[trothad2]

Well im looking into buying an Asgard and was wanting to know what is the best bang for my buck for a dac for this amp?

 

[weipim]

Congrats, I definetely say get the bifrost if that's something in your range, if you want more portability, then the nuforce HDP, if you want something slightly cheaper, get the HRT MS2+
 
the bifrost is really good in soundstage and pairing with my lyr +k701, while some tracks still being analytical a little bit, when not doing AB testing, I enjoy my setup

 

[trothad2]

Well the bitfrost is way out of my price range.  I was thinking 175 for a dac tops.  I will be using the HD598's with this combo.  They already have a nice open soundstage but they are just lacking drive.  I love the way they sound by themselves with just my Motherboard's DAC and would like to keep that same sound just punch up the drive a little.  

 

[Koolpep]

If you like the quality of your sound already, just get the Asgaard.
 
You will love it. Especially with the HD598 it is magical. Enjoy.
 
Get a DAC only after not being happy with what you got

 

[trothad2]

Well the only problem is i have no way to go from the 1/8th inch plug to RCA for the Amp. I hope there is another way to do so without a dac.

 

[ultrarider]

The PURE i-20 might be worth looking into. I ordered one this morning.

 

[trothad2]

Im not really looking for an ipod dock just something to go from my computer to the amp converting from either Digital, Optical, or 1/8th inch to RCA

 

[idletime1213]

HRT Streamer II

 

[lior amsalem]

Quote:

HRT Streamer II

+1

 

[mikenike]

Quote:

Im not really looking for an ipod dock just something to go from my computer to the amp converting from either Digital, Optical, or 1/8th inch to RCA

Well, since you like the sound of your computer's DAC, just go that route for now. You could get this kind of cable to connect the computer headphone jack to the Asgard: 
 
http://www.amazon.com/PREMIUM-3-5mm-Stereo-22AWG-Cable/dp/B002K8A75I/ref=sr_1_10?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1328690799&sr=1-10

 

[mikenike]

Actually, scratch that link and sorry for the double post, but I can't seem to change the link in the previous post. Look up '3.5mm to RCA monoprice' at Amazon. The first listing seems to have sturdier connectors on the RCA end than the one in the link I posted above.

 

[BrunoS72]

Another recommendation for the HRT Music Streamer II. You will not need RCA cables with the HRT Music Streamer II. With two male-to-male RCA couplers you can plug it directly to the Asgard.

 

[Amorgan]

Well if you're not getting the bitfrost, the streamer is good. (review at headfonia was very positive) 

 

[skiam]

I'm thinking of Asgard + Streamer + He-400. Good idea?

 

[DoctaCosmos]

I have the asgard and had an hd598.  Not needed.  It did not open up the headphone at all.  It sounded the same through my gaming Astro mixamp. The only benefit i have found from an amp for the hd598 is that it gets louder.  Nothing more.
As for a Dac and the hd598 i always recommend a dac but do NOT bother getting anything more than a udac with the headphone.  The hd598 does not have good detail retrieval at all and the bifrost would be way over kill. One of the reasons i loved my 598 so much. Sometimes my other equipment is so analytical that it is more neat to listen to than musical.  The 598's are musical because of the detail