Headphone DAC/amp recommendations

[msknight]

Hi Folks,
 
I've been messing around, and have come to a few decisions-ish.
 
I think my favourite headphones are the Senn HD600 for general listening and the Grado SR255e for the lively stuff - the Beyerdynamic DT 990 Pro is coming in third place. I listen to all sorts from orchestral to rock, and I like a bit of a'cappella.
 
Currently I've been experimenting with Little Bear valve amps and the entry level Pro-Ject units, but I can't really tell any outstanding difference with the valve amps and I think I've settled with the Pro-Ject Head Box S USB - principally it takes USB from my computers, analogue from the turntable and CD, and also throws out analogue to another computer for sampling ... and I can switch between which of the two inputs I'm listening to, without affecting the line through from the turntable to the sampling computer.
 
So... I'm in the mood to turn my attention to making aslightly more bold investment in DAC/amps.
 
I'm open to a valve or integrated amp, no clear preference here.
 
Value, somewhere between £200-£300, and I'm open to using MassDrop to increase the bang for the buck, as I'm patient when I need to be, or put a little extra cash behind something if the recommendations are strong.
 
Ideally, it needs at a minimum to replicate the function/flow of the Head Box S USB.
 
If it can support the Canford Sen HD 480's that's a bonus but I won't cry if it can't.
 
Also, if anyone suggests a valve amp, I'd be interested also for information on valve production, and what people's strategies are for replacements/stock should the vavles (used in the unit they suggest) be out of production... or do people not bother about it and just re-evaluate their DAC/Amp should they run out of valves?

 

[msknight]

I can see why there have been so few replies on this.
 
At the moment, the only thing I can see that gets close to what I'm looking for, is the Aune X1S, which is an integrated amp.
 
Anyone got any other thoughts?

 

[msknight]

OK - the three choices, none of which are exciting my blood right now...
 
1) Stick with the ProJect head USB S
2) Aune X1S
3) Creative Labs E5
 
There doesn't seem to be anything in the valve range that's fitting the bill.
 
Neither the Aune or Creative offering is really makign me excited, plus I run Linux and the Creative software isn't slated for my OS, so that's a big turn off, despite the bluetooth side of things... spending money for stuff I can't use.
 
At the moment, it looks like I'm sticking with the Pro-ject unit.

 

[msknight]

Timing is everything. I've decided to try the Teac AI-101DA that just dropped to my in-box. Doesn't have line out, but I can work around that.
 
https://www.massdrop.com/buy/ai-101da-integrated-amplifier-with-usb-dac

 

[buke9]

Timing is everything. I've decided to try the Teac AI-101DA that just dropped to my in-box. Doesn't have line out, but I can work around that.

https://www.massdrop.com/buy/ai-101da-integrated-amplifier-with-usb-dac

Are you planning on running speakers also? I had a Teac UD-301 and the amp was fairly dark sounding the DAC was decent enough but this is a different unit so I can't say for sure. The amp could not run most of my cans very well but I don't own any you have but a 100mw output doesn't sound like a lot but it could work for you I don't know.

 

[msknight]

I'm not planning on running speakers. It's just a nice to have for non-serious general listening, because I can't turn the volume up where I live.
 
I'm also looking at one of the Mav Audio amps, but I'm waiting for them to come back to me on a query I sent yesterday - http://www.mav-audio.com/store/index.php/dac/tube-magic-dac-d1-5670.html?SID=b16nmgmpiasrno973dt251nit4
 
The Little Bear/Pro-Ject comparison wasn't good enough to really show me what valves can do, so I'm upping the units so I can hopefully start to detect some notable differences. I need to get to the bottom of this, and my listening technique, before I drop serious money on a desktop DAC/Amp

 

[ProtegeManiac]

 
I'm open to a valve or integrated amp, no clear preference here.
 
Value, somewhere between £200-£300, and I'm open to using MassDrop to increase the bang for the buck, as I'm patient when I need to be, or put a little extra cash behind something if the recommendations are strong.

 
Meier Corda Jazz
http://www.meier-audio.homepage.t-online.de/jazz.htm
 
Price listed here
http://www.meier-audio.homepage.t-online.de/amplifiers.htm

 

[msknight]

   
Meier Corda Jazz
http://www.meier-audio.homepage.t-online.de/jazz.htm
 
Price listed here
http://www.meier-audio.homepage.t-online.de/amplifiers.htm

 
Nice suggestion with solid reviews. Only the one input though, so this will go on the "next paycheque" list.... at this rate my wages are spoken for until at least 2025.

 

[ProtegeManiac]

 
Nice suggestion with solid reviews. Only the one input though, so this will go on the "next paycheque" list.... at this rate my wages are spoken for until at least 2025.

 
Just gonna sure you were looking at the right price because his website kinda sucks...base Jazz is only £45 of EU taxes over your £300 budget. Prices include global shipping.
 

 

[msknight]

Yup. I was looking at the right one. The trick now, is that I've spent my budget twice already
 
The Mav Audio D1+dac (with opamp and Ge tube) as well as the Teac AI-101DA are already incoming.
 
The £ against the $ is dropping, and continues to drop, so I wanted to get on the MassDrop sharpish... and to top that, the Mav Audio had $40 off but didn't list an ending date... so I jumped before my money became even more worthless.