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DAC/amp to drive K701 suggestions

Aug 4, 2011 at 9:57 PM Post #46 of 95
Here another option. As I mentioned before I owned the K701 and loved them but was curious to try other flavor so sold them. Well now I'm waiting for the new Q701 and while searching for info I came across this review. I currently own a Centrance Dacport that I use at work every day and like it a lot. It is a very nice DAC/AMP with very resolution & detail and a little bit on the warmish of neutral. I was just wondering if it could driver the Q701 (K70x) and based on the review listed it seem to be a good match.
 
So based on the review I think you should consider this option.  You can find a used one on the FS for about $300 and it is worth it.
 
PS: Do not make your opinion based on it's size. It sound way larger than the Little cylinder let you believed. In this case size doesn't matter 
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Aug 6, 2011 at 8:33 PM Post #49 of 95
It just depends on what you want and how much you want to spend.  You were mentioning some big numbers originally.  The fun is a nice amp esp if you want a SS amp you can 'play' with and switch chips and all that.  The NFB10 uses better components, has an improved power supply, is fully balanced the whole way thru and is a A-GS ACSS amp with XLR and ACSS outputs in case that ever means anything to you.  The NFB-1 was the first balanced DAC <$1000 then the NFB-10 came out with a ROC amp included (though the DAC section really isn't that close to the NFB-1 but it's almost the same price so you can't have everything).  There really is no need to have a balanced amp but it is nice to have connections for SE and balanced headphones.  Though there is one glaring omision on the nfb-10 which is that it has no line-in.  I have setups that are several times more expensive than the nfb10 but I really enjoy the nfb10 a lot.  Plus, I had other A-GD DACs that had issues locking on to some higher-res signals but the 10 has played everything I've thrown at it.  That all being said, I have a brand new (days old) -10 that I love but I may send it back - though that's only because I have 4 complete HP systems and I only need 1.
 
Aug 7, 2011 at 1:52 AM Post #50 of 95


Quote:
tme110 said:
It just depends on what you want and how much you want to spend.  You were mentioning some big numbers originally.  The fun is a nice amp esp if you want a SS amp you can 'play' with and switch chips and all that.  The NFB10 uses better components, has an improved power supply, is fully balanced the whole way thru and is a A-GS ACSS amp with XLR and ACSS outputs in case that ever means anything to you.  The NFB-1 was the first balanced DAC <$1000 then the NFB-10 came out with a ROC amp included (though the DAC section really isn't that close to the NFB-1 but it's almost the same price so you can't have everything).  There really is no need to have a balanced amp but it is nice to have connections for SE and balanced headphones.  Though there is one glaring omision on the nfb-10 which is that it has no line-in.  I have setups that are several times more expensive than the nfb10 but I really enjoy the nfb10 a lot.  Plus, I had other A-GD DACs that had issues locking on to some higher-res signals but the 10 has played everything I've thrown at it.  That all being said, I have a brand new (days old) -10 that I love but I may send it back - though that's only because I have 4 complete HP systems and I only need 1.
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Yeah, my budget is large compared to some of the things being suggested. Oh well, consumer surplus is awesome! I was thinking about going with the M-Stage from suggestions here that it can drive K701s and HD650s (a future additional purchase) without much favoritism. I haven't heard much talk of Audio-GD's amp sections being as versatile, but rather that their DAC sections are very clean and worth looking into. So with that, can you comment one way or the other? Are the Audio-GD's amps on par with the M-Stage/Lyr/etc. or would they be best used as DACs?
 
Aug 7, 2011 at 5:55 PM Post #51 of 95
I quite like A-GD amps, you"re not going to find a better SS amp than the Pheonix and the ROC is just behind it (the NFB-10 is based on the ROC).  I'd day the amp is the strongest part of the -10.  For those other amps, you  just need to decide if you want a tube amp or not.
 
Aug 7, 2011 at 7:48 PM Post #52 of 95


Quote:
tme110 said:
I quite like A-GD amps, you"re not going to find a better SS amp than the Pheonix and the ROC is just behind it (the NFB-10 is based on the ROC).  I'd day the amp is the strongest part of the -10.  For those other amps, you  just need to decide if you want a tube amp or not.
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I'd prefer a SS to be honest. The NFB-10 appears by most accounts to be out of my budget for the time being, at least. How would something like the NFB-3 paired with an M-Stage perform in comparison?
 
Aug 8, 2011 at 1:24 AM Post #53 of 95
 
Quote:
grmnasasin0227 said:
I'd prefer a SS to be honest. The NFB-10 appears by most accounts to be out of my budget for the time being, at least. How would something like the NFB-3 paired with an M-Stage perform in comparison?
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Close to as good and sport a little more warmth, most likely.
You will want some warmth.  I was using a Compass DAC > M-Stage for a while until picking up a DAC19 recently.  DAC19 is very neutral whereas the Compass was a little warm and bassy.  I modified my K701 and it became non-fatiguing at first, but after upgrading my DAC, K701 is fatiguing again.  There's not enough warmth.  Derp.  I'm going to have to figure something out.
Edit:  The DAC needs its warm up time, derp.
 
Aug 8, 2011 at 2:21 AM Post #54 of 95
The Blue Circle SBH is a bit out of your price range, but works very well and so would a used SinglePower MPX3 Slam model.  The latter product has generally not had the issues that some of the other SP products have had.  Anything built around or before 2007 should be fine.  Most sellers are pretty honest about this and prices are low. This is a beautiful sounding headphone amp for the 701s and so is the SBH.
 
I suggest you get these double wired.  It improves the sound.  I use black dragon cables from Moon Audio and they also did the re-wiring.
 
Good luck.
 
Aug 8, 2011 at 2:24 AM Post #55 of 95
I forgot to mention the MapleTree Ear + models.  I had an older vintage model and it also worked very well with the 701s.  Just slipped my mind.
 
Aug 8, 2011 at 2:13 PM Post #56 of 95
+1 for the Mappletree Ear+ HD. When I had the K701 it was a good combo. I still have the MAD and now waiting the Q701. I'm planning on recabling them with both side entry by replacing the right side with the cap with mini XLR plug. I'll be ready for Balanced too. I had the K701 recable with SAA before and it did show(ear) improvement
 
Aug 8, 2011 at 4:00 PM Post #57 of 95


Quote:
twinster said:
+1 for the Mappletree Ear+ HD. When I had the K701 it was a good combo. I still have the MAD and now waiting the Q701. I'm planning on recabling them with both side entry by replacing the right side with the cap with mini XLR plug. I'll be ready for Balanced too. I had the K701 recable with SAA before and it did show(ear) improvement
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What's the price of that? It's not listed on his site.
 
 
 
Aug 9, 2011 at 10:53 AM Post #59 of 95
I have a new Apex peak, a MAD and a NFB-10 and I need to get rid of 1 or 2 of them (I just went crazy and spent way too much money) but I can't make a decision to save my life!
 
Aug 9, 2011 at 11:50 AM Post #60 of 95
Well since you opened up tube amp debates, how would something like the Woo 6 compare? The Ear + HD is in the same price bracket. Now that I think about it, tube amps are supposed to be warmer than SS, correct? I'm aware that I need something with warmth for these AKGs because their highs can be a bit much.
 
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