[bcurko]

Hey head-fi guru's

I need to get a headphone amplifier that runs through the pc through usb. It will drive my Sennheiser HD 595's hopefully

I haven't used them on anything besides onboard audio so i have no idea how much better the quality of sound will be when i purchase an amp.

What would you guys suggest around the $100-200 mark

 

[bcurko]

Any Ideas?

 

[dishkyun]

How about HiFiMAN EF2?

 

[bcurko]

That sounds good and the price is about right. But would i be able to power that in australia because of the power supply voltage?

 

[dishkyun]

Input Impedence: 47k
Output Impedence: 32-300 Ohm
Output at 32 Ohm: 3 v, 320 mw
Output at 150 Ohm: 6.2 v, 256
Freqency: 20-20khz +/- 0.2db
S/N: 95db
DAC Chip: Burr-Brown PCM2702
Tube: China 6J1 * 2 pcs
Input Voltage: 16 v to 18 v; 500 mA
Power Supply: 110 v or 220 v
Size: 14cm*8.5cm* 4.5cm or 5.6"* 3.4" * 1.8"

May be you can write to them directly here: head.direct.customerservice@gmail.com

 

[bcurko]

so you think go for that? I'm going to have to use a shipping agent and hope that the sound reproduced is a ****load better then onboard sound considering the $200 upgrade

 

[malalol]

Hi guys, first post!

Just like bcurko I just bought a HD595 and I'd like to buy an amp as well. I've read many threads about EF2 and about portable/accessible amps with DAC, and iBasso D4 Mamba got my attention after some good reviews of the D2 and D3.

Which one do you guys think it's better? I listen mostly to rock, metal and jazz... and prefer more balanced than bassy sound.

I want to use the DAC for my monitor speakers as well, since my sound card is not that good. I heard D4 has line out function as well, I don't know if it makes much difference compared to using the amplification to feed my monitors.

Regards,

 

[asianfi]

For about 200$ right on is the setup I'm currently using which is the x-fi>opa627 running through optical with the 627 as a dedicated dac.


Creative - Sound Blaster X-Fi Surround 5.1 External USB Sound Card - SB1090]x-fi

ZERO (Tianyun) 24/192 DAC + Headphone Amp (OPA627) - eBay (item 260422598150 end time Dec-30-09 21:28:27 PST)]opa627

 

[TheBigCW]

I think asainfi is talking about the Tianyun Zero, as opa627 is simply the OPAMP used inside that particular Zero model.

The Zero would work, however a lot of people have reliability issues with it. I'd try the Maverick D1, the Aune, or the Audio-gd Compass.

 

[asianfi]

What reliability issues are you referring to? I haven't had any particular problems as of yet.

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheBigCW /img/forum/go_quote.gif I think asainfi is talking about the Tianyun Zero, as opa627 is simply the OPAMP used inside that particular Zero model. The Zero would work, however a lot of people have reliability issues with it. I'd try the Maverick D1, the Aune, or the Audio-gd Compass.

 

[gbacic]

I've heard of zeroes frying peoples headphones.

 

[TheBigCW]

I've heard of drivers being damaged, dealers inserting OPAMPs the wrong way, headphones being completely trashed, Zeroes suddenly breaking out of no where...

I'd go the Maverick or the Aune before the Zero. If you can raise your budget, maybe Compass. But I hear the Mav is a tad better than the compass for ~80 dollars less and has tube preamp out (my Mav is in the mail :])

 

[asianfi]

I'm scared to use mine now haha

 

[MikeW]

I think the Nuforce Udac is the undisputed value leader at this point. The EF2 is nice, it will have a better amp then Udac, but the dac in udac is far far better. It may be the better overall solution. Or even a Udac + EF2.

udac is 99$

It uses sabre 9022, and has amp/dac/usb to spdif.

there's a thread in the source forum all about it, it's also sold/distributed/supported by a company based in california.
I'ts also USB powered so no problems there.