Well I can’t listen to my Directstream / PrimaLuna with my Focal Clear headphones anymore… too far away. So I need a DAC/Headphone amp at my desk.
What do you recommend?
Use case:
Sub $500 total for DAC/amp
USB to computer
Plays all (most?) formats (I will be using foobar and playing my library… been buying some HI Res and DSD)… if I had to give up a format, I would give up DSD as 98% of everything I own is PCM.
Audiophile sound… yea, no cht… but you know what I mean… most inexpensive stuff sounds dead to me… good equipment has that… um… well you know.
I just need a volume control and unbalanced out… will not power a system, no other interfaces needed in or out.
Used stuff is fine
NO Bluetooth or any other gimmicks
No other inputs needed, no preamp capabilities
I am looking at the usual suspect iFi Zen DAC V2 (not with their amp), maybe a Schiit… I dunno? I hate this mail order-only crap… dang I want to plug in and try 'em out!!!
Take a look at Burson audio products. Class A amp and excellent Dac. The price for a new unit might be more than $500 but some models might be cheaper. There are several in used markets too.
I used a “topping x shenzhen ex5” ($350) - implemented with two ess chips. To me usb input to it is quite good and slightly warmer than neutral- most of all it is compact (desktop friendly) and its BT is also quite good for easy setup with various tablets and mobile phones for streaming.
Keep 'em coming folks… I am following up on all doing my research. BTW, yea, I can spend more than $500… I just want a good DAC/amp that ain’t going to piss me off. I know you get it.
Today, She came downstairs and told me to “Turn it down!” Dang I hate that. No headphones until I get this unit. So help!
I had a Burson, and liked it quite a bit. A good value product and many are available used if that’s your thing. I sold mine as it just was (1) under utilized, and (2) I was in a system de-cluttering mood.
I recently got a Schiit Modi 3+/Magni combo that’s pretty darn good for $200 total. If you have Amazon Prime you get free 30 day returns or if you buy from Schiit for a bit less you can return within 15 days for a 15% restocking fee.
I have a Schitt Audio Lyr 3 / Bifrost 2 stack. Good sound and performance at a reasonable price.
Have been seriously thinking of adding the new Jotunheim for balanced headphones.
I have a Schiit Valhalla tube headphone amp/preamp that is good way beyond it’s price. $349.
And for one with built-in Dac, the LYR3 is also excellent for around $500 ( I think)
Thanx for the suggestions all… anyone know about that Woo Audio Fireflies 2nd Gen?
I have a thing for tubes… always did since I first heard them in a Luxman integrated around 1984 and have owned some great tube stuff over the years… Conrad Johnson (solid, beautiful, great company), VTL (like dating a nuts supermodel), and now PrimaLuna (very very musical, slightly veiled). The few reviews I read on the Woo are not all that good, but the reviews appear to be done by children. The 3rd gen is out and it is much more expensive. The money is not that big of a deal… but… I am looking for that inflection point (or product) that goes high-end above the dead-sounding crap. Another appeal to this unit is I have an inventory of tubes I can swap in an out.
The Burson units look pretty good but get mixed reviews… as does the Cambridge DAC magic… but so does the Woo unit. Very confusing. The Schiits get generally very favorable reviews all around but I have a bias against them… a dumb emotional thing… the gimmick of their name and a wave of reviews… I dunno… makes me wary. I know I shouldn’t think/emote like that but cripes… in the absence of brick and mortar to test drive, what else do we have?
I bought a Woo WA6-se shortly after I got my Burson Conductor v2+. The Woo sounded a little better (? With Sophia tube upgrade). My headphone Mr Speakers ether can be tuned with a change of internal padding and at the end I didn’t hear much diffidence between Burson and Woo. I am not a heavy headphone user, and I often used the Woo only for an hour or so which wasn’t enough to fully warm up the tubes. On the other hand, the Burson can be left on all the time. So I ended up selling the Woo. Never heard WA7. I think Burson offers a home trial and you could take an advantage of that.
They have a calculator which… well … kinda turns me off to the thing. It shouldn’t because it is there to help but I duuno… doesn’t look good for my Focal Clear
