class A smoothness. The fully balanced discrete architecture produces a dark noise floor that allows detail and imaging to emerge cleanly, while the Class A biasing gives the presentation a warmth and tonal coherence that distinguishes it from switching amplifier designs. IEM-friendly at low gain; Susvara-capable at high gain.

Build and Finish

Full-width aluminum chassis. Remote control included. Available in black and silver.

Best For

Audiophiles who want a single amplifier that handles everything from sensitive IEMs to the most demanding planar magnetic headphones, with full preamplifier functionality and remote volume control for speaker system integration.

What's in the Box

Gustard H26 headphone amplifier/preamplifier
Remote control
Power cable
Documentation

Specifications

Specification	Value
Type	Fully balanced discrete Class A headphone amplifier and preamplifier
Output transistors	8 pairs of power transistors
Power transformers	2x 50W toroidal (one per channel)
Volume control	Matrix relay (4-channel matched)
Max output power (32 ohms)	12,000mW (THD=1%); 6,000mW (THD less than 0.0005%)
Output power at 150 ohms	3,125mW per channel
Output power at 300 ohms	1,576mW per channel
Output power at 600 ohms	788mW per channel
THD+N (headphone, 9700mW into 32 ohms)	Less than 0.0005%
THD+N (preamp)	Less than 0.0002%
SNR	Greater than 123 dB
Crosstalk	Less than -120 dB at 1kHz (headphone), less than -123 dB (preamp)
Frequency response	20 Hz - 80 kHz (-0.1 dB)
Gain settings	Low (IEMs/sensitive headphones) / High (full-size)
Headphone outputs	6.35mm SE, 4.4mm balanced, 4-pin XLR balanced
Headphone output impedance	0.05 ohms (SE), 0.1 ohms (balanced)
Preamp outputs	XLR balanced, RCA unbalanced (both 100 ohms)
Analog inputs	RCA x1, XLR balanced x2
AC input	100-240V universal

Gustard H26 Class A Headphone Amplifier