ART HeadAmp6 Six Channel Stereo Headphone Amplifier

The ART HeadAmp6 is a six-channel stereo headphone amplifier in a 1U rack chassis that can drive up to 18 pairs of headphones at once. It is built for recording studios, rehearsal rooms, churches, schools and broadcast spaces where a whole band, choir or class needs to listen from one source, with an aux input on every channel so each person can build their own “more me” mix.

Up to 18 headphones from one rack space

Each of the six channels has three stereo 1/4″ headphone jacks: one on the front panel and two on the rear. That lets you run up to 18 pairs of headphones simultaneously, or use the rear jacks to feed other headphone amps and extend the system further. Each channel has its own output Level control, so the guitarist can listen loud while the vocalist keeps it gentle.

The stereo source arrives through balanced XLR and 1/4″ TRS main inputs on the rear. Matching Thru connectors pass the same signal on to another unit, and a front-panel stereo 1/4″ Direct input overrides the rear inputs when you want to plug in a phone, laptop or keyboard quickly.

Personal “More Me” mixes on every channel

Every channel has its own stereo aux input on the front panel. With nothing plugged in, the channel’s Balance control pans between the left and right of the main mix. Plug a source into that channel’s aux jack and the same control becomes a blend between the main mix and the aux signal. Use it to give the drummer extra click, the bass player more kick drum or the singer more of their own vocal, by sending that source from an aux send on your mixer or a spare output on your audio interface.

A tip worth knowing: if the aux signal is out of phase with the same source in the main mix, turning it up will make that instrument quieter instead of louder. Check the phase or polarity switch on your console if a “more me” mix behaves strangely.

Mono and mute switching

Mono, Mute L and Mute R buttons on each channel give four listening modes: stereo, mono left, mono right and both sides summed to mono. This is useful when a musician wants a single-ear mix, when a click is panned hard to one side, or when you are running mono sources into a channel’s aux input.

LED meters with clip indicators on the main bus and each output channel make it easy to spot levels at a glance, even in a dim live room.

Setting it up for low noise

• Start low: turn all channel Level controls down before connecting headphones, then bring the main signal up until the main meter shows healthy levels without clipping.
• Strong input, modest outputs: a solid main input level with channel Levels set moderately gives a cleaner signal than a weak input turned up at every channel.
• Balanced cables: use XLR or 1/4″ TRS cables into the rear main inputs to avoid hum, especially on longer runs from the mixer.
• Several headphones on one channel: the three jacks on a channel share its power. If you hear distortion at high volume with three pairs connected, spread the musicians across more channels.

Who is the ART HeadAmp6 for?

• Studios tracking full bands who need everyone on headphones at the same time.
• Churches, choirs and worship teams giving singers and musicians their own monitor level.
• Schools, language labs and training rooms that need many listeners on one programme source.
• Rehearsal spaces and quiet practice setups where the band plays through headphones instead of loud wedges.

If you only need one or two headphone feeds at your desk, the headphone output on your audio interface or a compact desktop headphone amplifier is the simpler choice.

ART HeadAmp6 vs HeadAmp6 Pro

Both are six-channel, 1U rack headphone amplifiers with a per-channel aux input, balanced XLR/TRS inputs with Thru, and a front Direct input. The standard HeadAmp6 gives you three headphone jacks per channel (up to 18 headphones) with the aux inputs on the front panel. The HeadAmp6 Pro has two jacks per channel (up to 12 headphones), moves the aux inputs to the rear, and adds bass and treble controls on every channel. Choose the HeadAmp6 if connecting the most listeners matters more than per-channel tone shaping. Either way, pair it with comfortable, closed-back studio headphones to minimise bleed into microphones.

Key Features

• Six stereo headphone channels in a 1U 19″ rack chassis
• Three 1/4″ headphone jacks per channel (1 front, 2 rear): up to 18 headphones
• Front-panel stereo aux input on every channel for “More Me” mixes
• Dual-function Balance control: L/R pan or main/aux blend
• Mono, Mute L and Mute R buttons on each channel
• LED meters with clip indicators on the main bus and all channels
• Balanced XLR and 1/4″ TRS main inputs with Thru for chaining units
• Front-panel stereo Direct input that overrides the rear inputs
• 500 mW into 32 Ω and 150 mW into 600 Ω headphones

Frequently Asked Questions

How many headphones can the ART HeadAmp6 power?

Up to 18 pairs. Each of the six channels has three 1/4″ headphone jacks, one on the front and two on the rear.

Can each musician hear a different mix?

Yes. Each channel has its own aux input, and the Balance control blends that aux source with the main mix, so every channel can have more of a particular instrument, vocal or click.

Does the HeadAmp6 have EQ?

No. Per-channel bass and treble controls are found on the HeadAmp6 Pro. The standard HeadAmp6 focuses on level, balance and mono/mute switching, with more headphone outputs instead.

Can I connect it to my audio interface or mixer?

Yes. Connect the line or monitor outputs of your interface or mixer to the balanced XLR or 1/4″ TRS main inputs. Extra outputs or aux sends can feed individual channel aux inputs for personal mixes.

Can I link two HeadAmp6 units?

Yes. The balanced Thru connectors on the rear pass the main input signal to a second unit, so you can expand beyond six channels from the same mix.

What headphones work with it?

It delivers 500 mW into 32-ohm headphones and 150 mW into 600-ohm models, so it suits most studio headphones from common low-impedance models through to high-impedance studio cans.