Another help me pick a DAC & headphone amp

[hifi_n00b]

Hi all. I have searched the forum but haven't found a clear answer. The more I read, the more I go around in circles & have reached analysis paralysis
When I think I've found the one, further research reveals issues or problems or something new that's better.

I'm looking to improve music listening on my PC using my HD600's & powered speakers.
While the current setup works fine, I'd like to dip a toe into the audiophile world and see how it goes.

I'm looking for a DAC & headphone amp that uses USB input to my PC, 3.5 or 6.35 headphone jack & RCA outputs to connect my powered speakers.
I have no need for Bluetooth, XLR outputs or any other in/out options for this setup

I made a spreadsheet with ASR recommended items & narrowed down the list to items that fit my brief.
Problem is this sector seems to update rapidly so not all available items have been reviewed on ASR.

Shortlist was SMSL DL100
Topping DX3 PRO+
ifi Audio Zen DAC 3 which is what I chose however seems it doesn't rate well here. XBass button appealing with HD600. Might be fine for me but then
Fiio K11 or SMSL C200 PRO were seen as better performing than the ifi for similar money.

Can anyone please steer me in the right direction or suggest the best item for me.
Also, I'm in Australia if that has any bearing on brands available.
Many thanks

 

[staticV3]

Hi @hifi_n00b! Welcome to ASR.

IMO, anything more than the Topping DX1 is overspend for your purpose.

Here are measurements:

Measurements of Topping DX1 USB DAC/HPAmp - L7Audiolab

台式设备 国内卷厂拓品（Topping）的低端产品线其实一直不是很完整的，解码从599元的D10s开始，搭配上他家的L30-2已经总价过了千元。即使是最便宜的一体机PA3s也已经达到了四位数的价格，在数百元价位中一直没有相应的产品，直到这款 Topping DX1 出现

www.l7audiolab.com

The DX1 can drive your HD600 to 116dB SPL Peak, which is comfortably in permanent hearing damage territory.

You can use Equalizer APO to replicate Xbass, or at that point, to just apply response correction to Harman.

 

[Matias]

Welcome to ASR. Here is a great release, maybe you can wait a few weeks until reviews come out and possible bug get solved.

Topping DX5 II

Dual DAC, hybrid powerful HP amp, large screen and PEQ on all inputs. Of course it should have excellent measurements as all modern DACs and HPs amps from Topping do. And it looks very nice too! Seems like a winner to me. Edit: price is 350 usd at the official Topping Store. (subscribe to...

www.audiosciencereview.com

 

[hifi_n00b]

Thank you @staticV3 the DX1 seems like a sensible solution.
On sale at a local store here so will grab one over the weekend.
Thanks for your help.

 

[jkim]

Thank you @staticV3 the DX1 seems like a sensible solution.
On sale at a local store here so will grab one over the weekend.
Thanks for your help.

Excellent choice. The DX1 is another great product from Topping. There's nothing we can find fault with in L7 Audio Lab's measurements. It is as good as it gets for a small, fully bus-powered desktop DAC/hp amp.

 

[DVDdoug]

While the current setup works fine, I'd like to dip a toe into the audiophile world and see how it goes.

Just don't get caught in the Audiophool trap!

I'm looking to improve music listening on my PC using my HD600's & powered speakers.

Usually the electronics aren't a problem unless you have a specific problem like background noise (hum, hiss, or whine), or unless you run out of power and get distortion when you turn it up.

On the other hand, speakers & headphones always make a difference (better or worse).

Your headphones are fairly highly-rated but personal taste also comes into play so you might want to experiment with equalization to see if you can make an "improvement". Headphone performance is mostly about frequency response which can be tweaked with EQ, except that boosting the bass sometimes pushes them into distortion. ...That's an even bigger, more common, problem with speakers where there's only so-much bass you can get out of a small woofer, etc.

With speakers, there's almost always room for improvement and there is more of a correlation between performance and price. And there is the added complication of the speaker interacting with room acoustics.

 

[hifi_n00b]

Just don't get caught in the Audiophool trap!


Usually the electronics aren't a problem unless you have a specific problem like background noise (hum, hiss, or whine), or unless you run out of power and get distortion when you turn it up.

On the other hand, speakers & headphones always make a difference (better or worse).

Your headphones are fairly highly-rated but personal taste also comes into play so you might want to experiment with equalization to see if you can make an "improvement". Headphone performance is mostly about frequency response which can be tweaked with EQ, except that boosting the bass sometimes pushes them into distortion. ...That's an even bigger, more common, problem with speakers where there's only so-much bass you can get out of a small woofer, etc.

With speakers, there's almost always room for improvement and there is more of a correlation between performance and price. And there is the added complication of the speaker interacting with room acoustics.

Cheers @DVDdoug
I do have a little background hum from my powered speakers. Will be a bonus if the DX1 clears that up.
I can also hear a difference using the pc headphone out vs the powered speaker's headphone out. Surprisingly the pc jack sounds fuller but doesn't quite have the volume whereas the speaker jack has plenty of volume but sounds thinner...
Thinking the dedicated DAC headphone amp will provide what I'm after rather than the basic included options on my existing hardware