[Sinful]

Hi all!
 
For the first time in my life, I have bought a pair of hi-end headphones sony mdr-z7 and now i need to buy me a good amp/dac external sound card.
 
It's a jungle out there, there's how many different ones to choose in between  and I am not an expert on this.
 
I play my music through my laptop and I use Spotify to flac files and I mostly listen to metal/hardcore/punk.
My budget is 500 dollar max, I want the best I can get for that price.
 
I found this Gustard u12 but i don't know if a need a dac or amp also?
Please write if any of these you could recommend or if you know any better.
 
Thanks in advance!!
 
Headphone
 
Sony mdr-z7:
http://www.sony.se/electronics/horlurar-med-huvudband/mdr-z7?cpint=SG_CATEGORY_SEC-TOUT-CAT-SOUND-EN_GL-2014-12-PERCEPTIONEXPANDED
 
 
This is what I could find that seemed interesting.
 
Amp/Dac
Gustard u12:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/GUSTARD-U12-32Bit-384KHz-DSD-XMOS-USB-Digital-Audio-Interface-/171665659551?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_2&hash=item27f812169f
 
Gustard H10:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/GUSTARD-H10-High-current-Discrete-Class-A-output-Stage-Headphone-Amplifier-/301646624369?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item463b8a3671
 
Schiit:
http://schiit.com/products/valhalla-2 + http://schiit.com/products/loki
 
Teac UD-H01:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/TEAC-UD-H01-32bit-192kHz-USB-DAC-Headphone-amp-balanced-outs-UDH01-Silver-/121450523054?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item1c4703e9ae
 
Yulong A28:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Yulong-A28-fully-balanced-class-A-headphone-amplifier-silver-amp-w-RCA-and-XLR-/161737463998?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item25a84dd8be
 
Audinst hud-mx2:
http://audinst.com/en/index.php?mid=items&category=115&document_srl=186
 
DarkVoice 336SE:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/DarkVoice-336SE-Headphone-Tube-Amplifier-neat-technics-/390689265229?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item5af6e5164d
 
XiangSheng 708B:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/XiangSheng-708B-Vacuum-Tube-Hi-End-Tube-Headphone-Pre-Amplifier-110v-230v-2014-/321685393668?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item4ae5f19104
 
Custom amp:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/high-quality-Base-on-lehmann-audio-headphone-Amplifier-preamp-Hi-end-best-price-/261898091547?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3cfa57bc1b
http://www.ebay.com/itm/261908385952
 
 
Sound card
Turtle Beach Wien:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Turtle-Beach-Wien-HIFI-sound-card-Balanced-line-outputs-24Bit-192kHz-ASIO-YD-/190931000508
 
Musiland monitor 02 us dragon:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Musiland-Monitor-02-US-Dragon-32Bit-384KHz-ASIO-USB3-0-Sound-card-DAC-/151588278299?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item234b5d901b

 

[Snurt]

And why are those amps and dacs interesting? Some of em are solid state and some are tube amps with higher output impedance.
 
If its your first amp i would suggest going solid state, and you don't need to pour your wallet into it to get some good gear.
 
I was recently recommended the Audio-gd NFB-11, and the more i read about it the better a choice it seems, so I'm gonna buy one. It will end up at 365usd with all upgrades + shipping and tax.
It is a combined DAC and headphone amp(and stereo pre amp), but it doesn't have analog inputs.
 
Other than that i would look at that Gustard amp and Schiit audio's products. For a standalone DAC i would say go cheap, but my opinion isn't the same as the rest of the audio community.

 

[cel4145]

I have the Audio-GD NFB-11 with TCXO upgrades. Great dac/headphone amp/pre-amp for the money.