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What powerful amp/dac combo around $2-300?

post #1 of 11
2/7/11 at 1:23am
Thread Starter 

 

Hey Head-Fi.org

 

This is my first thread here, but I've been quite a long time lurker.

I've been searching all over the place, mainly here, looking for headphone amps with built-in DAC's in this price range, but they all seem to be "fine and dandy", yet there are hardly any information on any of the ones I've looked at.

 

I'm fairly sure I'll be buying Beyerdynamic DT770 600 ohm, so I'll need some power.

 

The amps I've been looking at:

FiiO E7+E9 Combo

Audio-GD FUN

Maverick Audio D1

Zero DAC

 

Are there any other suggestions than these? 

 

Thanks in advance.

Daniel.

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post #2 of 11
2/7/11 at 9:13am

Out of those I would say the AGD Fun. Or possibly a used m-stage/udac would fit the bill.

 

-Daniel

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post #3 of 11
2/7/11 at 9:52am
Thread Starter 

 

I've started to think a bit more about the Audio-GD Compass, as I have nothing to use analog inputs for at all...

Is there a big difference between the FUN and the Compass?

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post #4 of 11
2/7/11 at 10:01am

I believe the Fun was an evolution of the Compass with more flexibility. The compass seems to have been well regarded, but I'm pretty sure it's now discontinued.

 

I was looking at broadly the same units as you, and ended up deciding on the Audio-GD Sparrow (A version). Supposedly very similar to the Fun but without the flexibility of the swappable modules. 

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post #5 of 11
2/7/11 at 10:30am
Thread Starter 

 

I was talking about the Sparrow, however Super Bowl and timezones resulted in me having gotten no more than 2 hours of sleep for the last 34 hours... 

 

Forums + No sleep = Bad idea :D

 

I actually like the design of the Sparrow too, and Audio-GD products seem very well regarded around here...

 

I will have to look into it :-)

 

Thanks for the input so far guys, however more is appreciated!

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post #6 of 11
2/8/11 at 11:51am
Around your price range I'd see if I could find a used Nuforce HDP dac/amp. It has no problem driving my Beyer 880s (600 ohm).
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post #7 of 11
2/8/11 at 12:48pm
Thread Starter 

I'll be sure to look out for that when I put my money down. At the moment it doesn't seem like there's any second hand units available.. Oh well, I don't have the money yet, so it's all good :)

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post #8 of 11
2/8/11 at 1:05pm
Thread Starter 

 

Sorry for double post.

 

How would a Little Dot MK II and an external DAC do? Something like the FiiO E7, or something along those lines?

I heard that Tube Amps work excellent with Beyers, but is that also the case with "cheapish" tube amps?

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post #9 of 11
2/8/11 at 3:39pm

I can't comment on the other amps but the FiiO E7/E9 combo will rock your socks for less than $200.

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post #10 of 11
2/8/11 at 3:43pm

+1 on NuForce

 

I have the udac2 and its great.

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post #11 of 11
2/9/11 at 4:40pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by DanielofDenmark View Post


 




Sorry for double post.



 



How would a Little Dot MK II and an external DAC do? Something like the FiiO E7, or something along those lines?



I heard that Tube Amps work excellent with Beyers, but is that also the case with "cheapish" tube amps?




 



My HF er5 tube amp will drive my Beyers easily & sounds very good too. I'd stay away of cheapy tube amps. You generally get what you pay for.
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