Shlonglor
100+ Head-Fier
- Joined
- Oct 17, 2007
- Posts
- 191
- Likes
- 10
I am looking to purchase my first headphone amplifiers and I'm a bit lost.
This is the gear I currently have:
Denon AH-D2000
Ultimate Ears Super.Fi 5 Pro
Creative Zen
Sennheiser HD280 (replaced by Denons)
I will play music from:
1) M-Audio Revolution 5.1 (optical and analog outs) - home computer
2) Laptop with analog/usb outs
3) Creative Zen (analog out)
I am looking for a solution (or two) that will satisfy all my needs, which are:
1) Home listening, using the M-Audio (either a desktop or portable amp)
2) Work - laptop (portable/desktop)
3) Gym and misc - Zen (portable)
I was thinking about just going with a portable amp that also has a DAC so it would benefit my laptop's lack of a real source. The D2 Boa looks very nice in that regard - has a nice DAC and it's easy to charge up - but I've heard that it has relatively little juice (100mW). That'd probably be ok with me Super.Fis (they're already quite nice with just the Zen), but the Denons might need something more. (I really have no way to know and no one in the Boa thread seems to have tried it with the Denons)
Another option is to get the Zero DAC/Amp, which looks like a great, cheap option. Unfortunately, it only has Coaxial and Optical inputs, meaning it'd be useless for anything but my home computer. (By the way, do new laptops have optical outputs nowadays? Are there laptop sound cards addons that do?)
Now I'm thinking of possibly getting both, to cover all my needs. I'm not sure this is the right way to go about this (especially since the Zero can't function with my laptop, which I'm going to use in a desktop setup for a long period of time).
The best thing to have would be a good, strong, heavily powered portable that would serve the Denons well (like a stationary one) and would also be easy to move around to use with the IEMs and laptop (on the move). I'm not sure such a thing exists.
I am a bit budgeted but I don't mind spending some $$ if the product is worth it and serves all my needs. I rather not pay double the price for a 15% improvement, that is, but I'll gladly pay for good technology in a reliable package. I am most interested in good sound quality for both my home computer and laptop (when used as a desktop) and a bit less so for mobile use (laptop at work and Zen).
Any help appreciated! Please help me use my money in a smart way!
This is the gear I currently have:
Denon AH-D2000
Ultimate Ears Super.Fi 5 Pro
Creative Zen
Sennheiser HD280 (replaced by Denons)
I will play music from:
1) M-Audio Revolution 5.1 (optical and analog outs) - home computer
2) Laptop with analog/usb outs
3) Creative Zen (analog out)
I am looking for a solution (or two) that will satisfy all my needs, which are:
1) Home listening, using the M-Audio (either a desktop or portable amp)
2) Work - laptop (portable/desktop)
3) Gym and misc - Zen (portable)
I was thinking about just going with a portable amp that also has a DAC so it would benefit my laptop's lack of a real source. The D2 Boa looks very nice in that regard - has a nice DAC and it's easy to charge up - but I've heard that it has relatively little juice (100mW). That'd probably be ok with me Super.Fis (they're already quite nice with just the Zen), but the Denons might need something more. (I really have no way to know and no one in the Boa thread seems to have tried it with the Denons)
Another option is to get the Zero DAC/Amp, which looks like a great, cheap option. Unfortunately, it only has Coaxial and Optical inputs, meaning it'd be useless for anything but my home computer. (By the way, do new laptops have optical outputs nowadays? Are there laptop sound cards addons that do?)
Now I'm thinking of possibly getting both, to cover all my needs. I'm not sure this is the right way to go about this (especially since the Zero can't function with my laptop, which I'm going to use in a desktop setup for a long period of time).
The best thing to have would be a good, strong, heavily powered portable that would serve the Denons well (like a stationary one) and would also be easy to move around to use with the IEMs and laptop (on the move). I'm not sure such a thing exists.
I am a bit budgeted but I don't mind spending some $$ if the product is worth it and serves all my needs. I rather not pay double the price for a 15% improvement, that is, but I'll gladly pay for good technology in a reliable package. I am most interested in good sound quality for both my home computer and laptop (when used as a desktop) and a bit less so for mobile use (laptop at work and Zen).
Any help appreciated! Please help me use my money in a smart way!