[raisinsssss]

Hi all,

Long time occasional visitor, first time poster. So first, thanks for maintaining a neat community. Most of it is way above my head and beyond the level of time and commitment I can make right now, but it's good to read.

I am in need of a < $200 DAC/AMP to drive my HIFIMAN HE-X4s at work (booooo return to office!). Need some kind of input from my personal iPhone XR, whether via lightning port & adapter or bluetooth (gasp). No need for speaker outs. Doesn't need to be too fancy; just fancy enough. Cheaper is better, as this is not my primary setup.

Don't need it to be portable either, as it will live on/in my desk. In fact, I would prefer it not be designed to be overly portable (i.e. dragonfly). I'm somewhat familiar with SMSL, Topping, xDuoo, and the like, and anticipate something along those lines, but not sure what might be more explicitly designed for headphones.

I have about a month before I start so AliExpress, etc. are okay.

Also, on a less important note, I am in the market for some replacement tubes for my old dayton HTA20BT. Had some russian NOS on order, but those are no longer available, so if anyone has any recs on replacement tubes, I would also much appreciate it!

Thank you in advance!
-r

P.S. please feel free to be mad and express those feelings at me if this is the wrong spot!

 

[PurpleAngel]

Have you considered just getting a DAP (Digital Audio Player), something that could be powered by a USB/AC wall adapter?

 

[raisinsssss]

Have you considered just getting a DAP (Digital Audio Player), something that could be powered by a USB/AC wall adapter?

I’ve got a gen 1 fiio x1.

 

[pbui44]

If you want a nice and cheap semi-DIY setup for your Drop Hifiman HE-X4 to play well with your iphone xr, then get these items and you can get backups for cheap or upgrade whatever bits-and-pieces you want later :

https://www.amazon.com/Douk-Audio-H...=1651796908&sprefix=douk+audio,aps,153&sr=8-5

(the T09 5.5mm*2.5mm DC will fit the U3 amp DC in, according to the Amazon answers):
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01FQ4ZUD6/ref=emc_b_5_t

https://www.amazon.com/Tera-Grand-C...07DXLDSF8/ref=cm_cr_srp_d_product_top?ie=UTF8

https://www.amazon.com/Headphone-Ad...ix=3.5mm+male+to+rca+male+cabl,aps,375&sr=8-8

 

[PurpleAngel]

I’ve got a gen 1 fiio x1.

How do the HE-X4 sound plugged into the FiiO X1?

 

[pbui44]

If you are interested in buying the semi-portable setup above and need a hardshell case and travel surge protector to keep everything in one protected place for business trips or vacations, then check out these items:

https://www.amazon.com/Surge-Protector-Power-Strip-Extension/dp/B09QKXJH6S?ref_=ast_sto_dp

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08FBL1W4Z/ref=emc_b_5_t

The surge protector will take up the main area and the amp will be a tight fit over the cords, but everything will probably fit very snugly.

 

[pbui44]

If you want a more presentable-looking amp with 2 gain settings and rca outputs, then the Monoprice Liquid Spark is $75 right now (still not Class-A, though):

https://www.monoprice.com/product?p_id=33304

 

[imparanoic]

i have drop hifiman he-x4, balanced cables 4.4mm from aliexpress, sony nw-zx300 dap (balanced mode at high gain), it's a lovely pair of headphones and this dap drives it well, but a mobile can not