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Recommanded budget friendly amp(s) for Sennheiser 595 - Page 2

post #16 of 22
12/26/07 at 10:32pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Brian loves music View Post
bumb...me too...there are soo many of us out there new to the audophile world (well at least i am) looking for the right usb dac/amp for our hd595s.

If someone could rank amps for this can in categorizes of price (50-100) (100-150) (150-200)...i would be so gratefull
I'm in the same dilemma as you
From what i've read the Little Dot amps seem to be a safe choice
I've also been recommended the Zero amp but waiting for more reviews on it
If someone could recommend some more popular amps in the 100-200$ range it would be much appreciated
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post #17 of 22
12/26/07 at 10:58pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Shindengumi View Post
I'm in the same dilemma as you
From what i've read the Little Dot amps seem to be a safe choice
I've also been recommended the Zero amp but waiting for more reviews on it
If someone could recommend some more popular amps in the 100-200$ range it would be much appreciated
Another scenario you might think about. I use my Zero in conjunction with my LDII++ tube headphone amp. Right now, I use Optical out of my PC to the Zero, then analog out of the Zero to the input of the LDII++. With the stock Opamp in the Zero (OPA2604), this setup sounds great! If I get tired of listening to "tube" sound, I just unplug my HD-650s from the LDII++ and plug them into the Zero's built in SS headphone amp and press the "phones" switch. The built in headphone amp is excellent and provides a nice, clean, dynamic and powerful solid state sound. It is nice to have this option available and often, I find myself listening to the built-in headphone amp for simplicity's sake. Another way of looking at this has to do with spreading out the upgrade process. Buy the Zero and use it's built-in headphone amp right away. After some time and saving up, purchase your tube headphone amp of choice and drive it with the Zero. It is a solid approach to spreading out the costs while still having great audio to listen too.
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post #18 of 22
12/27/07 at 12:29am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Penchum View Post
Another scenario you might think about. I use my Zero in conjunction with my LDII++ tube headphone amp. Right now, I use Optical out of my PC to the Zero, then analog out of the Zero to the input of the LDII++. With the stock Opamp in the Zero (OPA2604), this setup sounds great! If I get tired of listening to "tube" sound, I just unplug my HD-650s from the LDII++ and plug them into the Zero's built in SS headphone amp and press the "phones" switch. The built in headphone amp is excellent and provides a nice, clean, dynamic and powerful solid state sound. It is nice to have this option available and often, I find myself listening to the built-in headphone amp for simplicity's sake. Another way of looking at this has to do with spreading out the upgrade process. Buy the Zero and use it's built-in headphone amp right away. After some time and saving up, purchase your tube headphone amp of choice and drive it with the Zero. It is a solid approach to spreading out the costs while still having great audio to listen too.
i'm afriad i probably wont be adding anything to my set-up for a long time besides this purchase. One of the main reasons i need a usb dac/amp for my new hd595s, is because the jack for these cans (as it was somewhat expected) destroyed my already-shotty laptop headphone jack. Do most of these amps/dacs have 1/4 or 1/8 slots? If they are 1/8th ill need to get an adpator (i hear the grado one actually improves the sound...is this true)?

anyways, right now i'm looking at...
M-aduio trans
emu 0202
emu 0404 (kinda too much money)
total bithead (also little pricey)
trends ud-10
fubar 3

i feel like with some of these (like the first two esp.) i'm paying for mixing/recording features that i probably wont use. anyone other dac/amps around this price range that are good mathces for a 595s? right now i'm looking for a bithead used
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post #19 of 22
12/27/07 at 12:29am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Penchum View Post
snip

Thanks again Penchum
Would you go as far as saying that the Zero is the one of the best if not the best amp in its price range/category?
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post #20 of 22
12/27/07 at 1:06am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Brian loves music View Post
i'm afriad i probably wont be adding anything to my set-up for a long time besides this purchase. One of the main reasons i need a usb dac/amp for my new hd595s, is because the jack for these cans (as it was somewhat expected) destroyed my already-shotty laptop headphone jack. Do most of these amps/dacs have 1/4 or 1/8 slots? If they are 1/8th ill need to get an adpator (i hear the grado one actually improves the sound...is this true)?

anyways, right now i'm looking at...
M-aduio trans
emu 0202
emu 0404 (kinda too much money)
total bithead (also little pricey)
trends ud-10
fubar 3

i feel like with some of these (like the first two esp.) i'm paying for mixing/recording features that i probably wont use. anyone other dac/amps around this price range that are good mathces for a 595s? right now i'm looking for a bithead used
Most are 1/4, so that shouldn't be a problem. Adapters are neutral.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Shindengumi View Post
Thanks again Penchum
Would you go as far as saying that the Zero is the one of the best if not the best amp in its price range/category?
Well, it has been suggested that it could easily compete with DAC/AMPs that cost three times as much. I know for a fact that it stomps all over my highly regarded Entech 205.2 high resolution DAC. This fact plus the Zeros low price makes it the best DAC/AMP in it's price category and more than likely better than those in the $200-$400 range. The built-in headphone amp is excellent and increases it's value greatly! More impressions will be coming in from other folks here soon.
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post #21 of 22
12/27/07 at 1:25am
where can you buy the zero and what are its demensions, can you travel with it at all (like will it fit into a backpack easily? is it usb powered? I couldn't find this info on the review thread

this may be a contender for the total bithead or emu 0404 if its transportable
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post #22 of 22
12/27/07 at 2:10am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Brian loves music View Post
where can you buy the zero and what are its demensions, can you travel with it at all (like will it fit into a backpack easily? is it usb powered? I couldn't find this info on the review thread

this may be a contender for the total bithead or emu 0404 if its transportable
Well, sorry. It is a desktop model for sure. Optical & Coaxial in only. I can't imagine traveling with it.
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