SPECS THAT MATTER

Power: enough for all headphones except the most insane planars (Susvara, etc)
Noise: inaudible on all headphones and IEMs when in low or negative gain modes
Voice: microphone input is dead-silent, and you have manual control over gain so you can dominate the conversation
Distortion: unmeasurable at normal listening levels, 100-1000x lower than the headphones you're using
Heat: top gets slightly warm
Size: very desk-friendly

OTHER SPECS

Frequency Response: 20Hz-20Khz, +/-0.2db

Maximum Power, 16 Ohms: 1400mW RMS
Maximum Power, 32 ohms: 1250mW RMS
Maximum Power, 50 ohms: 800mW RMS
Maximum Power, 300 ohms: 200mW RMS

THD: <0.0004%, 20Hz-20KHz, at 2V RMS
IMD: <0.0006%, CCIR

SNR: >114dB, A-weighted, referenced to 2V RMS

Crosstalk: >-75dB, 20Hz-20KHz

Output Impedance (headphones): 0.25 ohms

Output Impedance (line out): 75 ohms

Gain: Negative, Low, and High, selectable via front panel switch. Negative has maximum output of 0.67V RMS, Low has maximum output of 2V RMS, high has maximum output of 8.5VRMS.

USB Receiver: C-Media CM6635 with custom firmware

DAC: ESS ES9018 with TI LM4562-based filter stage

Sample Rates and Bit Depths: 

USB Playback: 16/44.1 to 32/384 supported without drivers on Windows 10/11, Mac, Linux, Android (any UAC 2 device) with autoswitching to UAC1 for PS4, PS5, and Switch consoles.

Mic Input: 48kHz

Optical Input: 16/44.1 to 24/192

Output Stage: TI OPA1656 (4 amp stages per channel) 

Power Supply: Via USB, with +/- 12V rails via high-current dual-polarity switching regulator, with inductor filtering, local regulation, and overcurrent sensing and protection

Power Consumption: 2.5W typical

 Size: 5 x 3.5 x 1.375” (including knob)

Weight: 13oz

APx Report for Hel+

Why this for gaming instead of something more convenient like Bluetooth?
Three words: quality, latency, and reliability. Bluetooth simply can’t deliver the quality of a wired connection. Not even lossless Bluetooth can operate above 48kHz. So if you want the best sound, with the most detail, for the most mission-critical gaming, you’re going wired. Add the near-unmeasurable latency of Hel+’s USB implementation, total freedom from Bluetooth drop-outs and charging pauses, and Hel+’s high-reliability design, and you have the one device you need for your most important games.

This looks a lot like previous Hels. What’s changed?
In short, almost everything. The entire board was re-worked, and, even if a lot of the parts are the same, the implementation isn’t. Here’s what we did:

• Added a negative gain mode, for 3 gain levels. Now you’ll have tons of volume control play for even the most sensitive headphones, while retaining maximum output for hard-to-drive models.
• Dramatically improved the CM6635 USB receiver implementation. It’s now running custom firmware for minimum latency and maximum compatibility, and has been completely re-laid-out for enhanced reliability.
• Tweaked the DAC and ADC stages. Both get different op-amps and a bunch of moderate changes designed to make Hel sound better and work better.
• Replaced the USB connectors with high-reliability versions. These all-through-hole parts are designed to take a lot of abuse.
• Added significant protection throughout the product. Hel+ now features our same transparent overcurrent protection found in Magni+ and other Schiit models, so there’s no worries about shorted headphone cables or wrong headphone connectors. It also has significantly expanded ESD protection on all inputs and outputs, including the mic input, and USB connector isolation to both enhance reliability and virtually eliminate ground loops.

So I can connect to pretty much any TV and many console games, as well as PCs?
Yes. And Macs. And iPads. And phones and tablets. Hel+ is super-versatile.

But no support for Xbox?
Talk to them about UAC1 or UAC2 support. It’s not like they can’t do it. Not sure what their problem is. 

Why should I buy this over the Fulla? 
Because you want more power or flexibility. Hel+ offers much higher power than Fulla E, it has a gain switch for harder-to-drive or more sensitive headphones, and it has front-panel adjustable microphone gain and a stereo mic input. If you don’t need that, Fulla is a great little DAC/amp, and it runs off of your computer, rather than needing external power input. So there you go.

So this is just a gaming device?
Nope. It’s also great in your office. If you want great sound (and if you want to sound good to the people you’re staring at in the Zoom window), Hel+ is a great choice for office and home office communications.

Can I use this for Linux?
If your Linux distro supports UAC2 (as in, USB Audio Class 2, the standard for audio transmission over USB), then you’re set. However, we haven’t tested all distros. 

How about MacOS and iOS? 
Yep, you’re good.

Android?
In general, yes. Some older phones may need an external application such as USB Audio Player Pro to work. As with Linux, we haven’t tested all variations.

What about Windows 7 and 8.1?
Windows 10 and 11 only on this one.

How much power does this need from my computer or phone?
None. Hel+ is powered by the included 2.1A USB power supply. 

So I have to plug in the USB power supply?
Yes. Hel+ draws nearly 2A at full clip, so it really needs a 2.1A supply. It won’t run off most USB ports or 1A chargers.

Can I use this with both headphones and powered monitors? 
Yep! All you’ll need is a 1/8” to dual RCA or dual XLR cable to connect to your monitors.

Can I use this as just a DAC?
Yep! Just put it in low gain and turn it all the way up. Plug into the line out on the back panel and you’re set.

If I plug in headphones…
It automatically mutes the preamp outputs. See, we’re getting good at predicting what you’re gonna ask. Kinda like autocorrect. But with less embarrassing mistakes. We hope.

And the microphone input is stereo?
Yes. You can use an external stereo electret microphone if you’d like, or use the mono one built into your headset. Both work fine. But yes, there’s a really good TI ADC in there, together with an NE5532 pre-amp with an Alps potentiometer for gain control, so it’s a very nice mic input.

Will it work with all of my headphones?
Pretty much anything, yeah. 1250mW is a ton of power. Even if you have planar headphones, it should run them to ear-bleeding levels. And if you have sensitive IEMs, you can use low gain for a vanishingly low noise floor.

What comes in the box, besides the Hel? Do I get a cable with this?
Yes, we supply two USB-A to USB-C cables, as well as a 2.1A USB power supply and a 1/8” to 1/4” headphone adapters. 

Can I use a fancier cable to get better sound?
You can do whatever you’d like, including dancing by the light of the full moon and making small, non-living sacrifices to the audiophile gods.

No, seriously.
We are being serious.

I’m asking specifically about the cable.
As long as it’s a USB 2.0-minimum USB-C terminated cable, you can use it, sure. 

And it’ll sound better?
Probably about as much as taping $100 bills to your headphones. Again, it’s your choice, up to you!

Hel+ Manual