I have been reading the guides here, along with separate research in an attempt to understand upgrade paths down the line for both headphones, DAC, and amps. However, I have been stumped recently. My friend recommended that I start with the Master and Dynamic MH40 (which I have seen no threads on these headphones if anyone wants to give their opinion!) and suggested to get a DAC/Amp. I saw Zeos’ review on the FX-Audio DAC-X6 and I got it for 30$ on ebay. Now… my growing interest in the audiophile world as led me to getting the HE4XX and recently, a friend of mine gave me a new pair Sennheiser HD650 Reference headphones. I immediately noticed the different between these 400-500$ pair of cans compared to the MH40s and HE4XX.
The impedance of 300 ohms posed to be a bit of a problem when using my current DAC/Amp combo. An upgrade is definitely needed. To add onto this, I am saving up for Sendy Aivas in the near future and will need a setup to power those and paired with a decent amp. Most likely, I will not be paying over 1000$ on headphones so super hi-fi gear is out of the question.
What is my question though is what to choose when going forward. Should I just use the DAC on the DAC-X6 and get a decent amp? Should I opt for a combo? Separate DAC and Amplifier? If so, which ones to cover all the bases of headphones under 1000$. I will most likely get other cans after the Aivas, but I wont exceed 1000$ as that is over my threshold for this hobby haha. I understand that the Aivas come with a 4.4 balanced cable and an adapter for 3.5 mm. Is it necessary to run these balanced? Will it require a balanced amp? Please let me know!
edit: Speakers will likely be a purchase in the near future, however, it would be nice to know the options without outputting to speakers as well!
So personally, for a desk setup for what you have, I think a topping d10 and a jds labs atom or monolith liquid spark would offer the best sound for the money. If you have the 650, in the future I would suggest getting something like a darkvoice 336se or little dot mk2 tube amp to chain in so you can run your 650 on a tube which would sound pretty awesome imo
The aiva can run unbalanced with the adapter so you don’t need a balanced amp.
If you wanted to get something a bit cheaper, I think the fiio k5 pro or ifi zen dac would be great all in ones to consider
All of the dac amp stacks or combos would allow for powered speakers in the future so you should be good there
Regarding the dac x6, I feel like you already have some pretty high quality headphones and I think it would be worth it to spend a bit more and get more out of your cans
You can go higher up later on, but for now I think something like the d10 + atom or spark would be plenty flexible and something that would last you a long time
You may say that now lol, but it can be pretty addicting
I am aware that it can be pretty addicting haha, I have other hobbies as well that can be pretty pricey.
In regards to the going higher up later on, I am sure there is some sort of diminishing returns for DACs and amps, correct? Is there some sort of threshold eventually that will ultimately cause for paying more and less performance?
For example, I was also looking at the SMSL SP200 as I have been hearing good things about the amplification quality of THX based amps. Usually, an amp just does that, using it to power those beefier cans. And yet, amps alone can cost thousands to do that job.
Of course, it just depends on the person and the headphones they have. Personally I think if you plan to stay below 1k for each headphone with multiple pairs (3+ pairs), the most you would want to spend on a dac amp setup would be around 500 to 600 to stay within reasonable price to performance. Also you want to consider what type of sound signature you prefer for how you decide to go forward.
Personally, I am not the largest fan of thx amps, but they are nice. I do think they are solid though. I think we can get deeper though later on regarding that. It just depends on what you plan to pick up in the future
You’re definitely in good hands here with M0N and will go pretty far with his advice. One thing to keep in mind if you are serious about in all-in-one setup with headphones + desktop speakers is to plan ahead. Keep in mind there are separate headphone amps and stereo amps. If you want more futureproofing or a n all-purpose, you may want to look for a stereo amp that has a clean headphone output.
Personally I think that might limit your options a bit but that is something you could go with if you wanted an aio and passive speakers. I was thinking either powered speakers using a pre out on the amp with the dac, or splitting the dac to both the headphone amp and the integrated speaker amp
I do appreciate any sort of input, I have been reading these forums for weeks now. I am glad to have someone like M0N who has continuously participated in many of the topics. Hence why I started a thread to pick everyone’s brain, tailored to the setup I currently have and currently want to have. Also, I love your profile picture, Absolution is a wonderful album by Muse!
