Hi,
For a number of years I have had a Schiit Gungnir/Mjolnir stack, and I have had an overall good experience with them. That said, I am considering upgrading and would like some advice. I would like to take a look at other brands, as I know Schiit doesn’t have the best reputation in regards to measurements. I would like to find a headphone amplifier that:
1. Has enough power for the LCD-3’s
and
2. has at least a selectable XLR and RCA input if it is balanced (the inputs on my current Mjolnir are unfortunately summed)
i am not restricting myself to balanced choices, so that isn’t a huge factor. I am a bit confused as to what difference balanced actually makes (I am not a very electronically inclined person). If I am not mistaken, I have read that it makes more of a difference between the DAC and amp whereas not much if any difference on the headphone side of things? I have used my LCD-3’s with my JDS Element, and have found the sound to not be quite as good as the Mjolnir. However, this may well be a placebo effect. I wonder if it has anything to do with the power output, but I don’t listen extremely loud.
if I end up getting a new amp, I might want to get a new DAC too, so any suggestions are welcome on that front as well. DSD would be welcome, but isn’t necessarily necessary. I would not be looking to spend more than $1000 total, as that is likely around what I could get for my current devices on the used market. I am open to buying both new and used.
Your help is appreciated!
Ben
For a number of years I have had a Schiit Gungnir/Mjolnir stack, and I have had an overall good experience with them. That said, I am considering upgrading and would like some advice. I would like to take a look at other brands, as I know Schiit doesn’t have the best reputation in regards to measurements. I would like to find a headphone amplifier that:
1. Has enough power for the LCD-3’s
and
2. has at least a selectable XLR and RCA input if it is balanced (the inputs on my current Mjolnir are unfortunately summed)
i am not restricting myself to balanced choices, so that isn’t a huge factor. I am a bit confused as to what difference balanced actually makes (I am not a very electronically inclined person). If I am not mistaken, I have read that it makes more of a difference between the DAC and amp whereas not much if any difference on the headphone side of things? I have used my LCD-3’s with my JDS Element, and have found the sound to not be quite as good as the Mjolnir. However, this may well be a placebo effect. I wonder if it has anything to do with the power output, but I don’t listen extremely loud.
if I end up getting a new amp, I might want to get a new DAC too, so any suggestions are welcome on that front as well. DSD would be welcome, but isn’t necessarily necessary. I would not be looking to spend more than $1000 total, as that is likely around what I could get for my current devices on the used market. I am open to buying both new and used.
Your help is appreciated!
Ben