[chimmycham]

I've got a MacBook Pro (Retina, 15-inch, Early 2013)
I BELIEVE it's got a Wolfson WM8740 DAC in it (I might be way off on that)
 
I use Audirvana Plus.
 
I've been looking into Magni2/Modi2
O2/ODAC
and a few other combos..
 
What would you guys suggest?
I'd like to keep it under $500
(hopefully under $300)
 
Is it worth upgrading the DAC?
 
If so, which DAC/AMP combo would would be my best bet?
 
Thank you very much for your time!

 

[cel4145]

The Modi/Magni and O2/ODAC are excellent choices in their price range. You might also consider an Audio-GD NFB-15 or NFB-11.

 

[chimmycham]

And these will be significantly better than the Soundcard in my 2013 Macbook Pro?

 

[cel4145]

I would think so, but I'm no mac expert. But yes. These are considered by the very large majority of head-fiers to be better dac/amp setups than what is available internally in any computer.

 

[PurpleAngel]

  I've got a MacBook Pro (Retina, 15-inch, Early 2013)
I BELIEVE it's got a Wolfson WM8740 DAC in it (I might be way off on that)
I use Audirvana Plus.
I've been looking into Magni2/Modi2
O2/ODAC
and a few other combos..
What would you guys suggest?
I'd like to keep it under $500
(hopefully under $300)
Is it worth upgrading the DAC?
If so, which DAC/AMP combo would would be my best bet?

 
I would think for a $500 budget, your better off buying new headphones.
I own the HD558s, which have the same 50-Ohm driver as the HD598, I like the sound of my HD558, but I know there is better.
After a headphone upgrade, then see how much you have leftover for an external DAC/amp.

 

[chimmycham]

I like these.
I think I'm going to go with the Schiit Magni/Modi 2s
 
Is the Uber version worth it?
What is difference, really, more inputs?

 

[Currawong]

From what I could see, more inputs in the DAC and more power in the amp. How much of a difference you get will depend on the headphones you have.
 
With a better DAC/amp combo you should expect less of a congested sound with complex music if using low-impedance headphones, especially planars (eg: Audeze, Hifiman). With high impedance headphones, you'll get a more spacious soundstage with acoustic music, instead of everything sounding like it is coming from a blob in the middle (eg: Sennheiser HD600, HD650, HD800s and any Beyerdynamic that is 250 Ohms or higher).

 

[chimmycham]

Now...
Magni2 Uber vs Vali
Modi2 Uber vs Loki
O2/ODAC
?
 
And is the GEEK OUT 450/1000 USB DAC AND AMPLIFIER even worth discussing?

 

[chimmycham]

Is it worth buying the Vali instead of the Magni 2 Uber?
The other Amp option I've been looking at is the Audio-GD NFB-15
 
I use Sennheiser HD598s and will be purchasing my first Amp and DAC
 
I've decided on the Modi 2 Uber for the DAC. (Will this make a difference? I use a Macbook Pro Retina, Early 2013)

 

[PurpleAngel]

  Is it worth buying the Vali instead of the Magni 2 Uber?
The other Amp option I've been looking at is the Audio-GD NFB-15
I use Sennheiser HD598s and will be purchasing my first Amp and DAC
I've decided on the Modi 2 Uber for the DAC. (Will this make a difference? I use a Macbook Pro Retina, Early 2013)

 
The Audio-GD NFB-15 is a nice DAC/amp, I have the slightly older NFB-15.32 version.
but it might have more features then you might need, but if your willing to make the investment for something you would use for years, then go for it.

 

[cel4145]

Is it worth buying the Vali instead of the Magni 2 Uber?
The other Amp option I've been looking at is the [COLOR=141823]Audio-GD NFB-15[/COLOR]

I use Sennheiser HD598s and will be purchasing my first Amp and DAC

I've decided on the Modi 2 Uber for the DAC. (Will this make a difference? I use a Macbook Pro Retina, Early 2013)

Just in case you didn't realize, the NFB-15 is a DAC, headphone amp, and preamp--all in one.

 

[chimmycham]

And is it considered better than the Schiit products I mentioned?

 

[PurpleAngel]

  And is it considered better than the Schiit products I mentioned?

 
Schiit Modi 2/Magni 2 (Uber versions) verses Audio-GD NFB-15.
Guess that could make for a really really long discussion.
 
Up until Schiit came out with the Uber versions, the NFB-15 offered the best price for features, over Schiit.
But the Uber versions seem to have somewhat leveled the playing field.
 
The NFB-15 comes with dual DAC chips, the Modi one has one DAC chip.

 

[chimmycham]

My entire reason for getting an Amp/DAC was solely to replace the DAC in my Macbook.
 
Does anyone know what DAC is IN a Macbook Pro (Retina, 15-inch, Early 2013)?

 

[chimmycham]

What's better?
 
Dual WM8741s (NFB-15)
 
Or One ES9018 (NFB-3)