Hi all! Over the last couple of weeks I'm trying to figure out how to achieve a good setup for my computer/desktop system. I have a Sennheiser HD650 and active speakers from Adam Audio. There is a lot of ground interference with my computer setup, so I want/need to run something balanced to the active speakers. Can't get single ended to work without noise. At this moment, I use the audio-out from my computer and also tried a FiiO K5 Pro (also interference / single ended).
I was looking at a Schiit Jotumheim that ticks most boxes. The is also the Aune S6 Pro, Topping DX7 Pro and RME ADI-2. Maybe I can find something a little less expensive. I considered the SMSL SU-8 with a separate headphone amp (Magni 3 for example). However, both outputs of the SMSL (RCA to headphone amp and balanced to speakers) are variable. So I have to turn my speakers off if I want to list to headphones only. If the XLR out was variable and the RCA fixed, it could have worked.
Ideally I want to be able to control the volume to the speakers and headphone separately. I can live with an all in one box (DAC, headphone amp, balanced preamp) of two boxes (balanced DAC/preamp + headphone amp). I also looked at some pro-audio options, like the Focusrite Clarett 2Pre USB, but I'm a little worried about the sound quality.
I'm getting crazy with all these options and any help is much appreciated to come up with a working and good solution. Any recommendations?
Ralph (Netherlands)
Edited: corrected FiiO type number and added alternatives I'm looking at.
I was looking at a Schiit Jotumheim that ticks most boxes. The is also the Aune S6 Pro, Topping DX7 Pro and RME ADI-2. Maybe I can find something a little less expensive. I considered the SMSL SU-8 with a separate headphone amp (Magni 3 for example). However, both outputs of the SMSL (RCA to headphone amp and balanced to speakers) are variable. So I have to turn my speakers off if I want to list to headphones only. If the XLR out was variable and the RCA fixed, it could have worked.
Ideally I want to be able to control the volume to the speakers and headphone separately. I can live with an all in one box (DAC, headphone amp, balanced preamp) of two boxes (balanced DAC/preamp + headphone amp). I also looked at some pro-audio options, like the Focusrite Clarett 2Pre USB, but I'm a little worried about the sound quality.
I'm getting crazy with all these options and any help is much appreciated to come up with a working and good solution. Any recommendations?
Ralph (Netherlands)
Edited: corrected FiiO type number and added alternatives I'm looking at.
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