Hi,
I was wondering if someone could help me decide if i should get an headphone amp and/or DAC for my setup.
I have been using Sennheiser HD600 headphones a couple years with Cambridge Audio Azur 351a -integrated amp and Soundblaster Z soundcard (soundcard output Aux -> RCA input Amp). Cambridge has also a USB input, but with the Soundblaster Z the audio sounds more around the ear and when using RCA input the amp bass/treble controls work better for some reason. I also have an Onkyo TX-8130 receiver/amp that i tried with HD600, but the bass became really muddy.
The setup sounds great, but i have no idea if Cambridge amp is optimal for the Hd600.
So now i am curious about trying an external DAC and a headphone amplifier, but i am not sure if i should get both or just get the other one and invest more money on it.
So these are the three options i'm looking at:
Cambridge amp + better external DAC VS headphone amplifier + external DAC VS soundblaster Z + better headphone amplifier
I am trying to get DAC & Amp with <=300e or only the other one with <=250e.
I use Headphones 90% of the time compared to speakers, because i live with thin walls, but if my speaker setup could benefit from external DAC and headphone preamp? that would be also great. Going to buy better headphones in the future, but i dont have anything specific in mind yet.
DACs and headphone amps i have been looking:
(Schiit and JDS are hard to find in EU and i dont want to order outside EU)
DACs:
Topping E30 II lite 104e, E30 II 157e and E50 200e
Topping D50 III 230e
Schiit Modi+ 210e
S.M.S.L SU-6 152e
Headphone Amps:
Topping L30 II 157e
Schiit Magni 215e
S.M.S.L SH-6 125e
DAC + Headphone Amp:
Topping DX 3 + 210e
S.M.S.L raw-mda 1 250e
S.M.S.L DL200 221e
FiiO K5pro ESS 200e
Thank you for reading and let me know if i missed to info something!
And sorry if this was messy, this was my first time asking help in any forum xD
PC setup:
I was wondering if someone could help me decide if i should get an headphone amp and/or DAC for my setup.
I have been using Sennheiser HD600 headphones a couple years with Cambridge Audio Azur 351a -integrated amp and Soundblaster Z soundcard (soundcard output Aux -> RCA input Amp). Cambridge has also a USB input, but with the Soundblaster Z the audio sounds more around the ear and when using RCA input the amp bass/treble controls work better for some reason. I also have an Onkyo TX-8130 receiver/amp that i tried with HD600, but the bass became really muddy.
The setup sounds great, but i have no idea if Cambridge amp is optimal for the Hd600.
So now i am curious about trying an external DAC and a headphone amplifier, but i am not sure if i should get both or just get the other one and invest more money on it.
So these are the three options i'm looking at:
Cambridge amp + better external DAC VS headphone amplifier + external DAC VS soundblaster Z + better headphone amplifier
I am trying to get DAC & Amp with <=300e or only the other one with <=250e.
I use Headphones 90% of the time compared to speakers, because i live with thin walls, but if my speaker setup could benefit from external DAC and headphone preamp? that would be also great. Going to buy better headphones in the future, but i dont have anything specific in mind yet.
DACs and headphone amps i have been looking:
(Schiit and JDS are hard to find in EU and i dont want to order outside EU)
DACs:
Topping E30 II lite 104e, E30 II 157e and E50 200e
Topping D50 III 230e
Schiit Modi+ 210e
S.M.S.L SU-6 152e
Headphone Amps:
Topping L30 II 157e
Schiit Magni 215e
S.M.S.L SH-6 125e
DAC + Headphone Amp:
Topping DX 3 + 210e
S.M.S.L raw-mda 1 250e
S.M.S.L DL200 221e
FiiO K5pro ESS 200e
Thank you for reading and let me know if i missed to info something!
And sorry if this was messy, this was my first time asking help in any forum xD
PC setup:
- Integrated Amplifier: Cambridge Audio Azur351a
-
- Headphones: Sennheiser HD600
- Passive Speakers: Infinity Reference 1i
- Active Speakers: Klipsch R-15pm
- PC Soundcard: Soundblaster Z (24-bit / 192 kHz)
- Source: Tidal, Musicbee (flac & wav 16-24bit)
- Network Stereo Receiver: Onkyo TX-8130
- Passive Speakers: Infinity Reference 30
- Subwoofer: Audio Pro Ace Bass B1.36
- Turntable: Project Primary
Last edited:
