USB DAC/AMP Combo - ifi Zen DAC or Topping dx3 pro

[AaBoy]

I will add the Sennheiser HD660S (refurbished for 300€) to the current stack:

• Bose QC35
• Beyerdynamic Tyger
• Koss KPH30i
• Sennheiser GSP 300

Because of the addition of HD660S, I would need to add a headphone DAC/AMP combo. The combo would need to have a USB connection (using a KVM).

As mentioned in the title, I’m looking at the ifi Zen DAC or Topping dx3 pro. Both are below 250€ (my limit) here in Europe. Sadly Schiit and JDS Atom stacks are not an option here.

Is there any other option that I can get on German Amazon/EU? Or any of these two options a clear favorite?

I looked at the Fiio K5 pro, but I can’t stand the design, and it’s not on the contender list.

 

[VintageFlanker]

As mentioned in the title, I’m looking at the ifi Zen DAC or Topping dx3 pro

...Or any of these two options a clear favorite?

Both have been measured here: DX3 Pro, hands down.

 

[_thelaughingman]

I think both of the listed options are good to get. I would lean towards Topping dx3 pro since it measures better than Ifi combo.

 

[AaBoy]

Thank you for the responses.

I had some time (not always a good thing) and was looking to maybe just bit the bullet and step up a tier above. I was looking at the Topping A50s and maybe pairing it with the E30 or D10s.

But here I have a question. Could I use the Topping A50s and use the Apple (or similar) USB dongle to act as a DAC, or will it produce too little power?

 

[_thelaughingman]

@AaBoy I think it's not a bad idea to use the A50s with an apple dongle. I personally use the Topping NX4 with a dongle for my mobile use, as far as desktop goes i think having a good dac such E30 feeding the A50s would be ideal.

 

[AaBoy]

Thank you for the approval. The plan down the road is to add a dedicated DAC. It will have to have Bluetooth so that I can just seat in the chair and listen to music