QUOTE(HaleYeah @ Feb 19 2021, 02:35 PM)
Hello everyone, I just enter this Audiophile world.
I'm really interested in enjoying my music at max quality.
I listens to quite a lot of music, from Metal to K-Pop.
Bought myself some Chi-Fi stuff, a pair of KZ ZS10 Pro IEM, so far it's pretty good.
I want to connect it up to my PC to listen to some music as well, so I'm looking for insight and suggestions on what DAC + AMP combo, or plainly DAC to get.
Budget can go as much as RM1.5k (is this a lot or no? I have no idea haha).
Pretty open to any suggestions, hoping to learn a lot from all of you on this world.
The first thing to invest whether you are going with IEM or Headphones
If Headphones whether Dynamic or Planar, Closed or Opened Back
Then
DAC/AMP - Portable or Desktop (With Balanced or Unbalanced) There are so many choices like iFi, Lotoo, Topping, Fiio and etc. My advice choose the one with Balanced output.
Headphones you can buy directly from local shop/online shopping, much cheaper while Balanced Cable I would suggest buy it from AliExpress as the price difference is huge.
Then, if you are willing to venture more into the depth of audiophile, then you can start invest into balanced cable (of course if your IEM/Headphones have detachable cable).
I would suggest for you to invest in Portable DAC/AMP like Lotoo PAW S1 as it doesn't have battery but can be use on smartphone and PC plus has MQA Rendering if you are using TIDAL.
Don't buy Headphones with Ohm more than 32Ohm because you'll need more powerful amplifier to drive it to get the best Sound Quality from it.
If you are using your Android smartphone as DAP, I would suggest you to buy UAPP (USB Android Player Pro) so it will by pass internal Android Hi-Res DAC, for PC use ASIO or WASAPI to by pass the Windows Sound Mixer so you can get bit-perfect.
And for your knowledge, most of the well known well made DAC/AMP are from Chi-Fi like Hifiman, Topping, Fiio and etc.
As an advice, always look for DAC/AMP with balanced output (better 4.4mm more sturdy than 2.5mm) so your path of SQ improvement is not hindered.