Amp+dac for hd600

[journeysender]

schitt stack or  nfb-11.32

 

[tz0531]

Another option is the O2 amp+DAC

 

[ProtegeManiac]

  schitt stack or  nfb-11.32

 
If you only need USB then even the basic Modi2 will do, plus the Magni2. Considering the price of the 11.32 including shipping, if you're in the US, that can go up to a bit over $400, and then there's the cost of shipping it back in case there's a problem. At that price range you could just get the Jotunheim if you don't need SPDIF.

 

[journeysender]

   
If you only need USB then even the basic Modi2 will do, plus the Magni2. Considering the price of the 11.32 including shipping, if you're in the US, that can go up to a bit over $400, and then there's the cost of shipping it back in case there's a problem. At that price range you could just get the Jotunheim if you don't need SPDIF.

Some people compared nfb-11 to more pricey schitt stack that adds up to around 500 or more. I'm in europe so buying magni/modi 2 normal versions would come at around 230 eu ish without shipping and uber versions 300-350 if i went for uber modi as well. I know theyre both good options. As for warranty.. good point. Shipping to asia would be tricky and the wait would be month~.

 

[ProtegeManiac]

 
Some people compared nfb-11 to more pricey schitt stack that adds up to around 500 or more. I'm in europe so buying magni/modi 2 normal versions would come at around 230 eu ish without shipping and uber versions 300-350 if i went for uber modi as well. I know theyre both good options. As for warranty.. good point. Shipping to asia would be tricky and the wait would be month~.

 
You might as well just save up for a Violectric. Some of them have an optional DAC module with different digital receiver and DAC chips.

 

[journeysender]

I see.. so if i add 24bit/96 usb option they'd put a dac in that amp? is hpa v100 any good? what kind of dac/chips would they put in.. theres no info from what i can tell.. All of those amps seem to be powerful as well. What kind of power consuption are they... damnit all this research leads you to other options.. what about Gustard h10 people seem to like it even more than hpa v200 as it seems to be a clone of it. Granted it's an asian clone with 1 year warranty and again shipping to asia is nothing but trouble. If i went with that i'd need a decent dac.. since h10 is $350 id have as much for a dac.. or maybe something cheaper... what do you think. I can order violectric in eu from germany but that would be about 2x of gustard. Not sure but they seem to offer 5 year warranty. Must be confident in their products. Also they've been around forever by the looks. Wanna know their power draw or if they output a lot of heat too.

 

[raybone0566]

Violectric amps don't not put out much heat. I had the hpa v90. Left on for hours & top was slightly warm. Violectric amps can drive any headphone except the he-6.

 

[journeysender]

Thanks.. lets say i get v100 model. It has two 3 pin xlr inputs...Would i have to solder stock cables for two male 3 pin xlr? Would i connect the headphones to the back of the amp and not the front? i'm a bit confused. Or are those xlr female inputs for a dac/receiver or something. I'm getting way over my head. Can someone clear this up.

 

[ProtegeManiac]

Quote:

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

I see.. so if i add 24bit/96 usb option they'd put a dac in that amp?

 

Yes. V100 and up has the option box to the left. Just click which one you need. The DAC board is very small, like what Schiit has on the Jotunheim, that's why you only get one type of input.

 

Quote:

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

 

is hpa v100 any good? 

 

Get very loud on it and it's noticeably smoother than the O2. Haven't thrown anything like the HE6 at it but it had no issues on the HD600, HD650, and HD800. Punchy sound when it's there, mellow and soft when that's what the song should be.

 

 

Quote:

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

 

what kind of dac/chips would they put in.. theres no info from what i can tell.. 

 

I wouldn't really worry about it. I have a Meier Cantate.2 with a DAC on a small daughterboard and it used a PCM270x, which other DACs use only as a USB receiver. I liked it a hell of a lot better than a Cambrige entry level CDP that was imaging the bass drums where the vocals are.

 

 

Quote:

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

 

what about Gustard h10 people seem to like it even more than hpa v200 as it seems to be a clone of it.

 

It's cheaper. Is it the V200 clone? I kind of remember it was a clone of something else. Some amp that is also Class A. Violectrics do not operate in full Class A like the Asgard. Or maybe the H10's bias/switchover point was modified.

 

 

Quote:

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

 

Granted it's an asian clone with 1 year warranty and again shipping to asia is nothing but trouble.

