For the moment I use a rather inexpensive Dac, the TEAC UD-H01 which I bought for 335€. It has all the latest technology: 192/24 async USB as well as coax and optical inputs and RCA + XLR outputs.
I have been using a lot more expensive Dacs before and bought this because I am in-between Dacs for the moment but I can tell you this little thing sure doesn't sound bad.
The headphone output on it is not bad but nothing special either, an external amp would do your W3000ANVs more justice.
 
For amps the least expensive amp I tried the W3000ANVs with was the Yamamoto HA-02 which costs 88000 JPY without shipping and PayPal. That's a really good amp for it's price performed just as good with my AT headphones as it did with the HD800s.

 
Quote:

appleheadmay said:

For amps the least expensive amp I tried the W3000ANVs with was the Yamamoto HA-02 which costs 88000 JPY without shipping and PayPal. That's a really good amp for it's price performed just as good with my AT headphones as it did with the HD800s.

Click to expand...

 
Says it all =)

Well, to be honest, I think it's an amp that performs above it's price point.
Also, seen the prices the other Yamamoto gear costs it can be considered a bargain.
Relatively speaking of course, an 1100$ bargain ... but isn't the W3000ANV sold at the moment as a 1000$ bargain? 
 
EDIT: I had less expensive amps in the past but that was before I had the W3000ANVs so I can't comment on how these phones would sound with those amps.
 
EDIT2: This still is the high-end forum and we have been talking about 3000-5000$ amps a bit earlier in this thread, so if someone asks here for something mid priced I think 1000$ is a good price point.
I did well on the Dac though didn't I.  

 
Quote:

shsh said:

thanks alot for your reply. would like more suggestions =)
 

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There are plenty of suggestions throughout the thread. If you use the "search this thread" function you should come up with quite a bit of information. Here is a listing of amps people have recommended, in order from least to most expensive. Just do a search in the thread for any one of these terms for peoples' opinions and whatnot:
 
Objective 2
Leckerton UHA-4 and UHA-6S
Schiit Asgard
Meier Audio Concerto
SPL Auditor
Yamamoto HA-02
DNA Sonett
Audio-Technica ATH-HA5000
ORB Jade-1 LTD
Eddie Current Super 7
SPL Phonitor
Eddie Current Zana Deux SE
Luxman P-1u
Audio-Technica ATH-HA5000ANV
Eddie Current Balancing Act

I would NOT recommend the SPL Auditor/Phonitor for Audio-Technica headphones. I did not try one with the W3000ANV in particular but it does not drive the AD2000 very well and produces quite a loud hum that can even be heard over some music. Depends on what you are listening to.
 
Those SPL amps are specially designed with 300 - 600 ohm headphones in mind.

I can't remember if I asked this before or not but has anyone compared these and the Signature Pro?
 
I'm also finding it a bit tough to hunt down a FR graph for these...I feel like it's right under my nose. Does anyone have a link to one? I want to see how rolled off the bass really is...

Lets not forget Svetlana 2, that one has respectable reputation as well, especially when its used with AT headphones (I am myself back a bit tbh, ppl describe it as amp made in AT heaven, but since I havent heard it myself, 'respectable reputation' is all it gets from me right now).

 
Quote:

zenerik said:

I would NOT recommend the SPL Auditor/Phonitor for Audio-Technica headphones. I did not try one with the W3000ANV in particular but it does not drive the AD2000 very well and produces quite a loud hum that can even be heard over some music. Depends on what you are listening to.
 
Those SPL amps are specially designed with 300 - 600 ohm headphones in mind.

Click to expand...

 
 
As I said when I recommended the Phonitor earlier in the thread, it's a recommendation that comes with a big caveat: background noise. ATs are some of the most noise-prone headphones out there, and on the Phonitor this is indeed evident.
 
However, in my opinion (and that of several other head-fiers), it has exceptional synergy with much of the W series, including the W5000 and W3000ANV.

 
Quote:

morbidtoaster said:

I'm also finding it a bit tough to hunt down a FR graph for these...I feel like it's right under my nose. Does anyone have a link to one? I want to see how rolled off the bass really is...

Click to expand...

 
http://www.head-fi.org/t/575725/new-flagship-from-audio-technica-ath-w3000anv-50th-anniversary-headphones/690#post_7939623
 
I just did a search for "graph" and "purrin"
 
: P

muppetface said:

 
Quote:

morbidtoaster said:

I'm also finding it a bit tough to hunt down a FR graph for these...I feel like it's right under my nose. Does anyone have a link to one? I want to see how rolled off the bass really is...

Click to expand...

 
http://www.head-fi.org/t/575725/new-flagship-from-audio-technica-ath-w3000anv-50th-anniversary-headphones/690#post_7939623
 
I just did a search for "graph" and "purrin"
 
: P

Click to expand...

Shoulda known Purrin had some up. That looks pretty brutal...Tough call...

Might wait for MH in regards to LF pairing.

 
Quote:

filus said:

Lets not forget Svetlana 2, that one has respectable reputation as well, especially when its used with AT headphones (I am myself back a bit tbh, ppl describe it as amp made in AT heaven, but since I havent heard it myself, 'respectable reputation' is all it gets from me right now).

Click to expand...

 
I second that. But of course this amp gets forgotten anyway not surprisingly. It will remain quite unknown except for those specifically looking for it.

