Quote:
Originally Posted by uzziah
it's the whole package home fly. you still need a good amp. whether the amp is AS important as the source or phones is debatable
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I agree.
Concerning debatable issue, to me, for a computer rig, DAC and amp combo are even more important than the headphones.
Hate to constantly repeat myself, but to my ears, my laptop dac/amp rig with $10 Sony earbuds sounds awesome when I was waiting for my Shure E5c to come back under warranty replacement.
Everyone is different. Just look at the numbers. The computer as source forum has the least threads and posts.
Most everyone believes all the magic is in headphone selection. To me, that's just one part of the equation..
There is also an increasing number of posters here at HeadFi and elsewhere that seem to think headphones don't need an amp. Many people have 3-5 headphones and don't even have an amp.
I agree with Xin. To my tastes, all headphones sound better with a dedicated headphone amp.
A good DAC with the amp will make all headphones sound even better. It's not just about volume. It's about quality: clarity, depth, texture, power, response, and sound staging.
There's many options with DAC's and amps for all budgets. Unfortunately, many people just don't understand all this DAC stuff. I sure wish HeadFi would post more stickies and Full-Featured reviews in all the forums. I think it would help everyone.
Regarding original poster: With your current setup, I'd say go with a good amp within your budget.
Within your budget of $200, I don't know what else to recommend for the "bang for the buck" improvement. You could get a DAC later and still be able to use the amp. Also the DAC/amp combo can be used with other sources: laptop, cd transport, etc.
Good luck.