will get microdac: should get microamp?

[uzziah]

ok, unless i'm heavily persuaded otherwise, i'll probably be getting a microdac for my laptop (and hopefully digital-out dap down the road), but i'm wondering whether i should pick up a microamp, or perhaps looks at something else? how would say, a maxed portable pimeta compare? what about any other brand-name units? or is the synergy between the two units so good i should just get the microstack? i'll be using this setup transportably/portably, AND as my PRIMARY home setup, so it has to handle everything well. i'll be using closed cans on the road, and open grados and senns at home.

 

[TheSloth]

Get the stack. The syngergy is excellent, though the DAC has nicely paired with some other amps. Also, as an upgrade down the road, you can power them both with Desktop Power Supply for greater clarity and definition. For portable use, Headroom will soon be coming out with various bags designed to carry the stack portably, which sound right up your street.

 

[Oski]

Yeah, get the stack, and since it will be your primary home setup, make sure you get the Desktop Module for the Micro Amp. The pairing sounds excellent together and the DM Micro Amp is quite possibly the best sounding portable amp around, one that competes very well with any home amp in the price range.

 

[warpdriver]

The stack will be even more interesting when Headroom comes out with the accessories like the strap to hold them together, the Switcher that allows you to switch sources, and it all fits together in one cool little tower of goodness.

The Micro Amp with DM is VERY good

 

[ken36]

bought the Stack. Excellent. Bought a new EMP AE. Still using Microdac. The little engine that could.

 

[jc_tardiff]

Took my micro amp + DM on a field trip to Boston via Amtrak this week---paired up with my ER6s and 60GB 5G video iPod carrying my freshly ripped (at 320) music library.

Sheer bliss ---trip just flew by.

JT

 

[uzziah]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Oski Yeah, get the stack, and since it will be your primary home setup, make sure you get the Desktop Module for the Micro Amp. The pairing sounds excellent together and the DM Micro Amp is quite possibly the best sounding portable amp around, one that competes very well with any home amp in the price range.

ok, so what exactly is the difference between "desktop module" and "micro module" seems odd. no price difference but does it change the size or something??? also do i choose 120vac or 220vac psu?

 

[gpalmer]

Quote:

Originally Posted by uzziah ok, so what exactly is the difference between "desktop module" and "micro module" seems odd. no price difference but does it change the size or something??? also do i choose 120vac or 220vac psu?

The desktop module uses better components but they use more power so they cut your battery life in half. It's a real sonic upgrade though, the miniAmp with the desktop module can run with the rest of the top end portable amps out there, with the other module it isn't close. If you're in the US go with 120 vac.

 

[patrox89]

well, you may find another amp that sounds good with the micro dac... or you could just buy the micro amp dm and KNOW that they will sound good together...

idk

people around here just dont seem to like it when things are too simple

 

[elrod-tom]

Another thumbs up for the stack. IMHO you won't go wrong by going this route.

 

[slwiser]

The Stack is great with DM but I choose to do a little something different. Check my sig.

 

[warpdriver]

I'm going the reverse route, got the Microamp and getting the Microdac.

I've heard lots of amps in the under $400 range, and this little Micro Amp DM still impresses me. Certainly you can't go wrong with one of Ray Samuels products, or Meier amps if you want an alternative, but the Micro Amp is such a solid contender, and you get the benefit of a perfectly aesthetically matched set (with other items to come like the Micro Switch, and Micro Strap). The crossfeed has to be the most valuable feature which many other amps don't have or do as well.....once you try it, you'll wonder how you did without it.

 

[Brainfreeze]

Quote:

Originally Posted by slwiser The Stack is great with DM but I choose to do a little something different. Check my sig.

How would you route that in my computer system (in sig)? Would you use the spdif output on the audigy or just get a usb cable and hook the micro dac straight up that way, then use the blacksilver cable to the amp , hooking up the grado rs-1's to the amp... I like how using the usb connect on the dac bypasses my soundcard for music, but I dont see the point of having a nice custom cable from the dac to the amp if your just going to use a cheap usb cable from the pc to dac...

 

[J-Pak]

Reading RnB's impression with the stack he was very impressed with the crossfeed on the amp. The more I think about it crossfeed is a pretty important feature that all the Headroom amps have

 

[diablo9]

IMO, for $300 you can get a great used amp on forsale forum. you seldom see micro DAC on forsale forum. I suggest get microDAC and wait for a couple of weeks on forsale forum, see if you get any good deals on a used amp in that price range. if not, place another order for the amp. they offer free shipping anyway, so you won't lose anything.