[Phil87]

Dear All

i was looking for some nice cans like the Bayerdynamic dt 1990 or T1 v2.

hence I'm supposed to have a DAC and a AMP.

At this moment I have these four products in my mind: (what do you think?)

http://feliksaudio.pl/en/products.php --> Espressivo for 450$ ...but its only an AMP so i need in addition a DAC...what's your recommendation?
- Schiit Jotunheim (499$ internal DAC)
- Fostex HP-A8mk2 (1200$, approx.. 7 pounds! What!)
- Fostex HP-A4BL(350$)

On my desk there is a 5.1 speaker system which is powerd by an optical cable from my mainboard in DTS Modus. So it would be nice if I dont have to switch on and off (exchange the cables) the systems (5.1 vs. headphones). I might be looking for a pre-AMP output? Fostex offers optical in and outs, but I am not sure if this works...

I really appreciate your feedbacks - Solid-state or tubes?
Purpose: Music, movies, gaming, no studio, no recordings.

cheers,
Phil

 

[Oscar-HiFi]

Dear All

i was looking for some nice cans like the Bayerdynamic dt 1990 or T1 v2.

hence I'm supposed to have a DAC and a AMP.

At this moment I have these four products in my mind: (what do you think?)

http://feliksaudio.pl/en/products.php --> Espressivo for 450$ ...but its only an AMP so i need in addition a DAC...what's your recommendation?
- Schiit Jotunheim (499$ internal DAC)
- Fostex HP-A8mk2 (1200$, approx.. 7 pounds! What!)
- Fostex HP-A4BL(350$)

On my desk there is a 5.1 speaker system which is powerd by an optical cable from my mainboard in DTS Modus. So it would be nice if I dont have to switch on and off (exchange the cables) the systems (5.1 vs. headphones). I might be looking for a pre-AMP output? Fostex offers optical in and outs, but I am not sure if this works...

I really appreciate your feedbacks - Solid-state or tubes?
Purpose: Music, movies, gaming, no studio, no recordings.

cheers,
Phil

What digital inputs do you need, as I have the Espressivo and would highly recommend that as the amplifier, it is very versatile and works really well with both the T1 and DT1990,

If you don't need coax input you cannot go wrong with the JDS Labs OL DAC: https://www.jdslabs.com/products/176/ol-dac/

I have the OL DAC and EL DAC, along with the Espressivo.

 

[Phil87]

Hi Oscar-HiFi


Thank you for the prompt reply!
Between the OL and EL DAC, I saw the difference, I also spotted a difference in the Interface with USB Audio Class 1 the other with USB Audio Class 2…

https://www.google.ch/url?sa=t&rct=...sg=AFQjCNGRvb9hwJjY2U2e3k94jKeD9KHUxA&cad=rja

so maybe the USB Audio Class 2 is huge improvement to Class 1.
So at the end, lets say I go with the Espressivo and the EL DAC, I will end up spending 700$ for the DAC/AMP which is kind of expensive using cans like the dt 1990 (500$)
Is it worth it, and do the cans have the potential even to deliver the 700$ quality? Or do I need to upgrade also the headphones?

In comparison, I was looking for alternatives like (preferring the 1. One but I don’t know if it’s a huge draw back):
https://www.digitec.ch/en/s1/product/fostex-hp-a4bl-usb-dac-headphone-amplifiers-5771527
or
https://www.amazon.de/SMSL-T1-Integ.../dp/B01KJJ46E2?tag=comput0d-21&language=en_GB
or
https://www.amazon.de/SMSL-A6-Integ...coding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=6508WV9C6S8TPNJDHE8Z

Best regards and thank you very much!
Phil

 

[Oscar-HiFi]

