Looking for advice on a headphone-only desktop dac/amp
Dec 10, 2023 at 1:03 PM Thread Starter Post #1 of 9
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SvilenP

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Hello friends,
I am new and looking for advice as the title suggests. What I currently have is:
1. Source:
1.1. Gaming computer ASUS ROG GL552VW, 6 years old - this is my main source /there is one free USB-A and one HDMI output/;
1.2. Phone OnePlus Nord2 5G /no 3.5 mm jack only USB-C/. I have Tidal HIFI for another year with my mobile plan, now I'm also testing Amazon HD for 30 days, but after that I'm unlikely to continue (I like it a lot but it's expensive...).

2. Headphones:
2.1. RØDE NTH-100
Impedance: 32Ω
Sensitivity: 110dB/V
Maximum Input Power: 1700mW, 1% THD @ 1kHz;

2.2. Kotori Audio DAUNTLESS IEM
Impedance: 12.2 Ω @1kHz 100dB;
These are my first Real headphones and were recommended to me by "the Honest Audiophile" for which I am grateful!

2.3. I have more:
2.3.1 MOONDROP CHU IEM
Impedance: 28Ω±15% (@1kHz)
Sensitivity: 120dB/Vrms (@1kHz);
2.3.2 OnePlus Nord Buds TWS
Bluetooth 5.2, Codecs: AAC, SBC
Driver Sensitivity: 102dB ± 3dB @1kHz;
2.3.3 (Expecting) TANGZU WAN ER SG IEM
Impedance: 20Ω
Sensitivity: 107dB (@1kHz).
These are for fun, tests, for work (it's dirty).

3. Dac/Amp - Hidizs S9 PRO
ESS9038Q2M DAC
PCM: Up to 32bit768kHz
Native DSD Supports Up to 512
Single-ended 3.5mm + Balanced 2.5mm
One of the recommendations of "the Honest Audiophile" for which I am grateful!

4. Speakers - I do not have and do not plan to have (I live in a panel apartment).

As you can see above, I'm new to the hobby - first music setup and I don't have a lot of money... The music I listen to is metal and specifically symphonic metal and melodic death metal. It's important for me that vocals sound good (mainly in symphonic metal) and I'm "sensitive" to high frequencies. Almost all the bands I listen to have female lead vocals.

What I'm looking for is a desktop dac/amp with maximum musical quality (related to my musical preferences, a neutral and natural sounding device) for the money I can spend ~ $300.

Regarding the "extras":
1. Bluetooth - if there is good, if there is no - good. It is not very important to me, because I do not foresee development (for now) in this direction. I'm almost 48 years old and I think quality music is only possible with wired headphones...;
2. Many inputs and outputs - I don't have speakers and I don't think I will. On the computer I have, as I wrote, USB-A and one HDMI output, which I don't know if it is "suitable" for music. I don't plan to connect my TV. I don't have and don't plan to have any other sources of audio content (CD player, music records, etc.);
3. Balanced output - my current headphones do not need such, and in the future I will hardly be able to spend more than $300 on headphones, and they will hardly need such...;
4. It's good to have a display, I don't need a remote control - for me the audio quality is important in the first place!

"the Honest Audiophile" recommended the following models to me:
SMSL AO300, Fiio K11 and Aune X1s GT.
"the Honest Audiophile" is my friend (albeit from a distance) and I respect him because he has an "EAR", and as a mechanical engineer I can only look at numbers, although I have no knowledge in this field...

Of the listed, I first settled on the SMSL AO300. Then I read here and there and some more candidates jumped out at me besides the ones I suggested above. Unfortunately, I can only judge devices by other people's reviews and ratings. Here in Bulgaria there is no place to test devices, and I don't know anyone who is passionate about this hobby. In addition, from here (BG) you don't get what is done as I read on the forums - to take devices and if you don't like them, return them...

