Headphones Headphone Amplifier and DAC Recommendation, portables, desktops, amps, dac, lai V2
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 Nov 17 2015, 03:45 PM
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#1
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Senior Member
1,531 posts Joined: Oct 2010  
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Hi there, I got 1 hours+ before driving to purchase a new portable DAC+headamp, consider DAC CentrancePort or JDS Labs C5D, any tiny "pen" that pack giant and impressive sound? It would be best if the gear can be use as small scale preamp for power amp too, hmm ask too much haha
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Nov 17 2015, 10:52 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
1,531 posts Joined: Oct 2010
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walao, guys I just bought a Centrance DACPort from JABEN, you know what, when I open the box, shock! 1 USB cable, 1 bag, 1 1/8in jack, 1 pcs of catalog card, but the most important element, the DAC headamp is not inside, WTF, this is a first time happen to me, jantung almost letup
 , sweating  . I immediately message Jaben via Facebook, somehow they said can replace for me, zzz so crazy lucky for me to get an "empty" box  Very good service of JABEN, years ago I bought a Sennheiser HD598, I think this time I kena inventory problem or production mistake or what...  |
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Apr 3 2016, 07:38 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
1,531 posts Joined: Oct 2010
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Guys, I'm looking for an ODAC with volume control, same price and sound, any recommendations?
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Apr 4 2016, 01:23 AM
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#4
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Senior Member
1,531 posts Joined: Oct 2010
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QUOTE(liquidgal @ Apr 3 2016, 09:39 PM) Try Aune T1SE and X1s The Aune X1S is very interesting, what's the price? over 1K? Beautiful design and sound. There is a discussion thread here. https://forum.lowyat.net/index.php?act=ST&f=99&t=3236557 http://www.headfonia.com/schitty-magni-and-modi/ http://www.head-fi.org/products/aune-x1s-3...plifier/reviews  |
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Apr 4 2016, 12:02 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
1,531 posts Joined: Oct 2010
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QUOTE(bad2928 @ Apr 4 2016, 12:59 PM) can we control volume X1s for RCA output? I've watched a review by Z Review on Foxtex HP-A3, I think compare to Aune X1s, I'm going to buy the Foxtex, drolling to see that headphone/RCA switch and volume knob control for DAC  |
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Apr 4 2016, 01:15 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
1,531 posts Joined: Oct 2010
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hmm, now where can I get the Fostex product in Malaysia, it seem no where selling them
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Apr 4 2016, 01:55 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
1,531 posts Joined: Oct 2010
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QUOTE(liquidgal @ Apr 3 2016, 09:39 PM) Try Aune T1SE and X1s Thanks for the suggestions, I think Aune X1S come pretty close to my expectation, but it seem the volume knob cannot control DAC volume?Beautiful design and sound. There is a discussion thread here. https://forum.lowyat.net/index.php?act=ST&f=99&t=3236557 http://www.headfonia.com/schitty-magni-and-modi/ http://www.head-fi.org/products/aune-x1s-3...plifier/reviews |
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Apr 5 2016, 09:42 AM
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#8
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Senior Member
1,531 posts Joined: Oct 2010
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QUOTE(bad2928 @ Apr 4 2016, 08:50 PM) i'm looking for cheaper usb dac pre-amp too because most off them above rm3k Foxtex is your only hope haha, I dun see any other products in the market within cheap price range as the Fostex, I've got a modded O2 ODAC combo with RCA output, but amplified ady with 1X, so not clean output, and I've seen a lot do this incorrectly...  ,asus xonar STU cheaper than rest but discontinue already.. |
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Apr 5 2016, 12:04 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
1,531 posts Joined: Oct 2010
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QUOTE(bad2928 @ Apr 5 2016, 11:51 AM) aune x1s is better choice base on liquidgal reply Well, if you care about that "DSD"   |
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Apr 7 2016, 08:02 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
1,531 posts Joined: Oct 2010
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QUOTE(liquidgal @ Apr 7 2016, 08:01 PM) X1s as mentioned is strong at DAC part. It would be a good DAC for your speaker (using line out). Pre-amp and headphone amp is more like a complimentary. It's not a dedicated preamp for speaker. That's the tricky thing, using headamp module to amplify DAC output and supply to speakers will not work, I've been tested this for long, so in the market there are very few DAC, preamp/headamp that designed correctly, I believe Fostex HP-A3 is designed for that, maybe Audinst HUD-MX2 too? If your speaker is an active speaker, usually comes with build in preamp and power amp. So actually you don't really need another pre-amp actually. It may also cause distortion due to double amping. Unless you can bypass the build in pre-amp or the original speaker doesn't come with it, only have power amp.  |
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Apr 7 2016, 09:22 PM
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#11
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Senior Member
1,531 posts Joined: Oct 2010
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QUOTE(bad2928 @ Apr 7 2016, 10:03 PM) if i were you will consider Fostex HP-A4/A4BL My music all 16bit 44khz, haha, I dun give a damn about DSD, at least not now, maybe in future  |
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Apr 8 2016, 12:39 AM
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#12
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Senior Member
1,531 posts Joined: Oct 2010
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QUOTE(liquidgal @ Apr 8 2016, 12:03 AM) I think you misunderstand what i'm referring to. You don't use headphone amp to supply to speaker. If you want to use it as a dac, you just have to choose DAC and use RCA line out at the back and connect to speaker amp or active speaker, which means bypassing the headphone amp. Also a lot of the DAC comes with line out, especially desktop unit. Fostex HP-A3 is exactly having same function as X1s except X1s has build in preamp for speaker. If you do not need this function, just choose pure line out and it works exactly the same as Fostex HP-A3 and Audinst HUD-MX2. To make it simply, I will write down few combination for you to refer to: Speaker system DAC/ Sound card > analogue line out (3.5mm / RCA / jack / XLR) > Integrated Speaker Amp > Speaker out (banana plug or Y plug > Passive Speaker DAC/ Sound card > analogue line out (3.5mm / RCA / jack / XLR) > Active Speaker (with build in integrated speaker amp) The terminology might sound confusing. Usually we call it headphone amp but some also call it headphone preamp. Headphone preamp is different from speaker preamp.  Check out the in /output. Audio in meaning, bypassing the DAC and just use the headphone amp, where X1s receiving analogue signal from another DAC. Audio out is the analogue line out that I'm referring to. Bypassing the headphone amp and just use it as a DAC. But one more extra step which you have to choose at the front of the unit, whether to use speaker pre-amp or pure DAC Coaxial, optical and usb wise are for digital signal. ** To add on, if you don't really need a volume control at X1s or any other DAC for your speaker, then actually don't have to bother using the speaker preamp function. Some need it is because their speaker system doesn't come with it. I hope this clarifies. |
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Apr 17 2016, 11:10 PM
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#13
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Senior Member
1,531 posts Joined: Oct 2010
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Just got the Fostex HP-A3, it's such a nice product, best ever audio product I've bought! The headphone/line out switch, volume knob control, and complete silence of preamp really really greatest I've ever heard, and I'm shocking surprise it run via my phone OTG cable straight away with enough power to drive my Shure SRH1540, with balanced sound output. Recommend you guys to buy, one thing though is this unit does not have remote control
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Apr 19 2016, 01:07 AM
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#14
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Senior Member
1,531 posts Joined: Oct 2010
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QUOTE(Kaka23 @ Apr 19 2016, 01:26 AM) Where u bought it bro.. from eBay, Japanese, no tax, if got money I will buy again to use as best preamp to pair with power amp, sound balanced and amazing! |
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