 

That's why if you're in Europe you might as well just get something from within Europe. Shipping and dealing with customs fees are just going to drive up the price anyway. Unless you're getting something really cheap and has something unique, like an AudioGD with the DAC and amp built into one chassis and has selectable preamp/headamp outputs via a switch (instead of unplugging the headphone).

 

 

Quote:

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

 

If i went with that i'd need a decent dac.. since h10 is $350 id have as much for a dac.. or maybe something cheaper...

 

There's a Gustard DAC for around $400 I think.

 

 

 

Quote:

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

 

I can order violectric in eu from germany but that would be about 2x of gustard. Not sure but they seem to offer 5 year warranty. Must be confident in their products. Also they've been around forever by the looks. Wanna know their power draw or if they output a lot of heat too.

 

If you factor in buying the Gustard DAC, the shipping costs, and import fees, the Violectric might actually be cheaper. And you get 5yr warranty and less headaches than some guy in China who, at the very least, might have a response lag because they have to translate your email.

 

[journeysender]

 

 

Yes. V100 and up has the option box to the left. Just click which one you need. The DAC board is very small, like what Schiit has on the Jotunheim, that's why you only get one type of input.

 

 

Get very loud on it and it's noticeably smoother than the O2. Haven't thrown anything like the HE6 at it but it had no issues on the HD600, HD650, and HD800. Punchy sound when it's there, mellow and soft when that's what the song should be.

 

 

That's why if you're in Europe you might as well just get something from within Europe. Shipping and dealing with customs fees are just going to drive up the price anyway. Unless you're getting something really cheap and has something unique, like an AudioGD with the DAC and amp built into one chassis and has selectable preamp/headamp outputs via a switch (instead of unplugging the headphone).

Would pick one with usb. i can also get optical.. but Usb is way more common and easier. Ok so after all the search i'm either going with nfb-11.32 or schiit which would probably come at exactly half of V100 even with shipping+customs.. as it's dollars for nfb. but it's from asia so thats a minus almost overshadowing all the good in event that the unit fails. V100 being more than double but it outputs 4 TIMES more power at 600 ohm. What does that translate to? Just louder or better SQ across all frequencies? Isn't it too much power? wouldn't have to get another amp in the future. However what i'm missing atm is just that punchy bass everyone with an amp is talking about. So maybe i'm aiming way too high and could get what i'm missing with something lower end as i dont plan on upgrading from hd600 for at least a few years. They seem so good. It just doesnt feel right buying amp nearly 3 times the price of headphones.. almost hd800 price. but thats what it takes to drive headphone like that at its best right? =\
Ok so saving game begins. I'm in no rush tbh.

 

[ProtegeManiac]

Quote:

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

Would pick one with usb. i can also get optical.. but Usb is way more common and easier. Ok so after all the search i'm either going with nfb-11.32 or schiit which would probably come at exactly half of V100 even with shipping+customs.. as it's dollars for nfb. but it's from asia so thats a minus almost overshadowing all the good in event that the unit fails. 

 

That's really a chance you have to take. The thing is if you can afford the Violectric if you'd just wait three months, then I'd really much rather go with that. 

 

 

Quote:

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

 

V100 being more than double but it outputs 4 TIMES more power at 600 ohm. What does that translate to? Just louder or better SQ across all frequencies? Isn't it too much power? wouldn't have to get another amp in the future. However what i'm missing atm is just that punchy bass everyone with an amp is talking about. So maybe i'm aiming way too high and could get what i'm missing with something lower end as i dont plan on upgrading from hd600 for at least a few years. They seem so good. It just doesnt feel right buying amp nearly 3 times the price of headphones.. almost hd800 price. but thats what it takes to drive headphone like that at its best right? =\

 

It can go louder, but chances are you won't need that much more than what the NFB-11 can deliver at 300ohms as it will get to very loud output levels before it starts distorting badly anyway. That said, the Violectric could potentially be a little bit cleaner. Not necessarily that much more for the added cost, but then again that isn't the only thing you're paying for here - there's the 5yr warranty and easier communication for repairs.

At 600ohms though despite the T1's high efficiency that impedance can still be a bit stiff for some amps. There might seem to be a lot of power still, but the distortion could potentially set in earlier (unless my amps weren't and the T1 really sounds like that, but then again the Valhalla and Lyr, both v1, had better sound with the T1 vs my Cantate.2, while they're nearly indistinguishable with the HD600). Still, what are the chances that you'd get a T1, or an old K240? There are other reasons for getting the Violectric but not necessarily this one, just the product support.