[Tostitostelli]

Hello there,
 
I'm new to the whole Headphone audio scene, and after carefully reading loads of reviews and tests, I bought myself a HD650.
So now, im looking for a nice USB dac headphone amp to accompany this headphone on my desktop.
Deciding on a headphone was relatively easy, but buying an amp seems like a monumental task.
 
I've seen so many models, and quite frankly i'm lost. Any ideas are welcome.
''Edit: Almost forgot: headphone and amp will be used for 50/50 music, gaming.''
Below is a list of things that I absolutely cannot do without, and budget. Please excuse my use of ''must'' and other choice of words, my english is limited.
 
*Budget is $750, looking for best audio quality within my taste. High fidelity, good bass, and overall warm sound.
*Must have USB DAC.
*Must have a volume knob on the front.
*Not interested in portable solutions.
*Must have a 1/4'' port, on the front.
*Minimum of 24-bit/192kHz via USB.
*Upsampling would be nice, but is not required.
 
Thank you for taking the time to read this, and possibly reply.

 

[ProtegeManiac]

http://www.audio-gd.com/Pro/Headphoneamp/NFB1033/NFB10.33EN.htm

 

[Tostitostelli]

Thanks for the link.
I see this amp has some great reviews, so its worth looking at, but what is this re-terminating exactly?
Does it mean that a standard 1/4'' jack wont fit? And I need another form of jack/plug?
Also, is there anything american or european made, that is simmilair?

 

[ProtegeManiac]

  ...but what is this re-terminating exactly?
Does it mean that a standard 1/4'' jack wont fit? And I need another form of jack/plug?

 

It still has a standard 6.3mm (1/4in) socket above the XLR socket, as per your requirements.

 

[Tostitostelli]

Ah i see. Thanks
Seems weird that they require to re-terminate a headphone then. whatever that may be. *confused*

 

[PurpleAngel]

  Ah i see. Thanks
Seems weird that they require to re-terminate a headphone then. whatever that may be. *confused*

 
I'm not sure either why someone would need to re-terminate their 4-pin balanced headphone connection into a standard 3-channel (shared ground) 1/4" plug.
As it appears the NFB-10.33 already comes with the 4-pin balanced headphone jack.
 
Might consider gong for the lower costing NFB-15, $270+shipping ($45?).
http://www.audio-gd.com/Pro/Headphoneamp/NFB1532/NFB15.32EN.htm

 

[ProtegeManiac]

  Ah i see. Thanks
Seems weird that they require to re-terminate a headphone then. whatever that may be. *confused*

 
It has a 4-pin XLR output for balanced drive. You can just buy a proper cable with such a configuration to try it out for yourself and see if it makes a difference. 
 

   
I'm not sure either why someone would need to re-terminate their 4-pin balanced headphone connection into a standard 3-channel (shared ground) 1/4" plug.
As it appears the NFB-10.33 already comes with the 4-pin balanced headphone jack.

 
I think he read something about doing it the other way around, so they can use the balanced output. By "reterminate" I assume that's a dual-entry headphone cable with four conductors running all the way to the factory 6.3mm plug, so you just need to put in an XLR plug in its place. 

 

[Tostitostelli]

Thanks for all the replies!!!

ive decided on the Audio-GD - NFB 28 v2015 (balanced) Sabre DAC & preamp .
Also switching out my 1/4'' jack for a 4-pin plug.

 

[ProtegeManiac]

 
Also switching out my 1/4'' jack for a 4-pin plug.

 
Make sure you know what you're doing - for starters, that has to be a dual entry headphone with four conductors all the way through to the plug, splitting into two at the Y-junction. And get the proper pins right when you solder them. 

 

[Tostitostelli]

   
Make sure you know what you're doing - for starters, that has to be a dual entry headphone with four conductors all the way through to the plug, splitting into two at the Y-junction. And get the proper pins right when you solder them. 

I dont have to, do i? I mean the cable plugs into the headphone real easy, and unplugs. Its basicly just pulling out the current cable and replacing it by a 4 conductor pin cable.
Its part of the reason why I bought the HD650, easy cable swap, without soldering.

 

[ProtegeManiac]

 
I dont have to, do i? I mean the cable plugs into the headphone real easy, and unplugs. Its basicly just pulling out the current cable and replacing it by a 4 conductor pin cable.
Its part of the reason why I bought the HD650, easy cable swap, without soldering.

 
Well you said "switching out my 1/4'' jack for a 4-pin plug," not "getting a new cable (already reterminated with an XLR plug)." 

 

[Tostitostelli]

   
Well you said "switching out my 1/4'' jack for a 4-pin plug," not "getting a new cable (already reterminated with an XLR plug)." 

I should've been more clear