| Headphone Amps (full-size) Discussion of desktop headphone amps. |
11-05-2009, 08:38 PM
|
 |
500+ Head-Fi'er
|
|
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: North Carolina
Posts: 500
|
|
Which would be better for me?
I have now decided my next purchase will be a Little Dot 1+. I will be using it with my computer. I built my computer about 2 years ago and I am using stock sound on my motherboard. I was going to get one of these three to increase the quality of my source.
First choice is the Asus Xonar STX. Great sound card.
Second is the Zero DAC, but now since I am using the stock sound I have no optical or coaxial out, and those are the only inputs for the Zero. So I would have to buy a cheap USB to SPDIF converter.
Third is the Musiland 02 Monitor. Another budget DAC that is supposed to be pretty good for the money. It has USB input which is great.
One of the main reasons I started looking at DAC's was so when I get my Macbook for college I can use it on the DAC and amp, instead of being limited to just the amp if I got the sound card. But I am mainly interested in what would be the best bang for my buck and the best for my future setup.
I will be using this with my MS1i's and most likely D2000's and/or SR325i's down the road. Thanks in advance. And I am open to other suggestions at ~$150.
__________________
Portable: 5th Gen. Ipod 30Gb w/ LOD -- FiiO E5 -- Triple.Fi 10 Pro
Desktop: Apple Lossless -- Little Dot I+ -- Alessandro-Grado MS1i w/ SR325 headband & Bowl pads
Head-Fi Feedback | OCN Feedback | eBay Feedback
|
11-05-2009, 09:00 PM
|
 |
Headphoneus Supremus
|
|
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Falls Church, VA
Posts: 1,702
|
|
Another budget DAC that is supposed to be very good for the money (I have its big brother arriving to me today) is the HRT Music Streamer.
__________________
Home Rig: PC or Oppo DV 970 -> stock PS Audio DLIII -> Audioengine A2 or Rethm Gaanam -> Recabled Sony CD3000 or Stax SRM-1/MK-2 -> Stax Lambda normal bias
Travel/work/portable: Laptop/4gb Sansa Fuze -> Klipsch Image X10
On the horizon: Koss ESP-950 (on the way?), Many DACs on the way (Music Streamer Pro, Nuforce uDAC, Focusrite Saffire), Audeze LCD-2 (Soon?)
SOLD: HEADSIX, Decware Zen Head, AKG K141, Atrio M5, DT880, HD650, SA5000, K601, Nuforce Icon Mobile, D5000, MKV, DIYEDEN Great March, Compass, Monica3, SR325, EF-1, SRH840, Go-Vibe USB DAC, SPL Auditor, AKG K701, HD800
|
11-05-2009, 09:17 PM
|
 |
100+ Head-Fi'er
|
|
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Shelton, CT
Posts: 124
|
|
What about a gamma1? Those are pretty good, I love how mine sounds. HOwever I haven't heard the other options, so I cannot compare to how they sound. A full version would have optical, coax, and usb, so you can use it with your pc
|
11-05-2009, 09:19 PM
|
|
500+ Head-Fi'er
|
|
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: North Carolina
Posts: 500
|
|
The only thing about the Gamma 1 is that it only has 3.5mm out. I would like RCA out. Sorry I forgot to mention that.
__________________
Portable: 5th Gen. Ipod 30Gb w/ LOD -- FiiO E5 -- Triple.Fi 10 Pro
Desktop: Apple Lossless -- Little Dot I+ -- Alessandro-Grado MS1i w/ SR325 headband & Bowl pads
Head-Fi Feedback | OCN Feedback | eBay Feedback
|
11-06-2009, 01:20 AM
|
|
500+ Head-Fi'er
|
|
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: CONUS
Posts: 510
|
|
So get a 3.5mm to RCA cable. It would be sort of illogical to rule out a DAC just because of outputs when there is an easy and cheap fix (that, may I add, also has many other useful applications when yo upgrade).
-Nkk
__________________
My Feedback
Look at my profile for my gear. I am sick of updating it in two places.
My favorite graph is z=(e^x)(cos(y)). That is all you need to know
|
11-06-2009, 02:49 AM
|
|
500+ Head-Fi'er
|
|
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: North Carolina
Posts: 500
|
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by nkk
So get a 3.5mm to RCA cable. It would be sort of illogical to rule out a DAC just because of outputs when there is an easy and cheap fix (that, may I add, also has many other useful applications when yo upgrade).
-Nkk
|
This is true and it was my original plan but I read it wasn't as good quality as just RCA. But oh well what the heck. Which out of those 4 would be best? Lol.
__________________
Portable: 5th Gen. Ipod 30Gb w/ LOD -- FiiO E5 -- Triple.Fi 10 Pro
Desktop: Apple Lossless -- Little Dot I+ -- Alessandro-Grado MS1i w/ SR325 headband & Bowl pads
Head-Fi Feedback | OCN Feedback | eBay Feedback
|
Posting Rules
|
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off
|
|
|
All times are GMT. The time now is 05:21 PM.
|
Head-Fi's Sponsors
(Premier Sponsors bolded) |
|
|
Head-Fi Blogs
and Facebook |
|
|
Head-Fi's Sponsors
(Premier Sponsors bolded) |
|
|
|
