Need a DAC with built in headphone amp and pre-amp out for active monitor speakers (<$200)
Apr 25, 2015 at 2:40 PM Thread Starter Post #1 of 7

starfly

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Hi,
 
I will soon be building a new desktop setup where I'll be getting a pair of active studio monitor speakers. Ideally I would like the setup to have an external DAC connected by USB to the PC that has a built-in headphone amp (preferably an output impedance < 1 ohm) and also has a line-out (RCA or TRS is fine) that I can use to send a signal to the monitor speakers. And then I'd like the volume level for the line-out to be controlled by the DAC as well, as the monitor speakers I'll be getting only has volume controls on the rear which is sort of inconvenient.
 
I know there's tons of stuff out there, but I have no idea which ones are good or which ones are things I should avoid. I've been contemplating getting a Schiit Modi 2 / Magni 2 Uber stack but that would bring the cost up to $250, which is a bit too much.
 
Any suggestions? Thanks!
 
Apr 25, 2015 at 3:07 PM Post #2 of 7
Technically, the volume level won't be controlled by the DAC. DACs don't do anything but convert digital to audio. And typically, a "line out" means that the signal comes directly from the DAC. So keywords to look for are pre-amp or pre-out :)

Why do you need an output of impedance of <1 ohm? That would imply that you have headphones with an 8 ohm impedance or less.

I don't know what the low output impedance is, but this Monoprice headphone amp/dac has what you want for $100: http://www.monoprice.com/Product?c_id=120&cp_id=12008&cs_id=1200801&p_id=11567&seq=1&format=2#specifications

Same with the Fire Phoenix: http://penonaudio.com/FIRE-PHOENIX-DAC-02

If the M&M stack is too much for your current budget, you could start with just the headphone amp.
 
Apr 25, 2015 at 8:21 PM Post #3 of 7
Technically, the volume level won't be controlled by the DAC. DACs don't do anything but convert digital to audio. And typically, a "line out" means that the signal comes directly from the DAC. So keywords to look for are pre-amp or pre-out
smily_headphones1.gif


Why do you need an output of impedance of <1 ohm? That would imply that you have headphones with an 8 ohm impedance or less.

I don't know what the low output impedance is, but this Monoprice headphone amp/dac has what you want for $100: http://www.monoprice.com/Product?c_id=120&cp_id=12008&cs_id=1200801&p_id=11567&seq=1&format=2#specifications

Same with the Fire Phoenix: http://penonaudio.com/FIRE-PHOENIX-DAC-02

If the M&M stack is too much for your current budget, you could start with just the headphone amp.

 
I indeed meant pre-amp/pre-out :) And I need a low output impedance so it matches well with my multi-BA IEM (JH13). Thanks for the suggestions!
 
Apr 25, 2015 at 9:28 PM Post #4 of 7
It looks like the impedance of your JH13FP is 28 ohms from what I can tell. The general rule is low output impedance 1/8 of the headphone impedance. So you don't need as low as < 1 ohm. :)
 
Apr 25, 2015 at 11:30 PM Post #5 of 7
  I will soon be building a new desktop setup where I'll be getting a pair of active studio monitor speakers. Ideally I would like the setup to have an external DAC connected by USB to the PC that has a built-in headphone amp (preferably an output impedance < 1 ohm) and also has a line-out (RCA or TRS is fine) that I can use to send a signal to the monitor speakers. And then I'd like the volume level for the line-out to be controlled by the DAC as well, as the monitor speakers I'll be getting only has volume controls on the rear which is sort of inconvenient.
I know there's tons of stuff out there, but I have no idea which ones are good or which ones are things I should avoid. I've been contemplating getting a Schiit Modi 2 / Magni 2 Uber stack but that would bring the cost up to $250, which is a bit too much.

 
Monoprice 5" studio monitors, $170.79
http://www.monoprice.com/Product?c_id=115&cp_id=11504&cs_id=1150401&p_id=605500&seq=1&format=2
 
FiiO E10K ($75.99) USB-DAC-amp, with a separate line-output for the speakers.
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1064785-REG/fiio_e10k_fiio_e10_usb_dac.html
 
Cable (Hosa CMP-153) to connect the E10K to the studio monitors, around $3.79
http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/CMP153
 
Apr 26, 2015 at 10:48 AM Post #6 of 7
Thanks for all the replies. 
 
I think what I'm going to do is this:
 
Get a Schiit Magni 2 Uber amp and use it with my current Fiio E07K for the time being as purely a DAC.
 
For monitors I plan on getting the Tannoy Reveal 402 which gets good reviews (but I'll have to give them a listen first at Guitarcenter to see if they suit my taste) and will complement them with a subwoofer later for the ultra-low frequencies. I want the 402 because of their small size as I don't have a ton of space on my desk. And they will cost about $190.
 
Later down the road I'll probably replace the E07K with the Modi 2 Uber DAC.
 
Now all I need are some low height speaker stands for on the desktop to have the monitors at ear height. Will probably get these:
http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/ISOL8R130
 
Thanks for all your help guys!
 
Apr 26, 2015 at 11:24 AM Post #7 of 7
That sounds like a nice setup, and good plan. Since you already have the E09K, no rush to buy a DAC.

Also, check into the Mopads as another speaker positioning option: http://www.auralex.com/product/mopad-mopad-xl/

You can use them to angle the speakers up toward your ears.
 

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