Recommend an Amp/DAC Combination for the AH-D2000?

I've used an "Ebay" Cmoy that cost me $35, a low impedence Go-Vibe from back when they came from Norm in Canada, and most recently an Audio-GD Fun DAC/Amp combo, in low gain mode.  All these amps drive the AH-D2000 to deafening levels. I didn't find the D2000's that hard to amplify.  They also work pretty well off the HP jack to two Onkyo receivers I have.  A lot of people like the Audio-GD Fun or Sparrow, and now the newer NFB12 for Denons.  I've switched to Sennheiser HD-650's and now understand "hard to drive", as these really do require a bit more power (as in high gain on the Fun).  Still, even my 650's work on every amp I have to quite loud levels, just at much higher relative volumes to what is needed for the Denon (or my Grado or Alessandro's).  Good luck on your search!

Check out several threads on the Yulong 1000 DAC and look at FS posts on Head-fi...It might land in your price range and meet your DAC.HP need.  Though I haven't personally heard it, Skylab (and others) thinks very highly of it and listed it as one of the top HP amps he has reviewed/heard. That it also serves as a DAC is value-added, IMHO.

I used a FiiO E7/E9 combo for my D2K's and you could vibrate your melon at the half way point of the volume, it definitely drives the Denons quite well.

Not bad for $190 bucks.

I'm chain looks like this: MusicStreamer II+ DAC > Schiit Asgard > AH-2000. The Asgard and Denon headphones have great synergy. Very happy with this combo.

Mike

I also have the Denon 2000, I'm considering buying the Schiit asgard also. I'm also new to this. My chain looks like Pioneer Dv-F07 (cd) -> Pioneer VSX 1020k (reciever) -> (soon the asgard) -> Denon 2000. Do I need a dac if I'm running it through my receiver? 

Quote:

Originally Posted by jlamarca 

I also have the Denon 2000, I'm considering buying the Schiit asgard also. I'm also new to this. My chain looks like Pioneer Dv-F07 (cd) -> Pioneer VSX 1020k (reciever) -> (soon the asgard) -> Denon 2000. Do I need a dac if I'm running it through my receiver? 

If  you are connecting the cd player to the VSX via an optical or coax digital cable, you are using the Dac in the VSX.  If you are connecting the CD via RCA left and right connectors (analog) you are using the dac in the CD player. You have options:  If the VSX supports line out you can use the VSX as a DAC and connect the asgard to the line out.  You could connect the CD directly to the asgard via L+R cables.  If you buy a dac, you can connect the CD player to the DAC, then the DAC to the asgard.  Try the different combos and go with the one that sounds the best to you.  

I drive mine with almost anything : Yam HTR, NAD receiver, Hotaudio Thunderbolt, LILO DAC... Anything but my Clip+... I don't know why people find them hard to drive...

Amp, the O2

Dac, wait for the ODAC. There you have a good setup if you're short on budget. 

That topic is perfect for me!

My source is my computer. My mobo is a AsRock Z68 Extreme4 Gen3. It's got a s/pdif out.

Also, my video card is a HD 6950, which I can use as a audio card too via HDMI-out. Problem is, I'm yet to buy my new receiver. The one I own right now lacks the HDMI inputs. If I connect to my receiver via s/pdif out (or the HDMI), will I need a DAC?

As for amps I'm still not sure, I'm also new to all this, but the Schiit Asgard, O2, Little Dot I+, MKII and MKIII and Bottleneck Crack are on my shortlist right now. I'll also be driving Denon D2k's. Portability means nothing to me, I won't be taking it out with me for sure, I've got Image S4's that are great for it: small and cheap.

Ill add Qinpu A-3 and Q-2, Hifiman EF2 to the mix

PS: is there a diff between EF2 and EF2A? Cause I couldnt find an EF2 for sale

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nachmanowicz 

As for amps I'm still not sure, I'm also new to all this, but the Schiit Asgard, O2, Little Dot I+, MKII and MKIII and Bottleneck Crack are on my shortlist right now. I'll also be driving Denon D2k's. Portability means nothing to me, I won't be taking it out with me for sure, I've got Image S4's that are great for it: small and cheap.

You can scratch out the Bottlehead Crack from your list, as that was designed for high-impedance headphones, and consequently will not sound as good as it can be with the D2Ks. It seems that the average price of the amps you are suggesting are around ~$250, so here's what I've gathered from the reviews and impressions left by other people on the forum: solid-state amps are preferable for the D2Ks, and among the $250 range of SS amps, you should look into the Schiit Asgard, Matrix M-stage, or a well-used Gilmore Lite. I cannot personally vouch for any of these amps as I have not heard them, so take these words with a grain of salt.

As for your DAC question, your sound-card should have a line-out that you can use to connect your amp to, though I feel that you would benefit greatly from an external DAC. Look into the HRT Music Streamer II or Audioengine D1 for a cheap, excellent solution.

I'll give the same advice to the OP; for $350, look into either the HRT music streamer II or Audioengine D1 for DACs, and Schiit Asgard, or Matrix M-stage for amps.

Again, take my opinion with a grain of salt.