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DAC & headphone amp for <$200

post #1 of 5
2/12/11 at 11:00pm
Thread Starter 

Hi I'm looking for an SPDIF & USB input DAC with a headphone amp for <$200 that is compatible with an iMac for my ATH-AD700s and the Audioengine A2's speakers.

 

I found the Musiland 02 and looks good, but it isn't compatible with a Mac and I read here that the headphone amp isn't very good? Plus, I would like the RCA output to be on the back.

 

Also found the Audinst HID-MXI which looks great, but this review I found http://www.headfonia.com/audinst-hud-mx1-dac/ says the DAC sound isn't very warm? That's what I'm looking for to make my AD-700 and A2's sound better. Should be better and noise free compared to onboard right?

 

Any recommendations? I am looking for ones similar in design and function to the Musiland and Audinst. Thanks.

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post #2 of 5
2/14/11 at 10:22pm
Thread Starter 

Ok, I'll rephrase, maybe a bit particular.

 

Looking for a DAC with the above inputs and a headphone amp for the above powered speakers and cans. Increase to <$250. Any recommendations?

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post #3 of 5
2/15/11 at 12:50am

http://www.audio-gd.com/Pro/Headphoneamp/NFB12/NFB12EN.htm

 

Just bought one of these used from another user on the boards myself (it's supposed to arrive friday)

 

Anyway, it's one of the most feature rich dac/amps you will find under $250 shipped

 

The only real downside is they have taken so many orders for them that they are backlogged atm so it will probably be preorder only for the next few weeks.

 

(Yes I know their website is scary but Audio-GD has tons of great feedback on this forum)

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post #4 of 5
2/15/11 at 1:46am

Seconded. You won´t find better value at that price range, the NFB-12 is sold at almost no profit as a promotion for Audio-gd starting to use the new Wolfson top chip. It´s also made to sound slightly warm and forgiving, so it sounds like exactly what you are looking. The closest comparable product is the NuForce Icon HDP at 450 dollars.

 

As Amnesia87 said though, the only downsize is that Audio-gd is a small company and has tons of orders, so you´ll end up waiting anything from a few weeks to a month or so. Even though the website might look a bit suspicious (you should have seen the older one :D), they are a top act. They take their warranty etc very seriously and I have nothing bad to say of their service (all my gear is from them these days), except for the waiting times.

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post #5 of 5
2/15/11 at 2:35am
Thread Starter 

Hey thanks looks very nice and the Wolfson chip sounds sweet! Looks like they ship to Australia which is good.

 

EDIT: how does this Aune DAC compare? http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/AUNE-HIFIDIY-NET-Mini-USB-DAC-Headphone-Amp-MK2-/260464075448 I know it probably has an inferior chip on the DAC and amp, but its less expensive and I guess thats attractive.

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