< $120 DAC + amp for high impedance headphones?
Aug 29, 2010 at 4:52 AM Thread Starter Post #1 of 5

Kevin Brown

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I specifically picked $120 because I'm looking at the Musiland Monitor 02.  :)
 
Any other suggestions?  If this is a common question and if there have been any other threads, feel free to post a link.  I'm really out of my element looking at headphone DACs/amps.
 
I have a Total Bithead I use at work with SR125i's, and while I really like that combo ...  1) That amp won't drive 600 ohm cans, and, b) in fact, for softly mastered CDs, it runs out of steam volume-wise even with the Grados.
 
Thanks !!
 
Aug 29, 2010 at 12:57 PM Post #2 of 5
The Musiland is the best thing in it's price range (IMO), though you probably should look into the uDAC 2. Keep in mind, the Musiland (and uDAC 2) are DACs only, neither of them include an amp.
 
Aug 29, 2010 at 5:26 PM Post #3 of 5
Any idea how the Musiland would compare to the Total Bithead for sound?
 
But the Musiland 02 has headphone outputs.  Has to include amplification too?
 
http://cgi.ebay.com/MUSILAND-Monitor-02-US-USB-Digital-Sound-Card-Amplifier-/160435314259?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item255ab09e53
 
 
 
Aug 29, 2010 at 6:19 PM Post #4 of 5
I liked my Musiland better than my Bithead. You can adjust volume off your computer. The 2 headphones outs are for low-impedance and high-impedance. It is a DAC only.
 
Aug 30, 2010 at 4:00 AM Post #5 of 5
Cool.  I know the Bithead is made here, and the Musiland is from China, but I wasn't sure if I'd be stepping down in audio quality because the 02 is cheaper.  Sounds like I won't be, which is great.  :)
 

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