[happysappy]

Hello! I have just built a new PC, after years of using purely laptops and some FiiO DACs. I don't think I'm much of audiophile (getting there!), but the integrated soundcard that came with the Asus Z170i PRO Gaming is just awful. I already gave my Audioengine D1 to my boyfriend, and my old FiiO DACs are at home (in another country)... so I guess it's time to buy something new and more awesomer! Yey!
 
Currently, I have a pair of Kanto Yu3s hooked up to the PC directly. I also enjoy IEMs and closed headphones, mostly using my audio-technica IM70 right now since it's the most decent sounding thing that can be paired with the PC. I would like to use my IM02+HDC5 that I bought a month ago, but so far, hooking it up directly to the PC and the Surface Pro 4 made them sound like tinny metallic cans.  
 
I have been looking at Schiit products and narrowed it down to 2 options:
1. Bifrost/Lyr 2 combo - hopefully for a warmer, richer sound (above budget, but I can make it work)
2. Jotunheim - only pro I could think of is it's within budget
 
I really don't know which of the 2 options would be more appropriate. I would really like to try them out, but I haven't found them in Korea, where I currently live.
 
Some preferences: I mostly listen to metal, rock, triphop and some indie. As a basis of the type of sound I like: I like punchy deep bass, but not too much that it muddles everything else. I think the IM70 sound great, but would like it to be a tad brighter with a more open sound stage and airy sound, and further separation. The ATH-M50 sounds delicious, but still would like it to be more open sounding. The ATH-PRO700MK2 is way too much bass for me. 
 
Any other recommendations would be great! Thank you so much for reading!

 

[Raketen]

IDK about those two amplifiers, but if I can make one suggestion for IM02 listening you might want to double check reviews or ask on impressions threads that these amps have an iem-friendly low gain mode, and also look for remarks about volume pot balance at very low volumes, as these two issues can sometimes manifest when using desktop amplifiers with IEMs and the IM02 are very sensitive (great headphones btw!).

 

[ProtegeManiac]

  I have been looking at Schiit products and narrowed it down to 2 options:
1. Bifrost/Lyr 2 combo - hopefully for a warmer, richer sound (above budget, but I can make it work)
2. Jotunheim - only pro I could think of is it's within budget
 
I really don't know which of the 2 options would be more appropriate. I would really like to try them out, but I haven't found them in Korea, where I currently live.

 
What headphones exactly will you use with these? The amplifiers you've shortlisted are designed to deliver a lot of power, either for high impedance or low sensitivity headphones. If any of your gear sounds tinny now it's either an impedance issue or that's pretty much what they sound like. Also apart from some Schiit and Meier amps it's really difficult to find an amp that can work with an IEM and a low sensitivity headphone so might as well just relegate your current IEM to portable use.
 
In any case if the Schiits are difficult to find over there, look into the Matrix HPA-3U as it's easier to find being sold by online retailers. Again, not sure if this can drive an IEM. However it should have enough clean power for most headphones and it has both a USB DAC input and a preamp output to control your Kanto speakers.
 
if you don't have headphones yet, you can look into HiFiMan. The HE400i is a good start.