[Sanman99]

tube amps? Vali or some other amp and tubes...
or i can wait till after Canjam
Massdrop only has some about $500 or $600 right now.

gonna try bidding on a Magni+ (not the Heretic version). And Modi+ has usb-c.
(I could wait and find an auction for the Heretic version, but it might not be much difference)
checking head-fi classifieds also

hoping Audeze is sturdy and detailed
still open to other brand. canjam i guess...
any headphones with no plastic?

and just if anyone has advice on tube amps then mostly
could post separately

not sure if i'd want it mostly for vocals
or how many different kinds. I could just get a Vali and check the tube-rolling thread, or a better amp.
I'd consider a wide variety of tubes, if someone has a good set to recommend. Or I could get into a subset variety and hone in within some style.

https://www.head-fi.org/threads/vali-2-tube-rolling.793982/

Massdrop has Aeon, E-MU wood, Beyerdynamic 770 and such.
hoping I have a slight grasp at this point which ones overall sound what way, and the build material
just reading online comparisons, sometimes a small nuance is emphasized elaborated using a word that seems more
Beyer is V shaped, and some beyer veil. That makes sense mostly. If I get a chance, maybe try some and get a good playlist to test.

 

[Mr Jabinho]

ifi zen dac v2 would be good option.

 

[Sanman99]

ifi zen dac v2 would be good option.

rather than the Modi+ ?
seems to have a modern style case or whatever. aesthetically.

as for tube amps, i see there's some other amps and full tube. still reading.
garage1217, darkvoice, little dot, and the vali
and it could matter what headphones, genre, and sound preference

this is probably too little info and too many questions to get anywhere yet
I might try getting a low end very analytical solidstate, even the magni heretic
and then maybe as far into tubes for a good example of that
unless i manage to just try some first

xduoo and topping also make some stuff

as for headphones, not sure if I mentioned Denon


at some point I might just end up getting something
or leaving it go and wait
could just get a DAC now, a Modi+ or just wait a year or more

edit: ok I am hoping to check if XDuoo TA-03s can work as just a DAC. I don't quite understand. if so, I could skip the modi, and get that and a magni or something.
Massdrop has some bad reviews on it, but some mention 240v in their country. Another review says it indeed works as DAC output even while powered off.
So maybe the TA03s and a Magni if I don't find the same problems others have.