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Headphones Headphone Amplifier and DAC Recommendation, portables, desktops, amps, dac, lai

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shin2l
post Feb 10 2015, 07:12 PM

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Thinking of getting a Desktop DAC (come with AMP function will be better). I only listen to few DACs, the most satisfied DAC I ever listen with HD600 is Chord Hugo, however, that one is for portable, but I dont need portable DAC, even it can be used for Desktop DAC will be quite a waste (of money as I dont need portable). So I think I can find a desktop DAC which has the same or powerful than Chord Hugo in terms of sound quality.

Headphone: HD600
Source: PCHIFI, mainly 192kHz, 96kHz Jazz, Blue, OST, Pops; SACDs will be mainly Orchestra

Criteria for DAC:
- Able to play native DSD (SACD) in USB DAC mode smile.gif
- Price RM2k~4k cry.gif
- Any Brand
- Workmanship must be good
- Support Balanced XLR (for my HD600 to upgrade to Balanced XLR cable in future)
- At least Chord Hugo DAC level rclxms.gif
- can fully or almost drive out HD600 thumbup.gif

Thank you. notworthy.gif
shin2l
post Feb 11 2015, 07:51 AM

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QUOTE(E1 - AKG @ Feb 11 2015, 05:27 AM)
At the moment, the Chord Hugo has no equal as far as the sound signature is concern  nod.gif  Frankly, most of the customers buying it is using purely as a DAC for their 100+K hiifi at home  nod.gif  The other plus with the Hugo is offering good enough current for difficult cans like the HD600 to sing.

Balanced is the very last straw in a headphones setup.  The short distance of the cable run will mean very minimal gain sound wise.  In fact, most of the top-end headphones amplifier is unbalance like the ALO Studio Six  sweat.gif

Before considering the option to do balanced in the future with the HD600, you may want to upgrade from the HD600  nod.gif
*
THanks, I definitely know hugo is very powerful DAC, even its AMp part makes me impressive, but again I dont need portable, that is why thinking of getting a desktop DAC and that is it.

As for HD600, not going to upgrade to higher model, HD600 is purely enough for me.

Any recommeded desktop DAC with good amp part built-in from you?
shin2l
post Feb 11 2015, 09:59 AM

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QUOTE(widget @ Feb 11 2015, 09:03 AM)
Honestly speaking bro, if you willing to spend RM 2-4k for a DAC but still keep the HD600 as your cans, maybe the HD600 will be the bottleneck.
To me, the biggest difference in sound comes from the transducers, be it headphones, iems or pseakers.
If you like HD600 sound signature, maybe you can try auditioning the HD800, AKG 812, HE-560, etc.
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I tried before, HD800 pairing with HUGO in Jaben, great soundstage, great instrument separation, it is just the vocal part is sharp, making me not feeling well when listening for long time sweat.gif

To me, HD600 is more than enough, spending RM2k~4k on Desktop DAC c/w AMP is not a problem as I know the potential of HD600. Other higher end headphones may need more budget.

Any suggestion from you regarding the desktop DAC.

I asked in China Forum also, regardless of budget, they recommended PrismSound Lyra 2 which totally out of my budget rclxub.gif

Otherwise few Yulong DACs and Goldenwave gd-01 DAC + Balanced cable
shin2l
post Feb 11 2015, 10:18 AM

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QUOTE(widget @ Feb 11 2015, 10:11 AM)
I did audition Yulong DA8 but it doesn't have balanced headphone out.
I tried it with my HD800 but to me the amp part is so-so only, so did not proceed further.
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Okay, thanks a lot.

Oh ya, just see your signature and you have Roxanne + AK100II

Do you use an external amp to pair with AK100II to drive your Roxanne?

What is the difference between JH11, 13, 16 and Roxanne in terms of sound quality?
shin2l
post Feb 11 2015, 11:20 AM

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QUOTE(widget @ Feb 11 2015, 11:03 AM)
I plugged the Roxanne direct to the 3.5mm AK100II jack as I values total portability.
I tried the 2.5mm balanced out but the sound to me just lacking the dynamic, maybe because AK100II balanced out has less power to the single-ended, as opposed to the AK120II and 240.

