Want to improve sound at work

[ekjellgren]

Hi all!
 
I just ordered the Sennheiser Momentums, and from what i read the iPhone5 has an ok output to drive these. Will test as soon as i get them of cource.
I will also use these with my Lenovo laptop as a source, and i thought a DAC/AMP maybe would be nice?
At home I have a Musical Fidelity V-DAC, could that be of some use?
Looking at Vamp Verza, FiiO, Astell&Kern and other products, but I dont want to spend too much.
 
/BR Evert

 

[lin0003]

What is your budget? 

 

[ekjellgren]

  What is your budget? 

 
$300

 

[davidsh]

Just a Magni, used with the v-DAC would be good, also if you intend to upgrade eventually.

 

[cel4145]

Which Momentums? On ear or over ear?

 

[ekjellgren]

Over-Ear

 

[davidsh]

The momentum does sound mighty fine out of my iPhone, though.

 

[cel4145]

The Magni with your V-DAC is a good suggestion. If you want something different for a desktop solution that also has output for powered speakers or a speaker amp, how about the NFB-15 (which has it's own DAC). Or the Matrix M-Stage or Schiit Asgard 2 (which are just amps with pre-amps).

 

[Brooko]

Beyer A200p might be worth checking out:
http://www.head-fi.org/products/beyerdynamic-a200p-portable-mobile-dac-headphone-amp-for-iphone-and-android-phones-black-silver/reviews/11076
 
I got a chance to review a demo unit, and in the end I bought it off Beyerdynamic rather than returning it.  I have an iPhone4 - so I still need to purchase the 30 pin cable at some stage, but as you have an iPhone5, it'll work with the supplied cable.
 
The A200p is a genuinely portable device - can be used with both your iPhone and also as a USB DAC/amp.  I'm using it solely as a USB DAC/amp at work - and absolutely love it.
 
A bit pricey - but I haven't regretted buying it.

 

[davidsh]

The a200p doesn't have much power though.. Fine for portables, but insufficient for harder to drive headphones I imagine.

 

[Brooko]

The a200p doesn't have much power though.. Fine for portables, but insufficient for harder to drive headphones I imagine.

 
Drove the HD600 and 250 ohm DT880 rather well actually - with plenty of head room.  Besides that OP only has Momentums, and even if he did switch to a harder to drive headphone, I'd be surprised if (for work) he went for an ortho, 600ohm Beyer etc.  US version actually outputs 1.7 Vrms - the EU one is more limited though.
 
It's actually ideal for a small footprint work solution.

 

[ekjellgren]

Thinking about using the V-DAC with the laptop at work and adding the C&C BH2 amp, would that be compatible?

 

[cel4145]

Yes. Although the Magni is a better amp than the C&C BH2.

 

[davidsh]

You can't really use portable amps with iPhone 5. Some amp/DACs are compatible.

 

[ekjellgren]

What would I mostly benefit from, and what amp would best suit the Momentums (both laptop and smartphone)?
Are there any benefits of using a DAC/AMP for the iPhone 5?
 
These are my options:
1. Desktop amp to pair with the V-DAC (Magni, Pro-Ject Head Box II)
2. Desktop amp with other DAC (Magni/Modi)
3. Desktop amp with integrated dac (Aune T1)
4. Portable amp to pair with the V-DAC (E12)
5. Portable amp with other DAC
6. Portable amp with integrated dac (E07K, Hegel Super, nano iDSD, Vamp Verza, ADL X1, E17, A200p)
 
Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated, maybe I should have the Magni and V-DAC at work and a separate portable solution?
Do the V-DAC/Magni solution fit the Momentums?
 
/Evert