Yorkshire Mouth
Major Contributor
So, I've been looking at the Topping reviews, particularly DACs and headphone amps.
At the moment, the D10s looks a stunning DAC for the money at $99. It looks like they'll soon be offering a version with balanced outs. According to Amir's video on understanding balanced audio, this might add $50 to the price, so maybe $150.
Okay.
We then have the L30 headphone amp for $130, which looks every bit as good a headphone amp as the D10s is a DAC.
Next up in the range after that is the A50s at $200. Balanced out, but no balanced input.
Next up is the A30Pro for $350, balanced in & out.
Now the only people who need balanced outs are those with headphones which are very difficult to drive, and that's a fairly limited number of people. But there are plenty out there who fear the hum of a ground loop, who'd like a headphone amp with a balanced input.
But you're jumping there from $130 for the L30 to $350 for the A30Pro.
Wouldn't an L30 with a balanced input (not output) for sub-$200 sell like hot cakes? Especially once a D10 with balanced outs appears.
Does Amir's "add $50 for a balanced version" only apply to outputs from DACs, and not inputs on amps?
Over to you lot. I'm still learning.
At the moment, the D10s looks a stunning DAC for the money at $99. It looks like they'll soon be offering a version with balanced outs. According to Amir's video on understanding balanced audio, this might add $50 to the price, so maybe $150.
Okay.
We then have the L30 headphone amp for $130, which looks every bit as good a headphone amp as the D10s is a DAC.
Next up in the range after that is the A50s at $200. Balanced out, but no balanced input.
Next up is the A30Pro for $350, balanced in & out.
Now the only people who need balanced outs are those with headphones which are very difficult to drive, and that's a fairly limited number of people. But there are plenty out there who fear the hum of a ground loop, who'd like a headphone amp with a balanced input.
But you're jumping there from $130 for the L30 to $350 for the A30Pro.
Wouldn't an L30 with a balanced input (not output) for sub-$200 sell like hot cakes? Especially once a D10 with balanced outs appears.
Does Amir's "add $50 for a balanced version" only apply to outputs from DACs, and not inputs on amps?
Over to you lot. I'm still learning.