[Genos]

Hey all, I got a pair of sennheiser 598s a couple months ago and need a new amp/DAC. My laptop microphone port crapped out earlier this year, so I got a cheap $5 DAC on amazon. I was fine with it until it broke down last week. I could get another super cheap one on amazon, but I'd rather it last longer and be higher quality.
 
Ideally, I would like a DAC that is less than $100. I'm on a starving student budget. Also, I've been told that these headphones don't really need an amp, but most of the highly reviewed DACs are also amps anyway.
 
This amp had decent reviews on this site and was fairly cheap.
 
http://www.amazon.com/FiiO-Portable-Headphone-Amplifier-Black/dp/B003N0XDT4/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8
 
There are also somewhat more expensive models similar to this one, but I'm not sure what the benefit is.
 
www.amazon.com/Fiio-E07K-Portable-Headphone-Amplifier/dp/B00A9LHLQ6/
http://www.amazon.com/FIIO-E17-Alpen-Headphone-Amplifier/dp/B0070UFMOW
 
Is the first model I linked sufficient for my needs, or should I look form something else? Will it work well with the sennheiser 598s? Thanks in advance.

 

[rubinstein]

If you need are on a very tight budget, go for E7K or else E17. E7K is an upgrade of E7. E17 is better than E7K and E7, because of sound quality and also E17 has optical/coaxial input.
http://www.head-fi.org/t/643547/fiio-andes-e07k-vs-fiio-e17-whats-the-difference-and-how-does-it-sway-the-amateur-audiophile

 

[jpalenzuela]

I recommend

-FiiO E10
-Schiit Modi (99$ but you have to buy magni amp +99$)

The HD598 may not require an amp, but will sound awesome with one.

 

[money4me247]

I recommend
-FiiO E10
-Schiit Modi (99$ but you have to buy magni amp +99$)

The HD598 may not require an amp, but will sound awesome with one.

The Modi is NON-portable.
 
For portable DAC only, these are my suggestions (ordered by price - note price does not necessarily correlate with performance)
1.) Behringer UCA202 Audio Interface ($30: PCM2902)
2.) DAC Destroyer ($45.99: AD1955 chip)
3.) Stoner Acoustic UD 110v2 ($49: PCM5102A) [high quality dac found in the $1000 same dac W7 firefly]
4.) Hifimediy usb dac ($57: ES9023 sabre) [high quality dac found in the $600 concero]
5.) Styleaudio carat ud-1 ($58: PCM 2704)
6.) Headstage USB DAC Cable ($100: WM8740)
 
Portable Dac/amps:
1.) E10 ($60-75: WM8740)
2.) FiiO E7 ($70: WM8740)
3.) Firestone Audio Fireye II Dac/amp ($79: CS4344)
4.) FiiO E70k ($89: WM8740)
5.) Audioquest Dragonfly 1.0 ($99 - some sort of ESS sabre dac)
6.) iBasso D-Zero ($100: WM8740)
 
This should be a pretty comprehensive list, but I may be missing a few other options, if anyone else wants to chime in. lookie here: http://www.head-fi.org/t/696401/giant-list-of-sub-200-portable-dacs-w-their-chips-price. some options are out of your budget as this list goes up to $200.

 

[PurpleAngel]

  Hey all, I got a pair of sennheiser 598s a couple months ago and need a new amp/DAC. My laptop microphone port crapped out earlier this year, so I got a cheap $5 DAC on amazon. I was fine with it until it broke down last week. I could get another super cheap one on amazon, but I'd rather it last longer and be higher quality.
 
Ideally, I would like a DAC that is less than $100. I'm on a starving student budget. Also, I've been told that these headphones don't really need an amp, but most of the highly reviewed DACs are also amps anyway.
 
This amp had decent reviews on this site and was fairly cheap.
 
http://www.amazon.com/FiiO-Portable-Headphone-Amplifier-Black/dp/B003N0XDT4/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8
 
There are also somewhat more expensive models similar to this one, but I'm not sure what the benefit is.
 
www.amazon.com/Fiio-E07K-Portable-Headphone-Amplifier/dp/B00A9LHLQ6/
http://www.amazon.com/FIIO-E17-Alpen-Headphone-Amplifier/dp/B0070UFMOW
 
Is the first model I linked sufficient for my needs, or should I look form something else? Will it work well with the sennheiser 598s? Thanks in advance.

My $27 FiiO E6 headphone amplifier can easily drive the 50-Ohm HD598s.
So anything costing more then that should have no problem.
I would say to at least spend the few extra dollars for the new E07K, over the older model E7.
The Fiio E10 is a little more basic in features to the E07K, but I would guess the audio quality would be about equal.
The E17 comes with S/PDIF (optical & coaxial) connection, which would allow you to work with the laptop's built in sound card features.
USB connection bypasses the sound card, so USB is just basic stereo sound (nice stereo sound).

 

[rubinstein]

  The Modi is NON-portable.
 
Portable Dac/amps: 1.) E10 ($60-75: WM8740)
2.) FiiO E7 ($70: WM8740)
3.) Firestone Audio Fireye II Dac/amp ($79: CS4344)
4.) FiiO E70k ($89: WM8740)
5.) Audioquest Dragonfly 1.0 ($99 - some sort of ESS sabre dac)
6.) iBasso D-Zero ($100: WM8740)
 
This should be a pretty comprehensive list, but I may be missing a few other options, if anyone else wants to chime in. lookie here: http://www.head-fi.org/t/696401/giant-list-of-sub-200-portable-dacs-w-their-chips-price. some options are out of your budget as this list goes up to $200.

how is it possible to use E10 on the go? plz explain

 

[jpalenzuela]

LOL sorry, I recommended desktop amps. iBasso offers some excelent portable DAC amps. Check out their website