[watchnerd]

I currently have a Nuforce Icon HDP as my home desktop DAC/preamp/headphone amp, fed via USB from a Mac mini.  Speakers are Dynaudio BM5 MKIII active monitor speakers, headphones are AKG 701s.
 
I want to bring the Icon HDP to work to use it there, which means I'll need to buy something new to fill its role at home.
 
Between the two choices above which do you think gives the best sound quality trade benefits for the money?
 
The poll choice is basically between putting more money into the amp or more money into the DAC.

 

[watchnerd]

Got 1 vote. Any more?

 

[Rhamnetin]

AKG's like power, I'd say the Lyr 2 combo between the two, although personally I'd go for the Lyr 2 and a Parasound ZDac.

 

[watchnerd]

I should have noted that the prices above are with the Lyr 2 with both LISST and the stock tubes.  If with only the stock tubes the prices would be equal.

 

[watchnerd]

  AKG's like power, I'd say the Lyr 2 combo between the two, although personally I'd go for the Lyr 2 and a Parasound ZDac.

 
Curious what you like better about the ZDac.
 
Note: I haven't heard either the Zdac or the Bifrost.

 

[Me x3]

  AKG's like power

I normally use my K702 with Asgard 2 in low gain.

 

[Rhamnetin]

  I normally use my K702 with Asgard 2 in low gain.

 
By power I meant current.  I'm sure the Asgard 2 is plenty for the K7** series but the amp is usually more important and the Lyr 2 has so much more versatility.
 

   
Curious what you like better about the ZDac.
 
Note: I haven't heard either the Zdac or the Bifrost.

 
I've never heard either, but the build quality/component selection of the ZDac is far better than your average $500 DAC, and reviews are much more consistent about it sounding very analog compared to most other sub $1000 DACs (I've literally never seen a review that claims otherwise).

 

[Me x3]

   
By power I meant current.  I'm sure the Asgard 2 is plenty for the K7** series but the amp is usually more important and the Lyr 2 has so much more versatility.

Yeah... 
K701/2 need a good amount of voltage and since they are only 62 Ohm they drain quite a lot of current and that results in quite a lot of power, especially when compared with Beyers and Senns.
 
K702 needs 4 times more power than DT880 250 Ohm to sound at the same level.
That's all right. But perspective is important here to avoid confusion.
 
What I was pointing is that amps discussed here are typically way powerful for all of these headphones including the AKGs.
 
100mW is plenty of power for K701
Asgard 2 can provide 1000mW or so...
 
Lyr 2 can provide 4000mW or so, but anyway you won't need much more than 100mW for K701

 

[watchnerd]

  Yeah... 
K701/2 need a good amount of voltage and since they are only 62 Ohm they drain quite a lot of current and that results in quite a lot of power, especially when compared with Beyers and Senns.
 
K702 needs 4 times more power than DT880 250 Ohm to sound at the same level.
That's all right. But perspective is important here to avoid confusion.
 
What I was pointing is that amps discussed here are typically way powerful for all of these headphones including the AKGs.
 
100mW is plenty of power for K701
Asgard 2 can provide 1000mW or so...
 
Lyr 2 can provide 4000mW or so, but anyway you won't need much more than 100mW for K701

I'm trying to think of a ~50Ω headphone that actually needs 4000mW.

 

[Mr Rick]

  I'm trying to think of a ~50Ω headphone that actually needs 4000mW.

 
The HE-6 can benefit from that much power. If you like your music loud.

 

[watchnerd]

  Yeah... 
K701/2 need a good amount of voltage and since they are only 62 Ohm they drain quite a lot of current and that results in quite a lot of power, especially when compared with Beyers and Senns.
 
K702 needs 4 times more power than DT880 250 Ohm to sound at the same level.
That's all right. But perspective is important here to avoid confusion.
 
What I was pointing is that amps discussed here are typically way powerful for all of these headphones including the AKGs.
 
100mW is plenty of power for K701
Asgard 2 can provide 1000mW or so...
 
Lyr 2 can provide 4000mW or so, but anyway you won't need much more than 100mW for K701

 
Do you think the Lyr 2 is overkill?

 

[Me x3]

   
The HE-6 can benefit from that much power. If you like your music loud.

+1
 

   
Do you think the Lyr 2 is overkill?

If you happen to prefer its signature and/or rolling capabilities enough to justify the difference in price, then get it, why not.
What I'm saying is don't pick the Lyr2 thinking that it will work better because it's more powerful.

 

[watchnerd]

  +1
 
If you happen to prefer its signature and/or rolling capabilities enough to justify the difference in price, then get it, why not.
What I'm saying is don't pick the Lyr2 thinking that it will work better because it's more powerful.

 
I haven't heard it or the Asgard 2 so can't comment directly on the signature.
 
As for tube rolling, I've done that with my Hagerman phono stage. It's fun, but also a route to madness.

 

[Me x3]

   
I haven't heard it or the Asgard 2 so can't comment directly on the signature.
 
As for tube rolling, I've done that with my Hagerman phono stage. It's fun, but also a route to madness.

Haha! Yes.
 
I plan replacing my Modi 2 Uber for Bifrost MultiBit.
Sadly it's pretty hard to get Schiit products in my country these days.