MrSlim
Member of the Trade
- Joined
- Oct 31, 2007
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What's holding me back with the Fulla is the usability. If the volume knob is difficult to use, I dont want to be frustrated with it at all times. Considering a Magni 2/Modi 2 Combo.. but not sure if its worth the increase in the price, SQ and aesthetics wise. Also, how powerful is the combo compared to the fulla? if in the future I intend to buy 600ohm headphones, would the fulla be able to drive them or the combo will be better?
If you compare the specs, Magni2 is much more powerful, rated at 1.2 Watts for 32 ohms, and 130mWatt for 600 ohms. Fulla can do 300mW into 32 ohms (so only 1/4 of the capability of Magni2) and is not rated for 600 ohms (its rated at 40mW for 300 ohms). I have HD580s that are 300 ohms and it seems to drive them fine, but I would be concerned with using it with 600 ohm phones..
I think you need to consider if you are planning on using it as a portable/carryaround type unit or is going to be mostly for desktop use. I bought one for travel purposes, so the tiny volume control is a trade off I can live with for the size convenience of the unit (my alternative was going to be a DacPort LX and O2 combo, but the size of the whole kit was going to become an issue (and i needed to build a new Euro power supply for the O2)). I would never consider using it as a desktop dac/amp though, using the little volume control would get old fast (and I have more than enough desktop amps(or at least more than enough in process of being built).
Of course, going with the Magni2 means you need to buy the Modi to go with it, but you end up with a much more capable desktop system than what the Fulla can provide (consider the output amp stage in the Magni, where else can you get a discrete output stage for $99).