I appreciate different types of sound signatures. As of now, I am in the midst of a sort of development stage for what I would actually prefer. Hence why I want to create a versatile setup for when I pickup a higher end headphone so I don’t have to worry about power or the quality of my DAC. I would prefer those variables to be set for now and ill add tube amps or swap things out as I go!
An example of cans I have my eye on the future have been the Sendy Aivas at the top, Klipsch HP3 (I have seen some go for around 900$ so it fits), Argons, and the focal elex.
Let’s actually focus on cans atm. What are you looking for most out of a higher end pair of cans? This can help guide your dac amp choices a bit to make it better suited for the future
Gotcha. I do game but I will be using open backs for those and I have a simple usb mic that suits my needs without interfering with my audio setup.
I love the HD650s and HE4XX for their sound stage and clarity. I would like to try out some cans that are intimate, more so for analytical purposes. My friend has sendys and they seem pretty unique with their sound signatures. So far, the MH40s have been my only closed backs other than a pair of M50x’s I had for a long time, but I gave those to a friend. So I am curious as to what is out there for closed backs with an analytical type of sound signature.
Oh as well as cans that benefit from tubes, considering I that I will be investing in tubes later on!
Hmm out of what you mentioned then, the sendys and the elex would be my picks for what you like. The sendys tilt more towards your preference I would say if you want something intimate and analytical. Personally I prefer the elex but that’s just me and from what you describe you may find the sendy more for what you are looking for (but the elex pretty dang good tho).
For analytical closed backs, some that come to mind would be the Beyer T5Ps and Audio Technica MSR7s (most closed backs don’t go for a brighter signature). I am going off of analytical as bright and forward, mainly focusing on detail). For something a bit more neutral closed I would say the focal elegia (I think you may really like this one), DCA aeon 2 closed, Fostex T60rp, and more.
With that being the case, I think you may really enjoy a geshelli stack with the enog 2 pro and archel 2.5 pro, as I think that would be a great paring and would provide plenty of detail (moreso than the thx imo) for what you want. The only downsides to the stack may be the lack of usb in (but personally that doesn’t matter to me) and the lack of a pre out for speakers (so that means if you got powered speakers you would just need to grab a relatively inexpensive volume control for them). I think with the g stack you will be set for pretty much most headphones you would pick up (besides some stupid hungry headphones)
One question, the geshelli stack sounds great for detail. Any other alternatives for a solid all round stack or combo. My friend has a jotenheim and he believes that its the best thing since sliced bread. I am just a bit skeptical on it for 500$.
I really wouldn’t recommend the jot currently. It’s fairly outdated and has issues like some dynamic range compression, and also power with less finesse. It’s alright, but I think there are much better options out there currently
I really would only recommend the newer products from schiit, like the asgard 3 and magni heresy, I wouldn’t recommend the other schiit stuff until it gets updated to where it is actually competitive in the market
Jots are fine, I have one, mon doesn’t like them, and It wouldn’t be my first recommendation at $500. You also really need to run them balanced to get the most out of them.
Man, all the pricey ones are pretty nice. Oh, I had a question since you have aivas, the headphone comes with a cable with a 4.4 mm end. As well as a 3.5 mm adapter for it. Whether I get the liquid spark or the atom, would I need a 4.4 mm to 1/4 inch adapter to run them unbalanced? Or just use the 4.4 to 3.5 mm adapter and use a quarter inch add on from another headphone. Would it be beneficial to run the sendys balanced?
You would do this. Just use the included 4.4 to 3.5 and then use a 3.5 to 1/4 inch
Yes and no tbh, it depends on the amp you go with. If you go with a single ended amp (as most of the amps I have recommended so far are single ended anyway) it doesn’t really matter. If you do end up with a balanced amp you may want to use the balanced by getting a 4.4 mm to xlr. A balanced amp is not necessarily better than an unbalanced one of the same caliber