[Phantusm]

Hello everyone,

Ok so I'm just getting into this audio stuff. I recently bought myself a pair of beyerdynamic DT990 Pro, and now I can not watch movies with the sound coming out of my old headphones
So I wanted to make the sound even better.

As I'm also editing videos I'm at my pc most of the time. And as far as I have understood, the pc is not taking advantage of the 250ohm the headphones can do.

So I have been doing a lot of reading about headphone amps and can see the more I dig into it, the more confused I get.

Now I don't have that big of a budget, around 100$, to shop for.

I have been looking at the Bravo audio v2, since it's getting some love out there (something about tubes?) and has a nice looking price tag.
But would it upgrade the sound alone or do I also need a DAC?
I mean so I could buy the bravo audio v2 now, and save up for DAC later on.
Or would it be better to find a budget friendly DAC to go with the amp and still be inside the budget at around 100$?

Or do you have any recommendations for a better solution to go with the beyerdynamic DT990 Pro?

 

[Chris Kaoss]

I'd recommend the schiit magni 3 at this price point to start with.
It's hard to get the right thing in this price range, i think.
Since i don't want to at some extra distortion to the sound, i wouldn't go with tubes on my first steps.

To comply the setup, u need to add a dac to you list.
If it has to be as cheap as possiple and your motherboard is able to output optical, i'd give the Fiio D03K Taishan a shot.
It's doing something right at this price point.

 

[Phantusm]

I'd recommend the schiit magni 3 at this price point to start with.
It's hard to get the right thing in this price range, i think.
Since i don't want to at some extra distortion to the sound, i wouldn't go with tubes on my first steps.

To comply the setup, u need to add a dac to you list.
If it has to be as cheap as possiple and your motherboard is able to output optical, i'd give the Fiio D03K Taishan a shot.
It's doing something right at this price point.

Hey Chris,

Thanks for the fast resply.

I have come across the Shchiit magni 3 several times actually. But it's not possible to buy in my country, so I need to pay for delivery running up in 158$ all in all for the amp alone. But maybe it's worth that price tag?

The mentioned DAC is rather cheap, although I don't know if my motherboard supports optical. I don't have a out for it, it seems. I should add that I'm using a gaming laptop.

But would the schiit Magni 3 without the DAC still be worth listening to, should I buy the DAC later?

Another thing is that with the prices on mentioned amp and DAC combined I am at the same range of an Audioquest Dragonfly Red, so would that be a better option than the schiit magni 3?

 

[Chris Kaoss]

But would the schiit Magni 3 without the DAC still be worth listening to, should I buy the DAC later?

Another thing is that with the prices on mentioned amp and DAC combined I am at the same range of an Audioquest Dragonfly Red, so would that be a better option than the schiit magni 3?

That belongs to the quality of sound you're notebook delivers.
You know, "crap in, crap out" i'd have to mention.

Besides the AQ DFR, there are other acceptable solutions out there, but it's still an option.
I'd like to mention FiiO K5Pro, or Topping DX3 Pro.

It is very hard to find a pleasant solution to tick all boxes below 150 Euro.
If it is reasonable for you i'd save some more cash and take one mentioned above.

Regards
Chris

 

[Phantusm]

That belongs to the quality of sound you're notebook delivers.
You know, "crap in, crap out" i'd have to mention.

Besides the AQ DFR, there are other acceptable solutions out there, but it's still an option.
I'd like to mention FiiO K5Pro, or Topping DX3 Pro.

It is very hard to find a pleasant solution to tick all boxes below 150 Euro.
If it is reasonable for you i'd save some more cash and take one mentioned above.

Regards
Chris

Ok I'll check those two out then.

Thanks for the help.

 

[Chris Kaoss]

You are welcome.

Happy listening.

 

[Phantusm]

Ok so neither of those two units are available in my area. The only one I could find was the Topping DX3 Pro on Amazon, but its sold and dispatched by a third part company named Shenzhen Audio in China.

