Is the L70 powerful enough to drive the Dan Clark E3?
Is there any reason to get the A70 Pro or D90 Discrete instead? (given their reliability problems)
Thanks
You've asked that several times. The L70 has at least 4-5 times the power needed to drive the Dan Clark E3 beyond the pain threshold, with EQ.
The Dan Clark E3 is not one of those power-hungry headphones that need more than 2 watts with EQ, rather less.
The A90 Discrete has 1 watt less power than the L70.
Topping L70, A50s, A50III, L30 II, L50, Sabaj A20h, Singxer SA-1, SMSL HO200, Topping A30Pro and many more are enough for the Dan Clark E3 to make your ears bleed. Do you need more power?
It doesn't matter whether the amplifier is balanced or SE. A SE amplifier with 5 watts has 3 watts more power than a balanced amplifier with 2 watts. Or to be even clearer, 2 watts from a symmetrical power amplifier are just as loud as 2 watts from a single-ended power amplifier.
There are no differences in sound either. I have at least 5 HPAs with symmetrical power amplifiers and at least 5 HPAs with single-ended power amplifiers, and you would have no chance of distinguishing them blindly or finding out which one is SE or symmetrical. All in the range of €110 - €600, including an L70 and A20h.
But both of my work devices are from a German manufacturer, both 14 years old, new price around €1000, single-ended power amplifiers, very high-quality construction, proven, fully developed by the manufacturer and tested from start to finish.
Nothing else will come onto my table, except a newer device or perhaps an RME.
With such expensive headphones, I would really worry more about quality, quality control, long-term and stress tests in development, protective functions, etc. of the headphone amplifier than about unnecessary power or symmetrical power amplifiers.