[gregvet]

I am new to this game so please be kind!!

I have just got my Denon D2000 and am very happy so far driving them from my iMac, iPhone, and PC at work. I am going to be using them primarily at work, and my next step to a full rig is going to be a desktop amp.

I think I have narrowed the make down to Graham Slee, because it is British (like to buy local!) and seems to go well with the Denons. However it is not clear at all to me whether it is worth the extra to get the Solo over the Novo, or whether the higher end amp would be wasted on my cans.

So is there a general guide to how much you should spend on an amp compared to the phones (and source I guess as that will be coming after)?

Has anyone heard the D2000's with both the Novo and Solo, if so which would you go for?

Are there any other amps that I am really missing out by at least not considering with the Denons? I will likely get more cans in the future so flexibility is also important.

Thanks in advance for your help guys!

 

[Magic77]

I have and use the D2000's with the Novo. I think the combination is excellent. The D2000's are my favorite Headphones; and they sound great with the Novo.

 

[moogman]

You won't get much benefit running a cable from the headphone out of an iMac, iPhone or PC to a Novo or Solo. You'll need a USB DAC too (I can recommend the DACMagic). The DAC then fits between the iMac/PC and your Novo or Solo.

A DACMagic with Novo would cost just less than the Solo alone so would be affordable.

 

[gregvet]

Thanks for the feedback so far.

Poster one
Have you heard the solo then, or just the novo? I have no doubt the combo sounds great but I can't help but think I will always wonder how much better the solo might have been! I really should learn to be happy with what I hVe got I guess.

Poster two
yes I know I need a dac. I have access to a udac at work so will be using that most of the time (haven't heard it yet though). I had viewed this as an interim solution only though, and fully intend to get a standalone USB dac after the headamp. I was actually toying with the idea of a second hand Cyrus dac although I have heard great things about the Cambridge audio dacs.

Are there any other dacs/amps I really should be considering?

 

[wmf]

the purity audio, KICAS amp goes EXTREMELY well with Denons ....

 

[Magic77]

I have never heard the Solo, only the Novo. But; I'm sure the Solo would be good as well; many people here seem to think the Solo is a great amp.

 

[mrarroyo]

Yes, I have heard the two versions of the Novo and three versions of the Solo (Green, SRG, and SRGII). No doubt about the SRGII is the best of the three, Graham will be introducing an upgraded version of the SRGII in a few months so ... But for now the SRGII would be the way to go IMO. Cheers.

 

[Zuqi]

Hi mrarroyo, does novo synergy with hf-2? Thanks.
 
Quote:

Yes, I have heard the two versions of the Novo and three versions of the Solo (Green, SRG, and SRGII). No doubt about the SRGII is the best of the three, Graham will be introducing an upgraded version of the SRGII in a few months so ... But for now the SRGII would be the way to go IMO. Cheers.

 

[bar1]

I use my D2000 with dac/amp FUN A from Audio-gd. A great combo.

 

[mrarroyo]

Quote:

Hi mrarroyo, does novo synergy with hf-2? Thanks.
 

 

By the time I had the HF-2 I had sold my Novo. However the Novo had good synergy w/ the RS-1 also the SRGII had good synergy w/ the HF-2, SR80, and RS-1.

 

[Zuqi]

Thanks!

 

[Guerrax]

I have a Denon D7000 and a Solo U/L and I have to say tha t it's a perfect match I am very happy with it.
 
I also recommend it with the SR 325i
 
I hope this will help

 

[Croozer]

Quote:

Are there any other dacs/amps I really should be considering?

 
My Denons are powered by the FiiO E7/E9 and it has been a great match.