Best Portable DAC/AMP for HD600 (300ohms)

[fountain]

I'm between these two:​

TANCHJIM Space Portable Headphone Adapter​

TANCHJIM Space Portable Headphone Adapter Review

This is a review, listening test and detailed measurements of the TANCHJIM Space portable DAC and balanced headphone adapter. It was sent to me by the company and costs US $90. I like the transparent window so that you can see the insides. There is an LED that lights up there when you reach...

www.audiosciencereview.com

TempoTec Sonata BHD Pro Portable DAC & Amp​

TempoTec Sonata BHD Pro Portable DAC & Amp Review

This is a review and detailed measurements of the TempoTec Sonata BHD Pro portable DAC and headphone amplifier. It was sent to me by the company and costs US $70. I really like the fresh look of the BHD. There is a red LED that lights up the tiny ICs in there, giving it some elegance. There...

www.audiosciencereview.com

Any suggestions?

 

[IAtaman]

Tempotec Sonata seems to have a bit more power both at the 3.5mm and 4.4mm jacks. If you are going to use EQ to boost the bass, that extra power can come in handy. For that reason, I'd go for Tempotec. If you can spare another $20, I'd recommend Qudelix 5K which not only has a bit more power, but more importantly offers a lot of great DSP features, such as PEQ.

 

[IAtaman]

By the way, for the cost of HD600, you can get the HD6XX which is effectively HD650 and Qudelix 5K on drop.com. I think that is a much better deal if your objective is best bang for the buck. Check stock situation and delivery times before ordering though - Q5K might not be on stock.

 

[stalepie2]

If the Topping NX4 was still around, I'd suggest that, because it puts out more power (in single-ended, for 300 ohms), but the distortion measurements aren't as low. They have a newer device, the G5, but it costs a good bit more, and something battery-powered may not be what you're looking for anyway.

 

[Dunring]

I'd go with the Tanchjim Space for best performance, and for $15 you can get the balanced 4.4mm cable for it:

Amazon.com

I have some of these and they're light and non microphonic which is great for portable use. Never had one fail, and I've gotten 4-5 of these for Sennheiser and Hifiman. Buy with a credit card that doubles the warranty and you'll be all set.

 

[Deckard01]

I was looking for a FAAEL balance cable too from Aliexpress, but I have not buy again form this site so I do not know if I can use paypal or my card.

Moreover as I was thinking of a dongle capable to drive my HD600, I was thinking of Colorfly M1P or DC04PRO or UA4, but I do not see any review espesially for M1P which I think to prefer especially for it's cost.

 

[Dunring]

I was looking for a FAAEL balance cable too from Aliexpress, but I have not buy again form this site so I do not know if I can use paypal or my card.

Moreover as I was thinking of a dongle capable to drive my HD600, I was thinking of Colorfly M1P or DC04PRO or UA4, but I do not see any review espesially for M1P which I think to prefer especially for it's cost.

I've had a pair of HD6xx on the Apple USB to 3.5mm adapter and it was close to max volume, but it was loud enough to use. It's just the Tanchjim Space is the best USB dongle I've seen measured, Amirm mentioned he'd use it for travel, so would recommend it just from that. Youkamoo and Faael are on Amazon and I've got cables from both here, they work fine and won't melt down a credit card.

 

[Deckard01]

I've had a pair of HD6xx on the Apple USB to 3.5mm adapter and it was close to max volume, but it was loud enough to use. It's just the Tanchjim Space is the best USB dongle I've seen measured, Amirm mentioned he'd use it for travel, so would recommend it just from that. Youkamoo and Faael are on Amazon and I've got cables from both here, they work fine and won't melt down a credit card.

You are right the issue issue that for my country that belongs to EU when I click to buy the cable from Amazon I see that is not available. So my only other option is the Aliexpress.

 

[poxymoron]

I'd go with the Tanchjim Space for best performance, and for $15 you can get the balanced 4.4mm cable for it:

Amazon.com

I have some of these and they're light and non microphonic which is great for portable use. Never had one fail, and I've gotten 4-5 of these for Sennheiser and Hifiman. Buy with a credit card that doubles the warranty and you'll be all set.

Quite the markup in Europe, almost double the price:

https://www.amazon.de/-/en/Replacement-Sennheiser-Headsts-LC-OFC-OFC-Headphones/dp/B09GNHLHXF/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2YV7XV605NZ5H&keywords=FAAEAL%2BReplacement%2BAudio%2BCable&qid=1706531583&sprefix=faaeal%2Breplacement%2Baudio%2Bcable%2B%2Caps%2C84&sr=8-1&th=1

 

[Brian Hall]

Fosi Audio DS1​

$79 on Amazon. It drives my HD650 headphones with plenty of volume. I don't have the balanced cable to test with.

 

[Falco]

Is it just me or are the Tanchjim and the Tempotec very much alike in design and specs, is it the same company behind or something?

 

[herr.jemine]

FiiO KA17 is fine, I use it to operate a Sennheiser HD6XX and an AKG K712 Pro with PEQ,
I also bought the 40th anniversary edition of Apogee Groove , which has more subbass with PEQ and is more detailed in the imaging and stage, significantly better than the old groove from 2021.

 

[Entropic3]

@fountain did you eventually buy any of those portable DAC/AMP? Are they powerful enough for the HD600? I had the THX Onyx and it could perfectly drive my HD600 until it suddenly stopped working after 2 years of use

 

[herr.jemine]

HD600 is not difficult to drive, but if you want to use PEQ, the TANCHJIM Space Portable is too weak, the TempoTec Sonata BHD Pro has a bit more power.
both DACs are overhyped and too expensive for the performance offered!

the FIIO KA17 (ES9069Q +THX AAA 78+) comes close to the THX Onyx

KA17

KA17, DAC and Headphone Amplifier

www.fiio.com

 

[Entropic3]

HD600 is not difficult to drive, but if you want to use PEQ, the TANCHJIM Space Portable is too weak, the TempoTec Sonata BHD Pro has a bit more power.
both DACs are overhyped and too expensive for the performance offered!

the FIIO KA17 (ES9069Q +THX AAA 78+) comes close to the THX Onyx

KA17

KA17, DAC and Headphone Amplifier

www.fiio.com

Great, thanks a lot!

 

[Deckard01]

Is there any portable Amplifier only that worth so as to drive HD600 or K701?

Portable I mean without need to be connected to external power.

Thanks

 

[Blorg]

Is there any portable Amplifier only that worth so as to drive HD600 or K701?

Portable I mean without need to be connected to external power.

Thanks

Qudelix 5K is good with the HD600, particularly if you get a balanced cable (which can be had for $10-15 or so). K701 maybe more marginal as it has a non-removable single-ended cable and is quite hard to drive, I have both but I haven't tried it, I only use the K701 with a desktop amp as it's a 6.35mm jack.

Topping G5 is a lot larger and more expensive but it's a single-ended design that would do full power into the K701, certainly it should be more than enough.

Fiio KA11 is a $29 single-ended dongle that claims 245mW into 32Ω, this should be enough for the K701.

 

[bagajohny]

is there nothing better available in the market than these two unit? like are these the best options in the category? I have 9038d and looking to upgrade.

 

[Brian Hall]

is there nothing better available in the market than these two unit? like are these the best options in the category? I have 9038d and looking to upgrade.

What is your definition of better? What do you want an upgrade to do?

 

[raif71]

Can checkout the Onix Alpha Xl1

Introducing ONIX Alpha XI1 - onixhiend.co.uk

The Smallest ONIX DAC

onixhiend.co.uk