Cheap DAC/HP AMP suggestion (~ 100 Eur)

[x00r]

(1st post, i am sorry if this is not the right category)

Dear members,

TL;DR: I am looking for an DAC/Headphone AMP combo for ideally less than 100 Euro... 150 Max. My HPs: Beyerdynamic Dt-990 Pro - 250 Ohm, Music style: EDM and i am looking for very pronounced bass + listening on high volumes.

I wanted to order the DX3 Pro after reading a bit here and there, but the best price i can get right now is about 200 Euro /w shipping. Are there any cheaper alternatives i might have missed?
I have also ordered one FX Audio DAC-X6 (60 Euro shipped) to drive the same headphones with my media player/TV... Is there some DAC/AMP in the < 100 - 150 Euro range with much better sound/power/connectivity/whatever?

Thank you!

 

[Veri]

This would do
https://www.benl.ebay.be/itm/Massdrop-by-Grace-Design-O2-SDAC-DAC-Amp/283487358365

But you might have to ask them to put on a low (under $22) customs declaration, or you'll need to pay VAT which will make it over 100euro.
Oh and you'd need a US travel adapter for use in Europe other than that this is a good dac/amp on budget for sure.

 

[x00r]

Hi Veri,

Thanks for the link. Price is ~ 110 Euro, shipping is ~ 30 Euro and customs is calculated directly by ebay (Einfuhrabgaben: US $39,07), so it totals at about 170 Euro. This is almost the price of DX3 Pro... In that case the Tipping seems to be a better value at about 200. Isn't it?

 

[FireLion]

(1st post, i am sorry if this is not the right category)

Dear members,

TL;DR: I am looking for an DAC/Headphone AMP combo for ideally less than 100 Euro... 150 Max. My HPs: Beyerdynamic Dt-990 Pro - 250 Ohm, Music style: EDM and i am looking for very pronounced bass + listening on high volumes.

I wanted to order the DX3 Pro after reading a bit here and there, but the best price i can get right now is about 200 Euro /w shipping. Are there any cheaper alternatives i might have missed?
I have also ordered one FX Audio DAC-X6 (60 Euro shipped) to drive the same headphones with my media player/TV... Is there some DAC/AMP in the < 100 - 150 Euro range with much better sound/power/connectivity/whatever?

Thank you!

Here is a few.

DAC-X6 isn't bad for $60-65. (high gain mode and opamp upgrade)1 watt +?
xDuoo TA-01B is also a neat little tube combo. 2.1 watt
DAC-X7 if your headphones are easy drive. 1 watt
This also interested me JIE CHUANG JC-AUDIO JC-SQ3 Bluetooth CSR8670 USB DAC AK4490 I think it's 1.5 watts (1.1 watt @ 32ohms)

For $150 I would buy this AMP and this DAC for shits and giggles, I know the DAC is decent as a guy where I work has one.

 

[M00ndancer]

I have also ordered one FX Audio DAC-X6 (60 Euro shipped) to drive the same headphones with my media player/TV... Is there some DAC/AMP in the < 100 - 150 Euro range with much better sound/power/connectivity/whatever?

Since you have a 250 Ohm headphone you might consider the Swissonic HAD-1 B-stock, not the greatest but have lots of input and outputs.

 

[FireLion]

Amazon uk might have cheap enough shipping.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Nobsound-H...words=dac+amp&qid=1561326801&s=gateway&sr=8-6

https://www.amazon.co.uk/XDUOO-TA-0...ywords=xduoo&qid=1561327080&s=gateway&sr=8-11

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Perfeclan-...ywords=dac-x7&qid=1561327150&s=gateway&sr=8-8

 

[Veri]

Since you have a 250 Ohm headphone you might consider the Swissonic HAD-1 B-stock, not the greatest but have lots of input and outputs.

