How to Choose the Proper Amp?

Decide a budget, find what amps fits in your budget, read reviews & give em a listen if possible and whatever you like you BUY!

If you decide a budget it is very easy to buy an amp. Some portable amps do have the power to drive full size cans but they are not as good as dedicated desktop amps.

I'm going through the same thing right now.  I've decided on my budget and I've created a list.  But the problem is that like most things in life, you really want to be able to sample before you make a heavy investment.  It feels like buying a car without being able to walk around it, sit in it, listen to the engine, and expect under the hood.  It's impossible to feel really comfortable.  I hate buying things knowing that I might have to send them back, you know?  

In my case, I'm trying to get a setup that will be reasonable to sit on my computer desk.  I don't really know if getting separate components is better than getting a separate Dac/Amp, but my primary source will be my computer and I KNOW I don't want anything that can be mistaken for a shelf/rack system. I'm thinking 1' wide, max...and stacking of components is fine with me.  My budget is ~$700.  

I've "narrowed" my list down to:

DAC+Amp Combo stuff

NuForce Icon HDP

AudioGD NFB-10WM (perhaps used)

AudioGD NFB-12

AudioGD FUN

Headroom Desktop DAC/Amp

Separate components

DACs

AudioGD NFB-3 DAC

AudioGD NFB-2 DAC

Headroom Micro DAC

Maverick TubeMagic D1 (is a combo system, but would need an amp)

Little Dot DAC II

Matrix Mini-i

Amps

Headroom Micro Amp

AudioGC C-2 Amp

AudioGD C-2SA Amp

Schiit Lyr Hybrid Amp

Schiit Valhalla Tube Amp

Musical Paradise 301 Tube Amp

Audiotaylor Jade Tube Amp

Little Dot MK VII+ Amp

Little Dot MK IV Tube Amp

Woo Audio WA6 Amp (used)

I'm looking to drive: D7000, HD650 and D5000.

And of course used stuff is an option.  I don't really know what to do next.  It's not like I can walk down to Best Buy and try them out, you know?  And I don't know what kind of issues come with mixing and matching brands (lack of "synergy", some combos sounding better than others?).  I just know I'd like to hear what something better than my E7+E9 sounds like. 

help!  it's really painful to not know what direction to go in.  any advice or insight (even if it means crossing some of them off my list) would be of great value.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ajreynol 

I'm going through the same thing right now.  I've decided on my budget and I've created a list.  But the problem is that like most things in life, you really want to be able to sample before you make a heavy investment.  It feels like buying a car without being able to walk around it, sit in it, listen to the engine, and expect under the hood.  It's impossible to feel really comfortable.  I hate buying things knowing that I might have to send them back, you know?  

 

In my case, I'm trying to get a setup that will be reasonable to sit on my computer desk.  I don't really know if getting separate components is better than getting a separate Dac/Amp, but my primary source will be my computer and I KNOW I don't want anything that can be mistaken for a shelf/rack system. I'm thinking 1' wide, max...and stacking of components is fine with me.  My budget is ~$700.  

FWIR here there are few brands and items that clearly perform better than their competitors or atleast it is what Ive gathered. Audio-gd dacs pretty much perform the best at their price point when compared to other brands. Dacs are a little easier to select because most people prefer the dacs with the most neutral sound and choose an amp favourable to their sound preference.

For the amps if you can decide between tubes or solid state it will help you narrow down your list. If you are interested in going for tubes wooaudio seems to be the most popular choice.

A separate amp and a dac perform better than a combo but if your budget is not too big you should go with a combo since it will help you get a better value for money.

Id personally look into one of the Audio-gd dac/amp combo if my budget was around 700$ since its performance has been stated to be close to the higher priced separate dac and amp by audio-gd.

thanks for the reply, MR.X.  I greatly appreciate it.

Just so that I'm clear:

1.) The DAC is easy. Just go for any of the ones that we know are clean and neutral.  

2.) The amp is more difficult.  Good bets are Woo Audio for tubes, GD Audio for Solid State.

3.) AudioGD combos are safe bets.

is $700 considered a low budget for this stuff?  And how much of that is reasonable to spend on a DAC if buying separate components?

Get a Burson HA-160D and call it a day? I have the ha-160 (no dac) and its been fantastic.  Can't wait untill their dac comes!  Doing separates however would be very expensive getting it from Burson though........ (700 for amp probably 900 for dac)

Quote:

Originally Posted by snaps11 

Get a Burson HA-160D and call it a day? I have the ha-160 (no dac) and its been fantastic.  Can't wait untill their dac comes!  Doing separates however would be very expensive getting it from Burson though........ (700 for amp probably 900 for dac)

oh snap.  I think I've found my next amp.  Burson HA-160D...and maybe I never have to think about this stuff again? lol

Quote:

Originally Posted by MR.X 

FWIR here there are few brands and items that clearly perform better than their competitors or atleast it is what Ive gathered. Audio-gd dacs pretty much perform the best at their price point when compared to other brands.

 

Its interesting to see FOTM become the new standard.

Matrix Mini-i is DAC/Amp combo, it got a TPA6120 inside.

Seems like I'm not the only one having trouble with my DAC/amp choices. I started my own thread involving the issue. Check it out guys

http://www.head-fi.org/forum/thread/534419/300-ohm-dac-driving-a-600-ohm-headphone-wha#post_7207650

@ajreynol

I'm going to look into some of those brands you mentioned in your first post. Although I can get it for a pretty good price right now I'm not sure if the Burson is the right choice.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ajreynol 

thanks for the reply, MR.X.  I greatly appreciate it.

 

Just so that I'm clear:

 

1.) The DAC is easy. Just go for any of the ones that we know are clean and neutral.  

 

2.) The amp is more difficult.  Good bets are Woo Audio for tubes, GD Audio for Solid State.

 

3.) AudioGD combos are safe bets.

 

 

is $700 considered a low budget for this stuff?  And how much of that is reasonable to spend on a DAC if buying separate components?

1. Yes

2. Amps can be harder to choose especially cuz of he number of options available. Woo Audio is the most popular for tubes but other brands perform very well as well. I wouldnt say specifically Audio-GD for solid state because there are way too many options and many of them perform great.

3.Yes

I'd personally get a slightly more expensive amp than a dac if I were buying separate components.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ajreynol 

Quote:

Originally Posted by snaps11 

Get a Burson HA-160D and call it a day? I have the ha-160 (no dac) and its been fantastic.  Can't wait untill their dac comes!  Doing separates however would be very expensive getting it from Burson though........ (700 for amp probably 900 for dac)

oh snap.  I think I've found my next amp.  Burson HA-160D...and maybe I never have to think about this stuff again? lol

 It won't disappoint with the hd-650.  That combo was pretty much built for it (although works well with alot of other phones as well).

thanks for the insight, guys.

decisions, decisions, decisions.  I wish I could demo some (any) of these options.

LeSigh.