Fiio E7/E9. That's probably the best in your budget unless you DIY.

iBasso D4 might be another one to consider. w/ shipping it will run you just north of $200, but it's been getting very favorable press.

NuForce Icon uDAC-2 hands down you cant beat beat this dac/amp for the money. I own this and a music streamer II plus. Both are awesome but the music streamer is just a dac doesnt have the headphone amp built in. I use this nuforce with my denon ah-2000 sound great.

Quote:

Originally Posted by civilgeek 

iBasso D4 might be another one to consider. w/ shipping it will run you just north of $200, but it's been getting very favorable press.

Quote:

Originally Posted by sampson2269 

NuForce Icon uDAC-2 hands down you cant beat beat this dac/amp for the money. I own this and a music streamer II plus. Both are awesome but the music streamer is just a dac doesnt have the headphone amp built in. I use this nuforce with my denon ah-2000 sound great.

I think both of these are good suggestions, but The E7/E9 is just so versatile. It can break up into the portable E7, and the E9 has no problems driving tough cans.

EDIT: It clipped the end of my post.

Man, I've been struggling with this same dilemma of which midrange amp/dac to get for weeks.  All sound like good options, I just wish there was one person who had experience with all of them that could speak towards their particular strengths and weaknesses.

Fiio E7/E9

ibasso D4 Mamba

uDAC-2

Fubar III

NFB-12 (pre-order)

Keep hearing these same amps come up well received over and over again, but how do they stand up against each other? 

Throw this one in the mix at the price point. I had the udac2 (which is very decent) but this guy is a better fit for my DT990's. Project86 did a review of amp only version (Fournier HTA)  where he compared it to quite a few other amps in and out of its price bracket. He seems to have access to alot of good equipment and he really seems to know what he's talking about.