[qveda]

Getting ready for my first dac/amp purchase to use primarily with headphones  in my home office.
 
Dac/amp budget (for now) is under $800.  
Might  start with closed headphones for my home office environment (thinking of AlphaDogs ), but may add open headphones later.   Current headphone budget is <$700, plus the cost of a lottery ticket for upgrading later
 
Will try to get a deal on used gear.  But based on the cost of new, thinking of :
 
1) Centrance HiFi M8  which has advantages of being portable should I need it, balanced output, and can handle a variety of impedances, etc.  Could keep it for a portable solution when I eventually upgrade.
 
2) Schitt bifrost/lyr combo which may have higher SQ, and offers hybrid tube / ss design.   I think it has enough power at all impedances . not sure, since I don't know for sure which phones I'll get.   I think I can live without portability, but would probably eventually upgrade.
 
Either option would be < $800. Since I haven't been able to listen to these products, I'd appreciate hearing from those who have.  Open to other recommendations within my budget.
 
thanks!
-Qua

 

[PurpleAngel]

Audio-GD NFB-11, external DAC/Amp, $355+shipping.
(leaves more of your budget for headphones)
http://www.audio-gd.com/Pro/Headphoneamp/NFB112014/NFB112014EN.htm

 

[qveda]

  Audio-GD NFB-11, external DAC/Amp, $355+shipping.
(leaves more of your budget for headphones)
http://www.audio-gd.com/Pro/Headphoneamp/NFB112014/NFB112014EN.htm

 
I like the idea of saving money and getting 1 open, and 1 closed , or maybe just start with the Audeze LCD-XD (which I have heard) , then upgrade the DAC/amp later.
The Audio-GD does look really good on paper, amazing for the price !  Have you heard it, have you had a chance to compare it to other similarly priced products? 

 

[PurpleAngel]

   
I like the idea of saving money and getting 1 open, and 1 closed , or maybe just start with the Audeze LCD-XD (which I have heard) , then upgrade the DAC/amp later.
The Audio-GD does look really good on paper, amazing for the price !  Have you heard it, have you had a chance to compare it to other similarly priced products? 

 
I have the NFB-15.32, which is considered more "musical", where as the NFB-11 (or older NFB-11.32) should be considered more "detailed".

 

[qveda]

Hi PurpleAngel,  thanks for the suggestions.  looks like some of these models (above) are now discontinued, but for a bit of a stretch in my budget, I might go for the NFB-28  .     all of the audio-gd products seem to get great reviews, so even though I haven't found many reviews of these, it would probably be a safe bet.

 

[cel4145]

I don't have any Audio-GD dac/amps, but I have listened to them at a Head-Fi GTG. They are a great choice for the money.

 

[PurpleAngel]

  Hi PurpleAngel,  thanks for the suggestions.  looks like some of these models (above) are now discontinued, but for a bit of a stretch in my budget, I might go for the NFB-28. all of the Audio-gd products seem to get great reviews, so even though I haven't found many reviews of these, it would probably be a safe bet.

 
I never really see any negative feedback on Audio-GD products and rarely see their owners trying to sell them.