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We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
If you want a complete, ready-to-use in-ear monitoring setup you can wear straight out of the box, choose BASN MTPro 14.5mm; if you need a desktop amplifier that can properly drive high-impedance studio headphones, choose Nobsound P32. These two products look like they belong in the same conversation, but they solve completely different problems, and that is the first thing to understand before you spend anything.
• BASN MTPro 14.5mm — biggest strength: a 14.5mm planar magnetic driver per earbud with a double-sided magnetic array, tuned for detail and impactful bass in a metal, CNC-machined shell.
• BASN MTPro 14.5mm — biggest trade-off: it is a wired in-ear monitor with 32 ohm impedance, so it is not designed to serve as a source or amplifier for other headphones.
• Nobsound P32 — biggest strength: 1000mW of output power that drives headphones from 24Ω to 600Ω, which is exactly the range where high-impedance studio models live.
• Nobsound P32 — biggest trade-off: it is a desktop component that needs power and desk space, not something you wear or carry in a pocket.
• Bottom line on who each is for: pick the BASN MTPro 14.5mm if you perform, record or listen on the move; pick the Nobsound P32 if your bottleneck is amplification, not the earphones themselves.
The MTPro is a planar magnetic in-ear monitor, and that single fact shapes everything about it. Each earbud carries a 14.5mm planar diaphragm driver backed by a double-sided magnetic array. The design intent, per the specs, is swift diaphragm movement that translates into a highly detailed sound with a strong bass response. Planar drivers have a reputation for fast transient response, and the MTPro is built around that idea rather than around a conventional dynamic driver.
What makes it a system instead of just a pair of earbuds is everything in the box. You get two detachable MMCX cables: a 3.5mm 4-core single crystal copper cable with coaxial and Litz shielding, plus a second mic cable for calls and playback control. MMCX detachability means you can swap cables later without replacing the earphones. The package also includes silicone and foam eartips, a storage case, and small maintenance tools. The aluminum shell is cut and reshaped through a high-precision CNC process, and the contrasting base-and-faceplate design gives it a distinctive look in Navy Blue.
Who should buy it? Musicians first — the specs call out drummers, singers and live monitoring directly. The ergonomic shape plus foam and silicone tips provide noise isolation and a secure fit, which matters when you are on a stage or tracking in a room. Audiophiles who want a fairly neutral, easy-to-listen-to signature for long sessions are the second natural fit. Who should skip it? Anyone whose actual problem is that their existing high-impedance headphones sound thin and quiet. The MTPro is a 32 ohm in-ear with a 3.5mm jack and a 20Hz–20,000Hz range; it is the thing at the end of the chain, not the thing driving the chain.
The P32 is a tube headphone amplifier and stereo preamp in a small desktop chassis — roughly 3.23 x 3.07 x 1.26 inches and 7.68 ounces. Its headline number is output power: up to 1000mW, which the specs say is enough to drive headphones across a 24Ω to 600Ω range. That range is the whole point. High-impedance studio headphones are exactly the category that benefits from real voltage swing, and a phone or laptop headphone jack is usually the weak link. The P32 is built to be the strong link.
It is also unusually flexible for its size. Inputs are RCA and 3.5mm AUX, so a PC, phone or TV can feed it. Outputs are both 3.5mm and 6.35mm, so you do not need to hunt for an adapter for either style of headphone plug. It ships with two 6J5 tubes and a DC 5V power adapter, and it covers an 18-month limited warranty. Beyond headphone duty, it doubles as a stereo preamp: run it into the AUX or RCA input of powered speakers or a home amplifier and it adds tube character to the whole setup.
The sound signature is the second selling point. Vacuum tubes are described here as adding a smooth, mellow tone with richer detail and clearer vocals, and the specs specifically note the absence of background hiss so quiet passages stay quiet. The third is customization: both the tubes and the dual op-amp chips are swappable, so you can tune the sound or upgrade components without buying a new amplifier. Who should buy it? Desktop listeners with hard-to-drive headphones, and anyone who wants to warm up a speaker system. Who should skip it? Anyone who wants to listen while walking around. This is a plug-in desktop box.
• Best for actually driving high-impedance studio headphones → Nobsound P32. Its 24–600Ω range and 1000mW output are built precisely for that job.
• Best for live performance and stage monitoring → BASN MTPro 14.5mm. The ergonomic fit, foam tips and noise isolation are aimed at musicians.
• Best for portability → BASN MTPro 14.5mm. It lives in your ears and travels in its own storage case; the P32 needs a desk and a power adapter.
• Best for upgrading an existing speaker setup → Nobsound P32. It works as a stereo preamp, not just a headphone amp.
• Best for cable flexibility → BASN MTPro 14.5mm. Detachable MMCX connectors plus two included cables let you switch between audio and call use.
• Best for tuning the sound to taste over time → Nobsound P32. Swappable tubes and op-amps let you change the character without replacing the unit.
• Best for a complete single purchase with accessories → BASN MTPro 14.5mm. Eartips, two cables, a case and tools are all included.
• Best for connection convenience → Nobsound P32. RCA plus 3.5mm in, 3.5mm plus 6.35mm out, no adapters required.
If I had to pick one, it would be the Nobsound P32 — but only because of the angle that brought most readers here. If you are specifically searching around high-impedance studio headphones, the P32 addresses the actual problem: power. In my opinion, a 24–600Ω range at 1000mW, dual headphone jacks and swappable tubes and op-amps make it the more useful purchase for a desktop studio or listening station. That said, if you are a musician who needs in-ears for monitoring, the BASN MTPro 14.5mm is the better fit and the P32 does nothing for you. Check the current price on Amazon for whichever one matches your setup before deciding.
do high impedance headphones sound better
Not automatically. Higher impedance mainly means the headphones need more voltage to reach a given volume, which is why a capable amplifier like the Nobsound P32 — rated for 24Ω to 600Ω at up to 1000mW — matters. With proper amplification the design can perform as intended; without it, high-impedance models often sound thin and quiet.
is high impedance good for headphones
It can be, for studio and home listening where a dedicated amplifier is available. The trade-off is that high-impedance headphones are harder to drive from a phone or laptop jack. If you want something that runs easily from a normal 3.5mm output instead, a low-impedance in-ear like the BASN MTPro 14.5mm at 32 ohm is the simpler route.
are high impedance headphones better
They are better suited to some jobs, not better across the board. High impedance is common in studio and reference designs, and it pairs naturally with a desktop amp. For live monitoring, wearing comfort and isolation matter more, which is the territory of the MTPro with its foam and silicone tips rather than an amplifier.
why are high impedance headphones better
The usual reasoning is about how they behave with amplification: they draw less current and are often paired with amps that deliver plenty of voltage, which can mean tighter control and a lower noise floor. The P32's spec sheet reflects that idea — it emphasizes high output power and notes an absence of background hiss, so quiet passages stay quiet. That is a system benefit, not a property of impedance alone.
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