Best/Most versatile Dac/AMPs

aoaaron

aoaaron

aoaaron

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19 May 2012
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Hey guys, what is the best bang for buck DAC/AMP?

I have read that the schilt/magni stack is awesome but it doesnt look very portable at all. I was wondering whether there is a DAC/AMP combo which would power the AKG 712s +/- the Bear Dynamic DT 1990s. (I'm now thinking about buying these instead of the X2s)


The X2 is coming out at around £300. For that I think I could get a 712 and a DAC/AMP which could possibly last me a lot longer and give me options to play with other headphones.


Considering
Creative soundblaster E5 (£150)
Audio Engine D1
Filo E17k
Fulla (heard bad things about this one)
 
PapaLazaru said:
In what way are you viewing the portable element? Running off your phone, or just easily transportable?
Click to expand...


Good question! I think mainly so that I can

1. Run it off my ipad in the odd instance
2. Take it upstairs/downstairs to run off my Macbook or PC


Looking at the headphones I am eyeing up, I'm slowly coming to the realisation that open backs just aren't portable at all (they look massive and would look a bit too much in public).

Any recommendations? I think taking it up and downstairs is the big issue for me. I think portablely I've come to the realisation that
1. an open back will be too loud in any public-ish places
2. they will be too big
3. likely it will be too loud to appreciate the headphones in sub-optimal conditions



Likely I'll always be at a desk and near a socket; although if the chargable ones don't offer any negatives, I wouldn't mind getting one instead..
 
rids57 said:
The Beyerdynamic DT1990 while sounding amazing, doesn't have a huge soundstage like the AKG K712
Click to expand...

Ah sorry. I meant the 990s!


I'm quite confused on the DAC situation.

The devices I'd like to use the headphones with will be:

1. Macbook pro (in bed and desk)
2. Ipad (in bed)
3. Nintendo switch (portable mode) and PS Vita
4. Gaming PC/Nintendo Switch/PS4 Pro which are all connected to my Denon AVR via HDMI

My Denon AVR has a headphone output so i assume i just plug the headphones into that? or should i plug the DAC/amp into that output and then those?

Im torn whether I get the Q1 ii dac or the K3 given my uses.

This is so confusing!
 
I was going to suggest a Pioneer Separates DAC/AMP but then I realised you need headphone output and support for modern devices, so forget my post.
 
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Creative E5 , sold my Schiit stack as the E5 in direct mode (without SBX activated ) sounded just as good.
Dont know about the Nintendo switch but should work with everything else.
Has bluetooth, optical , USB and 3.5mm.
Want extra boom in games then enable SBX , Audiophiles will probably call you a heathen for using the SBX pro Studio or Equalizer though.
Works Great with :
Fostex TR-70 250ohm
Beyerdynamic DT 880 600ohm with gain on
Beyerdynamic DT 770 250ohm

Not so great with :
Fostex T50RP mk3 , drives them very loud @ 75%+ volume with gain on but becomes very sibilant.
Topping A30/D30 stack runs them flawlessly though

Think people are saying the new JDS Labs Atom is better than the Schiit/Topping Amp , might try one of those myself with whatever sub £100 DAC is flavour of the month at the moment.
 
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aoaaron said:
Looking at the headphones I am eyeing up, I'm slowly coming to the realisation that open backs just aren't portable at all (they look massive and would look a bit too much in public).
Click to expand...
Full size circumaural headphones are all big regardless if back side is closed or not, because ear pad has to reach over the ear.
Size differences come from other differences in design of head band and general cup design.
Like Beyerdynamic not looking that big next to AKG.
 
My AKG 550s are huge , but I can have them on for hours and hours without having to take them off as is the case with my 770 Pro, but my Momentum 2.0 are not so big and I cant wear them for anywhere near as long , but they are the best sounding headphones I have , I also have some Bowers and Wilkins P3 Series 2 on ear headphones ( Laptop with SoundKey) and while they sound quite nice I cant wear them for too long either as they can make my ears hurt after a couple of hours .
 
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I bought the Q1 ii just for the portability.. altho I'm having second thoughts. I'd like it to be able to play with the Switch.

Can someone please advise me how a amp/dac actually works? what connections go where? Given this one is portable, I'm just thinking how do I get this working with my Denon AVR? Or how do I get it working with my nintendo switch?

Similarly with my switch, which cable goes where?


I'm guessing for my macbook I just connected a USB to micro USB cable to the amp.. and then connect my headphones into the hole in the front?


For my denon AVR, how would i do it?

https://www.google.com/search?q=den...9j69i60j0l2.2582j0j7&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8

Thats the AVR. I'm not sure where I'd plug what into where...
 
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Creative Soundblaster E5 £90 on the uk creative site atm, powers my k702's fine and i can pair it with my phone and steam link.
Good piece of kit imo :cool:
 
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