DACs and Head amps $600 or less

[coolsax]

Hey guys, I could probably put this in the digital section but since it concerns my head rig, here I am.
I'm tired of the mess of cables i have for my Head fi rig. b/c the usb ports on my laptop don't provide enough bus power to my HRT MSII, I have to put a self-powered USB hub in the chain and the extra cables that entails makes it a pain in @ss with where i keep the rig.

I want to simplify my rig. I've got a couple of options i'm considering but i'm not sure which route I want to go. I could ask this question on Headfi.org, but there might be too much info running around on that site. I don't want to spend more than $600 total on either a DAC/Amp combo or DAC and Head amp separates and the less the better, but the DAC must have usb input with 24/96 as I like to listen to hi-res on occaision but don't have a ton of it yet.

the following is what i'm considering.
keeping the Fiio E9

-changing out the HRT for a Fiio E17 and docking it into the Fiio E9, its an all in one solution with one usb connection to the dac/amp combo and will drive my HD 650s however it is not Async and the dac may not be quite as good as the HRT (by far the cheapest solution)

-getting a separate selfpowered DAC and connecting it to the E9 - not an all in one solution but eliminates the dangling USB HUB issue. (i worry about getting an DAC that will completely outclass the amp)

scrapping the entire thing

- getting a new amp and self-powered Dac separates ( ie a DACit, Music Hall DAC15.2, MF VDac, Cambridge Dacmagic 100, Arcam Rdac with a separate Head amp, ie a schiit, vcan, or Creek type amp) still some cables but again eliminates the dangling USB hub

- getting a brand new (to me) DAC/amp combo ( lots of options CA DACmagic plus, TEAC dacamp combo, Audioquest Dragonfly(not sure if i would have same bus power issue with this one though), Music Hall DAC 25.3, Nuforce Dac/amps, alphas design, Yulong etc)

I've heard great things about the CE Dac Mini and the Burson DAC/amp but i really don't want to spend the amount it would cost to get into those two.

anyway just any thoughts if anyone has tried any specific combos.
thanks!

[EndersShadow]

Well after much of the same, I dropped ~300 on a used Audio GD NFB-5. They have a BUNCH of DAC & headphone amp combos in your price range and I read a LOT of good things about them.

There is a Schitt Asgard on head-fi right now for 190 shipped, there are 2 Audio GD Compass USB DAC & Headphone amps on head-fi (one for 200 shipped). Audio GD has a bunch of stuff on their website that new is well within your price range and will drive just about ALL the headphones you want.

Keces also made a USB DAC & Headphone combo but their low model Keces 152 started at 450. Dont know a lot about it personally.

Here are some threads of mine that are quite parallel

http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/show...-headphone-amp
http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/show...dio-GD-models)
http://www.head-fi.org/t/621203/200-...p#post_8621513
http://www.head-fi.org/t/622588/usb-...p#post_8610643

[coolsax]

yeah i've heard a little about the Audio GD stuff on headfi, but really haven't had much of a chance to check them out.. will have to research them a bit.

[sucks2beme]

You missed the Austin head fi meet, but there should be a fall mini meet back up here in Dallas.
There may also be another meet in Houston or San Antone. There is a forum heading
over at Head fi for meets and gatherings.

[coolsax]

yeah i've seen that before.... havent' checked it in awhile though at some point i would like to make it to one.

[steveinaz]

Benchmark DAC1 base model. Headphone amp built in, stellar DAC with many different inputs/outputs. Find a used one for about $500. 2 headphone output jacks as well.

[nwohlford]

Benchmark DAC1 base model. Headphone amp built in, stellar DAC with many different inputs/outputs. Find a used one for about $500. 2 headphone output jacks as well.

I use a Benchmark DAC1 at work and really like it. It is a very uncolored sound which is not for everybody.

Even with a USB to S/PDIF converter such as the V-Link, you would still be under $600.

[EndersShadow]

Benchmark DAC1 base model. Headphone amp built in, stellar DAC with many different inputs/outputs. Find a used one for about $500. 2 headphone output jacks as well.

Good call Steve, I totally forgot about the DAC1. I always think of their HDR since its got the remote . If I had the extra cash I woulda probably popped on one myself. They also make GREAT pre-amps as well so your set for 2 channel nirvana that can travel

[steveinaz]

It's the swiss army knife of audio components.

[EndersShadow]

Hey Steve: Does the DAC1 do USB? I see a bunch for in his price range but they all have optical and no USB.

[nwohlford]

The regular DAC1 does not do USB. It would be cheaper to use the regular DAC1 plus V-link than the DAC1 USB model.

[nwohlford]

There are a few additional upgrades in the USB model. Here is a list of the differences by model: http://www.benchmarkmedia.com/dac/dac1-comparison-chart

[steveinaz]

^ Yep.

I've used my BM as a preamp, as line level DAC, and now it acts as my "hub" for all of my sources. Though I'm not a big headphone fan, I have listened thru the headphone outputs and was quite impressed. I have some (lowly) Grado SR60 headphones, so nothing mind blowing for sure.

[sucks2beme]

http://www.head-fi.org/t/623460/ps-a...dphone-amp-dac

How about one of these?

[coolsax]

^^that's a nice option and i've heard good things about PS audio, however yesterday I went ahead and purchased a audioquest Dragonfly and i'm going to give that a run for a couple weeks to see how i like it since they had it at my local bestbuy that had a magnolia store... so far, I'm really impressed. It drives my HD 650's quite easily and i'm not getting any static like i did with the HRT MSII. I am going to give a couple weeks though before i make a final decision, but quite happy in just the first hour i've tried it. I think if i don't end up keeping the dragonfly I might go ahead and try the new Grant Fidelity Tubedac-11 that affordable audio reviewed recently.

[erniejade]

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