PhoneLover94
100+ Head-Fier
- Joined
- Jun 16, 2010
- Posts
- 148
- Likes
- 12
Long time guys. I currently am running my AD700's through a Fiio E6 which runs out of the Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi Xtreme Audio PCI-E sound card I have in my computer. I am looking to get a stationary headphone amplifier to replace the E6. I have narrowed my search down to several different options, all around the $100 price range. I am mainly looking at hybrid amps because I think they will give decent performance and a little taste of both worlds since I have never used a good dedicated headphone amplifier so I don't know which I prefer (mosfet/solid state vs tube).
First thing though, my sound card is a little old now. Should I update the sound card or get a DAC? Should I get a DAC/Amp that will do both tasks? Or is my sound card good enough and just an amplifier would be the best thing for me? The main reason I want to get rid of my E6 is because it gives a tiny bit of background noise (even at low levels) and the battery doesn't last very long anymore (and it squeals when it is charging). Also, I don't like the little light E6 because my heavy cable I put on the AD700's flip it around easily. The AD700's aren't hard to drive, but upgrading the amplifier will also give me room in the future to upgrade to more power hungry phones (probably would only be looking at 250-300 ohms max, and any of these should handle that no problem).
So assuming that just a headphone amp would be the best option, here is what I am looking at:
http://www.amazon.com/Bravo-Audio-V2-Multi-Hybrid-Headphone/dp/B00ADR2DTG
http://www.amazon.com/Bravo-Audio-Ocean-Headphone-Amplifier/dp/B00A2QKSVI
http://www.amazon.com/Little-Dot-6JI-standard-Headphone/dp/B00A2QM5O6
http://www.amazon.com/Vali-Subminiature-Hybrid-Headphone-Amplifier/dp/B00HAOSDOO
Out of these amplifiers, which one is the best? I like the Bravos and the Little Dot since I can change the tubes to match my headphones but the Schiit is really well built.
As always, thanks in advance to any suggestions/help. You guys here are great
First thing though, my sound card is a little old now. Should I update the sound card or get a DAC? Should I get a DAC/Amp that will do both tasks? Or is my sound card good enough and just an amplifier would be the best thing for me? The main reason I want to get rid of my E6 is because it gives a tiny bit of background noise (even at low levels) and the battery doesn't last very long anymore (and it squeals when it is charging). Also, I don't like the little light E6 because my heavy cable I put on the AD700's flip it around easily. The AD700's aren't hard to drive, but upgrading the amplifier will also give me room in the future to upgrade to more power hungry phones (probably would only be looking at 250-300 ohms max, and any of these should handle that no problem).
So assuming that just a headphone amp would be the best option, here is what I am looking at:
http://www.amazon.com/Bravo-Audio-V2-Multi-Hybrid-Headphone/dp/B00ADR2DTG
http://www.amazon.com/Bravo-Audio-Ocean-Headphone-Amplifier/dp/B00A2QKSVI
http://www.amazon.com/Little-Dot-6JI-standard-Headphone/dp/B00A2QM5O6
http://www.amazon.com/Vali-Subminiature-Hybrid-Headphone-Amplifier/dp/B00HAOSDOO
Out of these amplifiers, which one is the best? I like the Bravos and the Little Dot since I can change the tubes to match my headphones but the Schiit is really well built.
As always, thanks in advance to any suggestions/help. You guys here are great