Head-Fi.org › Forums › Equipment Forums › Dedicated Source Components › DAC Recommendations for Office Audio Bliss
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:

DAC Recommendations for Office Audio Bliss

post #1 of 5
6/29/12 at 6:54am
Thread Starter 

I currently use 5g Ipod > LOD > RSA Tomahawk > Senn HD650 at work. I have decided that I want to upgrade my source. I don't care one bit about portability, so I plan on bringing in an old netbook that sits unused to host all of my music in FLAC. I still plan on using the Tomahawk and HD650, I just need to figure out what DAC to plug in the middle of it.

 

I listen to just about every genre equally. I like my music to be a little more punchy (if only I could get away with the mega sound leakage of my RS-1's at work), so something high energy and not laid back would be nice.

 

I'd like the budget to be roughly $200-300.

 

Thanks in advance!

Reply

Head-Fi's Best Sellers

post #2 of 5
6/29/12 at 7:58am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Iceroid View Post

I currently use 5g Ipod > LOD > RSA Tomahawk > Senn HD650 at work. I have decided that I want to upgrade my source. I don't care one bit about portability, so I plan on bringing in an old netbook that sits unused to host all of my music in FLAC. I still plan on using the Tomahawk and HD650, I just need to figure out what DAC to plug in the middle of it.

 

I listen to just about every genre equally. I like my music to be a little more punchy (if only I could get away with the mega sound leakage of my RS-1's at work), so something high energy and not laid back would be nice.

 

I'd like the budget to be roughly $200-300.

 

Thanks in advance!

eBay DACs (well under your budget).

SMSL SD-793

SMSL SD-1955

Reply
post #3 of 5
7/1/12 at 1:09pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Iceroid View Post

I currently use 5g Ipod > LOD > RSA Tomahawk > Senn HD650 at work. I have decided that I want to upgrade my source. I don't care one bit about portability, so I plan on bringing in an old netbook that sits unused to host all of my music in FLAC. I still plan on using the Tomahawk and HD650, I just need to figure out what DAC to plug in the middle of it.

 

I listen to just about every genre equally. I like my music to be a little more punchy (if only I could get away with the mega sound leakage of my RS-1's at work), so something high energy and not laid back would be nice.

 

I'd like the budget to be roughly $200-300.

 

Thanks in advance!

That will be a nice office setup assuming the netbook is quiet and you are using a good player.  I have yet to come across many dacs in the price range you mention that is worthy of the other components.  The Ross Martin Dacs are nice but I have heard some issues about build time and other things.  Most of what is out there seems to be a bit thin sounding and lacks punch.  I wish I could offer more suggestions.  Maybe some of the HRT dacs?


Edited by bixby - 7/1/12 at 1:10pm
Reply
post #4 of 5
7/3/12 at 12:59am

Are you sure about the Senn HD650? It is an open type headphone and it will leak sound. I don't know your office environment so I can't comment on that, but if you sit close to other co-workers (i.e. don't have a private office) then I'd rather play it safe and get a closed type headphone. It is embarrassing to leak all your music to others and worse yet, cause undue disturbance.

Reply
post #5 of 5
7/3/12 at 6:05am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by GoSUV View Post

Are you sure about the Senn HD650? It is an open type headphone and it will leak sound. I don't know your office environment so I can't comment on that, but if you sit close to other co-workers (i.e. don't have a private office) then I'd rather play it safe and get a closed type headphone. It is embarrassing to leak all your music to others and worse yet, cause undue disturbance.


The HD650 leakage is low enough at normal listening volumes to not go beyond 1-2 feet, and the closest person sits about 5 feet away. Unfortunately I can't say the same for my RS1's that will go 10 feet at the same volume.

 

Also, in case anyone is interested, I ended up buying an iBasso D7.

Reply
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:
  Return Home
  Back to Forum: Dedicated Source Components

Head-Fi's Best Sellers

Head-Fi.org › Forums › Equipment Forums › Dedicated Source Components › DAC Recommendations for Office Audio Bliss