[GnaGetier]

Hey guys,

I recently ordered the AKG K701 because I'm starting my studies at university and can't take my Yamaha RX-V 663
and my two Canton Chrono 507 with me into my new apartment.
I have never been satisfied with my laptop sound card and therefore I'm looking for a DAC / Headphone Amp combo.

What do you think how much should I spend? Would it be enough to buy a cheap DAC/Amp from china like the Aune:
AUNE HIFIDIY.NET Mini USB DAC + Headphone Amp MK2 bei eBay.de: Processors (endet 14.09.09 06:15:27 MESZ)

or a little more expensive one like the Fubar III
Fubar3

or should I go for something like the V-Can
Welcome to Musical Fidelity

and a Behringer U-Control
BEHRINGER: UCA222

for cheap D/A converting which could be upgraded with
the V-DAC in the future.
Welcome to Musical Fidelity

I'd also appreciate it if you could give me some alternative solutions to the Aune which (preferrably) stay in Germany,
so I don't have to worry about additional VAT & import taxes.

Thanks a lot.
Regards

 

[GnaGetier]

No suggestions for me?
Could you at least give me some names, please?
The market is so confusing with all the chinese audio
products out there.

Thanks

 

[AdamWysokinski]

I use mine K701s with Mhdt Paradisea 3 DAC and Heed CanAmp amplifier. Together this setup sounds very good - I'm listening to Chopin Preludes right now and the piano sounds very life-like.

BTW. K701s reveal all mastering faults, so it's a good thing to fed them with high quality music (both in terms of source and mastering).

Cheers,
Adam

 

[Cankin]

What's your budget?? Will you consider used gears?

 

[GnaGetier]

Thank Adam and Cankin,

the budget is, like most of the times, the problem.
At the moment I can't afford anything over ~200€
(about 300$) including shipping costs and taxes.

See, the gear Adam suggestet is already topping my
budget. Shoul I wait to buy something until I can afford
more costly gear?

Any comments about the "Aune" or the "Fubar III"?
Anyone knows the "V-Can"?

Regards

edit:
mh....actually I'm no friend of used electronics.

 

[AdamWysokinski]

Quote:

Originally Posted by GnaGetier /img/forum/go_quote.gif See, the gear Adam suggestet is already topping my budget. Shoul I wait to buy something until I can afford more costly gear? edit: mh....actually I'm no friend of used electronics.

When budget is limited I would consider buying second-hand amp and DAC. There are mechanical parts inside them and therefore the risk that they may break down is quite small (e.g. I wouldn't buy s/h cans or a CD player).

Remember that unless you have a possibility try the gear at home, with your music and headphones, buying less expensive products may be a short-term solution. Soon you may want/need/have to upgrade your DAC/amp and then you'll have to sell them for less than their purchase price was. If I were you, I would maximize my budget and look for second-hand gear.

Cheers,
Adam

 

[GnaGetier]

Sounds logical.

So, any idea how my current "high-end" solution
(all is relative) meaning V-DAC & V-Can would perform?

Sure, musically its all about personal taste etc, but how
good is their price-performance ratio generally and are
there any bad sides that the musical fidelity homepage
doesn't reveal?

I also looked into the Beresford TC-7510 but I read some
really negative things in this forums.

Regards.

 

[burnspbesq]

I would look for a used Predator, Pico, or Headroom Portable Micro with DAC. I'm selling a Hornet on eBay right now, but I'd recommend against buying it as a desktop solution. You should get a DAC/Amp combo and take your computer's sound card out of the signal path.

 

[shrisha]

I would really recommend AUNE dac/amp for K701. It's have very extended bass range. Clear and analog like sound. After just 30 hrs of burn in I'm really pleased with SQ. And AMP is quite powerful too. 10% of volume is enough for my Denon D2000.

 

[glitch39]

Go used separates to meet your budget. makes it much more flexible down the road to upgrade should you have more funds or be more serious about this *expensive* hobby.

 

[GnaGetier]

Thanks again, guys...


I decided to go with a cheap dac (behringer ~30€) and the
musical fidelity v-can (170€) for now. i may be upgrading
this setup with the musical fidelity v-dac in the future.

Regards