DAC+amp: Mac (USB) >> DAC-amp >> Grado 325i -- around $500?

[Solan]

I am looking for a combination of DAC and head-amp. Ideal price range is $500, but if the better product is cheaper, my money don't have legs to run on and don't need to be spent, and likewise I won't be a total stinger if the price of a superior DAC-amp exceeds 500 by a bit.

Or if I am just a fool for thinking I get any kind of audiophile result with a mere $500 in hand, please advice!

My headphones are Grado 325i. My source is a MacBook Pro, playing FLAC or APE files, mostly CD quality but also a few at 24bit/96kHz. The music I love is Pink Floyd; Requiems (Mozart, Verdi, Fauré ...); female vocal a la Kate Bush; Andreas Scholl; Shpongle. Primarily. I do of course, like most people, eventually end up playing everything from pop to Wagner to Miles Davis. But those are my most listened to.

I looked through Skylab's impressive review of portable amps (some of them with DACs): Skylab's review Quite something to take your breath away! For my specs, the best bet seemed to be the Pico, since it had DAC, though I will go a bit further down the list and do some thorough research in here if I buy a portable.

But I don't need that portability all that much. So I am looking for a DAC-amp or a combination of DAC and amp that can be more in the luggable region than in the portable. Of course, if the portables match or beat the luggables, then portable it will be. Portability is a plus. Just that the plus is very small to me.

So what would you guys recommend?

[Snicewicz]

Apogee Electronics: Products: Duet.

I have heard good things about this. Search, and you will find alot of info. Not sure if it is going to have the results that you want though.

[manofmathematics]

Can't really call this a recommendation, but I'm kind of curious about this amp from Glow Audio.

http://www.glow-audio.com/glowstuff.html

[LeeMark]

You should also consider the Predator, phenomenal.
Lee

[Solan]

Thank you!

Snicewicz: I get the impression the Apogee has a good DAC, but - how is the amp?

Fellow man of mathematics: I have never owned a tube amplifier, but I agree they do look aesthetic. A review site I visited said Grado 325i (which is what I have) sounds best with tubes. Could be worth taking into consideration. But two points on the Glow: Their site doesn't state any price, and while their speaker amplifier may be good - how much resources did they invest in the headamp?

LeeMark: I saw there was a thread comparing it to the Pico, and it seemed the pico came out on top, but I'll read more closely.

[grawk]

I use my hf1s with my apogee with reasonably good results. I'm sure I'd absolutely hate the 325is with it however. But that's mostly because of how I feel about the 325is.

[Solan]

grawk: How do you feel abou the 325i?

manofmathematics: 6moons audio reviews: Glow Audio Amp One - seems to be a rather enthusiastic review.

[grawk]

The 325is are the worst headphones I've ever listened to, the high end is distracting to the point of almost being painful.

[ricmat]

if you have the luck of having a mac, dont even think about it and grab the duet!!


Cheers!

[Solan]

ricmat: it seems apogee products get good reviews. Do you sacrifice much in the DA department by having to work the other way (AD) too? How are the Mini-DAC and other products from Apogee in comparison? I notice that the Duet ties you to iTunes. How is it with Mini-DAC?

[grawk]

The duet ties you to mac, not to itunes.

You don't sacrifice anything with the DAC to have an included ADC.

The minidac is very good.

The minidac isn't much more independent of the computer, and much more expensive.

[Solan]

Ah ... you're a Mac man, too.

* How do you rate the sound of the Mini vs the Duet?
* Can you use the Duet (or the Mini) with Cog as well, so that you don't need to convert FLAC files to ALAC?

[grawk]

of course, the duet is controlled by core audio, any sounds can use it.

[Snicewicz]

To be honest with you I dont know because I don't own one. But, Jaska on here owns one with SR225s im sure he would be willing to answer any of your questions about the duet.

[Solan]

Originally Posted by grawk

of course, the duet is controlled by core audio, any sounds can use it.

A short search (not prolonged) gave me hints that there are no FLAC players using Core Audio.