Seems to be wrong link

 

[M00ndancer]

Seems to be wrong link

HAD-1

FIXED! Thanks for the heads up @Veri

 

[filo97s]

the best at this price (under 100) maybe is the FX Audio DAC X6, which is one of the few in this range using the TPA6120A2, you'll benefit from it a lot with a DT990 pro.

 

[Biblob]

the best at this price (under 100) maybe is the FX Audio DAC X6, which is one of the few in this range using the TPA6120A2, you'll benefit from it a lot with a DT990 pro.

My guess it won't be all that good. The products Amir has measured, where not that good.

@x00r Why don't you look at the masterindex and check which ones you want in your budget? I suggest the Topping NX4DSD. It measures great and has lots of power. And as a bonus it is portable too

 

[filo97s]

My guess it won't be all that good. The products Amir has measured, where not that good.

@x00r Why don't you look at the masterindex and check which ones you want in your budget? I suggest the Topping NX4DSD. It measures great and has lots of power. And as a bonus it is portable too

at this price, you really have to make some compromises. For 60-70$, it offers more than it should, keeping in mind also other choices.

 

[Biblob]

The SMSL Idea is good too. Much cheaper but less power.

 

[x00r]

Hi All,

So my DAC-X6 finally arrived... The perceived loudness was not enough, so i have switched the jumpers to high gain... But it is still not enough! I really start to think about switching the headphones to some with similar "V shaped" sound, butt much smaller impedance.

I am not ready to pay more than 200 Euro and now i know i definitly need more than 180 mW @ 300 Ohm (DAC-X6 if i am not mistaken).

 

[x00r]

Does anybody know the JC-AUDIO JC-SQ3? Or the E600 which @FireLion suggested? The JC-SQ3 seems to meet all requirements on paper.

 

[FireLion]

Does anybody know the JC-AUDIO JC-SQ3? Or the E600 which @FireLion suggested? The JC-SQ3 seems to meet all requirements on paper.

Holy shitballs is all I have to say after putting two LM4562NA's in here.
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/33040446809.html

 

[Veri]

Holy shitballs is all I have to say after putting two LM4562NA's in here.
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/33040446809.html

View attachment 29101

Interesting!! no interest in shipping it to amir for review =)?
Also, any particular reason for putting in LM4562NA?

Thanks.

 

[x00r]

Thanks @FireLion, i will order one.

BUT, i have one more question for anyone who knows more than me here: Which OpAmp version to choose? Is it just listening preference? It is socketed, so i can swap it out anytime, no? The price difference is quite high.
Thanks!

 

[FireLion]

Interesting!! no interest in shipping it to amir for review =)?
Also, any particular reason for putting in LM4562NA?

Thanks.

I had some opamps here and my amp making friend thinks they are good, the JRC5532 were a little compressed on top, the well known NE5532 should be decent. I have other duals I can test but any of the renounded $4-10 dual opamps should be decent.

I am going to get a DAC, maybe a topping D10 and sell the Jotunheim. I am saying it's better no, as powerful yes but I personally like something I can tinker with.

Thanks @FireLion, i will order one.

BUT, i have one more question for anyone who knows more than me here: Which OpAmp version to choose? Is it just listening preference? It is socketed, so i can swap it out anytime, no? The price difference is quite high.
Thanks!

I would at least get the level 2 muse here, the JRC is average.

 

[FireLion]

Might have cheap components that could be improved?

I am going to get an aluminum knob as the plastic isn't cutting it but other than that it's a big aluminum tank.

 

[Bob-23]

NE5532A is fine (noise is lower in the A-version), according to the measurements of nwavguy the NJM4556 is even better, supposedly built especially for headphone-amps: https://nwavguy.blogspot.com/2011/07/o2-design-process.html. I use both of them in different amplifier- and equalizer-builds - no complaints, they are good and cheap. If you can hear any difference under controlled conditions, is another question...After having swapped the opamp, don't forget to always measure dc-offset at the output of the amp, shouldn't be higher than 20mV, lower is better ~5mV.