DAC/Amp for HE-400i?

[nairbil]

I'm quite new to the scene (previously owning SE315 and that's about it).
 
I got a pair of HE-400i as a gift and am wondering what DAC/Amp I should pair with it. I only use my desktop PC as a source for music and gaming.
 
I've considered the Fulla 2 and Magni/Modi stack as well as the O2/ODAC but honestly would prefer something cheaper if at all possible.
Someone suggested that I could save money if I forego a DAC and just get an amp and plug straight from my computer to the amp (ie. only get a Magni) via a 3.5mm to RCA. Would this be a viable solution?
 
Any advice/help/recommendation would be greatly appreciated!

 

[catom]

I would get a good DAC first to be frank. The 400i's are easy to drive so you could even plug it into the DAC (depending on the DAC) without an amp. Then save for the amp. I have an Objective amp that works well. I also have a Little Dot I+ with Mullard tubes for an amp. I'm currently looking into a new amp. The Little Dot is a great budget amp, but I'm finding my unit unreliable.

If you are looking for best bang for your buck I'd look at some of the portable USB DAC/amp combos such as the Dragonfly. I also have an older Dragonfly which works really well with the 400i, but isnt as warm as the ODAC+Little Dot tube amp setup...But its portable.

 

[squee116]

To answer your question, yes, you can get an amp only, and use the DAC on your PC. Honestly, I think the DAC provides the least amount of "change" to your headphones sound compared to changing headphones or amps, and amps have the added benefit of allowing you to power more inefficient models down the road.

I would probably recommend the Gustard H10 or the Vali 2, but it depends on your listening preferences. I prefer warmer to colder. If you really want to get a DAC too, you can get the Schiit stack, a mobile solution as mentioned above, or maybe something used, to go up the ladder a bit within the same budget. In my case, the Schiit Vali 1/Modi 2 U lasted me about 3 years before upgrading. I don't know if you'll get the same enjoyment/life out of a Fulla or Dragonfly.

 

[catom]

Also worth noting is the onboard sound card of your PC. If it's not so hot then absolutely a DAC would make a night and day difference (far more than an amp - in my opinion). The problem is you don't want to amplify a bad source. Even if you "color" a bad source, it's still a bad source.

Apple computers typically have good onboard sound cards, but not always the case with PCs. A good example here are the HP computers with "Beats" audio. Basically that was/is (if they still make them - I think now it's B&O) premium audio chips. Nothing real fancy here, some Dell computers also have the same exact chip, they just weren't branded as "Beats." I believe they called it "premium audio" but that's so generic that it might not always be the case. I just know they did indeed have the same chip (and I'm sorry I can't remember the name of the chip and I'm coming up short on Google, but you can look it up I'm sure). In these cases you might not see as much "change" from a DAC as you would from an amp, that's absolutely true. Also I'll separate "clean" sound from "colored" sound here too.

Long story short -- not all sound cards are created equal. So your audio source in some cases will be greatly improved by a DAC. I wouldn't underestimate it's value. All up to preference though. I personally prefer ensuring the source is pure first. Or at least as pure as I can make it with my budget. Then I look into trying to alter it to my liking. ...Again, I too am still looking for a combo with the 400i that I love. I'm pretty happy now, but unless things change significantly after the burn in, I'm going to be looking into some different amplifiers if not just different tubes...And so begins the process again. Each time I get a new pair of headphones haha. Oh well.

 

[squee116]

OP, have you already tried driving your 400i's straight from PC? If so, what was the result?