[Rise To The Top]

I'm currently in the market for an amp and DAC combo to go with a pair of HD650s that I have. The combo needs to be relatively small (will be sharing desk space with an HP 18t laptop and a Samsung P2370 monitor as well as an Xbox), needs to accept USB as a souce and optical. I prefer one case for the whole thing (to avoid the need for interconnections), but I'll consider two separate cases. Right now I am looking into a HeadRoom Desktop amp with the DAC. As for music, I listen to really everything.

Any help would be great.

Thanks

 

[Jeremy]

For me, that's now an easy decision: Lavry DA11 - great DAC, great amp, transportable, USB

 

[driftingbunnies]

from what i know, the DA11 is 1450...a little like 45% more than the 1k budget

 

[Rise To The Top]

I can't go over $1k. Not an option. I would shoot for the Desktop right now, but its at the very very end of my price range.

 

[driftingbunnies]

well you can always go for the budget conscious audio-gd compass but i guess if you wanted to use your budget to it's limit, i would suggest a stello and a good amp like a gilmore lite, M3, or maybe audiogd C2C

 

[Jeremy]

Sorry, missed the bit about needing to be be under $1k. So how about a DA10? It doesn't accept USB but it does accept optical.

 

[Rise To The Top]

How would the compass stand up to the HR desktop?

 

[driftingbunnies]

I'm not sure anybody has ever really compared the two but I am willing to bet that the HR desktop is a little better than the compass. If you read the comparison of the compass vs stello+c2c it held it's ground when the stello combo was about 3 times the price. It wasn't as good obviously, but was very respectable.
That being said, I have the HD650/compass combo and it does drive it pretty well. However I can't say that I've tried my headphones with better amps until i receive my B22 so you should take it with a grain of salt.

 

[atothex]

Try asking for a quote on a Gamma1 and one of many good DIY amp choices.

 

[GLdgShDjKsHT]

i've searched a lot the market and came to some conclusions
-best dac under 1000$ - cambridge audio's dacmagic - it has lots of inputs, it's relatively cheap, costing twice less than havana and stello or da11/10 and it has a lot of great reviews

-best ss amp under 1000$ not taking into account the tube ones because they are hard to maintain, require expensive tubes and so on ...
so i've reached to one conclusion - graham slee's solo - a very good amp, can easily compare to bigger one's from 1000$+ category

-now, i woudn't go to a lavry mainly because it's 1000+ and it also has a discreete amp
-and one more thing, better go with separate components rather than all in a box way

it's easier to upgrade later

 

[Sherwood]

Used Peachtree Nova.

You get an ESS Sabre DAC and an 800mw Class A headamp/preamp to boot. Plus hey, also 80 watts of speaker amplification.

Hard to do better under $1k.

 

[Rise To The Top]

I don't want to go used :/

 

[Sherwood]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rise To The Top /img/forum/go_quote.gif I don't want to go used :/

Well, then you can downgrade to the Decco. Still a great unit, just replace the Sabre DAC with a Scott Nixon. You may be able to beat the Decco for $900+, however, so up to you.

 

[Rise To The Top]

Any other recs?

 

[stew1234]

If you're willing to go balanced on your headphones I think the easiest would be to find a dac with xlr outs you can change the volume on. I have my 650's hooked up to the balanced outs on my Buffalo DAC and think it sounds spectacular. I'm sure a benchmark dac or lavry would sound excellent if you can find one in your price range.