Hi Oscar-HiFi


Thank you for the prompt reply!
Between the OL and EL DAC, I saw the difference, I also spotted a difference in the Interface with USB Audio Class 1 the other with USB Audio Class 2…

https://www.google.ch/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=2&ved=0ahUKEwjthoCE6PbTAhVH1SwKHQjcBCwQFggvMAE&url=https://techsupport.cambridgeaudio.com/hc/en-us/article_attachments/200282171/Why_Use_Class_2_USB_Mode.pdf&usg=AFQjCNGRvb9hwJjY2U2e3k94jKeD9KHUxA&cad=rja

so maybe the USB Audio Class 2 is huge improvement to Class 1.
So at the end, lets say I go with the Espressivo and the EL DAC, I will end up spending 700$ for the DAC/AMP which is kind of expensive using cans like the dt 1990 (500$)
Is it worth it, and do the cans have the potential even to deliver the 700$ quality? Or do I need to upgrade also the headphones?

In comparison, I was looking for alternatives like (preferring the 1. One but I don’t know if it’s a huge draw back):
https://www.digitec.ch/en/s1/product/fostex-hp-a4bl-usb-dac-headphone-amplifiers-5771527
or
https://www.amazon.de/SMSL-T1-Integ.../dp/B01KJJ46E2?tag=comput0d-21&language=en_GB
or
https://www.amazon.de/SMSL-A6-Integ...coding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=6508WV9C6S8TPNJDHE8Z

Best regards and thank you very much!
Phil

Hi Phil,

If you don't need the coaxial input of the EL-DAC, or the higher sampling rate support, then I would get the OL-DAC, it sounds just as good IMO.

Regarding the Fostex, it is a great all in one device, but it does not have the flexibility of 2 separate devices. I personally prefer to have the ability to be able to plug an analogue input into the amp and not have digital inputs only.

Again this is personal preference, and as I said the Fostex is a great DAC/Amp combo which I have personally used.

I would also say no need to upgrade your headphones just yet.

If you wanted a solid state amp setup (I personally preferred tubes with the DT1990) then the EL-DAC with EL-Amp is nice, and again has the flexibility of separate devices.

 

[Phil87]

Hi Oscar-HiFi

is there any difference if I connect the DAC with coax or optical? I switched my 5.1 speaker system the jack plugs (3 plugs). So my optical and coax would be free, any preference for connection?

ok also if I purchase EL-DAC & EL-AMP from JDS I end up over 500$ so, if I end up at 550$ it doesn matte rto me spending the additional 150$ for the Expressivo.

Do you have a really good alternative around 400? separate & all-in-one?

Best regards
Thank you for your time!

Phil

 

[ostewart]

Hi Oscar-HiFi

is there any difference if I connect the DAC with coax or optical? I switched my 5.1 speaker system the jack plugs (3 plugs). So my optical and coax would be free, any preference for connection?

ok also if I purchase EL-DAC & EL-AMP from JDS I end up over 500$ so, if I end up at 550$ it doesn matte rto me spending the additional 150$ for the Expressivo.

Do you have a really good alternative around 400? separate & all-in-one?

Best regards
Thank you for your time!

Phil

No problem, always happy to help.

For your headphones, and even if you upgraded to the T1's one day the Espressivo is my amp of choice for the money. I've had mine for 2 years now and it's as awesome as when I got it.

Coax or Optical doesn't make any noticeable difference.

For the DT1990 I prefer the Espressivo over the EL-Amp, as it is a little more enjoyable in the long run, whereas the flat sound of the EL-Amp is excellent from a reference point of view, I want to enjoy my music. And I find myself doing that more with the Espressivo, forgetting about the gear, and just enjoying the music.

The only other alternative that I can personally highly recommend is the Matrix Audio HPA-2C, it has a slightly smooth sound compared to something that is completely neutral, but it does not mask details and the internal DAC is rather good on it. But the DAC is USB only.
It has socketed op-amps so you can roll those if you want too.

 

[Law87]

the T1 would do nice with some Tube amp, schiit stack would work. My Chord Hugo works very well too, ample of powers.