I have not tried the JH11, so no idea about the sound.
As for the 13, 16 and Roxanne, truth be told I much prefer the 13 sq over the other 2.
I jumped on the Roxanne due o the 2013 Black Friday discount but the waiting period of 8 months for the carbon fiber ciem left a bad taste in my mouth.

SQ wise, the Roxanne is a bit warmer compared to the 13 due to the smooth high and thicker mids.
The 13 sounds energetic, and almost neutral except with a bump-up mid bass. The treble is much clearer, with morr sparkles compared to Roxanne.
The 16 has too much sub bass for my liking, making it almost sound like a V-shape.
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Thanks a lot for your feedback.

Seriously when I tried JH5, 11, 13, 16 and Roxanne.

What I think of is my AK100II cant drive Roxanne well (lack of power maybe)

JH5pro is sounds okay to me. 11, 13 and 16 make no difference to me sweat.gif as I listen to OST and pure instrument.

However, when I tried VE3 and VE4, I found that they are better than JH in playing OST and pure instrument, but vocals part is inferior to JH.

I havent tried Fitear yet.
shin2l
post Feb 17 2015, 01:12 PM

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QUOTE(liquidgal @ Feb 17 2015, 10:40 AM)
Yulong DA8 is actually more on DAC. The build in amp can't really drive headphone like HD600 or K701. Even a RM500+ Cayin C5 portable amp is better than it. So I don't suggest using it as a DAC cum amp.

But it is indeed a very good DAC. It has balance line out for DAC. To get the whole potential out of it, you should pair it with a decent desktop amp.
If you want a full balance system, then can get a full balance amp.  But that might be over your budget.

One of the best combinations I have for HD600 is Yulong DA8 + Lafigaro 339 with upgraded tubes. (total budget around RM7K, excluding upgraded power cord, usb cable, rca cable and receptacles). Lafigaro amp is single ended, but with widest sound stage that I ever heard even compare to higher range amp. It has the typical tube amp sound, warm and rich with good ambience, with good dynamic as well. HD600 sounds very open, detailed, and musical, which makes lafigaro stands out from the rest for HD600.

You can also consider getting their brothers, D200 + Lafigaro 332S. D200 also has balance output and support DSD.
Yulong D200 is more direct sounding and have strong punch at bass compare to DA8. DA8 has wider sound stage, smoother and more musical. Both are clean, neutral, refined, airy.
Other DAC at around the same range, you can also consider Aune S16 with use the latest DAC chip AK4495S from AKM and Matrix mini i pro.
S16 has a stronger build in amp among the rest and can last for a while as a DAC cum amp. But still can't compare to a pure amp.
Matrix mini i pro wise, has very analogue sound, smooth and more on the mids.

If you prefer a DAC cum amp with balance system, I suggest you to consider Audio-GD NFB28. All the models of Audio-GD with ES9018 DAC chip supports DSD, so you can check them out. Audio-GD always has very strong output power for headphones.

It's thick with slightly dark background, sound stage is moderately wide but with good depth, accurate with good punch. What I like Audio-GDs the most is that, music becomes so lively, every single track is like listening to a live concert which makes it so special from the others. I was confused and getting headache when trying to mix and match for my Master 9. My doubt is all resolved until I manage to audition Master 7 + Master 9 combo. So REAL!
It's not a perfect system that emphasize on every technical parts of the sound. But it's definitely a system with strong character, special, charming and so musical.
That doesn't mean it doesn't have good details or separation. It just doesn't push them to your face.
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Good to hear you again!!

And Congrats on your new business store.

Now I have few lists of Desktop DAC from you. Right now I dont have plan for AMP part yet, thinking of settling DAC first.

Quite surprise the AMP part of Yulong DA8 is weaker than portable amp. That means if I want to buy DA8, I need to get an AMP sweat.gif But how can 150mW@300Ω is not enough to drive HD600?

Aune product gives me a good impression (as I bought X1 pro dac from you) but I want to try different brand.



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