Head-Fi.org › Forums › Equipment Forums › Dedicated Source Components › DAC + AMP or DAC and separate AMP for HD650, ~$250
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:

DAC + AMP or DAC and separate AMP for HD650, ~$250

post #1 of 8
7/24/10 at 10:41am
Thread Starter 

Hi,

I am looking for some fairly good, budget source for HD650. I am able to spend ~$250, but bearing in mind that this includes AMP. The AMP can be separate or 'combined' with DAC such as in ZERO DAC it does not matter at all - all what I want is to get as good sound quality as I can in this price range.

 

So far I was considering only Audinst HUD-MX1 as it would be great for my needs, however, my budget has raised a litle bit so I wonder if there are better solutions in terms of sound quality. If you think that by stretching the budget to $300 I might get something much more suitable for HD650 then I might consider such suggestions. Quite obviously I do not expect to get some really mazing sound for that amount of cash. I am progressing to university in next year so that is all I can afford.

 

I am listening to completely different genres of music - Rap, RnB, Rock and classical. I do not really prefer neutral or warm sound - I enjoy all sorts of solutions with one litle excemption; I hate to bright sound. I want something more relaxing and less offesive. I own Grado SR80i and all I can say is that anything brighter or more offensive than that is unacceptable to my ears.

 

Is there anything you would suggest me to look at?

 

EDIT: I would like to get a decent soundstage. While I know that for this money it is not going to be outstanding I would like to get something that does not have very limited soundstage comparing to competitors. I like Klaus Belt and Hans Zimmer's music so it becomes kind of important (it's also ver appreciated to have wide soundstage in gaming).


Edited by Professor00179 - 7/24/10 at 10:50am
Reply
post #2 of 8
8/8/10 at 9:21am

bumped because I would also like an answer.

Reply
post #3 of 8
8/8/10 at 10:27am

Tough one here.  Try the Matrix Mini iDac, the headphone stage is actually pretty good and the DAC is really excellent, and it's a very relaxed sound, not too bright.  The Audinst HUD-MX1 is a great little unit to be sure, but getting a wide soundstage with HD-650 phones can be tricky.  You might also want to go the used route...I was able to pick up a Presonus Central Station for 300 on Craigslist, which if you can get one for that price is a fantastic unit that will give you both a DAC and two headphone amps that will compete with units costing in the 800-900 range for both.  Plus it's a ridiculous preamp.  I use HD-650s for tracking quite a bit, and I can say the Central Station can even power my yet-to-be normalized rough mixes to a good level with headroom to spare.  If you're amenable to the concept of DIY, the Gigawork kits on Ebay are really pretty good for the price, and that would leave you with money to buy a used Matrix M-stage which is a FANTASTIC unit (was my go-to headphone amp until I got a Scherzo Andante, which is just in a different league).  If you want an all in one unit, the Matrix Mini is probably my recommendation at that price though.

Reply
post #4 of 8
8/10/10 at 1:36pm

iBasso D4 or D10.

Reply
post #5 of 8
8/11/10 at 5:50pm

 

 

Audinst HUD-mx1 = $180

Audio-Gd Sparrow = $240

Matrix Mini-I (balanced) =  $300

Little Dot Dac II = $320

Fubar IV+ = $350

Musiland MD-10 = $370

NuForce Icon HDP = $450

Yulong D100 = $500

Valeb Chameleon = $500

 

Reply
post #6 of 8
8/11/10 at 5:58pm
Thread Starter 

WOW! I did not notice that anyone responded to my old thread. Thank you guys for help! It is actually 'out of date' now as I have found some more cash and I will be trying to build a proper audiophile system. This will take a while, but will work out much cheaper in long term as I treated those entry-level AMP/DACs as something more episodic that would introduce me to hi-fi. However, now when I have more cash I am looking for some other things. For the start I will be buying Corda Swing AMP and then probably Music Streamer II USB DAC. Later I will buy a pair of reference cans. Either HD600/650 or K601, but I think K601 will pair better with Streamer.

 

Once again - thank you all very much!

 

EDIT: Oops.. sorry. I did not see that thread was bumped by someone else. Then do not stop posting.:D


Edited by Professor00179 - 8/11/10 at 6:00pm
Reply
post #7 of 8
8/11/10 at 6:01pm

D10 is not powerful enough to drive the HD650 IMO though it's a great unit (I own it).

Good, helpful post AVU.

Reply
post #8 of 8
8/11/10 at 7:53pm

Oops. Didn't know that. I am shamed. 

Reply
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:
  Return Home
  Back to Forum: Dedicated Source Components
Head-Fi.org › Forums › Equipment Forums › Dedicated Source Components › DAC + AMP or DAC and separate AMP for HD650, ~$250