[Gatecrasher]

Hey guys, looking for a dac+amp combo that can drive my headphones (Sen 598) and two bookshelf speakers with an RMS of 80W. Willing to drop around $600. Because the speakers Im going to buy have a RMS of 80W, I would like to find an amp/dac that has that much power per channel if possible. Anyways, if you guys know of a desktop amp/dac that has: relatively small footprint, headphone out, usb or optical in, 60-80 watt for 2 channels, and a quick punchy sound please let me know! Im going to be doing about 25% music listening, 75% gaming with this setup. To give you a better idea of what Im looking for, here is a perfect option for me, but it looks like its sold out:
http://www.centrance.com/store/#!/DACmini-PX-Integrated-DAC-Power-Amp/p/30615329/category=7071966

Thank you!

 

[soundman414]

Audio Engine makes a decent one: http://audioengineusa.com/Store/Amplifier/N22-Desktop-Audio-Amplifier
 
Teac has the AI-301DA: http://audio.teac.com/product/ai-301da/
 
Denon has one as well: https://usa.denon.com/us/product/hifi/amplifiers/pma50

All three are great desktop amps, the Teac is probably the best of the three for combo power amp and headphone amp. Teac also has a few models up the range that could probably fit into your budget if they go on sale or if you buy used.

 

[Gatecrasher]

  Audio Engine makes a decent one: http://audioengineusa.com/Store/Amplifier/N22-Desktop-Audio-Amplifier
 
Teac has the AI-301DA: http://audio.teac.com/product/ai-301da/
 
Denon has one as well: https://usa.denon.com/us/product/hifi/amplifiers/pma50

All three are great desktop amps, the Teac is probably the best of the three for combo power amp and headphone amp. Teac also has a few models up the range that could probably fit into your budget if they go on sale or if you buy used.

 
Humm, keep hearing mixed reviews about tech, some saying they offer a very soft sound, and because im going to be doing gaming on these speakers also, I would like something with a bit of a quick punch.  
Thanks for the suggestions tho.  

 

[ProtegeManiac]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gatecrasher /img/forum/go_quote.gif

 

To give you a better idea of what Im looking for, here is a perfect option for me, but it looks like its sold out:
http://www.centrance.com/store/#!/DACmini-PX-Integrated-DAC-Power-Amp/p/30615329/category=7071966

 

It's not just sold out, it's way beyond your budget. Any other amps that I know that are equally good with headphones and speakers (that way in case you upgrade your headphones you can still drive it with whatever you got) would be something like the Cayin CS55a, but that's a $1500 amp and I've only heard the HD600 and HD800 on it.

 

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gatecrasher /img/forum/go_quote.gif

Hey guys, looking for a dac+amp combo that can drive my headphones (Sen 598) and two bookshelf speakers with an RMS of 80W. Willing to drop around $600. Because the speakers Im going to buy have a RMS of 80W, I would like to find an amp/dac that has that much power per channel if possible. Anyways, if you guys know of a desktop amp/dac that has: relatively small footprint, headphone out, usb or optical in, 60-80 watt for 2 channels, and a quick punchy sound please let me know!

 

Does it have to be a single box unit? Because I'd get an AudioGD NFB-11 and an integrated amp, like one with USB input from Topping or whatever else is out there. The NFB-11 has a selectable variable or fixed level line out, so you can use it with an integrated amp with no direct input bypassing its own preamp stage.

 

 

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gatecrasher /img/forum/go_quote.gif

Im going to be doing about 25% music listening, 75% gaming with this setup. 

 

If you're going to do that much gaming on it might as well get the Creative X7. It won't have 80wrms but actually putting that much power into your speakers will have your neighbors filing complaints against you anyway, and it's still a decent enough headphone amp. It has virtual surround simulation for headphones built into it already.

 

[Gatecrasher]

 

 

It's not just sold out, it's way beyond your budget. Any other amps that I know that are equally good with headphones and speakers (that way in case you upgrade your headphones you can still drive it with whatever you got) would be something like the Cayin CS55a, but that's a $1500 amp and I've only heard the HD600 and HD800 on it.

 

 

Does it have to be a single box unit? Because I'd get an AudioGD NFB-11 and an integrated amp, like one with USB input from Topping or whatever else is out there. The NFB-11 has a selectable variable or fixed level line out, so you can use it with an integrated amp with no direct input bypassing its own preamp stage.

 

 

 

If you're going to do that much gaming on it might as well get the Creative X7. It won't have 80wrms but actually putting that much power into your speakers will have your neighbors filing complaints against you anyway, and it's still a decent enough headphone amp. It has virtual surround simulation for headphones built into it already.

Humm, this X7 looks very intriguing, and I see there is a very detailed review already on head-fi about it, thanks a ton for the reco!