Headphone amp/DAC recommendation

Minstadave · 3 May 2023 at 16:36

Currently running a SB G6 and HD650s for a mix of gaming/music and wondered if I'm getting the best out the HD650s. Is the anything sub £200 worth considering?

tom_nieto · 4 May 2023 at 00:04

Really rate my Beresford Bushmaster DAC. I’d be tempted to get one of their updated models (Caiman or 7520) which have USB as well. Strangely their UK website doesn’t seem to list the DACs for sale, so it might be worth contacting them directly to enquire. http://www.homehifi.co.uk/S/contact.htm

Gray2233 · 4 May 2023 at 00:24

IFi ZEN CAN is worth a look AMP wise, it can be had for under £150 last I checked.

I'm pretty sure a couple have went on the MM for under £100.

james.miller · 4 May 2023 at 02:46

Schitt Magni Heretic, £135

Schiit Magni Heretic Headphone Amp Review

This is a review and detailed measurements of the Schiit Magni Heretic headphone amplifier. It was sent to me by the company and costs US $109. You can get it in silver or back. Either way, the side and back panels are in red which I like. As you see, there is not much to the functionality...

www.audiosciencereview.com

Schiit Magni Heretic Listening Tests
I started testing with my everyday Dan Clark Expanse headphone. Using high gain, at about 2:00pm I was at the limit of what I would want to listen to everyday. This left me a bit of headroom as after 3:00 PM it started to distort. By max volume there was good bass dynamics but the sound was clearly distorted. So I would say the Heretic is perfectly fine for general listening with Expanse. Just don't push it to the limit of the unit and your hearing!

Switching to Sennheiser HD650 remedied the amplifier limit and now there was thundering dynamics and super fidelity with as much volume as I wanted. Absolutely excellent fidelity was to be had.

Conclusions
It was nice to see the Schiit Heresy bring measurement grade headphone amplifier to the offerings of the company. In the Heretic version, that performance is improved yet again with addition of gain control, fixing the only weakness in that otherwise excellent unit. You get state of the art performance at bargain prices in solid metal enclosure for English speaking company.

I am happy to add Schiit Magni Heretic to my recommended list.

note, the Dan Clark Expanses' are planar magnetic Headphones and they need enormous amounts of power to drive.

Gray2233 · 4 May 2023 at 22:22

There's a Schiit Jotunheim on the MM at the moment for a decent price:

https://forums.overclockers.co.uk/threads/schiit-jotunheim-amp-with-dac.18971170/#post-36371959

Minstadave · 4 May 2023 at 22:35

Gray2233 said:
There's a Schiit Jotunheim on the MM at the moment for a decent price:

https://forums.overclockers.co.uk/threads/schiit-jotunheim-amp-with-dac.18971170/#post-36371959

I was tempted but reviews are pretty underwhelming.

Review and Measurements of Schiit Jotunheim With AK4490 DAC

This is a review and detailed measurements of Schiit Jotunheim DAC and headphone amplifier with its AK4490 DAC module. It is on kind loan from a member and in this configuration costs $499 plus shipping from Schiit direct. I had previously reviewed Schiit Jotunheim but that was with its...

www.audiosciencereview.com

Gray2233 · 4 May 2023 at 22:45

Minstadave said:
I was tempted but reviews are pretty underwhelming.

Review and Measurements of Schiit Jotunheim With AK4490 DAC

This is a review and detailed measurements of Schiit Jotunheim DAC and headphone amplifier with its AK4490 DAC module. It is on kind loan from a member and in this configuration costs $499 plus shipping from Schiit direct. I had previously reviewed Schiit Jotunheim but that was with its...

www.audiosciencereview.com

Fair enough!

That said, I think it's worth considering the RRP (which is admittedly high for the unit in question) vs the price you'd pay in the MM, and the fact you're getting a DAC and AMP combination rather than just an AMP for £120 or so.

Mujja · 4 May 2023 at 23:07

Minstadave said:
Currently running a SB G6 and HD650s for a mix of gaming/music and wondered if I'm getting the best out the HD650s. Is the anything sub £200 worth considering?

I was in a similar position recently and the Fiio K5 Pro (£150) kept popping up in recommendations. I would have bought one but managed to grab a JDS Element II for a little over £200 on eBay, preferred the smaller form and minimalist design.