[397324]

Hi All
 
I want to get a USB powered DAC/Headphone amp. Something like a Dragonfly 1.2, DacMagic XS, iFI Nano iDSD DAC, Meridian Explorer or the Audioengine D1 Premium.
 
Has anyone compared the above against each other, or maybe there is something I have missed out I should consider?
 
Regards
 
Darren

 

[Gregory_WE]

Several of those are only DACs and have no headphone amplifier.
 
One USB DAC/Amp that's always popular and a good value is the Fiio E10. They just released the updated E10K which is supposed to be an upgrade over the original.

 

[397324]

I thought they all had headphone amps. Which ones don't?

 

[Gregory_WE]

My mistake, they all do -- I had just checked a few and at first glance the DAC was what was advertised and mentioned nothing about amplification.

 

[cel4145]

What is your budget? And do you need USB powered, or just USB connection for the DAC?

 

[397324]

Hi
 
Budget is up to the most expensive listed above, so about £250, and I did state it had to be USB powered in my first post..
 
Regards
 
Darren

 

[cel4145]

Budget is up to the most expensive listed above, so about £250, and I did state it had to be USB powered in my first post..

Oh yeah. I read your first post. Just verifying since a lot of times people new to the site don't quite specify things right

I think you have a good list so far. If you were in the US, I'd suggest looking at the JDS Labs C5D and Leckerton UHA-6S .MKII which are portable dac/amps that have batteries so that they can also be used with other devices. Meier Audio Corda PC Step is made in Germany.

 

[jackwess]

The meridian explorer is a good unit, i take it over the Dragonfly anytime. 
 
Which headphones you own btw? 

 

[397324]

Hi
 
I have Audio-Technica ATH M50, AKG 451 and Sennheiser HD 485.
 
Regards
 
Darren

 

[auradud3]

let me see if i can get some feed back here? i need the best little amp/dac with headroom for my K10S, ive been away from my rigs for a while (surgeries) and when i go to play my tunes my dacs are shot, cant just run K10s off the mac , would not be right!

 

[Pumpo]

I used to run an IDSD nano BL and it never served me wrong, lots of power for such a small amp