Best amp/dac solution for TV headphone use...

Legend

Legend

Legend

Soldato
Joined
31 Dec 2006
Posts
7,224
I have a pair of DT990 250's, which I currently use with a FiiO E10K on my PC. However, I cannot use this with my TV, which sits about 3 feet away, so I would like to get an amp/dac that will enable me to do this. What are my best options?

I don't want to spend a fortune, and I've seen the Epiphany Acoustics EHP-O2Di Dac & Headphone Amplifier get solid reviews, and it looks like it would do the job. Also the Modi/Magni 2 Uber, although more expensive has the optical connection. Not sure if that makes any difference vs the RCA connection though? Are there any other options worth looking at?
 
If you use RCA to get the sound from the TV then you have a line out signal which would just go to an amp, while if you use an optical signal then you would need to put that through a DAC first. The Modi 2 Uber DAC is almost certain to be a better DAC than the one in your TV, so in theory the sound should be better but how much better is anybody's guess.

If you only wanted optical then you could get the Schiit Modi optical version which is only £85 and a Magni 2 for the same money.

Another option would be the Audio Engine D1 (£140) which is a single box DAC & headphone amp with both USB and optical inputs. You would still need a USB connection from somewhere in order to power it though.
 
Last edited:
rids57 said:
If you use RCA to get the sound from the TV then you have a line out signal which would just go to an amp, while if you use an optical signal then you would need to put that through a DAC first. The Modi 2 Uber DAC is almost certain to be a better DAC than the one in your TV, so in theory the sound should be better but how much better is anybody's guess.

If you only wanted optical then you could get the Schiit Modi optical version which is only £85 and a Magni 2 for the same money.
Click to expand...
Optical would be easier, but from the pics I'm seeing online, that only has the one optical port, so if I wanted to shift between PC and TV use, I'd need to unplug it each time? The Modi 2 Uber is the only one that has both, but at a cost.
 
Sorry, I thought you only wanted it for the TV and were going to continue with what you already had for the PC.

In that case the Modi 2 Uber is definitely the one to go for.
 
Is there an all-in-one amp/dac that has an optical connection, and that performs as well as the Schiit? I ask because the double AC power connections that I'd need for both Ubers is far from ideal for me. I have read good things about the Audio-GD NFB-15... but it isn't the easiest to come by and has to be imported. I also came across the Denon DA-300USB, not sure how that rates, but it seems well priced and actually has x2 optical inputs.
 
rids57 said:
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=SC-026-AS&groupid=701&catid=1925

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=SC-027-AS&groupid=701&catid=1925

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=SC-097-CL&groupid=701&catid=1925

I've tested all three and they are all at least as good as the Schiit stack
Click to expand...

Thank you :) The Xonar Essence STU looks an attractive price for what it offers. And no problem with the DT990 250's that I have with any of these?
 
no, the two Asus amps have output impedances of 10 ohms and the Creative a mere 2 ohms, so no worries with DT990s
 
Just a thought... am I being silly in my quest for external? Would a cheaper option like the top end Xonar Essence STX II 7.1 do a better job? No optical on that, but it does have the RCA connections. Same goes for the STX II. Or are these COMPLETELY different to what an external would give me, considering I want to hook up my TV to this also?
 
As you want to hook it up to a TV as well, preferably through optical, the sound card wouldn't be the best way to go.
 
Legend said:
Is there an all-in-one amp/dac that has an optical connection, and that performs as well as the Schiit? I ask because the double AC power connections that I'd need for both Ubers is far from ideal for me. I have read good things about the Audio-GD NFB-15... but it isn't the easiest to come by and has to be imported. I also came across the Denon DA-300USB, not sure how that rates, but it seems well priced and actually has x2 optical inputs.
Click to expand...

The denon is really good, it looks beautiful in person and sounds great for its price but its headphone amp isnt very powerful so i am not sure how it would handle you dt 990's. The dac magic plus or audiolab qdac are also good alternatives. I would have recommended the v90 hpa like in the other thread but it sounds like optical is needed.
 
Last edited:
I got the dacmagic plus last week for £200 to use with my sennheiser hd595 its pretty good the only downside is the cheap feeling volume button oh and i want some sennheiser hd600's now as well.
 
I just picked it up today... sounds great. Volume button doesn't feel too cheap to me though I must say. The whole unit is a bit bigger than I thought, but other than that seems like it will do the job! :)
 
Good to hear you like it, if i can help it i tend to try amazon since i have 30 days if i dont like it.
 
Angst said:
Good to hear you like it, if i can help it i tend to try amazon since i have 30 days if i dont like it.
Click to expand...

Yes that would have been my preference... they are second to none for returns, but it was £50 more on there so a no brainer really. Same seller actually, RS, but the in-store VIP offer made it cheaper.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom