[WindowsX]

I know it may look similar like other topics but I just couldn't make up my mind from research. Now I'm having grace m902, headamp gs-x and benchmark DAC1 in my mind right now. I don't have plan to buy headphone amp, pre-amp and dac separately or using balanced headphone so please recommend me if there's any one of these choices suits me best. You can let me know if there's any better option than these.

 

[granodemostasa]

the GS-X is not a dac, and is balanced.
meier Opera, benchmark dac-1, apogee mini dac, lavry da-10, M902, lehmann black cube linear, headroom maxed desktop, are all options.

 

[PFKMan23]

Keep in mind the Grace M902, the Lehmann, and the Opera are all single ended. In regards to the HR Desktop, I would get the balanced version over the SE model. There is also the Singlepower Squarewave (SE or balanced model). If you're looking for integration with a DAC and a headphone amp and that it has a balacned output balanced, I think the Lavry or the Benchmark might be the better options, although the Headroom HRBD does look interesting. I think those would be my top three if you needed the combination and balanced.

 

[WindowsX]

Ummm... I don't need balanced since my source doesn't use balanced. Without this, which one should I take?

 

[granodemostasa]

so you are looking for an SE amp?

 

[WindowsX]

yes.

 

[spraggih]

For $1600 could you get an used Stello DP200? I am not sure of their original price (I thought it was $2000).

 

[909]

Not associated with the seller, but here's a good deal on the DHA-3000. It's not only a headphone amp, but a DAC as well.

 

[granodemostasa]

you can get a pretty nice Singlepower extreme for that,

 

[MaloS]

What headphone? There is a number of cute, capable options. From the cheaper GS-1 or ECSS to some of the more powerful RSA and Rudistor amplifiers, to Mikhael's Singlepower tube gods, or even Antique Labs MG Head OTL DT32, and many others I could keep on going. Gotta know what you are really looking for.

 

[Icarium]

Yeah its pretty highly dependent on headphone.

 

[twsmith]

Quote:

Originally Posted by WindowsX /img/forum/go_quote.gif I know it may look similar like other topics but I just couldn't make up my mind from research. Now I'm having grace m902, headamp gs-x and benchmark DAC1 in my mind right now. I don't have plan to buy headphone amp, pre-amp and dac separately or using balanced headphone so please recommend me if there's any one of these choices suits me best. You can let me know if there's any better option than these.

It sounds to me that what you're really looking for is a good DAC-HP amp combined in one unit. Of your choices above, both the Grace and Benchmark would do the trick, although there will be differences in how they sound and what phones they work best with. I can only personally comment on the DAC1 (I have the USB model), which I find to be an extremely good DAC and very versatile. The built-in amp is no slouch and sounds great with my Grado SR60s (but not so good with my K701s - that's what I referred to above). You didn't mention exactly what your source is - if it's a PC, then I think the DAC1-USB is what you should be looking at. Remember too that with certain DACs -- like the DAC1 (not sure about the Grace) -- and using a digital signal as source (which is only single-ended to begin with), the DAC can actually convert the source to balanced should you ever at some point in the future decide you want to try using balanced phones.

 

[MaloS]

Quote:

Originally Posted by twsmith /img/forum/go_quote.gif It sounds to me that what you're really looking for is a good DAC-HP amp combined in one unit. Of your choices above, both the Grace and Benchmark would do the trick, although there will be differences in how they sound and what phones they work best with. I can only personally comment on the DAC1 (I have the USB model), which I find to be an extremely good DAC and very versatile. The built-in amp is no slouch and sounds great with my Grado SR60s (but not so good with my K701s - that's what I referred to above). You didn't mention exactly what your source is - if it's a PC, then I think the DAC1-USB is what you should be looking at. Remember too that with certain DACs -- like the DAC1 (not sure about the Grace) -- and using a digital signal as source (which is only single-ended to begin with), the DAC can actually convert the source to balanced should you ever at some point in the future decide you want to try using balanced phones.

Amp on DAC1 is a slouch, you just haven't heard it bypassed. For 1600 though, it is very possible to get the DAC1 (non-usb) and a nice amp (darkvoice 332 would fit the bill for example). There are also other combos - like Stello DA100 and HP100, which together fit into the given budget easily, even saving you money for an hd600 to go with them still in that budget. I am personally rather fond of DA100, thinking of going for the HP soon.

 

[twsmith]

Quote:

Originally Posted by MaloS /img/forum/go_quote.gif Amp on DAC1 is a slouch, you just haven't heard it bypassed.

Actually, my own set-up is the DAC1-USB and GS-1, which I do feel betters the DAC1's own amp by a significant degree, especially with my K701s. (The Grados actually don't sound bad with the DAC1 alone, and there are certainly mixed opinions here as to how good the DAC1's amp really is). Nevertheless, I believe that WindowsX was initially looking not to get a separate DAC and amp. That being said, I would completely agree with you and recommend a good DAC/amp combo rather than a single box solution, especially for $1600. My impression is that at least with the Grace and DAC1, the internal amps are specifically designed with the professional engineer in mind, with a sound tailored more toward "monitoring" (not that it makes for a bad amp or a slouch).