EDIT: Ok so I want a dac/amp combo. I can spend around $200ish if it is really worth it. A must for me is a good soundstage, natural sound, and good detail. I don't want any dac/amp that is not good in those regards.
 
Also, I know this thread is old but can some one comment on the O2+ODAC combo versus the Magni/Modi. I between a good black friday deal on the O2 ODAC combo and just buying the Magni/Modi.
 
 
 
Greetings,
 
I currently listen to my audio technica A900Xs from an old Creative Soundblaster Audigy 2 ZS soundcard (mid 2000s). I was fooling around the other day and plugged my headphones into an amp my family uses downstairs to power two old speakers hooked up to a record player. I noticed that even with just sourcing out of my phone the sound was much better than with my computer. This all got me to thinking about my set up and I was wondering with black friday and cyber monday coming around if I might be able to get a good deal on a DAC and an amp.
 
I listen to mostly choral and a capella music, which often involves multiple people singing different parts that overlap in the same frequency ranges. Often times bad headphones have a lot of trouble articulating all these parts at the same time. My current headphones do a very good job at this but when I plugged them into the amp downstairs, I noticed a big difference in sound quality and separation, and that is just a crappy home theater amp (see here) with the music coming from my phone on lossy MP3s! So I guess the kind of DAC or amp I would want would be ones that sound very natural and work well with the human voice, thats why I like the A900Xs so much to begin with.
 
Sorry for all the long paragraphs. If you are still with me, advice would be greatly appreciated. I am looking to maybe spend around $100 but that is not really a maximum or a minimum. I am looking for the price point that would give me the best return on investment.
 
Thanks!

FiiO E10 external USB-DAC-Amp, $75.

purpleangel said:

  FiiO E10 external USB-DAC-Amp, $75.

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The reviews seen to say that it doesn't sound very natural and worsens the soundstage and does not help with the details. Not to mention a dark sound stage Thanks for your suggestion but it appears to be the opposite of what I want. I should also note that a dac or amp does not have to be portable for me. It will just be sitting on my desk.

Asus Xonar DG (PCI) sound card, $26.80 and there is a $10 mail in rebate this month.

purpleangel said:

  Asus Xonar DG (PCI) sound card, $26.80 and there is a $10 mail in rebate this month.

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Based on the specs I don't think that card would be any better than my current soundcard. It was a decently high end soundcard six years ago.

modi and magni combo or Aune T1

I agree a magni/modi combo would be a good place to start

Thanks for the replies guys. I have been thinking about the magni/modi combo but I have a few questions. If I invest that much into a dac/amp how long will it last me until I want to buy a new one? By that I mean how far up the headphone price ladder before I would want to upgrade the dac/amp?
 
Also I don't think the Aune T1 appeals to me. I don't think I want a tube amp.

chili dude96 said:

  Based on the specs I don't think that card would be any better than my current sound card. It was a decently high end sound card six years ago.

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I believe the Audigy 2 ZX first come out a fair bit longer then 6 years ago, but not a big deal.
 
Asus Xonar DX or D1 sound card, used $60-$65.
Schiit Magni headphone amplifier, $99.
The combo should make the ATH-A900X sound nice.

chili dude96 said:

  Thanks for the replies guys. I have been thinking about the Magni/Modi combo but I have a few questions. If I invest that much into a dac/amp how long will it last me until I want to buy a new one? By that I mean how far up the headphone price ladder before I would want to upgrade the dac/amp?
 
Also I don't think the Aune T1 appeals to me. I don't think I want a tube amp.

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The Magni/Modi combo could last you for a fair bit of time.
Audio Technica has several higher end headphone that are in the 40-Ohm range.
So you would really have no need to upgrade from the Magni/Modi.

Sorry I haven't gotten back on this thread until now. I've been away.
 
So anyways, besides the magni/modi combo, are there any other dacs/amps I should look at? I was hoping to maybe get a few names and see if I can snag anything really cheaply on cyber monday or black friday. If not then I would probably get the magni/modi.

chili dude96 said:

  Thanks for the replies guys. I have been thinking about the magni/modi combo but I have a few questions. If I invest that much into a dac/amp how long will it last me until I want to buy a new one? By that I mean how far up the headphone price ladder before I would want to upgrade the dac/amp?
 
Also I don't think the Aune T1 appeals to me. I don't think I want a tube amp.

Click to expand...

 
Well realistically they should last you for years but the thing is in the headphone (and audiophile world) it is always easy to catch the upgrade bug/fever or you may change headphones etc. At $99 each the modi/magni combo is a great place to start and can last as long as you are happy.
Probably have a tough time finding any good deals on cyber monday as these are niche products that don't appeal to the masses nor are they loss leaders to get you into a store. You can always look in the head-fi classifieds for a deal.
As far as inexpensive alternatives for DAC's I have heard good things about the Behringer UCA 202 which can be had for like $30 or really good things about Stoner Acoustics UD110 which you can get through their facebook page for $50 (not much to look at a shrink wrapped circuit board) . You can also always try a CMOY amp which you can get off ebay for like $30

What do you guys think of me getting a Fiio E17 for $100? Would that work for me?

I think so

But I'm still going back and forth as to whether it is worth the extra money for a schiit stack over the e17....