Yet another USB Dac Headphone Ask?

Jenz · 12 Apr 2019 at 22:42

Hi all,

Now that I have all my upgrades in place from OcUk I am looking to (I hope) improve my audio. However I am not sure what best to go for.

I have been reading through many threads here and am thinking that a USB Dac plus good headphones might be the answer but am completely confused on the “what to get” question.

I spend a lot of time listening to music stored on my Mac Mini currently via Bluetooth to either AirPods or Plantronics Backbeat Pro v1’s. I have the latter because I fly a lot and they are good for ANC on planes.

I was wondering if a USB Dac for my desk coupled with some better audio headphones would be a sizeable upgrade?

I would also probably go the whole hog and get some suitable desktop bookshelf speakers.

As to ideas I had been reading up on the SMSL AD18 which seemed well received, for headphones Beyer 990 or 770 or AKG 712pro seemed highly rated?

For bookshelves I was continually seeing Edifier and Audio Engine A2+ being mentioned on YouTube? Or Presonus Eris.

Am I one the right track? Thanks for your advice as always, Neil

Jenz · 26 May 2019 at 15:02

So I have decided to go Schiit Modi and Magni with AKG 712 Pro’s finally.

What would be a good set of speakers to go with this for the Magni preamp outputs? I keep going back and forth

Jenz · 31 May 2019 at 13:51

Budget would be 250 pounds i think.

Jenz · 17 Jun 2019 at 20:39

So just as I was going to go and have a stack of Schiit I ended up looking at the Atom.... that then cascaded into other DACs to support and I fell down a rabbit hole

Anyway arriving tomorrow are a JDS Atom and OL Dac (I know not a D30) but I wanted matching brand...

And some headphones... Akg 7XX, Hifiman 4xx and Massdrop Sennheiser 58X Jubilee as my first Massdrop purchase.

Hope to have quite a bit of fun with that lot

Jenz · 18 Jun 2019 at 09:56

Haha I probably should have and may still do so once I've had some time with it all.

Jenz · 3 Mar 2020 at 16:26

I'm bringing this thread back to life as I now want some Speakers to go with my Atom and my JDS Labs OL Dac and wondering what to buy?

I see Edifier, Audioengine and Kanto all appearing popular but am looking for recommendations. Budget upto £300?