Upgrade: 2 high end headphone rigs

You may want to audition the April Music Eximus DAC. I've seen it described as essentially in the same league as the Weiss, for about half the money. The HPA section may be better than the Weiss' as well.

 

I own and love the Weiss DAC202.  That said, IME, the headphone out is not all that magical.  Yes, the output voltage is adjustable, meaning you roughly can optimize it for low or high impedance headphones.  However, I don't think it holds a candle to a well-designed headphone amplifier, e.g., an ECBA or the like.  That said, I'm more of a tube guy when it comes to headphone amps, others have reported reasonable outcomes with the DAC202's headphone out, and to my understanding the RS1s are relatively easy to drive.  

 

Rather than spend $7000+ on an integrated DAC/amp, my vote would be for separates.  There are A LOT of terrific options in your price range.  Just my two cents....    

 

 

 

I also own a Weiss DAC202, but - like BlueDevil - I wouldn't recommend to use it's built-in headphone amp.

 

Here are my suggestions based on what you have:

 

Home = Mytek Stereo 192 + Cavalli Liquid Fire + Sennheiser HD800

Office = Ayre QB9 + Vioelectric HPA V200 + Beyer T1

 

I agree with this, as well.  Given the gear you listed, my first priority would be to upgrade the headphones and amp before getting a DAC202 caliber source.

 

I've been unsatisfied with the headphone out on every DAC I've heard.

  Gain switches out back or below - V200 has 4 while the Lehmann Black cube has 3 settings.

 

  Balanced XLR connectivity - V200 = yes, Lehmann BCL = No.

 

  Power and Output voltage (not specified by Lehmann)

 

 Lehmann BCL Output power: 200mW/300 Ohms, 400mW/60 Ohms 

 

 Violectric V200 Output power: 2700mW into 60ohms with 11.6V of voltage and at 600ohms (T1) 570mW with 18.5V.

 

As you can see the V200 has almost double the power at 600ohms than the Lehmann at 300ohm. At 60ohms, the V200

destroys the Lehmann by being almost 7 times more powerful.

 

 

 

  

 

The V200 has a slight touch of warmth.  The soundstage is a bit narrow compared to some other amps I've heard, such as the Benchmark DAC-1 USB's built-in amp and the Meier Concerto.

Having more power provides more control over the drivers and more headroom for dynamics.  It's not really anything to do with loudness as most amps can drive dynamic headphones well beyond normal listening volumes.

 

I don't want to sound mean, but I guess it's not since it is just my opinion. The cavalli amp's are some of the ugliest I have seen. I don't pick my audio equipment on looks, but I am just saying, it's no looker. Of course your remarks could also be in reference to sound quality. If that is the case then a suppose my comments are off topic.

 

I don't know why I have not heard anyone back your Leben idea. I have not heard the CS300 but the XS version is fantastic. I assume they are more similar than different, but I've never looked up comparisons.
 

 

Edited by TruBrew - 2/4/12 at 10:29pm

 

 Those figures are published by the respective manufacturers on their website

 

 http://www.lehmannaudio.com.au/amp/line/headphone.html

 

 http://www.violectric.de/Pages/de/technische-daten.php

 

 Lehmann simply choose to omit the actual power figures at 600ohms for the BCL, but the figures are not rising beyond 300ohms

 in case you are wondering 

 

 Nothing to do with loudness, all to do with driver control - the V200 fares better with most common high end headphones, having

 said that - the BCL is the more forgiving of the two amps with slightly treble orientated headphones such as the HD800 used with

 poor recordings. Ultimately though, the BCL is less detailed.

 

 Sound stage airiness is not exactly, the V200's strong point but it's not bad either.

 

 A glaring example between the two would be with the very power hungry Audeze LCD2 and LCD3 - the BCL makes both of them

 sound very laid back, a little slow - the V200 on +6dB gain increases Prat and punch dramatically. 

 

 A direct result of the different amp figures at 50/60ohms.

If you are trying to conserve space with the office rig check out these all in ones I've found to sound pretty good:

Invicta by Resonessence Labs $4000



Wadia 171 iTransport + Wadia 151 Power DAC $1500


Edited by Maxvla - 2/5/12 at 2:12am

Hi Pedro

Here's how I came to my suggestions:

I know the following components because I own(ed) them:
Beyer T1, Sennheiser HD-800, Cavalli LF

I "know", better: I have a clue about the following components, because I read a lot about them since quite some time:
Vioelectric HPA V200, Mytek Stereo 192

My thoughts were:
For the home rig:
Let's go for an optimum of sound quality, build quality, ergonomics (that's why I did not mention the Audeze LCD-3) and costs.
Mytek Stereo 192: very reasonable priced, can - in addition to PCM - convert DSD (ripped SACDs, native DSD files) into analog. Over at computeraudiophile you can read a lot about this DAC.
The Cavalli and the Sennheiser are - in my oppinion - state of the art for a dynamic headphone rig.
Cavalli Audio is extremly helpful and competent, i.e.: you don't feel alone with the amp, though the manufacturer is based on the other side of the Atlantic ocean.

For the office rig:
Let's look at the available components. Take an amp, which can make full use of the Ayre's and T1's quality. The amp should not be the weakest link in the chain. Also the costs should be suitable to the other components in this rig.