Hello everyone,
back in 2019 this community helped me selecting my new headphones. Back then I have decided to go for the DT 1990 Pro. A decision I do not regret to this day!
I would like to step up my game a little bit and purchase an DAC and an AMP. I’ve actually wanted to buy a new gaming headset but read on multiple sites that a studio headphone paired with a DAC/Amp is much often way better in termes of (sound)performance.
Do you guys have any recommendations for a DAC or an AMP that pairs very well with the DT 1990 Pro? Back then I was reading about Topping D10s and the Atom Amp but did not buy them due to availability here in europe.
Im thinking of buying a desk mircophone aswell, so maybe that narrows down the alternatives?
Welcome Niklaus. I’m fairly new here as well, but have spent enough time that I can say that you will enjoy your time here.
I am no headphone expert, so I may not be the best guy to advise you. I am running a Topping MX-3 Combo device or all-in-one device if you will as my headphone solution. I am currently running Plantronics B8200 headphones. I know, they sound cheesy, right? I thought so too! As it turns out… They are fantastic! Give 'm a little EQ love with the EQ in Fubar, and they are fantastic! I mention this because I wanted to make the point that you don’t have to spend a King’s ransom to get great sound. Of course, given that you already have the DT990s, I hear they are a bit harder to drive. So Something like the Topping may not give the best result.
Eventually I will upgrade to a “next level” solution as well, so I am researching. But I am in no rush, this headphone setup will keep me going for a while. I’m sure others will chime in with wisdom. There is some great reference material on here as well. Best of luck, though I maintain that the hunt is the best part! Again, welcome.
I’m fond of the Asgard 3 for the 1990 Pro. Currently, I’m rocking the Bifrost 2 x Asgard 3 stack. Upgraded from the Modi 3 x Magni 3+ stack. Personally, I didn’t get a whole lot out of the first stack. It was okay. Made things louder. But didn’t really impact the sound or the technicalities (soundstage, detail, etc.) in much of a perceivable way. B2 and A3 have made the music sound so much more real, all around me (three dimensional, not just side to side). Asgard 3 is also known as a slightly warmish amp, which smoothed out some of the 1990 Pro’s rough edges.
I’m about to upgrade to a G111 amp - keeping the Bifrost. G111 is a European brand, which might be more readily available to you. I can check back in and let you know how it sounds.
I know the DX3 Pro LDAC device exists. However, it does not appear to be available now or possibly any time in the near future. I looked at this one as a possible replacement headphone solution. I like the all-in-one integrated nature of it as opposed to a stack. There are pros and cons to each approach.
It’s nice having an integrated solution, and they work well. This device looks like it will work extremely well. The drawback is that if one part of the solution fails, the whole device is now junk. With a stack, if the DAC fails the amp is unaffected and vice versa. Plus, with a stack you can upgrade individual pieces.
I have the S-8 stack for my speakers and the MX-3 for headphone use. Both solutions are working very well for me. That said, when it comes time to upgrade the headphone solution, I am leaning towards going with the stack approach. But I am still researching this myself.
Amp to headphone connection is where you need to pay attention to SE vs Balanced. You would just plug the RCA output of the Modius into the Asgard 3 in your described case.
I hear what you’re saying, but the Modius and Magnius use different tech for ins and outs, SE vs balanced. It’s not the cables themselves that make the difference, but the hardware involved in the architecture of the outs, which are distinct, SE and balanced. The B2 is known - here and elsewhere - for having similarly matched SE and balanced outs.
The Modius, @iMemphis, is not the same story. Apparently is excellent for balanced, less so for SE. With that said, when we’re talking sound quality in the domain of amps and DACs, we’re talking - typically - much smaller differences than with headphones. You need very sensitive ears to pick up on some of these differences - personally, I have very sensitive ears (a bad thing in most areas of life - has made sleeping all the more difficult over the years). Others may not.
I think the Modius → Asgard 3 would be a definitely capable chain. The A3 definitely tamps down on some of the brightness of the 1990 and helps smooth its rough edges some, as I said above - so it’s a really nice pairing IMO. I don’t know enough about other amps and how they gel with the 1990, though, unfortunately. And I’ll be clear: anything I think about the Modius is all anecdotal and second-hand, reading from others’ impressions here and elsewhere. So take what I’m saying with a grain of salt. Enough people have said the same thing, though, that I have some amount of confidence in what I say.
I noticed the Asgard 3 has an option for a built in True Multibit dac. Is getting that a better option than AsGard 3 + Modius? Or is the standalone better?