[rmjeffs]

Hi, newly registered after years of using head-fi for recommendations.
 
I use Sennheiser HD280s at home, Beyerdynamic MMX 300s at work, and Etymotic ER-6i with my iPhone.  I'd never really ever been sold on using a headphone amp, but seemingly forever ago a FiiO D5 ended up on my desk and I've been using it ever since.  It finally died today though, and I'm looking at what I should replace it with.  
 
On the one hand, I like having both a microphone and a headphone port I can plug into on my desk.  On the other, I've been looking at the head-fi reviews of headphone amps and I think I'm possibly ready for one.  
 
I'm on a bit of a budget but I'm flexible.  I use an iMac at work - is just plopping a headphone amp in front of it going to do me any good?  So far I've been looking at the Bravo Audio V2 and V3 tube amps - am I way off piste?  Do I need a DAC, and if so, what should I go for?
 
Thanks!

 

[cel4145]

The Schiit E10K or Schiit Fulla would do the job for you. Both are a combined headphone amp/dac.

 

[Me x3]

  Hi, newly registered after years of using head-fi for recommendations.
 
I use Sennheiser HD280s at home, Beyerdynamic MMX 300s at work, and Etymotic ER-6i with my iPhone.  I'd never really ever been sold on using a headphone amp, but seemingly forever ago a FiiO D5 ended up on my desk and I've been using it ever since.  It finally died today though, and I'm looking at what I should replace it with.  
 
On the one hand, I like having both a microphone and a headphone port I can plug into on my desk.  On the other, I've been looking at the head-fi reviews of headphone amps and I think I'm possibly ready for one.  
 
I'm on a bit of a budget but I'm flexible.  I use an iMac at work - is just plopping a headphone amp in front of it going to do me any good?  So far I've been looking at the Bravo Audio V2 and V3 tube amps - am I way off piste?  Do I need a DAC, and if so, what should I go for?
 
Thanks!

 
Normally tube amps work fine with high impedance headphones.
Some powerful hybrid amps like the Schiit Lyr 2 work quite well with low impedance highly inefficient headphones like the Hifiman HE-560
For most low impedance headphones (and specially BA IEMs) a solid state amplifier with low output impedance is the way to go.
 
Fiio E10K is a very nice USB DAC/Amp that can be had for 75 or so.
If you want to spend more, the Schiit Modi 2 + Schiit Magni 2 would represent an upgrade over E10K. They sell for 200 dollars.
 
Remember that headphones have a bigger impact in sound quality than DAC/Amps at this point. It can be hard to justify getting a 300 dollar DAC/Amp to drive the Sennheiser HD280. Best chances are you'll get much more improvement getting a 225 dollar headphone and a Fiio E10K.
 
If you decide taking this route, then it's important that you do a small research about which (225 dollar) headphone will satisfy your personal preferences.
 
Best Luck!

 

[rmjeffs]

Thanks for the help guys.  I guess I'm tending toward the E10k!
 

  If you decide taking this route, then it's important that you do a small research about which (225 dollar) headphone will satisfy your personal preferences.

 
That's the plan a bit further down the line.  For now, I spend half my life with my Beyerdynamic MMX300s on.