Sufficient DAC AMP for HD 800 S?

[jwn821]

Hi all,

What is a sufficient DAC AMP combo for the HD 800 S?

I have in mind some of the budget offerings from Fiio, Topping, JDS, Qudelix.

My budget could go as high as a RME ADI but I don't think it is really necessary?

What would get me to 80 percent performance of the HD 800 S, then 90, 95, 99 for a fraction of the price? I suspect many of the cheaper options will.

It seems like I need EQ, balanced outputs, sufficient power. Bonus points for good build quality, connectivity, and ease of use.

Thanks!

 

[staticV3]

What source devices will you use?

 

[jwn821]

What source devices will you use?

Apple devices and perhaps I'll add a streamer with digital out?

 

[staticV3]

The soon-to-be released Topping DX1 II is likely the least expensive DAC+Amp which can extract 100% of of the 800S' performance, as it is fully transparent, has enough power to drive the 800S to >120dB SPL, as well as on-board Parametric EQ to correct the 800S' frequency response quirks.

To it, you could connect a WiiM Mini via Toslink, for bit-exact streaming whenever you don't feel like booting up the Mac.

 

[jwn821]

The soon-to-be released Topping DX1 II is likely the least expensive DAC+Amp which can extract 100% of of the 800S' performance, as it is fully transparent, has enough power to drive the 800S to >120dB SPL, as well as on-board Parametric EQ to correct the 800S' frequency response quirks.

To it, you could connect a WiiM Mini via Toslink, for bit-exact streaming whenever you don't feel like booting up the Mac.

Thanks! The DX 5 II seems like a good option but I'm reading about quality control issues. How about Fiio or iFi or others?

 

[whataboutmusic]

I would invest my money on the RME ADI 2 DAC fs and never look back again

I would not invest on ifi devices...I have in the past and I do not find anything interesting any more

 

[respice finem]

I would invest my money on the RME ADI 2 DAC fs and never look back again

I would not invest on ifi devices...I have in the past and I do not find anything interesting any more

The only problem - they have become almost "unobtainium", probably a successor will come, but nobody knows when.

 

[delta76]

The only problem - they have become almost "unobtainium", probably a successor will come, but nobody knows when.

There are plenty of them on second hand market. They will work well for a long time to come

 

[respice finem]

There are plenty of them on second hand market. They will work well for a long time to come

If they are not tampered with, they certainly should. The older one of my two has worked "ungodly" hours without any issue.

 

[staticV3]

Thanks! The DX 5 II seems like a good option but I'm reading about quality control issues. How about Fiio or iFi or others?

I'm not recommending the DX5II.

The DX1 though has been, from what I can tell, trouble-free, which is why the upgraded DX1 II with onboard EQ is the one I mentioned above.

 

[whataboutmusic]

The only problem - they have become almost "unobtainium", probably a successor will come, but nobody knows when.

You are right,

I was "off the market" since I got the RME and the ndh30's I didn't realize.

When I was looking to buy it 2 years ago, it was in stock at least in my country now I can't find it on the official dealer's page.

I wonder why? Though I am sure that a used RME would be an investment too.

 

[delta76]

Thanks! The DX 5 II seems like a good option but I'm reading about quality control issues. How about Fiio or iFi or others?

I at one point considered dx5 ii but something was off for me. It is shiny box with top notch measured performance but SMSL C200 left a sour taste in my mouth. Multiple glitches that appeared and disappeared, product is essential EOL (no driver, no firmware update) after 1y, and eventually an untimely, sudden death with no chance for repair. Of course total failure rate is not 100% but instability is a real issue, and that is a theme across "cheap" devices. Read the Dx5 ii review thread for that. Some will argue that their DX5 II works fine, but there is no denying failure rate within 2 years is high (5-10%) and many bugs that are not fixed/regressed, or the fix causes new bug.

Bought my RME second handed. Had 5y on its neck, looks like new, impeccable built and haven't missed a beat since I've got it. For me, stability and reliability are already worth it.

 

[Burki]

The DX 5 II was one of the products, which I send back after a few hours testing (crackling, ...).
At the moment I find, that a Luxsin X8 (or X9 --> I'm owning both) is a very good deal.
There are a lot of options in EQ and the firmware developers (complete different to topping or SMSL) are making a real good job in implementing new festures and bug fixing.

 

[Jiraya369]

I would invest my money on the RME ADI 2 DAC fs and never look back again

I would not invest on ifi devices...I have in the past and I do not find anything interesting any more

or one could get the topping dx5 ii which has similar power and also has eq

 

[Jiraya369]

but something was off for me

either broken firmware/device, in which case you can return, or you're just bullshitting

the failure rate does seem to be high but more often than not i see people either being on the "it doesnt have the musicality" bandwagon or are just part of the group that thinks more expensive automatically = better. In either case, most of them are irrelevant and their points are based on feelings/biases. So it's hard to take people like those seriously.

 

[delta76]

either broken firmware/device, in which case you can return, or you're just bullshitting

the failure rate does seem to be high but more often than not i see people either being on the "it doesnt have the musicality" bandwagon or are just part of the group that thinks more expensive automatically = better. In either case, most of them are irrelevant and their points are based on feelings/biases. So it's hard to take people like those seriously.

It just went dead. And you think returning is even an option?
LOL. Did anyone say anything about musicality? All my points were about feature set, reliability and longevity. And everyone would agree that RME is superior in all of those aspects.

 

[Talisman]

either broken firmware/device, in which case you can return, or you're just bullshitting

the failure rate does seem to be high but more often than not i see people either being on the "it doesnt have the musicality" bandwagon or are just part of the group that thinks more expensive automatically = better. In either case, most of them are irrelevant and their points are based on feelings/biases. So it's hard to take people like those seriously.

It's actually very easy to take seriously people who advise against Topping products because of the brand's recurring concerns about unreliability and the company's consistent disinterest in supporting defective products and protecting customers. I would never recommend Topping under any circumstances.

 

[ObjectiveSubjectivist]

Wait for DX1 II

Topping DX1 II

DAC & Headphone Amp Combo

www.head-fi.org

 

[Jiraya369]

It just went dead. And you think returning is even an option?
LOL. Did anyone say anything about musicality? All my points were about feature set, reliability and longevity. And everyone would agree that RME is superior in all of those aspects.

what did you mean by "something was off for me"?

and no one's denying the rme aint more reliable, but most people who talk about the adi also act like it has some secret ace up its sleeve that makes listening to stuff on it better than the rme.

Besides, for that price difference, it better be reliable.

The OP asked for something that was sufficient, the DX5 II is more than sufficient and you just pay for reliability. You said something was off, someone could take it in any number of ways bud.

 

[Jiraya369]

It's actually very easy to take seriously people who advise against Topping products because of the brand's recurring concerns about unreliability and the company's consistent disinterest in supporting defective products and protecting customers. I would never recommend Topping under any circumstances.

that's just how cheap product makers operate from my experience

you save on stuff and you pay with poor support. And there might be some actual disinterest from topping in helping global customers but that's my conspiracy theory.