Hey Mr. no amp here 
I can get this amp/dac from a friend of a friend for $100. Is this a good option for me?
I have: kph30i, porta pro, fidelio x2, shp9500, k240, sr60e and 58x and 4xx being shipped to me presently.
I still want to use my phone as the source (no desk now or in the future). Is it possible to use a phone and bypass the internal amp/dac in the phone? Is there a better way to accomplish this?
Thanks all
It’s decent, but for 150 bucks the fiio k5 pro if you wanted something like that. You really can’t bypass the amp in your phone so it wouldn’t be ideal
Overpriced at $100, pick up either an atom, a liquid spark or Schiit Magni 3+.
I just realized it’s a dac/amp so I think the fiio k5 pro would be more appropriate lol, or a portable dac amp like the fiio btr5
You could use the btr5 as a usb dac amp from your phone, bypassing your phones internal dac/amp so that might be for you. With the headphones you have I also think the xduoo xd05 might be a good option
Yes didn’t realize it was the version with the built in DAC.
No way to bypass unless I use bluetooth… well I don’t want that… that’s unfortunate… so a computer is the ideal source then when using an amp/dac?
For that type yes. You can get a dac amp like a xduoo xd05 or fiio btr5 for a great price for phone application. The xd05 has lots of power on tap and could run all your headphones great. You can find them on eBay for like 130 new
So looking at the xd05 its usb in from the phone and that would bypass the amp/dac in the phone or still no?
Yes, when you connect it to your phone it will route all audio through the better dac and amp of the xd05, bypassing the phones internal audio
Excellent… is there room to move up with this setup or is a computer inevitable?
So if you wanted to expand in the future there are a couple ways you can do that and keep it mobile. The xd05 has a line out, so you could get a beefier desktop amp and use the xd05 as a dac for your phone or PC in the future, or instead get a higher end portable in the future. You don’t have to be restricted to a desk or pc
Good to know… You’re quite the resource here and I greatly appreciate it… happy new year
Thanks, and you too 
I’m not not taking the advice given here… borrowed the o2 odac… just curious if this is bypassing the onboarding audio? USB connecting laptop to dac/amp.
Yes if you are using usb, it will use the dac and amp of the o2. What are your thoughts on using an amp?
This setup actually is pretty nice… not too intrusive and just sitting on an end table… barely started listening but I like it… clean up some chords and yeah I could live with this
The 9500s sound like two completely different sets of cans … bass is less muddy and a tad more recessed and the vocals are a tad more forward but somehow less fatiguing… maybe its placebo but I dont think so… that’s my first impression… treble sounds more natural too (that’s timbre right?).
Vocal more forward or clear… one of the two
Same thing with the x2s… less bass impact but it’s less muddy and vocals are brought up again… @M0N is there a reason this amp isn’t recommended? Old design and new ones are just better?
Pretty much nailed it. It is still a respectable amp, but for your price range I think there are better options, just want to maximize your bang for buck. Wanting 100 bucks for that amp is kinda high imo
Yeah he said he spent 200+ for it new
