Looking for DAC/Headphone/Amp

[levanni]

Hi folks,

Looking for Headphone/Speaker combination for laptop.
Can anyone tell me if there is similar solution like SMSL AO300 but fully balanced I/O with EQ tone control?

Also, what I don't understand is if I go stack and pick some standalone balanced DAC/Headphone/Amp combo, how can I hear difference in headphones connected to DAC/Headphone by adjusting tone controls in amplifier which is the last device in row? I spent a week searching whether or not their DAC/Headphone amp has EQ controls, couldn't find anything! Also can't find anything in their amp lineup with balanced headphone jack output. Totally confused.

Thanks

 

[twsecrest]

From my best understanding, EQing is best done in digital, on the source device (computer).
Analog EQing (on the amplifier) is just not popular.

 

[levanni]

That's why Schiit guys produced this beauty?

Unfortunately even their low price/high quality strategy is too expensive for me to build a stack. Wanted to know if there's something else I'd consider buying.

Can you tell that EQing from PC and this thing will be the same in terms of quality?

 

[Berwhale]

Can you tell that EQing from PC and this thing will be the same in terms of quality?

Yes and there are lots of options... https://www.audiosciencereview.com/...ows-linux-macos-ios-ipados-and-android.18450/

You can't do this sort of thing* with tone controls...

*Parametric EQ for Sennheiser HD 660 S

 

[twsecrest]

Can you tell that EQing from PC and this thing will be the same in terms of quality?

I'm not the expert, but I believe digital EQing is more precise, than analog tone controls.

 

[levanni]

Yes and there are lots of options... https://www.audiosciencereview.com/...ows-linux-macos-ios-ipados-and-android.18450/

You can't do this sort of thing* with tone controls...

View attachment 331687

*Parametric EQ for Sennheiser HD 660 S

Thanks for sharing!! Good stuff!