Rogue Audio RH-5 Headphone Amplifier With Phono - Black

Tube Magic, Solid-State Muscle

The Rogue Audio RH-5 answers a question serious headphone listeners eventually ask: why buy a headphone amp, a preamp, and a phono stage separately? This is all three in one American-made chassis, built around a hybrid design that pairs two 12AU7 tubes with a MOSFET output stage, tube character where it matters, solid-state power where it counts.

That power is real: 3.5 watts into 32 ohms, 1.8 watts into 100 ohms, and 0.75 watts into 300 ohms, enough for demanding planar headphones and high-impedance dynamics alike. Three gain settings (3, 12, and 16dB) match the amp to anything from sensitive in-ears to insensitive planars, and the front panel accepts 1/4", 3-pin XLR, and 4-pin XLR headphone connections, with multiple headphones connected at once.

This version includes Rogue's phono stage, so a turntable plugs straight in. It handles moving magnet and moving coil cartridges with selectable 44dB or 56dB gain and eight resistive loading options, a genuinely adjustable phono section, not a token add-on.

A Complete Control Center

The RH-5 is also a full-function preamplifier. Three RCA inputs and a balanced XLR input handle your sources, while RCA and balanced XLR preamp outputs feed a power amplifier or powered speakers. A machined aluminum remote controls volume, input, mute, and power from the couch.

Frequency response runs 5Hz to 50kHz (plus or minus 1dB), with 0.05% distortion and a 0.1-ohm headphone output impedance that keeps the sound consistent across different headphones. Every RH-5 is hand-built by Rogue Audio in Pennsylvania, and the faceplate comes in black or silver.

What Reviewers Are Saying

Herb Reichert of Stereophile, in an October 26, 2017 review, praised "the weight and force of music, and the splendid transparency of its two 12AU7 tubes," concluding: "This new Rogue makes more of my headphones sound great than any other amp I have!" Frank Iacone of Headphone Guru, in an October 30, 2017 review, found "the midrange is where most of the RH-5 magic comes to life," adding "the RH-5 is dead quiet; I heard no noise or distortion."

Who Is This Amplifier Best For?

• You want headphone amp, preamp, and phono stage in one box — the RH-5 replaces three components and the cables between them.
• You spin vinyl — the built-in MM/MC phono stage has real gain and loading flexibility.
• You own demanding headphones — 3.5 watts into 32 ohms drives planars and high-impedance dynamics with ease.
• You want American hand-built quality — designed and built by Rogue Audio in Pennsylvania, with a 3-year warranty.
• If you only need a simple headphone amp, the RH-5's preamp and phono features are more than you'll use — a dedicated headphone amp costs less.

How Does It Connect to Your System?

Connect your turntable to the phono input, digital sources to the three RCA line inputs, and a balanced source to the XLR input. Headphones plug into the front panel's 1/4", 3-pin XLR, or 4-pin XLR jacks. To run a full system, connect the RCA or balanced XLR preamp outputs to a power amplifier or powered speakers.

Set the gain to match your headphones, low for sensitive models, higher for demanding ones, and set the phono DIP switches once for your cartridge. The remote handles everything else from your listening chair.

Pairs Well With

Building your system? Here are some great companions for the RH-5:

• Headphones: An amp with this much power deserves a serious headphone — see our Headphones.
• Turntable: Put the built-in phono stage to work — see our Turntables.
• DAC: Add a digital source through the line or balanced inputs — see our Digital-to-Analog Converters.
• Cables: Quality interconnects complete the chain — see our Interconnect Cables.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the phono stage included?

Yes, this version includes Rogue's phono stage, with MM/MC support, 44dB or 56dB gain, and eight loading options.

How powerful is the headphone output?

3.5 watts into 32 ohms, 1.8 watts into 100 ohms, and 0.75 watts into 300 ohms.

What headphone connections does it have?

1/4", 3-pin XLR, and 4-pin XLR, and you can connect more than one headphone at a time.

Can it work as my system preamp?

Yes. RCA and balanced XLR preamp outputs feed a power amp or powered speakers, with full remote control.

What tubes does it use?

Two 12AU7/ECC82 tubes in the input stage, one of the most widely available tube types for easy rolling.

What's the warranty?

Rogue Audio covers the RH-5 with a 3-year limited warranty, with 6 months on the tubes.

See It in Action

Charles Pierre takes a close look at the RH-5:

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Learn More

Want to learn more about headphone amplifiers, phono stages, or building a headphone system? Visit our Learning Center for guides, tips, and expert advice.