Fully Balanced DAC/Amp Combo with XLR low impedance headphone output as well up to $800

[donpablo]

Hello. As in the topic of the thread.
May be used as well. I also would want it to have a preamp mode so I could use volume knob to control the outputs.

Thank you in advance.

 

[Dvass13]

The Topping DX7 Pro will give you those features for $600. The Schiit Jotunheim will give you those features for $499 plus shipping. I believe the Sabaj D5 also has all these features as well for $470. I'm sure there a few other options out there as well. If you are okay with separates, then you could easily find a DAC and amp that pair well together too.

 

[donpablo]

@Dvass13 DX7 Pro has quite high output impedance through XLR (above 9 Ohms). Sabaj D5 as well. Im searching something that has max 2 Ohms output impedance on headphone XLR.
Schiit Jotunheim I see has it on 'right' level for me, however I see its measurments aren't too good (found on the forum).

I have found that Monolith by Monoprice Desktop Balanced Headphone Amplifier and DAC has it all, but they dont ship to my country (Poland) .

https://www.monoprice.com/product?p...ng&utm_content=12x12&utm_campaign=2018_criteo

 

[FrantzM]

9 ohms on the XLR output is unlikely to be an issue for most amps even pro amps.

 

[donpablo]

9 ohms on the XLR output is unlikely to be an issue for most amps even pro amps.

I had headphone output impedance in mind Don't 'haha' here plaese

 

[Veri]

@Dvass13 DX7 Pro has quite high output impedance through XLR (above 9 Ohms). Sabaj D5 as well. Im searching something that has max 2 Ohms output impedance on headphone XLR.
Schiit Jotunheim I see has it on 'right' level for me, however I see its measurments aren't too good (found on the forum).

I have found that Monolith by Monoprice Desktop Balanced Headphone Amplifier and DAC has it all, but they dont ship to my country (Poland) .

https://www.monoprice.com/product?p...ng&utm_content=12x12&utm_campaign=2018_criteo

You can buy it here, import duties included, but the price is steep https://www.audiophonics.fr/en/dac-with-volume/monolith-thx-aaa-788-balanced-headphone-amplifier-dac-2x-akm-4493-2x-thx-aaa-788-32bit-192khz-dsd128-p-14384.html
there's a used one here, maybe he's willing to ship to Poland

 

[Dana reed]

The Jotunheim is on the schiit europe website:
https://www.schiit-europe.com/index...able-balanced-desktop-headamp-preamp-502.html
I don't currently see it having the DAC module available on that site though, only amp-only, and phono modules. Getting the DAC card separately would be a pain, but they do list it on the upgrades page. I would think they'd be able to sell it as a package preinstalled as they do in US.
https://www.schiit-europe.com/index.php/producten/upgrades.html

 

[RickSanchez]

@Dvass13 DX7 Pro has quite high output impedance through XLR (above 9 Ohms). Sabaj D5 as well. Im searching something that has max 2 Ohms output impedance on headphone XLR.

I see the spec page for the Topping DX7 Pro shows the XLR headphone output with an impedance of 9.4 Ω, as you mention. But I'm curious about the Sabaj D5: where did you find specs that showed its XLR headphone output impedance was ~9 Ω? Amir measured the SE out at 3 Ω.

 

[donpablo]

@RickSanchez I don't remember now however the XLR output has more often 2 times higher impedance than SE. So it would be too much for me considering low impedance hifi headphones like Aeons or Nighthawks/owls. Also I noticed the tendence that more and more new outcoming HPs have lower and lower impedance.

Btw. I have started to consider to buy only DAC like Toppind D70 or D90, I saw they have great measurments and reviews. I also have SMSL SP200 in home, however it is not internally balanced amp, so maybe I will buy something from Monoprice like 887 in the future (when it will be possible to buy in EU) and whole case will be solved for years.

 

[Veri]

@RickSanchez I don't remember now however the XLR output has more often 2 times higher impedance than SE. So it would be too much for me considering low impedance hifi headphones like Aeons or Nighthawks/owls. Also I noticed the tendence that more and more new outcoming HPs have lower and lower impedance.

Btw. I have started to consider to buy only DAC like Toppind D70 or D90, I saw they have great measurments and reviews. I also have SMSL SP200 in home, however it is not internally balanced amp, so maybe I will buy something from Monoprice like 887 in the future (when it will be possible to buy in EU) and whole case will be solved for years.

Internally balanced amp has little benefit though, besides more power output of course. There's really no need to upgrade from SP200 just for balanced!
In case you never saw this before: https://benchmarkmedia.com/blogs/application_notes/audio-myth-balanced-headphone-outputs-are-better