Small footprint Speaker amp with Headphone out?

Equipment / Electronics / Gear / Accessories Speaker Amps
1

Hi everyone,

I am looking for a speaker amp with a headphone out as what the title says but with a smaller footprint (desktop setup). The SMSL AD18 would be perfect but I’m leaning towards having a dac/amp stack if possible.

• Source
PC: Music, Movies, Gaming

• Hardware I’ll be purchasing
Headphones: Sennheiser HD660s (purchasing at a later time)
Speakers: Triangle BR03

• Preference

  1. Stack with a Dac if possible
  2. Support switching between headphones or speakers without having to physically unplug cables
  3. Elegant volume control (remote would be nice but a priority) that can live on a desk and not take up a large amount of space - the ideal would be if the same unit could control both the output selector (headphones/ speakers) and volume
  4. Bluetooth but not a priority.

Budget wise, it’s not big. Around 300 - 500 USD or less for both AMP and DAC stack or the AMP/Dac like the AD18. The SMSL DA-8 would have been perfect paired with a DAC but that doesn’t have a headphone out :frowning: . Any input is highly appreciated. Thank you.

2

Did you want separates or an all-in-one?

Seems to be a good integrated that falls within your budget.

1 Like
3

Depends but ultimately something that can power my Triangle BR03s and still can use a headphone out. The DX3 should be not be it I guess?

Reason for the preference is that I just did not want to have multiple boxes (2 is fine) or one big box laying around my desk…

4

XDDDD Wow… I would call that a decent sized budget

5

That’s for both Dac and amp or an all in one.

6

SMSL has some options, you could do a whole stack for that budget.

All three on on Drop periodically which would save more money. I picked up the SU-8 DAC for 180$ two drops ago.

1 Like
7

I believe the SU-8 and DA-8S are both on Apos, who will match Drop’s prices

8

The DA-8s would be perfect but no heaphone out up front which is a bummer :frowning:. Thanks for these.

9

So, because of the bid system this may well climb over 500USD, but just in case…

10

This one would actually do it but way above my budget if I consider shipping and a new unit since this one does not ship to my place. I’ll try to watch out if I can get this from a local shop near to me.

11

Not the smallest but?..

12

Yes this and the topping MX3, looking for anything similar that’s recent but I have this on my list rn along with the other suggestions.

13

Denon PMA-600ne is a common rec for integrated, though not as small of a footprint. I used an MX3 for a little over a year and thought it did a good job driving some old Realistic MC-1200 speakers. Found a sound comparison video between the Denon and MX3 driving a couple different speakers where it was pretty tough to hear any significant differences.