So Im back to searchig again.

 

[Chris Kaoss]

Same here on Amazon Germany.
Topping is distributed by Shenzhen Audio, Schippen by Amazon.
So everything should be fine with.

Shenzhen Audio seems to be the Main distributor worldwide for such brands like Topping, SMSL, Gustard and so on.
Might be worth a try.

Edit:
Another good source for gear with europe delivery is audiophonics.fr
They got both, K5pro and DX3pro, in stock.

 

[Phantusm]

Well it was also the German Amazon I was looking at
However on the ones I found it said dispatched by Shenzhenaudio.

But if they are legit, then no need to worry I guess.
On the French site, I need to pay for delivery, so I think I'll take the one on Amazon.

But would there be a reason to take one over the other of the amps?
I have been reading review and seen some tests, but tbh the tests doesn't make much sense to me lol.

I think it's kind of nice that the topping has a remote, though nothing I really need. And the Bluetooth ability is also a nice thing, but then again nothing I really need compared to the quality of the sound.
But will the Bluetooth signal not give latency or delay?

 

[Chris Kaoss]

I do appreciate a remote on my R28 while watching movies or YouTube on my TV-screen.
For the bluetooth input, it depends on the source you'll connect with.
With a source playing music over bluetooth , a possible delay doesn't matter, I think.
The DX3pro is capable of aptx-hd low latency, which is suitable for video playback or maybe gaming with the lowest possible delay.
But in the main thing, bluetooth is nice to have while it isn't bothering sound quality.

Here you can read about its qualities.
https://www.audiosciencereview.com/...of-topping-dx3pro-dac-and-headphone-amp.4967/

It doesn't look so bad for its price point.

 

[buke9]

Well it was also the German Amazon I was looking at
However on the ones I found it said dispatched by Shenzhenaudio.

But if they are legit, then no need to worry I guess.
On the French site, I need to pay for delivery, so I think I'll take the one on Amazon.

But would there be a reason to take one over the other of the amps?
I have been reading review and seen some tests, but tbh the tests doesn't make much sense to me lol.

I think it's kind of nice that the topping has a remote, though nothing I really need. And the Bluetooth ability is also a nice thing, but then again nothing I really need compared to the quality of the sound.
But will the Bluetooth signal not give latency or delay?

ShenzhenAudio are legit they were a sponsor at CanJam SoCal this year and probably had the largest display of anyone plus the show specials were crazy cheap I bought a couple of things from them at the show and would not be afraid to buy from them again.

 

[ProtegeManiac]

Ok so neither of those two units are available in my area. The only one I could find was the Topping DX3 Pro on Amazon, but its sold and dispatched by a third part company named Shenzhen Audio in China.

So Im back to searchig again.

ODAC from Head N HiFi in Switzerland
Meier Rock FF or Jazz FF from Meier Audio in Germany

 

[Phantusm]

I do appreciate a remote on my R28 while watching movies or YouTube on my TV-screen.
For the bluetooth input, it depends on the source you'll connect with.
With a source playing music over bluetooth , a possible delay doesn't matter, I think.
The DX3pro is capable of aptx-hd low latency, which is suitable for video playback or maybe gaming with the lowest possible delay.
But in the main thing, bluetooth is nice to have while it isn't bothering sound quality.

Here you can read about its qualities.
https://www.audiosciencereview.com/...of-topping-dx3pro-dac-and-headphone-amp.4967/

It doesn't look so bad for its price point.

Yeah I was almost set on buying it but then it went up in price during the night, and now it is over my budget. It's the same price as the French site now, so should I buy I would rather buy from Europe.

ShenzhenAudio are legit they were a sponsor at CanJam SoCal this year and probably had the largest display of anyone plus the show specials were crazy cheap I bought a couple of things from them at the show and would not be afraid to buy from them again.

That's nice to know, thank you.