My budget is 1200$ for both
Would prefer a combined unit but I am looking for the best in the market over anything else
Any recommendations?
For IEM I use the Topping L30 II and E30 II stack. On Audiosciencereview it measured the most quiet noise floor of anything and I can attest to that. With 10 ohm IEMs you can hear a pin drop in a song, no detail is missed. I use optical USB with a B adapter or optical cable from the PC for an inky black noise floor. I use the Topping A70Pro and E70 9028Pro for headphones and it’s good for IEMs too. Just the L30 II/E30II is all you need for them and also most headphones on the market. I need the A70Pro to equalize the Hifiman HE6SE which is a challenge when you do a -6.9db preamp reduction.
What iems? Synergy is definitely a thing with audio gear so knowing what you have can definitely help with recommending a good setup.
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I will treat 1200 dollars as a guideline. You should allow yourself to go slightly beyond the budget if need be to get to a certain performance level worthy of your dream IEMs.
For stationary usage, I would recommend:
https://sparkoslabs.com/gemini-headphone-amp/
Works with both IEM’s and headphones as in it has a silent background on low-gain for IEMs. Superb world-class Opamps + Tube, really can’t go wrong.
That leaves 200 dollars for a DAC… you won’t right now find a DAC that will match the stunning performance of the AMP, but you ought to in the future and now you can, because you have opted for separates and not a combined unit. In the meanwhile, you’ll have amplification endgame.
For a more balanced approach right off the bat, but just slightly above budget, you could go with the following combination:
(For the DAC, pick USB Amanero & SparkoS 3602 for XLR at least)
For portable usage:
Stretched budget: iBasso DX340 or iFi iDSD Valkyrie
Well within budget: Chord Mojo 2, iBasso DC Elite,
Also Earmen L-AMP if you don’t mind a little tube noisefloor.
Hisenior Mega5est, I also have a pair of xens mangirds tea 2s, as well as some cheaper tin t2s and tangzu wan’er
Would an optical adapter also be recommended for this kind of setup ?
I don’t like optical. It is my fervent belief that optical sounds the worst out of all formats.
Go with Coaxial, USB, AES or I2s.
I see your IEMs are hybrid IEMs in the 3-400$ range. With that in mind, I would not stretch that high in terms of budget. $1200 is a bit overkill In relation to your IEMs.
One of my personal favourite with hybrid IEMs is the Cayin Ru7 on DSD 64 setting. It’s clean, powerful yet very analogue and smooth.
Few other options are Cayin Ru6, iBasso Nunchaku, Hiby FC6, all of which are smooth.
You want something smooth to pair with IEMs that use Balanced Armature for treble and mids which both of your IEMs do.
thank you for the breakdown
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Nice that’s a great set of items. Ok I’m going to go against your $1200 budget and save you a ton of $$$$$. Pick up a L&P W4 and be satisfied as it’s so hard to beat. Every iem I have used with it sounds amazing. Also this allows you to get more iems lol.
and what would you recommend for iem based on DD? Mine is softears twilight.
Definitely not something smooth - it is already smooth and lush enough.
With Twilight you want something neutral and resolute like iBasso DC Elite or L&P W4. Technicalities and resolution is the game here.
I personally do not think single DD IEMS work at all with R2R/1Bit dongles, such as Ru6, FC6 and Ru7. The frequency extremes (sub-bass & air) become too smothered, decreasing the sense of resolution and effortlessness.
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Exactly what i thought. Thanks for clearing. I am eyeing for DC Elite or a DAP. Not sure to which path i would go.
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