[gooseman480]

Hello,

Long time lurker here. Recently got into this hobby and picked up an HD6xx, HE-4xx, and an iFi nano BL. Also a Focal Elex and Fostex TR-X00 are on the way. I wanted a good desktop solution that would be work well with these headphones and also what I get in the future (maybe an HD800 and LCD-2). I had listened to a Sony TA-ZH1ES and thought it sounded pretty great but was wondering what other people thought. Budget is ~1500.

Thanks !

 

[PurpleAngel]

Audio-GD NFB-11.38 DAC/amp, $420.
http://www.audio-gd.com/Pro/Headphoneamp/NFB1138/NFB1138EN.htm

 

[ProtegeManiac]

Long time lurker here. Recently got into this hobby and picked up an HD6xx, HE-4xx, and an iFi nano BL. Also a Focal Elex and Fostex TR-X00 are on the way. I wanted a good desktop solution that would be work well with these headphones and also what I get in the future (maybe an HD800 and LCD-2). I had listened to a Sony TA-ZH1ES and thought it sounded pretty great but was wondering what other people thought. Budget is ~1500.

AudioGD NFB-28, $800. Then buy some affordable balanced cables. Even with shipping that should still leave you quite a chunk of change.

There's also the Meier Classic FF and DACcord FF.

 

[Rhamnetin]

With that kind of budget, I would go for the Denafrips Ares DAC, which should outclass almost all sub $1,000 DACs, and a Dynalo amp from Mjolnir-Audio which is proven to be one of the absolute best measuring headphone amps ever designed.

https://www.vinshineaudio.com/product-page/denafrips-ares-r2r-dac

https://mjolnir-audio.com/product-selection/

There are two Dynalos at the bottom of the second link, the more expensive one has better volume control and different input JFETs, go with either one.

Another benefit with this configuration is, that DAC also supports balanced output, enabling you to get a balanced amp in the future and make full use of it with this DAC.

As a side note, I would definitely want to sell off a lot of that other gear if I were you, and get a higher end set of headphones rather than a bunch of lower tier ones!

 

[gooseman480]

With that kind of budget, I would go for the Denafrips Ares DAC, which should outclass almost all sub $1,000 DACs, and a Dynalo amp from Mjolnir-Audio which is proven to be one of the absolute best measuring headphone amps ever designed.

https://www.vinshineaudio.com/product-page/denafrips-ares-r2r-dac

https://mjolnir-audio.com/product-selection/

There are two Dynalos at the bottom of the second link, the more expensive one has better volume control and different input JFETs, go with either one.

Another benefit with this configuration is, that DAC also supports balanced output, enabling you to get a balanced amp in the future and make full use of it with this DAC.

As a side note, I would definitely want to sell off a lot of that other gear if I were you, and get a higher end set of headphones rather than a bunch of lower tier ones!

Thanks for your help. Audio-gd seems very popular.

Haven’t heard much about the Dynalo - I’ll look into it. Where was it proven to be one of the “best measuring amps”?

I just got these cans so won’t be selling anytime soon. Hard to believe the Focal are low end..? Same goes for the HD6xx (sound great btw).

 

[Rhamnetin]

Thanks for your help. Audio-gd seems very popular.

Haven’t heard much about the Dynalo - I’ll look into it. Where was it proven to be one of the “best measuring amps”?

I just got these cans so won’t be selling anytime soon. Hard to believe the Focal are low end..? Same goes for the HD6xx (sound great btw).

The HeadAmp GS-X Mk2 variant of the Dynalo was reviewed at Innerfidelity, Tyll says it is the best he had ever measured other than the Objective2.
https://www.innerfidelity.com/content/lightning-quick-headamp-gs-x-mk2-headphone-amplifier

Another variant was measured at the same site by Bob Katz:
https://www.innerfidelity.com/content/katzs-corner-episode-18-icelandic-wonder

I didn't mean to insult the Focal Elex or anything, I was indicating that you can probably sell all of those and something a tier above. I'd also expect the Elex to make a lot of the other headphones you own obsolete, especially the HD 6XX.

 

[gooseman480]

Thanks for that info - I'll check out the Dynalo.
I hope you're right about about the Elex - I'll find out ~ August.