DAC w/ headphone amp and balanced output

[sh4w]

Hey guys,

So I basically want to buy a pair of Yamaha HS 8s and need some volume control for it, so basically a dac/preamp. The ones I'm looking for seem to be either super rare or ridiculously expensive.
Here's what the DAC should have:

- USB/optical input (can be either or both)
- balanced output
- headphone amp which can drive my K701s reasonably well
- volume control for headphones and speakers OR 1 knob which controls both with automute when you plug the headphones in

One of the few devices that seems to fit the bill is the Asus Xonar Essence One but it's 400€ in my country. I dont really care for the switchable opamps (which probably increase the price by a fairly significant amount I guess)

I could also go with the scarlett 2i2 or 2i4 but the headphone output seems basically useless for my headphones.

I'd really prefer it I could get all these things in one device but im open to suggestions.

Do you guys know any cheaper alternatives?

 

[ProtegeManiac]

AudioGD NFB-28 or NFB-29

 

[RonaldDumsfeld]

I think the OP meant balanced line outs to feed his new HS8 monitors rather than for modified balanced headphone outs.
 
He also wants to spend less than half as much as the AudioGDs mentioned. $350 tops I reckon. Less than the Essence in any event.
 
Focusrite 6i6 would be an excellent option. Not sure about the prejudice against the headphone out. K701  are medium to low impedance and high sensitivity with a commendably flat FR. Be a good match. Could always get a Topping or FiiO or something even an O2 if he found he really needed a lower output impedance for some reason. Other affordable options might include the NI Komplete 6 or the MOTU Microbook.

 

[ProtegeManiac]

  I think the OP meant balanced line outs to feed his new HS8 monitors rather than for modified balanced headphone outs.
 
He also wants to spend less than half as much as the AudioGDs mentioned. $350 tops I reckon. Less than the Essence in any event.
 
Focusrite 6i6 would be an excellent option. Not sure about the prejudice against the headphone out. 

 
 

So I basically want to buy a pair of Yamaha HS 8s and need some volume control for it, so basically a dac/preamp. The ones I'm looking for seem to be either super rare or ridiculously expensive.
Here's what the DAC should have:

- USB/optical input (can be either or both)
- balanced output
- headphone amp which can drive my K701s reasonably well
- volume control for headphones and speakers OR 1 knob which controls both with automute when you plug the headphones in

 

 

Actually the price was the part I missed, but assuming he wants it for gaming too (since he looked up the Essence first instead of a bunch of other options like pro audio interfaces), he'll need the optical input if his motherboard has the proper DSP. I don't know of anything less than that price that has balanced output for studio monitor amplifiers and an optical input.

 

Also I remember checking a while back for another thread and I remember how many of the interfaces, including the ones at higher price points, had an output impedance anywhere between 10ohm and 22ohm. Scarlett's website isn't loading on my computer for some reason, but given this, it can explain why the K702 sounded like the K66 when I tried it in a pro-audio store here while the HD600 had no issues.

 

[abvolt]

Here's one that gets good reviews the Parasound Zdac balanced outs --> http://www.audioadvisor.com/prodinfo.asp?number=PAZDAC  and for 299. not too bad on the wallet..

 

[ProtegeManiac]

  Here's one that gets good reviews the Parasound Zdac balanced outs --> http://www.audioadvisor.com/prodinfo.asp?number=PAZDAC  and for 299. not too bad on the wallet..

 
Wow that looks solid for the money.

 

[fishyee]

If you can stretch your budget a little, here are a few DACs with xlr outputs for you to research.

Matrix Mini i and Mini i Pro
Teac UDH01 and UD301
Cambridge Audio DACMagic Plus
Yulong D200
Emotiva XDA2
Emotiva DC1
Essence HDACC

Hope that helps.