[RustA]

Searching for a suitable DAC/amp for HD800, solid state or with tubes... I have searched a lot and right now, I am considering those 3:
 
1) Teac UD-501 + O2 desktop
2) Pureaudio WE-DAC30
3) Audiolab M-DAC
4) W4S mPRE
 
However, I would appreciate more suggestions...
 
It must have:
 
1) USB input with at least 24/192 playback support
2) 1/4 headphone out (or two 3-pin XLR out)
3) amp and DAC in a single case (I don't want to mess with analog cables)
4) suitable tonality for HD800 ( = neutral or on the darker side)
 
It could have (not required):
 
1) DSD support
2) Lots of inputs/outputs for versatility
3) 230v supply
4) Equally great DAC and amp section
 
Thanks to all!
 
EDIT: Audiolab M-DAC does not have 24/192 over USB + should be a bit on the bright side (brighter than O2/ODAC) and there are people who prefer O2/ODAC in general even though M-DAC is a bit more detailed.

 

[RustA]

Found this, looks brilliant!
 
http://www.audio-gd.com/Pro/Headphoneamp/NFB-10.1/NFB10.1EN.htm
 
EDIT: Eeeh, should be at best a sidegrade from my desktop O2/ODAC...

 

[preproman]

Quote:

Searching for a suitable DAC/amp for HD800, solid state or with tubes... I have searched a lot and right now, I am considering those 3:
 
1) Teac UD-501
2) Pureaudio WE-DAC30
3) Audiolab M-DAC
 
However, I would appreciate more suggestions...
 
It must have:
 
1) USB input with at least 24/192 playback support
2) 1/4 headphone out (or two 3-pin XLR out)
3) amp and DAC in a single case (I don't want to mess with analog cables)
4) suitable tonality for HD800 ( = neutral or on the darker side)
 
It could have (not required):
 
1) DSD support
2) Lots of inputs/outputs for versatility
3) 230v supply
4) Equally great DAC and amp section
 
Thanks to all!
 
EDIT: Audiolab M-DAC does not have 24/192 over USB + should be a bit on the bright side (brighter than O2/ODAC) and there are people who prefer O2/ODAC in general even though M-DAC is a bit more detailed.

 
 
Good list of requirements.  However, I think the most important one is missing.  What's your budget?  That will help a lot.
 
If #3 under "it must have" is uuhhh  a must have 

  the budget is really important.  
 
 
Never mind - I just read the title of the thread  DUH...  I'm stupid...

 

[RustA]

Quote:

 
 
Good list of requirements.  However, I think the most important one is missing.  What's your budget?  That will help a lot.
 
If #3 under "it must have" is uuhhh  a must have 

  the budget is really important.  

 
Up to 1000USD or little over it (mentioned in the name of this thread)
 
Btw, if you know about some EXCELLENT combination of a separate DAC and amp, I could also think about it... But I definitely prefer all-in-one solution!
 
Thank you very much!

 

[preproman]

I know this is out the price range.  Also, I have not idea if it can be solely for the HD800.  I'm looking at it for an all round solution.
 
http://www.audio-gd.com/Pro/Headphoneamp/NFB27/NFB27EN.htm
 
I'm still thinking.. 

 

[RustA]

Hmmm, yeah, it looks pretty good... Not sure if I wouldn't prefer Mytek DSD DAC over it, most probably yes as it is in the same price range and supports DSD. Still, it's well over 1000USD unfortunately =/

As I said, it could also be a combination of different amp and DAC, at the end... To clarify, I would like to find some very good all-round solution and withdraw from the market for several years. I don't need to have "the best sound ever", I just have to feel confident that I have a great all-rounder unit with full versatily and potential.
 
UD-501 looks pretty good but it's amp section does not look very convincing =/ I could use my O2 as an amplifier but it would feel rather as a temporary solution, at least from the "psychological perspective".
 
That Audio GD NFB 10-32 looks also nice because of its versatility and fully-balanced nature... However, it's not supposed to be a good match for HD800 and in terms of sonic quality, it should be at best on par with my desktop O2/ODAC = and this means I would rather stay with what I have or go for UD-501.

 

[wolfetan44]

What about the Woo Audio WA7? Also, off topic but how does the O2/ODAC do with the HD800?
 

 

[RustA]

Quote:

What about the Woo Audio WA7? Also, off topic but how does the O2/ODAC do with the HD800?
 

 
From the technical point of view, the combo does amplify the HD800 in the same way it did the LCD-2s... If you understand what I mean (no clipping, no distortion, no audible compromises). However, I have to say that my desktop version with upgraded internal cables (OCC silver) sound better to my ears - more clarity and transparency. I cannot say if it is due to adaptors I had to use with my common O2/ODAC combo or due to the cables but I definitely feel that my desktop version with 1/4 output is audibly more transparent.
 
