Best Mini Amp and DAC Combo

[paulybatz]

OK, I have spoken to several head-fi'ers via PM but perhaps a public discussion would work best here.

I am considering the ibasso D3, in that price range are there any competitors?

I am also not into spending my money and being unhappy, should I spend more and get the predator / pico or is there something else I should look into?

300 more is a big jump!

Thanks in advance,
Pauly

*so any A/B comparisons, etc, please post.

 

[dadozen]

I have a Corda 2Move and I can tell that it's a wonderful DAC/AMP combo. Try a little search through the forums and you'll find some grea reviews about it.

 

[jrosenth]

The pico is amazing - might be worth getting one if you're the type of person who would always wonder what you're missing

 

[ckhirnigs113]

I just got the iBasso D3 today and can already recommend it without reservation. There are a number of great reviews coming in over on the D3/P3 thread. I'll be giving some more impressions as the amp burns in.

 

[tomjtx]

I got my D3 today and find it hard to stop listening, which is a good sign.

Price doesn't necessarily equate to superior SQ.

A purely Chinese product is likely 1/2 the price of an America/European product.

If the D3 were designed by an American and still made in China it would probably cost 500.00.

That is the nature of a global marketplace. Price has to be considered in the context of the country of origin.

Preliminary listening leads me to think I haven't heard a better portable amp than the D3 regardless of price.

 

[HeadphoneAddict]

I'm hoping to review the D3 Python soon, but everything I have read says it would be up there with the best of them. You'd likely be very happy with the D3 Python/D2 Boa, 2MOVE, Predator or Pico. My Boa required almost as much burn-in as my Predator to open up and mature, but now it is sounding very nice. The D2 Viper is extremely good, and HiFlight says his D3 is even better than his D2 Viper.

http://www.head-fi.org/forums/f105/u...ech-v1-306883/

 

[K3cT]

I can't wait until I hear your impressions on the D3 with the Denon D2000, HeadphoneAddict. I'm still wondering whether to splurge for a Pico straight or settle with something more economical.

 

[nc8000]

If size is important as well nothing beats the Pico. I was amazed how small it is when I saw it at the Danish meet. if I remeber correctly only about 2/3 of the D3. I didn't get to listen to either so don't know about the sound.

 

[dadozen]

The Pico really is small, besides having a really good looking design.

But there's a price for it, and a waiting list. These are the reasons I chose the 2Move.

 

[HeadphoneAddict]

Quote:

Originally Posted by K3cT /img/forum/go_quote.gif I can't wait until I hear your impressions on the D3 with the Denon D2000, HeadphoneAddict. I'm still wondering whether to splurge for a Pico straight or settle with something more economical.

Well, the D3 will be here next week (ships monday) and then I need to do 300+ hours of burn-in (Viper needed 300 although the Boa needed 600). But any of the top 5 DAC/amps in my review would make most people happy. While the sound is a little different between the amps, the top tier amps are so close together in sound quality that my review is more about preferences than performance (Predator, Pico, 2MOVE, iBasso and Headroom).

The V1 is the pickiest amp out of them all, because it's rank changes the most with a change to another headphone due to different synergies - so in the review I was sure to mention which phones have good synergy with V1 and which ones don't.

 

[K3cT]

Quote:

Originally Posted by HeadphoneAddict /img/forum/go_quote.gif Well, the D3 will be here next week (ships monday) and then I need to do 300+ hours of burn-in (Viper needed 300 although the Boa needed 600). But any of the top 5 DAC/amps in my review would make most people happy. While the sound is a little different between the amps, the top tier amps are so close together in sound quality that my review is more about preferences than performance (Predator, Pico, 2MOVE, iBasso and Headroom). The V1 is the pickiest amp out of them all, because it's rank changes the most with a change to another headphone due to different synergies - so in the review I was sure to mention which phones have good synergy with V1 and which ones don't.

Thanks for your response. On a more specific note, do your Boa make the D2000 sing well? I heard that Pico and Predator have some very good synergy with the headphone but they are a little bit steep for my pocket.

 

[HeadphoneAddict]

Quote:

Originally Posted by K3cT /img/forum/go_quote.gif Thanks for your response. On a more specific note, do your Boa make the D2000 sing well? I heard that Pico and Predator have some very good synergy with the headphone but they are a little bit steep for my pocket.

The Boa and the D2000 sound good. I enjoy the extra power and control of the Pico and Predator with them more, but the Boa isn't bad with them. It just doesn't grab a hold of the driver and tame the bass quite as well, so the D2000's tendency to get sloppy rears it's head a little. I like the Boa better with the RS-1, Edition 9 and HD600, but wouldn't write it off just for some slight bass slop with D2000 that is the fault of the headphone and not the amp.

I am listening to the Boa/D2000 combo right now with some jazz music, and I am still enjoying the music. Switching from Jazz string bass to Infected Mushroom "Dancing with the Kadafi" the extra bass is actually very welcome and makes my head bounce and it's harder to focus my vision on what I am typing!

 

[HeadphoneAddict]

I am trying the Vivid V1 with the D2000 right now (500+ hours), and it has a slightly better grip on the bass with jazz string bass in Misty by Tsuyoshi Yamamoto or electric bass in Shelby Lynn "Just a Little Lovin'" than the Boa, but it's not quite as much fun with the electronic.

And, the Boa reproduces Piano a little better (smoother) with the D2000 than the V1. So, on a budget less than the cost of a Pico, I'd pick the D2 Boa if you can't wait for the D3 review (I don't have a 2MOVE right now to try).

 

[HeadphoneAddict]

Update - the D2 Boa has better bass control with the D2000 when I switch it to low-gain, so now string bass is just right!

 

[K3cT]

Ah, that's too bad because I was about to ask how the 2move does with your D2000!

It lies in similar price range with the Phyton and Viper and therefore could be an interesting contender. I just have to live with its gaudy stencils...