Alright. Out with the GS-1 (amazing amp) and in with the AT-HA5000. I scored one from a fellow Head-Fi'er that has already been modded for 120v. Should be here late this week or early next. 
 
I do feel that the GS-1 sounds wonderful with the W3000ANV and AD2000, but I just want to experience the amp that the W3000ANV and W5000 (will be getting soon) are designed for. Supposedly works well with the AD2000 as well.
 
Thinking about getting a DAC upgrade too. Something neutral or just slightly warm is preferred. Solid state only. Any ideas?

zenerik said:

Alright. Out with the GS-1 (amazing amp) and in with the AT-HA5000. I scored one from a fellow Head-Fi'er that has already been modded for 120v. Should be here late this week or early next. 
 
I do feel that the GS-1 sounds wonderful with the W3000ANV and AD2000, but I just want to experience the amp that the W3000ANV and W5000 (will be getting soon) are designed for. Supposedly works well with the AD2000 as well.
 
Thinking about getting a DAC upgrade too. Something neutral or just slightly warm is preferred. Solid state only. Any ideas?

Click to expand...

What kind of budget and what options do you want?

 
Quote:

morbidtoaster said:

What kind of budget and what options do you want?

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Well, I would prefer under $1000, but I think I'd venture into the $1500 range if needed. The only option I really need is USB. Preferably capable of 24/96 or higher. I will not be using optical or coaxial any time soon. Not because I'm not interested in those options. I just like the plug and play with my laptop (which doesn't have optical or coax)

 
Quote:

zenerik said:

 
Quote:

morbidtoaster said:

What kind of budget and what options do you want?

Click to expand...

 
Well, I would prefer under $1000, but I think I'd venture into the $1500 range if needed. The only option I really need is USB. Preferably capable of 24/96 or higher. I will not be using optical or coaxial any time soon. Not because I'm not interested in those options. I just like the plug and play with my laptop (which doesn't have optical or coax)

Click to expand...

 
 
 
Quote:

zenerik said:

I would NOT recommend the SPL Auditor/Phonitor for Audio-Technica headphones. I did not try one with the W3000ANV in particular but it does not drive the AD2000 very well and produces quite a loud hum that can even be heard over some music. Depends on what you are listening to.
 
Those SPL amps are specially designed with 300 - 600 ohm headphones in mind.

Click to expand...

 
 
 
Quote:

muppetface said:

 
Quote:

zenerik said:

I would NOT recommend the SPL Auditor/Phonitor for Audio-Technica headphones. I did not try one with the W3000ANV in particular but it does not drive the AD2000 very well and produces quite a loud hum that can even be heard over some music. Depends on what you are listening to.
 
Those SPL amps are specially designed with 300 - 600 ohm headphones in mind.

Click to expand...

 
 
As I said when I recommended the Phonitor earlier in the thread, it's a recommendation that comes with a big caveat: background noise. ATs are some of the most noise-prone headphones out there, and on the Phonitor this is indeed evident.
 
However, in my opinion (and that of several other head-fiers), it has exceptional synergy with much of the W series, including the W5000 and W3000ANV.

Click to expand...

 
 
 
Quote:

muppetface said:

 
Quote:

morbidtoaster said:

I'm also finding it a bit tough to hunt down a FR graph for these...I feel like it's right under my nose. Does anyone have a link to one? I want to see how rolled off the bass really is...

Click to expand...

 
http://www.head-fi.org/t/575725/new-flagship-from-audio-technica-ath-w3000anv-50th-anniversary-headphones/690#post_7939623
 
I just did a search for "graph" and "purrin"
 
: P

Click to expand...

 
 
 
Quote:

zenerik said:

Alright. Out with the GS-1 (amazing amp) and in with the AT-HA5000. I scored one from a fellow Head-Fi'er that has already been modded for 120v. Should be here late this week or early next. 
 
I do feel that the GS-1 sounds wonderful with the W3000ANV and AD2000, but I just want to experience the amp that the W3000ANV and W5000 (will be getting soon) are designed for. Supposedly works well with the AD2000 as well.
 
Thinking about getting a DAC upgrade too. Something neutral or just slightly warm is preferred. Solid state only. Any ideas?

Click to expand...

 
 
Reply to all of those:
 
Dac: From what I hear what you want, not the latest tech but certainly your sound preference: Luxman DA-200. Price varies giganticly depending in which country and for what voltage you buy it.
 
Auditor: My biggest recommendation for anyone wanting a true high-end amp for a bragain but as I heard from others, either in a thread or PM, don't remember: not the best for sensitive cans like AT's. I never tried it with ATs though, I had the Phonitor before my AT time.
 
Purrin: I couldn't care less about graphs because I don't really understand them (I could if I wanted to) or equalizers for that matter. But I believe his primary aim is to give people information and prevent them from buying what is wrong for them by stating his experienced opinion underlined by a (maybe arguably to some) scientific approach. I value his opinion a lot.
 
MF: Recommending the Auditor (which I would recommend to anyone myself seen it's price point and SQ) is a good thing, but background noise is something I can't accept from any amp. I never tried it with ATs as mentioned above but if it does I certainly wouldn't recommend it to anyone asking for an amp to drive the W3000ANVs.
 
1.30AM here, shoot me if you want to.