I’m looking for a budget desktop DacAmp or Dac and Amp that can run 300ohm headphones around the $250 range. What would you guys recommend?
What headphones specifically are you looking to drive, a sennheiser I presume?
Ideally I’d likely want to push the budget a bit to like 300-350 if you can, that could get you something like an asgard 3 with a dac like an earmen donald or modi 3+, or a lake people g103s with a liquid spark dac or a topping e30 imo. Generally the asgard will be the warmer smoother and more rich sounding amp, the g103s foucsing a bit more clean and neutral with a bit of warmth. Both are pretty dynamic, and both have a pretty wide stage, but the asgard has a wider stage where the 103s has sharper imaging. I’d say both are equally detailed, the g103s is more controlled and the asgard has more impact and slam
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I started my audio journey with the HD600 (300ohm) and Atom Stack (DAC/Amp). I switched over to a Schiit Stack (Magni Hersey and Modi 3+) due to a better build quality and less clutter with my surge protector.
Both were fantastic and can easily drive a majority of headphones!
Good luck!
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Asgard 3 is an excellent choice for an amp on the low cost ladder.
A Schiit Magni 3_ or Hersey for $99 are great low end choices. I use these with my 600’s and 650s works very well…then a $99 dac from Schitt your ready to go…spend a bit more for a Modi MB dac. ($250) or a Schiit Modius for $199 “good” choices here on the low price range…
Good luck!
Alex
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Not sure if I’d recommend a Modi MB for the price especially you likely need a half decent DDC to bypass the outdated Gen 2 USB, and when OP specifies he has 250USD budget for a setup, I wouldn’t recommend a 200USD DAC either and OP likely doesn’t need a balanced DAC for now.
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yes sir! but we did say “spend more”…nothing like having an open mind…and I would not sweat the USB interface at all…
Yes spend more, but would you recommend someone to spend the extra on a DAC that is either outdated or surplus to his need? No offence, but that’s not about being open minded.
Why would you not sweat about the USB interface at all? It is problematic, is it not?
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Whats outdated?? Dont these not so new and shiney dacs still work as well as they did on day 1?
No offense taken…
USB interface problematic? Been using USB stuff for years no real issues here the only issue i have honestly experienced was using asynchronus dacs with buffer timings that lead to ticks and pops intermittenty. None of this with my MB dacs.
Its all good…
Enjoy the music!
Modi Multibit specifically. It might be good a few years ago, but personally I’m not sure if it’s worth 250USD today as it’s quite a bit behind the newer multibit like Bifrost 2. And its Gen 2 USB. It’s both audibly and measurably more noisy than Gen 5 or Unison, so at least Schiit could update the USB interface first.
Just because something works doesn’t mean it’s not outdated, and there are also plenty out there who find the Gen 2 USB noisy and problematic.
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xDuoo TA-10 Tube DAC/Amp…290$, I think. All in one. Good with 6xx.
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If you have the choice you shouldn’t use usb anyways, typically it introduces too much noise from the source and ime depending on the DAC other digital inputs are usually of higher quality (less noise, blacker background, etc.)
What about the Unison USB tech from Schiit?
Can’t comment, never have owned or tried any schiit.i have heard some good things about their usb implementation though. Just for clarificationiI’m nnot saying that you should feel bad for using USB but just if you have the means to I would look into using other inputs instead. Usb is obviously the most convenient input and I recognize sometimes convenience is the best way to go
Also it makes more sense to forego usb on higher end dacs on lower end it might not make as much of a difference
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Liquid Spark DAC is toast due to AKM fire. See what I did there?
Ah really? well that’s a big rip, that’s unfortunate, was pretty nice
Yup. Was thinking of getting one to gift but no bueno.
Definitely time to get a Darkvoice 336se with a set of cheap swapped tubes. One of the best pairings with the 6XX in that price range.
I saw someone recommend the TA-10 I’d definitely reocmmend the Darkvoice over it but I get the bang for the buck on that DAC Amp combo maybe too much to resist. If you end up getting it Definitely switch grab this E80CC tube it sounds incredible with the amp
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I know DV is about as low as you can go with OTL and still get decent results, but I have to ask…do you have some affiliation? The frequent and fervent recommendation every time something remotely high impedance, whether helpful to the OP or not, is mentioned comes across somewhat suspect to anyone just perusing the forum.
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No.
I see the same recommendations over and over and over same solid state schitt stack recommendations, same old stuff.
I never see anyone recommend tubes that often.
And high impedance and OTL??? is there a better synergy. They’re made for high impedance.
Everytime I recommend tubes I even like some cheap really nice NOS tubes that pair really well and neutral.
I commonly recommend other tube amps as well.
Often I see people who are new on the forum with a 6XX pretty common sight and the recommendations they get are to spend a boat load of money on setup. I get why but the alternative Darkvoice recommendation is cheap and the performance is incredible. The tubes are cheap and accessible. So for high impedance why not??
Also for the DT 880 600ohm a notoriously difficult headphone to drive apart from an old speaker amp or a cheap class D amp the Darkvoice 336 is one of the cheapest ways to get 500-600mw at 600ohms out there.
High impedance and OTL to me makes sense and I see commonly people disliking the recommendation. It’s excellent especially as a starting point and commonly over looked.