Name: Rebel Audio Rebel Amp Review | The $500 Benchmark
Uploaded: 2020-12-03 20:40:47
Duration: 10 min 1 s

Question 1

Is the Rebel Audio Rebel Amp worth $500?

Accepted Answer

Yeah—at $500 I think it’s a top contender, and honestly one of the best picks in the sub-$500 amp category. The big standouts for me are detail, dynamics, and a wide stage with strong imaging. It also has a surprisingly low noise floor even with sensitive IEMs.

Question 2

How much power does the Rebel Amp have and what’s the output impedance?

Accepted Answer

The Rebel Amp is rated at 1 watt into 32 ohms, and it has a 0.1 ohm output impedance. For most headphones, that’s plenty of power in real use. Unless you specifically need a ton of headroom, it shouldn’t be a problem.

Question 3

Does the Rebel Amp hiss with sensitive IEMs?

Accepted Answer

In my testing, the noise floor was surprisingly low. Even with sensitive IEMs, I wasn’t getting hiss on the Rebel. That was one of the more impressive practical details for me.

Question 4

Rebel Amp vs Schiit Asgard 3: which should I buy?

Accepted Answer

The Asgard 3 is warmer and has a lot more power on paper (3.5W @ 32 ohms vs 1W @ 32). The Rebel, on the other hand, is more resolving with better microdetail and it’s more dynamic to my ears. If you want warmth, Asgard is the easy pick; if you want detail, staging, and dynamics, I’d lean Rebel.

Question 5

Rebel Amp vs HeadAmp Gilmore Lite Mk2: which is better?

Accepted Answer

If you’re choosing between the Rebel and the Gilmore Lite Mk2 at the same price, I’d take the Rebel. I wasn’t a big fan of how the Gilmore sounded in my past comparisons, and the Rebel just comes across as a more complete performer. It’s also physically much larger than the Gilmore, which is tiny.

Question 6

What does the Rebel Amp sound like?

Accepted Answer

It sounds fantastic—very detailed, especially with microdetail and microdynamics. The macrodynamics are also excellent, and it feels way more dynamic than the THX amps I had around at the same time. Staging is wide with great separation and pinpoint imaging.

Question 7

Does the Rebel Amp have a preamp output for speakers?

Accepted Answer

Yes, and it’s actually one of my favorite features here. The pre-outs are selectable, so you can turn them on and off. When you flip them on, the volume knob controls your speakers and it mutes your headphones, which is super convenient.

Question 8

Does the Rebel Amp come with a power cord?

Accepted Answer

No—mine did not come with a power cord. You’ll need to provide your own. It’s not a dealbreaker, but it’s definitely something to know before you buy.

Rebel Audio Rebel Amp Review | The $500 Benchmark

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