Being more subjective, I love the combination of Jplay (single PC in hibernate mode, River engine, PacketSize = 0), O2/ODAC desktop and HD800... I love it to the extend that I wonder if I should even want to upgrade - the transparency is really stunning. Therefore, I am rather searching for a "safe" improvement (a lot of inputs/outputs, DSD support, suitable tonality according to other head-fiers etc.) than expecting wonders in terms of detail or transparency.
 
By the way, thanks for the suggestion - will have a look into it!

 

[RustA]

After looking at the WA7 specs, it does not seem to be very impressive:
 
    Distortion: <0.03%
    S/N: 95dB
 
I understand that this is a tube amplifier/DAC but the unit does not even have a high level of versatility due to limited amount of inputs/outputs. 1 year warranty also doesn't work very well for it =/

 

[wolfetan44]

Quote:

After looking at the WA7 specs, it does not seem to be very impressive:
 
    Distortion: <0.03%
    S/N: 95dB
 
I understand that this is a tube amplifier/DAC but the unit does not even have a high level of versatility due to limited amount of inputs/outputs. 1 year warranty also doesn't work very well for it =/

Ah, sorry it didn't work. I just knew it was Woo Audio and a tube/DAC. Anyways, Currawong thought it might be a good match(asked him in PM he said this," The stock tubes might be nicer with the HD-800s though as they have a more mellow sound, but then the Gold Pins have more detail overall." He hasn't heard the combo together though. Thansk for the advice on the O2 too!

 

[RustA]

Quote:

Ah, sorry it didn't work. I just knew it was Woo Audio and a tube/DAC. Anyways, Currawong thought it might be a good match(asked him in PM he said this," The stock tubes might be nicer with the HD-800s though as they have a more mellow sound, but then the Gold Pins have more detail overall." He hasn't heard the combo together though. Thansk for the advice on the O2 too!

 
No problem! I thank you once again since I didn't know about WA7 amp/DAC... By the way, the Pureaudio WE-DAC30 is also an amp/DAC of tube nature, having tons of inputs and outputs including HDMI (with future DSD support).

 

[preproman]

That's the problem with DAC first units.  The amp section isn't all ways up to snuff.  Also look at the
 
Anedio D2  http://anedio.com/  
 
Lynx Hilo http://www.lynxstudio.com/product_detail.asp?i=59 Also
 
Benchmark offerings - they have a new DAC2 out  http://www.benchmarkmedia.com/dac/dac1-usb
 
Emotiva - can't compare to these but is less expensive http://shop.emotiva.com/collections/processors/products/xda2
 
Yes - the Mytex as well.
 
With all of these DAC first offerings the amp section is the question.
 
http://www.head-fi.org/t/644888/pureaudio-we-dac30-tube-dac-headphone-amp-price-dropped

 

[wolfetan44]

Quote:

Quote:

Ah, sorry it didn't work. I just knew it was Woo Audio and a tube/DAC. Anyways, Currawong thought it might be a good match(asked him in PM he said this," The stock tubes might be nicer with the HD-800s though as they have a more mellow sound, but then the Gold Pins have more detail overall." He hasn't heard the combo together though. Thansk for the advice on the O2 too!

 
No problem! I thank you once again since I didn't know about WA7 amp/DAC... By the way, the Pureaudio WE-DAC30 is also an amp/DAC of tube nature, having tons of inputs and outputs including HDMI (with future DSD support).

If your going to get the WE-DAC30: http://www.head-fi.org/t/644888/pureaudio-we-dac30-tube-dac-headphone-amp-price-dropped

 

[RustA]

Quote:

That's the problem with DAC first units.  The amp section isn't all ways up to snuff.  Also look at the
 
Anedio D2  http://anedio.com/  
 
Lynx Hilo http://www.lynxstudio.com/product_detail.asp?i=59 Also
 
Benchmark offerings - they have a new DAC2 out  http://www.benchmarkmedia.com/dac/dac1-usb
 
Emotiva - can't compare to these but is less expensive http://shop.emotiva.com/collections/processors/products/xda2
 
Yes - the Mytex as well.
 
With all of these DAC first offerings the amp section is the question.
 
http://www.head-fi.org/t/644888/pureaudio-we-dac30-tube-dac-headphone-amp-price-dropped

 
Thanks... I know that the amp section won't be exceptional but it must be at least acceptable within the price range. And that's what I am not very sure with UD-501 especially.
 
Btw, is it possible to go balanced with HD800 using two pre-out 3-pin XLR connectors (for example at the back section of Emotiva XDA2), or do I need to use "headphone out XLR connectors" (for example on the Sennheiser HDVD800) for optimal SQ?

 

[RustA]

Quote:

If your going to get the WE-DAC30: http://www.head-fi.org/t/644888/pureaudio-we-dac30-tube-dac-headphone-amp-price-dropped

 
Yeah, I am in touch with the seller... The device looks pretty good but it's not easy for me to get it since I reside in Europe - paypal conversion fee and stuff. Also, I have no idea how the unit actually sounds since there is almost zero feedback from users. Plus the DSD support is not 100% sure - it should be possible in the future but who really knows?