Noob needing help finding a guide to USB DAC and Heaphone AMP's !

Just do a search on - Sennheiser Hd 650 amp recommendation - and start reading the different threads. Many will have links to external reviews of products. If you need more info, just do a google search on the specific brand and model - or search head-fi.org. Basically, put together a list of ones you are interested in while reading through the threads. Then go and look at other reviews, prices, and any specifications you'll need for your headphones. You should be able to narrow it down to a couple of different ones and chances are someone compared the choices you're looking at in one of the threads.

This is how I do it anyway. I really like starting at head-fi because I can use the responses in the thread to narrow down the soundstage, dyanmics, SQ, etc... that I'm specifically looking for.

That being said, do you have any specific brands/models you are looking at?

Hi

First to the OP, it's not that i want to hijack your thread, but i would also like to know how much difference would a dac makes because i'm still new to audiophile stuff. Correct me if i am wrong, but a transport (aka music files) goes into a dac which converts it to an analog signal which goes into an amp and finally out of the headphones. So if many dacs out there all use similar wolfson chips, why are there so many different types at such different prices? how would they compare to the one already in (for example) and ipod touch which i heard already comes with a pretty decent dac inside.

Also, are there dacs that suit solid state amps and dacs that suit tube amps better?

And i would really appreciate help with choosing a dac to go with a meier audio concerto and lcd-2. Music normally comes from an ipod.

Quote:

Originally Posted by kalkain 

Hi

 

First to the OP, it's not that i want to hijack your thread, but i would also like to know how much difference would a dac makes because i'm still new to audiophile stuff. Correct me if i am wrong, but a transport (aka music files) goes into a dac which converts it to an analog signal which goes into an amp and finally out of the headphones. So if many dacs out there all use similar wolfson chips, why are there so many different types at such different prices? how would they compare to the one already in (for example) and ipod touch which i heard already comes with a pretty decent dac inside.

 

Also, are there dacs that suit solid state amps and dacs that suit tube amps better?

 

And i would really appreciate help with choosing a dac to go with a meier audio concerto and lcd-2. Music normally comes from an ipod.

 

Kalkain, 

By getting a separate dedicated component like a stand alone DAC, you're talking about offloading processing demands and freeing up the source's processor and power resources to just focus on reading the data, not about making it sound nice.  In a component like an IPod Touch, there are so many engineering and design concessions related to the overall product, that considerations like a DAC, among other power drains, are reduced to "Is it functioning well enough? Then it's OK. Ship it". 

A stand alone DAC can add much higher-end chipsets, because they have their own dedicated power source and board layouts are not so compromised for space.  Premium components, compared to what you'd find inside many mass market electronic all-in-one marvels can also be included depending on the price point you're looking at.

That said, adding a DAC or any other external components makes sense only if it sounds good to you.  Cool Story Bro: I auditioned a nice DAC a few years back.  It was made by one of the big names in hi-end digital components at the time and got great press and reviews.  It was not cheap.  Good thing I auditioned because for the weeks I was auditioning it at home, I could not hear a single thing, good or bad, that it did to my system. As a result, I did not buy and I was even happier with the components I did have, since the "paperweight with a price tag" couldn't improve them.

You're in Singapore, do some research for some names you'd like to try and find their local reps.  Then get out to some shops in places like Adelphi Shopping Center and get some equipment to audition. Most, but not all, of the shops have generous policies, so take advantage where you can  (if not, PM me offline and I can give you some names). Listen to it at home and see if it makes sense for you.

As far as DAC recommendations, are you gonna be portable? Running exclusively from an IPod means that unless you look at using something like the CypherLabs via the USB (supposedly a direct bitstream out) and bypass the Ipod's internal DAC you would have to use a connection via 3.5mm port, so you'd be adding a DAC to the already processed audio signal (though I am not 100% sure of this and I'm sure someone will correct me if I am wrong). There are threads here that cover recommendations for Ipod Touch integration with home systems.

Hey Smeckles!

Thanks a lot for the reply. Really cleared up quite some doubts and questions that i had. Do correct me if i'm wrong, but what you are saying is that a stand alone dac is much better than those built into music players because it has the space and juice to run much better components, which will in turn help to transform the digital signal into a nicer sounding analog one that goes through the rest before reaching my ears?

Well, i don't really intend for it to be portable. It's just the ipod is where i store all my music, since my collection is practically purely digital rips. I was hoping to get something that would be able to boost the set up that i have for a nice price. Yeah, i heard similar things, need to use the line out dock or it will go through the built in dac, completely defeating the purpose of getting another one.

Cool. I didn't know i could audition gears at home. I will definitely check that one out. thanks!

Quote:

Originally Posted by kalkain 

 Do correct me if i'm wrong, but what you are saying is that a stand alone dac is much better than those built into music players because it has the space and juice to run much better components, which will in turn help to transform the digital signal into a nicer sounding analog one that goes through the rest before reaching my ears?

Well, that's the theory, at least!  Reality ... well, maybe not always.

I have not heard all the multi-purpose players so I am no expert on how the DAC on a Cowon J3 sounds vs. a Colorfly vs. an Ipod Touch (and there are plenty of reviews here that would give you an idea already).  But if you get a stand-alone DAC and 1) you can identify the changes it makes in your system and 2) you like those changes, then that is a product worth considering spending your cash on.  

I guess my message is: when adding equipment to your system, trust your ears.  Don't be fooled by high price tags, rave reviews (here or in the trade mags) or slick ads. Personal recommendations may give you an idea of what to try or audition, but buying should be done using your own taste and judgement.