XM Series

For when the rest of the house is asleep.

A headphone amplifier with an output impedance below 5 ohms and 1.5 watts into 33 ohms, that also works as a preamplifier with moving-magnet phono, coaxial and optical S/PDIF, and USB to 32-bit/768kHz. Designed and built in Lancing, West Sussex.

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XM Series

A whole system for one listener.

Phono in, digital in, headphones out, and a preamplifier output for the day speakers get involved. In 218 millimetres it does what three boxes normally do, which makes it the one piece of Exposure that works on a desk or beside a bed rather than in a rack. Add a pair of XM9 monoblocks and it becomes the front end of a full system without anything being replaced.
  1. XMHalf-width separates. Phono, integrated, pre, mono, headphone, CD.You are here
  2. 2510Full-width. Seventy-five watts, with an MM phono stage as standard.
  3. 3510The complete tier. Integrated, pre, stereo power, monoblocks and CD.
  4. 5510The current flagship. One hundred and twenty watts, black only.

Within this tier

  1. Integrated
  2. Pre
  3. Phono
  4. Monoblocks
  5. Headphone
  6. CD

Shelf plan

Half the width. Deeper than it looks.

Exposure XMHP Headphone Amplifier - Preamp with DAC & Phono 218 × 90 × 363 mm, 4 kg This model
Full-width chassis 440 × 115 × 315 mm, 12 kgThe 2510, 3510 and 5510 boxes, for comparison.

Drawn to scale, viewed from above. Two half-width boxes sit side by side in the space of one full-width chassis β€” but check your depth, these run deeper than they are wide.

Technical specifications
Headphone output impedance<5 Ξ©
Headphone maximum level, 33 Ξ©7 V RMS @ 1 kHz & 0.01% THD (1.5 W)
Headphone maximum level, 330 Ξ©7.5 V RMS @ 1 kHz & 0.01% THD (170 mW)
Headphone distortion at 2 V out<0.003% @ 1 kHz β€” 120 mW into 33 Ξ©, 12 mW into 330 Ξ©
Minimum load impedance16 Ξ©, all outputs combined
Phono input (MM), AUX/PH2.5 mV @ 1 kHz, 47 kΞ©, S/N >73 dB
Phono frequency responseΒ±0.5 dB, 50 Hz – 20 kHz, high-pass roll-off –1.5 dB @ 20 Hz
Line inputs, AUX 2 and AUX 3350 mV @ 1 kHz, >14 kΞ©, gain Γ—3.75 (+11.5 dB)
Analogue distortion and noise<0.005% @ 1 kHz at 1.3 V RMS out; S/N >92 dB
S/PDIF inputsBNC coaxial and optical, 32 – 192 kHz PCM. S/N >98 dB
USB input44.1 – 768 kHz, up to 32-bit PCM, DSD Γ—64–256 (DoP)
Channel separation>60 dB @ 20 kHz
Power consumption<15 W
Dimensions and weight218 Γ— 90 Γ— 363 mm (W Γ— H Γ— D), 4 kg net / 5 kg gross
What headphones will it drive?
Almost anything. Output impedance is below 5 ohms, which keeps low-impedance headphones from being coloured by damping mismatch, and it delivers 1.5 W into 33 ohms or 170 mW into 330 ohms. Minimum load across all outputs combined is 16 ohms.
How is this different from the XM7?
The XM7 is a preamplifier that also drives headphones. The XMHP is a headphone amplifier that also works as a preamplifier. On the headphone output it measures below 0.003% at a normal 2 V listening level against the XM7's 0.01%, and its output impedance is below 5 ohms. If headphones are the main event, this is the one.
Can I run a turntable and a computer into it?
Yes. There is a moving-magnet phono input at 2.5 mV into 47 kilohms, two line inputs, BNC coaxial and optical S/PDIF to 192 kHz, and USB to 32-bit/768kHz with DSD. It is a complete desktop or bedside system that also has a preamplifier output for powered speakers or a pair of XM9 monoblocks.
About the Exposure XMHP Headphone Amplifier - Preamp with DAC & Phono

Five Stars, Any Way You Use It: Exposure XMHP

The Exposure XMHP is three great products in one compact box: an award-winning headphone amplifier, a preamplifier with high-resolution DAC, and a quality moving-magnet phono stage. Hi-Fi Choice gave it a full five stars, and its verdict says it all: "There's a lot to like about the XMHP, but what's so impressive is that every aspect of this versatile product is done to a high standard… it comes highly recommended β€” headphones or not."

Headphone Amp First, Compromise Never

At its heart is a dedicated, high-performance headphone stage engineered to bring out the best in a wide range of headphones β€” with the seamless, unfatiguing delivery Exposure is known for. Feed it digitally through the high-resolution DAC, connect a turntable to the MM phono input, or use it as a compact preamplifier at the hub of a desktop or main system. Whatever the source, the XMHP treats it properly.

Built Like Its Bigger Siblings

A custom-made toroidal transformer and an all-aluminium chassis keep noise low and resonance in check, in the familiar half-width XM form factor and black or titanium finishes. Small on the shelf, seriously capable in use.

Why You'll Love the Exposure XMHP

  • Three-in-one β€” headphone amp, preamp with hi-res DAC, and MM phono stage
  • Hi-Fi Choice 5 stars β€” "every aspect… done to a high standard"
  • Dedicated headphone stage β€” brings the best from a wide range of headphones
  • Real vinyl input β€” quality moving-magnet phono stage on board
  • Low-noise build β€” custom toroidal transformer, all-aluminium chassis
  • Hand-built in England β€” compact XM form, black or titanium

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the XMHP just a headphone amplifier?

No β€” it's a headphone amplifier, a preamplifier with a high-resolution DAC, and a moving-magnet phono stage combined. You can build a compact system around it, headphones or loudspeakers.

Can I connect a turntable to the XMHP?

Yes, via its built-in moving-magnet (MM) phono input β€” no separate phono preamp required for MM cartridges.

What did the reviews say?

Hi-Fi Choice awarded it five stars, praising how every aspect of this versatile product is done to a high standard and recommending it "headphones or not."

Exposure XMHP Technical Specifications

Type Headphone amplifier / preamplifier with DAC and MM phono
Digital High-resolution onboard DAC
Phono Moving-magnet (MM) input
Transformer Custom-made toroidal
Chassis All-aluminium, half-width XM form
Award Hi-Fi Choice 5 stars
Finishes Black or titanium
Made in England β€” Exposure Electronics

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