Head-Fi.org › Forums › Equipment Forums › Portable Headphone Amps › Need a recommendation for a USB DAC/Amp with Line-level out
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:

Need a recommendation for a USB DAC/Amp with Line-level out

post #1 of 13
4/1/11 at 2:07pm
Thread Starter 

Hi guys, I've been looking at getting a cheap USB DAC/Amp combo for my Shure SRH440s, Phonak PFE 122s and my M-Audo AV40s.

 

As far as I know, I need to get a DAC with a line level out so that I can use it with my active speakers. Is this correct?

 

I only have a max. £100 budget so not much to play with.

 

So far I've looked at the FiiO E7, but that doesn't have a line level out, and then I've seen the Nuforce Icon Mobile. Would this work and is it any good?

 

Other recommendations welcome.

 

Alternatively I could get a USB DAC and separate headphone amp. Would this be the way to go (bearing in mind my budget)?

 

 

P.S. UK prices please.

 

 


Edited by ashikamlani - 4/1/11 at 2:12pm
Reply
Head-Fi.org
String could not be parsed as XML

There Seems to be a Problem

We're sorry, but there's been an error in our system, and we can't complete your request. Please report this error to us, using our feedback system. Thanks!

post #2 of 13
4/1/11 at 8:09pm

Yup, teh Nuforce.

 

Have fun!

Reply
post #3 of 13
4/2/11 at 9:48am
Thread Starter 

Thanks.

 

Any other advice guys?

 

What about the uDAC-2?

Reply
post #4 of 13
4/2/11 at 10:00am

Fiio E9 is okay but it's amp only no DAC.

Reply
post #5 of 13
4/2/11 at 1:26pm

Hotaudio.com makes some nice (albeit plain looking) budget gear. I have his DacDestroyer which I prefer over the Nuforce uDac1 and 2.


 

Reply
post #6 of 13
4/3/11 at 4:31am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by ryan45 View Post

Fiio E9 is okay but it's amp only no DAC.


Has to be portable...


 

Quote:
Originally Posted by Armaegis View Post

Hotaudio.com makes some nice (albeit plain looking) budget gear. I have his DacDestroyer which I prefer over the Nuforce uDac1 and 2.


 


Thanks for the suggestion, but it's not an amp as well, is it?


Edited by ashikamlani - 4/3/11 at 4:32am
Reply
post #7 of 13
4/3/11 at 10:55am
Quote:
Originally Posted by ashikamlani View Post


Thanks for the suggestion, but it's not an amp as well, is it?



The HotAudio DacDestroyer is a dac/amp, but usb only. He also has portable amps. He does not currently have a battery powered dac/amp, although if you ask he might be able to make one by putting two boards together (he's tried in the past but didn't have the proper enclosures for it).

Reply
post #8 of 13
4/3/11 at 12:55pm

Head Room Total BitHead is a DAC/Amp with both USB and mini-phono inputs.  

 

Also has high gain/ low gain switch and Headroom's crossfade feature.  Uses 4 AAA batteries for portability but will also run off the USB line if you have it plugged into your computer.  I use mine all the time at work -- both with iPod as source and to play music files off my computer.  

 

http://www.headphone.com/headphone-amps/amplifiers/headroom-total-bithead.php

Reply
post #9 of 13
4/3/11 at 4:34pm

Going that route, there's also all of iBasso's gear, and Leckerton too (plus others).

Reply
post #10 of 13
4/4/11 at 3:06pm
Thread Starter 

Thanks guys, I'll take a look.

Do you think that this is a worthwhile upgrade onsidering the gear I have? Will I be able to hear a difference?

Reply
post #11 of 13
4/4/11 at 4:36pm

Only you can answer that one. I can hear subtle differences going from onboard sound to a $100-200 "hifi" piece of gear. Beyond that, it's picking nits.

Reply
post #12 of 13
4/6/11 at 8:03am
Thread Starter 

 

 

Because I need the thing to be portable, the only options left to me are Fiio E7 E9 combo or the Nuforce Icon Mobile. The Headroom Total Bithead does not have a line level out. Which is the better out of these two?

 

 


Edited by ashikamlani - 4/6/11 at 8:05am
Reply
post #13 of 13
4/6/11 at 8:53am

I would say go with the e7 just because FiiO has been releasing compatible products which offers a lot of upgrade potential down the road.

Reply
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:
  Return Home
  Back to Forum: Portable Headphone Amps
Head-Fi.org
String could not be parsed as XML

There Seems to be a Problem

We're sorry, but there's been an error in our system, and we can't complete your request. Please report this error to us, using our feedback system. Thanks!

Head-Fi.org › Forums › Equipment Forums › Portable Headphone Amps › Need a recommendation for a USB DAC/Amp with Line-level out