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Should I get an Amp or DAC?

post #1 of 10
2/23/12 at 2:43am
Thread Starter 

I own sennheiser hd 598 headphones and I use on-board sound card. The volume is sufficient enough. However, I want to improve its SQ. Which one should I get? Or should I get both?

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post #2 of 10
2/23/12 at 2:49am

NuForce uDAC2... it's both and is more than sufficient for your purposes.

 

You can upgrade to a nicer amp later if you need more

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post #3 of 10
2/23/12 at 6:15am
Quote:
Originally Posted by rahuldagli View Post

I own sennheiser hd 598 headphones and I use on-board sound card. The volume is sufficient enough. However, I want to improve its SQ. Which one should I get? Or should I get both?


If you want a cheap but decent external USB DAC/amplifier, I recommend the FiiO E10. It is actually an improvement over the uDAC2 in a number of aspects, and costs less.

 


Edited by stv014 - 2/23/12 at 6:18am
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post #4 of 10
2/23/12 at 7:14am

It depends how much you want to spend but I think the Audinst Mx1 or Yulong D100 would both be great choices, the E10 is a more inexpensive option. Hop over to headfonia.com Mike has good reviews on combo Amp/Dacs.

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post #5 of 10
2/23/12 at 7:24am

The Fiio E7 is a nice match for them, if you're on a small budget. Want more power, try the E10.

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post #6 of 10
2/23/12 at 7:43am

Are you using the computer for music? gaming? movies?

Motherboards come with built-in low cost DACs (Digital to Analog Converters), so any aftermarket DAC you buy should be an improvement.

And the headphone/line out jack built into the motherboard is not a great(quality) amplifier for headphones.

The Fiio E10 is a USB/DAC/headphone amplifier. It plugs into the USB port on the computer and it would improve sound for the headphones.

But does not provide surround sound for movies.

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post #7 of 10
2/23/12 at 9:05am

Borrowing the thread a little bit.
Im considering getting the Bravo Audio Ocean and a decent DAC in the same price area (looking at the Argon DAC1 at the moment), you think it would be a good deal?
Using the HD555's (Modified)

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post #8 of 10
2/23/12 at 11:09am
Quote:
Originally Posted by hennnkee View Post
Borrowing the thread a little bit.

Im considering getting the Bravo Audio Ocean and a decent DAC in the same price area (looking at the Argon DAC1 at the moment), you think it would be a good deal?
Using the HD555's (Modified)


Could not find any info or price in English for that DAC.

But when you get everything setup, please post a review on the Bravo Audio Ocean.

 

 

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post #9 of 10
2/24/12 at 1:53am
Quote:
Originally Posted by CloakedMistborn View Post

It depends how much you want to spend but I think the Audinst Mx1 or Yulong D100 would both be great choices, the E10 is a more inexpensive option. Hop over to headfonia.com Mike has good reviews on combo Amp/Dacs.


Totally agreed. Had my audinst and really loved it. 

 

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post #10 of 10
2/24/12 at 4:47am


+2 for the Audinst. For $179, it's really tough to beat for a DAC/Amp combo. Plus, it has a rollable op-amp and in the future if you get a nicer HP amp, you can use the Audinst as just a DAC. It will also drive low and high impedance HPs.
 

Quote:
Originally Posted by kalla View Post


Totally agreed. Had my audinst and really loved it. 

 



 

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