Good headphone amp with EQ?

[Jimbob54]

If the DSP functions of the Bluesound Node Icon were also available via the headphone output, this would be my first choice and not the RME.

Dual-Mono DAC Design (2x ESS Sabre ES9039Q2M)
ES9826 SABRE ADC
MQA Labs QRONO d2a Technology
THX AAA™ Headphone Amplifier Technology

Does it just have DIRAC or a customisable PEQ interface?

Says DIRAC is in a future update so wondering what DSP it has in current version?

 

[pogo]

Does it just have DIRAC or a customisable PEQ interface?

I can't say whether it will have a PEQ. In any case, it will soon receive Dirac Live, which is more powerful for headphone equalization than a simple PEQ. See also my equalization of a headphone in post #9.

 

[Jimbob54]

I can't say whether it will have a PEQ. In any case, it will soon receive Dirac Live, which is more powerful for headphone equalization than a simple PEQ. See also my equalization of a headphone in post #9.

Interesting. So you import a correction curve into DIRAC? How easy is it to tweak that correction curve post import?

 

[pogo]

It's just as easy as it normally is under DL. Here are some more details: Link

 

[johny_2000]

Currently, I'm thinking of cassette decks and the output of phono preamps.

Cassettes and phonos have a dynamic range of about 60-70 dB. Any RME or MiniDSP device will work fine with these sources.

 

[Yorkshire Mouth]

Consider getting a WiiM for EQ. If it's the Mini or Pro you'll need a DAC, but if it's the Pro Plus or Ultra you can use the analogue outs.

At the moment, for headphone duties, I use a WiiM Mini into a Topping EX5 DAC/headphone amp.

You can get a Pro Plus for $219, and a transparent headphone amp for $150. If you need a balanced headphone amp I'm sure someone will be along shortly.

 

[tcpip]

Consider getting a WiiM for EQ. If it's the Mini or Pro you'll need a DAC, but if it's the Pro Plus or Ultra you can use the analogue outs.

At the moment, for headphone duties, I use a WiiM Mini into a Topping EX5 DAC/headphone amp.

You can get a Pro Plus for $219, and a transparent headphone amp for $150. If you need a balanced headphone amp I'm sure someone will be along shortly.

Yes, I ordered a Wiim Ultra. Amazon says they'll email me when they ship. I already have an old JDS O2, which I'll use. And I believe the Wiim Ultra has 10 channels of PEQ, which will be twice as many as I need for headphones, I think.

 

[davmol]

Consider getting a WiiM for EQ. If it's the Mini or Pro you'll need a DAC, but if it's the Pro Plus or Ultra you can use the analogue outs.

At the moment, for headphone duties, I use a WiiM Mini into a Topping EX5 DAC/headphone amp.

You can get a Pro Plus for $219, and a transparent headphone amp for $150. If you need a balanced headphone amp I'm sure someone will be along shortly.

Why would a dac be needed for the mini or pro, do they not output with EQ via their aux out?

 

[7jm]

Why would a dac be needed for the mini or pro, do they not output with EQ via their aux out?

They do, however the performance of their dacs are measurably inferior to that of the pro plus.
For most case scenarios its dac is sufficient and is convenient in being a one box solution.

 

[Jimbob54]

Why would a dac be needed for the mini or pro, do they not output with EQ via their aux out?

Think it's a reference to the less than ideal analog outs of the mini and pro (rest of the range is top flight dacs )

 

[DEF]

The mini dsp to headamp is the most cost effective . A jds atom amp would be my value recommendation.

The rme adi 2 pro as others have said is the one box solution.

But it does not have much values you could set.
I would use a raspberry pi and transport via Toslink/SPDIF and then send the result out with another one.

 

[Jimbob54]

But it does not have much values you could set.
I would use a raspberry pi and transport via Toslink/SPDIF and then send the result out with another one.

The rme or the wiim ? 7 (well 5 peaks and 2 shelves ) or 10 should be enough for most sensible eq ?

 

[DEF]

The rme or the wiim ? 7 (well 5 peaks and 2 shelves ) or 10 should be enough for most sensible eq ?

iirc the RME only got 5 or so, then more like wiim if just for EQ

 

[MC_RME]

5 peaks and 2 shelfs (adjustable, so nearly 7 bands) is more than enough in real-world usage, and they are independently adjusted per channel.. Additionally you get features not available elsewhere, like balance control (became more mainstream lately), width control plus M/S Processing, channel and polarity swap, Loudness and some more, that could also drastically improve your listening experience.

 

[morillon]

small precaution..
unfortunately the wiim approach has still not integrated a function which is nevertheless essential with the use of a peq (and their rc mode) ..autogain..

(but it can be circumvented by using the limiter function and determining the value passing through other software..)


This is however the first precaution to integrate with the correction modes....and more with a peq...

 

[pogo]

5 peaks and 2 shelfs (adjustable, so nearly 7 bands) is more than enough in real-world usage

Is that really the case? Here is one of many examples: Link
Btw. I have had similar experiences and have done best with my Dirac Live solution and the import of the most accurate correction data from the oratory1990 headphone database.

 

[DEF]

Is that really the case? Here is one of many examples: Link
Btw. I have had similar experiences and have done best with my Dirac Live solution and the import of the most accurate correction data from the oratory1990 headphone database.

+1
I also think that its far easier to use something other than RME to import those measurements like oratory1990.
Because you got more bands...

 

[MC_RME]

We have done an extensive video why more than 7 bands is - in most cases and in our opinion - unnecessary:

This one also goes in detail with examples of Oratory1999 on how to use the proposed values with the ADI-2 series. The link in post #36 includes parts of that explanation and advice.

Now if someone insists that he needs at least 8 PEQ bands to enjoy his music collection via headphone, then sorry. The existing PEQ will not change.

 

[mackman]

Yes, I saw Amir's evaluation of the 2x4HD. But I wanted to feed analog signals to my headphone rig. Maybe set up my phono preamp one day to feed to this headphone rig directly.

And it's not easy to get a good A-D converter for audio -- only some of the pro brands make them, it seems.

Get a Parks Audio waxwing DSP phono preamp and run optical to your DAC. You’ll be amazed.

 

[pogo]

You’ll be amazed.

I can only agree with that. The Waxwing is not just a phono pre, you can also connect a normal line source to it or connect it to a tape loop, use it as a preamp, ....
The integrated features to influence/optimize the sound are outstanding.