[cel4145]

@cel4145
, Looking forward to your impressions & review on the K7xx!! Hope you like em.

I already got to listen to them at a meet on my NFB-11. They upgrade my K612s for me, with better bass extension and emphasis and bit more sparkle. Exactly what I've been looking for

 

[rb82414]

[u][color=rgb(0, 102, 204)]kunsucious,[/color][/u] if you haven't pulled the trigger yet and you're still contemplating a desktop solution, you should look at Maverick Audio's D2 DAC & A1 AMP combo. http://www.mav-audio.com/base/product They over-perform for their price-point and can easily be modded before and after purchase. I have the HE 400 and the A1 can literally cause ear damage with it. I have never had the occasion to turn it up to even 1/4 of the way even with the HE 400's less than efficient 93db sensitivity. You should be able to acquire a "like new" pair of HE 400's in the $175 - $225 range in the used market. The HE 400 is a much better deal right now than the 400i at $499. 
 
D2 mod's - Raytheon Windmill Getter and Ryan's optional Burr-Brown OPA627 OpAmps.
A1 mod's - 1983 Mullard CV4010's
 
Less than $600 total investment with mods.

 

[cel4145]

[U][COLOR=0066CC]kunsucious,[/COLOR][/U] if you haven't pulled the trigger yet and you're still contemplating a desktop solution, you should look at Maverick Audio's D2 DAC & A1 AMP combo. http://www.mav-audio.com/base/product They over-perform for their price-point and can easily be modded before and after purchase. I have the HE 400 and the A1 can literally cause ear damage with it. I have never had the occasion to turn it up to even 1/4 of the way even with the HE 400's less than efficient 93db sensitivity. You should be able to acquire a "like new" pair of HE 400's in the $175 - $225 range in the used market. The HE 400 is a much better deal right now than the 400i at $499. 

D2 mod's - Raytheon Windmill Getter and Ryan's optional Burr-Brown OPA627 OpAmps.
A1 mod's - 1983 Mullard CV4010's

Less than $600 total investment with mods.

I don't think he needs a speaker amp, though. There are other dac/pre-amp/headphone amps in the <$400 range (even <$300 range) that have as much power as the TubeMagic setup and (arguably) just as a good sound quality or better.

This is not to knock TubeMagic products. I have a D1 and it's a very good headphone amp/pre-amp/dac for the money.

 

[cyberridz]

Anyone tested the Hifiman HE-400i (or any efficient orthodynamic headphones) and the AKG K701/2/712s on the Schiit Valhalla or Valhalla 2 OTL?