AVR4000
New Head-Fier
- Joined
- Mar 6, 2007
- Posts
- 18
- Likes
- 1
I am currently doing research of the area of a headphone amp + dac combo for my MacBook Pro. My previous setups has been Marantz SA 7001 KI + LittleDot I+ and Grado RS-2 or Vincent KHV-1pre with Sennheiser HD600 cans. Now I am living in a different part of the world and the requirements has been changed. I use my Grado RS-2 (with flats) as my main headphone but the MacBook Pro has now replaced everything else and that's why I am looking for a new DAC and headphone amp for the Grados.
Yesterday, I went to Park Avenue Audio (I'm in the NYC) and tried the Musical Fidelity V-Can and V-DAC with a very pleasing result. In my stationary setup, I had a Musical Fidelity X-T100 that I selected after careful auditing because of the high quality sound with very good PRaT it offers. The V-Can/V-DAC combo gave me a similar experience of good PRaT and a very decent sound with balanced registers and good clarity. The synergy with the RS-2 was really good and I have to admit that I experienced an improvement of this combo compared to my LD I+/SA 7001 KI setup.
The only drawback I experienced is the lack of high resolution USB audio but will take a new audit with the V-Link so I can draw a new conclusion based on upsampling.
But before I make any decisions - I am interested in recommendations of alternative setups. My priorities is:
1. DAC and amp (separate products are no problem but they are going to be combined).
2. Price: up to 800 dollars (approximately, based on the MF V-Link+Can+DAC).
3. Good synergy with Grados (I have the RS-2 and SR225).
4. Pace, rythm and timing is very important to me. That's why I like the "british sound" when it comes to amps.
It's also nice if I can audit the gear before purchasing.
I will visit Washington soon, according to the current planning - recommendations of HiFi stores carrying DACs and headphone amps there is very welcome.
Yesterday, I went to Park Avenue Audio (I'm in the NYC) and tried the Musical Fidelity V-Can and V-DAC with a very pleasing result. In my stationary setup, I had a Musical Fidelity X-T100 that I selected after careful auditing because of the high quality sound with very good PRaT it offers. The V-Can/V-DAC combo gave me a similar experience of good PRaT and a very decent sound with balanced registers and good clarity. The synergy with the RS-2 was really good and I have to admit that I experienced an improvement of this combo compared to my LD I+/SA 7001 KI setup.
The only drawback I experienced is the lack of high resolution USB audio but will take a new audit with the V-Link so I can draw a new conclusion based on upsampling.
But before I make any decisions - I am interested in recommendations of alternative setups. My priorities is:
1. DAC and amp (separate products are no problem but they are going to be combined).
2. Price: up to 800 dollars (approximately, based on the MF V-Link+Can+DAC).
3. Good synergy with Grados (I have the RS-2 and SR225).
4. Pace, rythm and timing is very important to me. That's why I like the "british sound" when it comes to amps.
It's also nice if I can audit the gear before purchasing.
I will visit Washington soon, according to the current planning - recommendations of HiFi stores carrying DACs and headphone amps there is very welcome.