Hi everyone, I'm new to this forum, at least my account, I have actually read a lot but never made a comment
I'm planning to buy a new headphone amp and a dac.
Until a week ago I had an Audio-GD R2R11 which I bought because many (in other forums and on youtube) have said that it's a brilliant amp/dac combo and probably the best under 500.
When I got the R2R I was extremely dissapointed with it, it sounded way worse than my ASUS D1 soundcard. The only thing it did better was volume, although the sound got worse the louder I played it. Even on low volume it sounded squashed, when played louder it had no punch/low end and sounded squashed on both ends...
Because of that I pretty much never used it.
Now i sold it and have to decide what to buy as a replacement.
For the DAC I'll most probably go woth the Topping E30.
I'm yet a bit unsure for the AMP.
I'll either go with the Heresy or the 3+.
Why not straight go for the better measuring Heresy you might ask?
Because the 3+ measures well to, subjectively kept up (Amirs words) and it is described as smoother and with more "body" and "weight" in the low end by some reviewers.
Problem is...I'm looking for a smoothe and clean amp that does not highlight nor underrepresent any part of the audible bandwith, but most importantly not underrepresent the low end..I hate that haha
Since the first time reviewers and other forums made me buy the worst audio gear I have ever owned, I don't want to make the mistake of trusting their (seemingly completely bad) hearing abilities and evaluations again.
I'd really appreciate it if someone could help me out and probably describe if there really are (even small) differences in sound between the Heresy and the 3+
I don't want to end up with a lifeless, robotic and flat (in a bad way) sounding amp (Heresy) nor with a muddy or worse one that is described as better (3+)...each as described by people who might not be able differentiate between good sound and something like the R2R 11
Could anyone point me in a direction here? I'm really torn haha