AKG HP4E 4-Channel Headphone Amplifier

AKG HP4E 4-Channel Headphone Amplifier

The AKG HP4E is a compact half-rack headphone amplifier designed to distribute independent mix feeds to four musicians, vocalists, or engineers during overdubs, ensemble tracking, and monitoring sessions. Its lightweight metal chassis and intuitive front panel layout integrate seamlessly into console-based workflows and portable mobile rigs. Built with AKG's reputation for reliability, this amp delivers clean, low-distortion amplification across four isolated channels without compromising signal integrity, preserving mix detail across headphone feeds.

Design & Build

Housed in a sturdy metal chassis in half 1 RU rackmount format, the HP4E weighs just 760 g and runs from a standard 12V power supply, making it ideal for both permanent studio installations and mobile session work. The compact footprint preserves valuable rack real estate in tight control rooms while its professional construction ensures years of dependable operation through intensive session schedules.

Studio Headphone Distribution

Each of the four channels features dual outputs—a 3.5 mm (1/8") socket and 6.3 mm (1/4") socket—accommodating everything from consumer earbuds to professional closed-back monitoring headphones with independent level control per channel. The amplifier delivers up to 220 mW maximum output with distortion below 0.05% and a signal-to-noise ratio better than 85 dB-A, ensuring transparent headphone mixes at comfortable monitoring levels across a 20–20000 Hz bandwidth, with minimal noise floor to capture the nuance of each performer's reference feed.

Key Features

• Four independent headphone output channels with individual level control
• Dual outputs per channel: 3.5 mm (1/8") and 6.3 mm (1/4") sockets
• 6.3 mm (1/4") unbalanced input
• Input impedance: 100k Ohms
• Output impedance: 11 Ohms
• Maximum output level: 220 mW
• Distortion: <0.05%
• Signal-to-noise ratio: Better than 85 dB-A
• Audio frequency bandwidth: 20–20000 Hz
• Half 1 RU rackmount format
• Sturdy metal chassis construction
• 12V power supply included; net weight 760 g

The HP4E remains an essential tool for any recording setup requiring simultaneous headphone distribution—multitrack sessions, ensemble tracking, overdub management, and teaching environments all benefit from its straightforward operation and solid engineering.