Opinion Request. Let me know what you think.

[relikk356]

Everything sounds great but I have this feeling that I may be missing out on something. After lots of research and limited budgets below is what I’ve ended up with. I know sound is subjective but can someone one with experience let me know how they feel about this setup? I know it blows away my traditional computer speakers, but there is no HIFI shops here, no place for me to demo and really nothing serious to compare my setup too.  Should I replace my receiver, or DAC? What would I need to spend before I notice any improvement?

 

Here’s what I got:

 

Output:

CD, MP3, Amazon Music and FLAC using Cambridge DAC Magic to a Nikko NR819 ( PC sound card Asus Xonar DX, optical out)

 

Head Phones:

Sennheiser 558

BD DT770 pro (80)

Koss Porta Pro’s

Samson SR850  

 

Speakers : ( I figured I mention these too)

KEF C1

Mirage 100 Watt 8inch Subwoofer

 

[Nash M]

I am new here but just asking as I bang my head a lot with different music sources. What software you use for playback? Is it on bit copy setting (meaning no modification on pc side and actual data copied to DAC)?

 

[relikk356]

Since its optical out I assumed it was bit to bit, but now i'm not sure. Just Windows Media player. I have the sound card set to "hifi" mode which is supposedly pure (non altering) but not sure about the player.  See, may have already found something!

 

[Nash M]

Hmm, it might be something or just not much. It is good that your soundcard doesnt alternate anything, but you might try this, it is free to check:
 
http://www.head-fi.org/t/588677/a-short-audiophile-guide-to-winamp-w-maiko-wasapi
 
That is my setting for bit to bit copy

 

[cel4145]

I don't know much about vintage receiver models other than often they need to have some refurbishing done as some of the electronics degrade over the years. If yours has never been refurbished, probably worth checking out.

And no. I wouldn't focus money on upgrading your DAC or buying a new receiver. The best SQ benefit improvements will come from better headphones, better speakers, better sub.

That is, unless your Nikko is not optimal for lower impedance headphones. It's always possible that dedicated headphone amp might help. Most older receivers were designed to support higher impedance headphones than yours. Something as simple as a FiiO E11K headphone amp might offer some sound improvement (hard to know for sure).

 

[kramer5150]

I don't see anything wrong with that setup at all.  Both those headphones are fairly easy to drive, conversely IMHO both are revealing enough to benefit from upstream improvements.  But I would think in that system they CERTAINLY would sound good, if you are fan of either the 770 or 558 signature.
 
FWIW heres whats inside your Nikko receiver:  Looks like a mosfet driven output stage, and one would guess the headphone output is resistor-tapped off that.  I have found the best home receiver headphone jacks usually have a warm-ish, distant, smooth sound... But I would assume there are exceptions.
 
Aren't there at least 2-3 different versions in the Cambridge DACmagic product lineup?  If yours has the built in headphone amp.  You could A/B compare that to the Nikko.  There might be some improvement to be had there... go with whichever headphone output sounds best.  Depending on what you are listening to, or your preferences at any given moment there may not be a clear winner.
 

 

[cel4145]

Aren't there at least 2-3 different versions in the Cambridge DACmagic product lineup?  If yours has the built in headphone amp.

+1

If you have a DACmagic model with a headphone amp, then you are ready to go. Focus your upgrades on headphones, speakers, and sub

 

[kramer5150]

I've always wondered how a TOTL dynamic driver phone like the HD800 or similarly priced Beyer, Fostex (etc) would sound powered with a warm vintage receiver.  Like a Marantz, Onkyo, Kenwood, Yamaha...etc.  You don't see that very often.

 

[relikk356]

After receipt of the receiver I took it straight to my local electronic repair shop. He was super excited because he always wanted to work on a Nikko. He cleaned switches, checked the caps, blah, blah, and said it was great. The guy is partially def though (do to his decades old audio addiction) so he said everything looks like it should sound great (i feel bad for laughing as i typed that). 
 
I have an SMSL SD 793II and its sounds good but seems to focus on mids. <-- HEADPHONE AMP AND DAC
 
The DacMagic is the original one. Not the plus (the plus has the headphone amp and 384 khz). There is also a Mini version (DacMagic 100), and more recently a USB thumb stick version (DacMagic XS). The DacMagic is extremely well balanced.
 
The 558 is great on the Nikko, were i prefer the the BD 770 on the SMSL. On the Nikko i'm afraid to take the headphones past the 5th notch (of 20) because of fear of explosion (ears, drivers, house or planet). The headphone jack is well powered and the last two examples were exaggerated slightly. 
 
 
Thanks all for the input! I'm going to assume that everything is good and focus on 250oms and higher headphones and play around with some headphone amps.  

 

[relikk356]

  I've always wondered how a TOTL dynamic driver phone like the HD800 or similarly priced Beyer, Fostex (etc) would sound powered with a warm vintage receiver.  Like a Marantz, Onkyo, Kenwood, Yamaha...etc.  You don't see that very often.

As my journey continued I got a Marantz 2238, a Nikko NR 719 and a Pioneer sx1500td. Of all of these my original receiver, the Nikko NR 819 is the best to my ears. The Marantz is very close with slightly better sound stage but just a tad to bright for my taste (harsh on rock to me). The Nikko is perfect, and has this warmth the others just cant touch.
 
I got a pair of 600om DT880 that all the receivers easily power. They sound fantastic. I feel to get noticeably better then this i will need to pay big money.