What came up in my search is:
1. TOPPING DX3 Pro+
2. SMSL DL200
3. FiiO K7/K7BT
4. Maybe TOPPING DX5

Yes, the price is important to me, but the quality of the music is more important to me, and from the point of view of perception, not as numbers! As I already wrote, I am looking for a device that reproduces music neutrally and naturally, the music I like as well. Also, this device "worked" well with my only source (my old computer) and my headphones (RØDE and DAUNTLESS). If there are extras, fine, but they are on the second or third plan.

I'm personally gravitating towards the SMSL DL200 and maybe the FiiO K11, BUT I'm not reliable at all, so I'm hoping for some advice from you?



Thanks in advance!
 
Last edited:
Dec 31, 2023 at 12:25 PM Post #2 of 9
If you can get a used 1st generation Chord Mojo. There many around. It has great sound transparency some good punch and is not sharp on the ears.
 
Dec 31, 2023 at 12:30 PM Post #3 of 9
Second mojo. I would also get the OG EVGA sound card. Use the toslink digital out to feed your mojo.

Alternatively you can just use the gear in my sig (HPS4)
 
Last edited:
Jan 3, 2024 at 7:54 AM Post #4 of 9
SvilenP said:
Hello friends,
I am new and looking for advice as the title suggests. What I currently have is:
1. Source:
1.1. Gaming computer ASUS ROG GL552VW, 6 years old - this is my main source /there is one free USB-A and one HDMI output/;
1.2. Phone OnePlus Nord2 5G /no 3.5 mm jack only USB-C/. I have Tidal HIFI for another year with my mobile plan, now I'm also testing Amazon HD for 30 days, but after that I'm unlikely to continue (I like it a lot but it's expensive...).

2. Headphones:
2.1. RØDE NTH-100
Impedance: 32Ω
Sensitivity: 110dB/V
Maximum Input Power: 1700mW, 1% THD @ 1kHz;

2.2. Kotori Audio DAUNTLESS IEM
Impedance: 12.2 Ω @1kHz 100dB;
These are my first Real headphones and were recommended to me by "the Honest Audiophile" for which I am grateful!

2.3. I have more:
2.3.1 MOONDROP CHU IEM
Impedance: 28Ω±15% (@1kHz)
Sensitivity: 120dB/Vrms (@1kHz);
2.3.2 OnePlus Nord Buds TWS
Bluetooth 5.2, Codecs: AAC, SBC
Driver Sensitivity: 102dB ± 3dB @1kHz;
2.3.3 (Expecting) TANGZU WAN ER SG IEM
Impedance: 20Ω
Sensitivity: 107dB (@1kHz).
These are for fun, tests, for work (it's dirty).

3. Dac/Amp - Hidizs S9 PRO
ESS9038Q2M DAC
PCM: Up to 32bit768kHz
Native DSD Supports Up to 512
Single-ended 3.5mm + Balanced 2.5mm
One of the recommendations of "the Honest Audiophile" for which I am grateful!

4. Speakers - I do not have and do not plan to have (I live in a panel apartment).

As you can see above, I'm new to the hobby - first music setup and I don't have a lot of money... The music I listen to is metal and specifically symphonic metal and melodic death metal. It's important for me that vocals sound good (mainly in symphonic metal) and I'm "sensitive" to high frequencies. Almost all the bands I listen to have female lead vocals.

What I'm looking for is a desktop dac/amp with maximum musical quality (related to my musical preferences, a neutral and natural sounding device) for the money I can spend ~ $300.

Regarding the "extras":
1. Bluetooth - if there is good, if there is no - good. It is not very important to me, because I do not foresee development (for now) in this direction. I'm almost 48 years old and I think quality music is only possible with wired headphones...;
2. Many inputs and outputs - I don't have speakers and I don't think I will. On the computer I have, as I wrote, USB-A and one HDMI output, which I don't know if it is "suitable" for music. I don't plan to connect my TV. I don't have and don't plan to have any other sources of audio content (CD player, music records, etc.);
3. Balanced output - my current headphones do not need such, and in the future I will hardly be able to spend more than $300 on headphones, and they will hardly need such...;
4. It's good to have a display, I don't need a remote control - for me the audio quality is important in the first place!

