June 24, 2026, Corpus Christi, Texas. Schiit Audio announced today the immediate availability of Imp, a standalone impedance multiplier designed to help tube amps drive difficult headphone loads. It also includes a 4.4mm true balanced output with up to 20V RMS of voltage output. Imp is $99 and includes a TRS-to-TRS cable for connecting to virtually any tube headphone amp.

“Many tube amps have a hard time driving low-impedance, low-efficiency headphones,” said Jason Stoddard, Schiit’s Co-Founder. “That’s why we included an internal impedance multiplier on Folkvangr and Valhalla 3. Now, we’re bringing that technology to virtually any tube amp. Connect it to Imp, and even the weakest OTLs will drive difficult planars.”

Imp, Jason emphasized, is not a buffer. It works in parallel with the tube amp. The tube amp is still connected directly to the headphones, but Imp is doing 8x the work.

“That way, a 32 ohm load—difficult for many OTL tube amps—looks like a 256 ohm load, which is a lot more comfortable,” Jason said.

Imp is designed to reflect the characteristics of the tube amp it’s connected to, rather than imparting a particular flavor. A tube amp connected via Imp gives exactly the same distortion profile, preserving the sound of the tube.

Imp connects to the headphone output of most tube headphone amps using a supplied TRS to TRS cable.

In addition to impedance multiplication, Imp also provides a true balanced output via a 4.4mm TRRRS connector. This allows easy interface of single-ended tube amps to popular balanced headphones.

Imp can be bypassed easily with a front panel button, to easily accommodate headphones that don’t need impedance multiplication, such as 300 and 600 ohm models.

Despite its low price, Imp uses high-quality parts, including a 100% linear power supply, and the signal path is entirely DC-coupled.

Like all Schiit products, Imp is made in the USA on our own SMD assembly line in Corpus Christi, Texas. The chassis is made in California.

Imp is backed by an industry-leading 3-year warranty.

Imp is available now at schiit.com for $99.

About Schiit Audio

Since its founding in 2010, Schiit has grown to be the leader in affordable high-end audio, with a broad portfolio of unique analog and digital technologies spanning a wide range of products, from DACs and preamps to power and headphone amps, from $49 to $3499.

Schiit's unique digital technologies include Forkbeard™, the unified control, visualization, and optimization platform; Singular™, Multiform™, True Multibit™, and Mesh™ DACs, using proprietary digital filters based on closed-form math, Unison USB™, a purpose-built UAC2 audio interface based on 32-bit Microchip microprocessors, and Autonomy Architecture™, a modular, upgradable platform to help customers preserve the value of their DAC investment.

Schiit's unique analog architectures include the Nexus™ discrete differential topology, Continuity™ transconductance-equalizing output stages, Coherence™ DC-coupled hybrid topology, Halo™ mixed-mode motion feedback, and a focus on proprietary, low- or no-feedback, fully discrete, highly linear gain and power stages.

Schiit designs and produces its products in the USA, including on our own dedicated SMD assembly line in Corpus Christi, Texas.

Press Contact

Denise Martin, [email protected]