DAP for Focal Hadenys

[Xaviedie]

Hello, I'm planning to buy these headphones. I have an RME ADI 2 DAC FS at home and would also like to find a DAP to use with the headphones, but a neutral and reliable one.

Any top 5 DAPs for headphones?

Another question: which DAP is equivalent to a good SMSL or RME ADI 2 DAC FS?

Thanks

 

[AnalogSteph]

Specs for the Focal: 26 ohm, 100 dB/mW --> almost 116 dB / 1 V.

You should be able to drive that thing with almost anything remotely DAP-shaped, even a phone dongle. The FiiO M3K with Rockbox that I've been running for a few years now would be entirely adequate. Those cost the princely sum of 79€ back then (plus whatever high-quality MicroSD card you may choose to use) but are no longer available. The closest thing you can still buy would be a Surfans F20 / HIFI WALKER H2, I guess (noisier but I don't think that should bother you). Check the Rockbox forums for any as-yet unsupported hardware revisions there may be out there, being behind the curve is an inevitability with any open-source firmware like that.

 

[Xaviedie]

Specs for the Focal: 26 ohm, 100 dB/mW --> almost 116 dB / 1 V.

You should be able to drive that thing with almost anything remotely DAP-shaped, even a phone dongle. The FiiO M3K with Rockbox that I've been running for a few years now would be entirely adequate. Those cost the princely sum of 79€ back then (plus whatever high-quality MicroSD card you may choose to use) but are no longer available. The closest thing you can still buy would be a Surfans F20 / HIFI WALKER H2, I guess (noisier but I don't think that should bother you). Check the Rockbox forums for any as-yet unsupported hardware revisions there may be out there, being behind the curve is an inevitability with any open-source firmware like that.

Thank you for your reply, I will take it into account.

Regarding current (modern) DAPs, which ones would you recommend? (with an output impedance of 0.1 ohms)

 

[Xaviedie]

Specs for the Focal: 26 ohm, 100 dB/mW --> almost 116 dB / 1 V.

You should be able to drive that thing with almost anything remotely DAP-shaped, even a phone dongle. The FiiO M3K with Rockbox that I've been running for a few years now would be entirely adequate. Those cost the princely sum of 79€ back then (plus whatever high-quality MicroSD card you may choose to use) but are no longer available. The closest thing you can still buy would be a Surfans F20 / HIFI WALKER H2, I guess (noisier but I don't think that should bother you). Check the Rockbox forums for any as-yet unsupported hardware revisions there may be out there, being behind the curve is an inevitability with any open-source firmware like that.

"Specs for the Focal: 26 ohm, 100 dB/mW --> almost 116 dB / 1 V"

How did you come to understand that? (I would like to understand this)

Example: For 55 ohms, 93 dB/mW --> almost 58 dB / ? V

I would like to know the calculations.

 

[Smithlog]

Hello, I'm planning to buy these headphones. I have an RME ADI 2 DAC FS at home and would also like to find a DAP to use with the headphones, but a neutral and reliable one.

Any top 5 DAPs for headphones?

Another question: which DAP is equivalent to a good SMSL or RME ADI 2 DAC FS?

Thanks

If you want a neutral DAP, check out the FiiO M17, Astell&Kern SP3000, Sony WM1ZM2, HiBy R8 II, or Shanling M9 Plus. None are exactly like the RME ADI-2 DAC FS, but some get pretty close for portable use.

 

[Xaviedie]

If you want a neutral DAP, check out the FiiO M17, Astell&Kern SP3000, Sony WM1ZM2, HiBy R8 II, or Shanling M9 Plus. None are exactly like the RME ADI-2 DAC FS, but some get pretty close for portable use.

It's ok now,
I learned a lot about the technical aspects of ohms and such.

Even better, there are some great gadgets available at bargain prices: exceptional portable amplifier-DACs (for headphone & iem) that won't break the bank and are small enough to be connected back-to-back to a smartphone (a custom DAP setup) (with excellent output impedance and impressive power).

- JCALLY × Crinacle AP6 ((Headphone & IEM)
- CrinEar Protocol Max (Headphone & IEM)
- FiiO KA11 (For IEM only)