"the Honest Audiophile" recommended the following models to me:
SMSL AO300, Fiio K11 and Aune X1s GT.
"the Honest Audiophile" is my friend (albeit from a distance) and I respect him because he has an "EAR", and as a mechanical engineer I can only look at numbers, although I have no knowledge in this field...

Of the listed, I first settled on the SMSL AO300. Then I read here and there and some more candidates jumped out at me besides the ones I suggested above. Unfortunately, I can only judge devices by other people's reviews and ratings. Here in Bulgaria there is no place to test devices, and I don't know anyone who is passionate about this hobby. In addition, from here (BG) you don't get what is done as I read on the forums - to take devices and if you don't like them, return them...

What came up in my search is:
1. TOPPING DX3 Pro+
2. SMSL DL200
3. FiiO K7/K7BT
4. Maybe TOPPING DX5

Yes, the price is important to me, but the quality of the music is more important to me, and from the point of view of perception, not as numbers! As I already wrote, I am looking for a device that reproduces music neutrally and naturally, the music I like as well. Also, this device "worked" well with my only source (my old computer) and my headphones (RØDE and DAUNTLESS). If there are extras, fine, but they are on the second or third plan.

I'm personally gravitating towards the SMSL DL200 and maybe the FiiO K11, BUT I'm not reliable at all, so I'm hoping for some advice from you?

From this link https://refrr.app/SEyDgAXJaN/41378 you can get $5 discount from https://shenzhenaudio.com/.

Thanks in advance!
Click to expand...
The Topping's are pretty great. I've had the DX3 and 5 and both were very good options that required little, to no fiddling around to make them work.
 
Jan 6, 2024 at 11:36 AM Post #5 of 9
Happy New Year. Thanks for your answers.
I had time to do some tests and I found that if I use an online music platform like TIDAL or Amazon, with the headphones I have, there is no need for a Dac/Amp. It's on both my phone and my computer.

I need a DAC/Amp only when I have high quality music files in my phone or computer and I need to use a corresponding program. This is provided my music files are above 24/48.

For my available headphones, there is no need for the "Amp" part of the Dac/Amp, but as for the "Dac" part - I listen to 16/44.1 or 24/48 which are played on my computer and phone without any problem.

Naturally Dac/Amp have an impact, and I also have music files over 24/48, but at this stage - with my available headphones, the Hidizs S9 PRO that I have now is enough for me.

It won't stay that way forever. First, sooner or later I will get some serious headphones, as far as the files I have - they are not of very good quality at the moment.

CHORD MOJO I guess is good but for now what I'm aiming for is FiiO K7 and SMSL DL200/ SMSL AO300. The last two are debatable to me because I'm headed to the first device and my friend is pointing me to the second.

In any case, I may decide on another option, but it's good that I did tests. When I get new headphones, that's when I'll have to make a choice.

Thanks for the tips, they are important to me.
 
Jan 16, 2024 at 12:55 PM Post #8 of 9
If you ever want to have a complete little system, the AO300 is a great idea as it is quite competent with efficient speakers and can even have a sub attached as well. I used the A300 as my amp to play drums along with music to and the A300 was really good driving a pair of Celestion DL-9 Series II speakers. Very good indeed. I added in an SVS SB 2000 Pro that I had and was quite happy. As I used Bluetooth only (love Bluetooth, will never bother with a wired connection again ever for any music portable or otherwise) the A300 only supports SBC which was surprisingly adequate, but the AO300 supports HD codecs so I opted for that. The AO300 arrives today, but I have to wait until the weekend to get a chance with it. Should be fun.
 
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