Which DAC for my R70x under $100? (470 ohms)

[Zuminu]

I’m in the market for a DAC under $100 to pair with my Audio-Technica R70x headphones, which have an impedance of 470 ohms. I’ve been considering the Fosi Audio DS2 and was wondering if it can handle my headphones effectively. Has anyone tried this combo before?

Also, are there any other DACs or DAC/amp combos within this price range that you would recommend for high-impedance headphones like the R70x?

Appreciate any suggestions!

 

[staticV3]

The Fosi DS2 can drive the R70x to 116dB SPL Peak, which is dangerously loud, so absolutely no issues WRT output power.

For this, a balanced replacement cable would be required.

A Topping DX1 will give you the same output power, but using the stock headphone cable, plus it has a physical volume knob.

 

[Berwhale]

R70x peak impedance is more like 1,000 Ohm...

Audio-Technica ATH-R70x Review (Headphone)

This is a review and detailed measurements of the Audio-Technica ATH-R70x open-back headphone. It was kindly sent to me by a member and costs US $349. As you see the design is unusual with those support paddles. Even though the headphone is feather-light at just 205 grams, I found them...

www.audiosciencereview.com

The R70x also have quite low sensitivity, I think you'll probably want to use a balanced cable with a DS2. e.g.: https://www.amazon.co.uk/okcsc-Replacement-Audio-Technica-Headphone-Headphones/dp/B0C9LVMFT4

 

[staticV3]

R70x peak impedance is more like 1,000 Ohm...

Which makes it even even easier to drive, as the Amp has to output barely any current.

The R70x also have quite low sensitivity

104dB SPL/Vrms, as measured by Amir, is plenty sensitive enough.

 

[Zuminu]

R70x peak impedance is more like 1,000 Ohm...

View attachment 401993

Audio-Technica ATH-R70x Review (Headphone)

This is a review and detailed measurements of the Audio-Technica ATH-R70x open-back headphone. It was kindly sent to me by a member and costs US $349. As you see the design is unusual with those support paddles. Even though the headphone is feather-light at just 205 grams, I found them...

www.audiosciencereview.com

The R70x also have quite low sensitivity, I think you'll probably want to use a balanced cable with a DS2. e.g.: https://www.amazon.co.uk/okcsc-Replacement-Audio-Technica-Headphone-Headphones/dp/B0C9LVMFT4

Damn, ok. I want to buy a cable from AliExpress since we don't have Amazon around here

Any AliExpress cable suggestions?

 

[staticV3]

Damn, ok. I want to buy a cable from AliExpress since we don't have Amazon around here

Any AliExpress cable suggestions?

Try the stock cable first.

Chances are, even that will play more than loud enough, making any money spent on a balanced cable a waste.

 

[Berwhale]

Damn, ok. I want to buy a cable from AliExpress since we don't have Amazon around here

Any AliExpress cable suggestions?

As @staticV3 says, you should try it with the stock cable first.

 

[twsecrest]

I’m in the market for a DAC under $100 to pair with my Audio-Technica R70x headphones, which have an impedance of 470 ohms. I’ve been considering the Fosi Audio DS2 and was wondering if it can handle my headphones effectively. Has anyone tried this combo before?

Also, are there any other DACs or DAC/amp combos within this price range that you would recommend for high-impedance headphones like the R70x?

Appreciate any suggestions!

What sources will you plug your DAC into?

 

[twsecrest]

Damn, ok. I want to buy a cable from AliExpress since we don't have Amazon around here

Any AliExpress cable suggestions?

I would suggest going with whatever balanced cable looks best to your eyes.
And they are so low cost, you can order more than one set.

 

[Zuminu]

What sources will you plug your DAC into?

Desktop windows! My Apogee Duet 2 died, so I bought the DS2. I hope it's better in some way

 

[AnalogSteph]

I wouldn't be holding my breath - as previously mentioned, ATH-R70x' are even easier to drive than Sennheiser HD6xxs and should work happily on most anything with enough output voltage. That being said, you'll get a functional, perfectly fine headphone out for less than Apogee would be charging you as a diagnostic fee. (Whether a dinky little dongle DAC is the right tool for the job is another matter. I can't imagine it's the epitome of mechanical robustness.) As an aside, a Duet 2 still is an interface of a caliber worth getting fixed, a worthy replacement would run you around $500 +/-.

 

[Zuminu]

I wouldn't be holding my breath - as previously mentioned, ATH-R70x' are even easier to drive than Sennheiser HD6xxs and should work happily on most anything with enough output voltage. That being said, you'll get a functional, perfectly fine headphone out for less than Apogee would be charging you as a diagnostic fee. (Whether a dinky little dongle DAC is the right tool for the job is another matter. I can't imagine it's the epitome of mechanical robustness.) As an aside, a Duet 2 still is an interface of a caliber worth getting fixed, a worthy replacement would run you around $500 +/-.

Thanks! I'm going to fix it. Besides the big price difference, should I use Duet 2 still? Couldn't find any measurements of this model to compare with the DS2

 

[twsecrest]

My two cents, spend a little more ($109+tax/shipping) for something like the Schiit Fulla DAC/amp.
Fosi Audio DS2, is something I would use with a smartphone.

 

[ShadowBoxer]

I can't imagine it's the epitome of mechanical robustness.

Surprisingly solid. Should withstand anything short of abuse.

 

[AnalogSteph]

Besides the big price difference, should I use Duet 2 still? Couldn't find any measurements of this model to compare with the DS2

The specs have this to say:

• Max output level headphones: 19dBu
• HPH output impedance 30 Ohm.
• Freq resp 20Hz -20 Khz: +/- 0.05dB (@44.1Khz)
• Rel. THD+N : -113dB (@96Khz)
• Dyn Range: 123dB (A-weighted)

You'd be getting about 6.5 Vrms (~120 dB SPL) into 470 ohms out of this one, and output impedance is not IEM grade but pretty negligible by the standards of the usual HD6xx, Beyers or your R70x.

It's obviously silly to run an interface like that just for the headphone output if you have no other uses, but if you need it anyway the output should get the job done fine. That obviously assumes a fully working unit. This model seems a bit prone to DC/DC converter failures that remind me of common trouble with the Audient iD22 (courtesy of an undersized capacitor) or the shenanigans of my Focusrite Forte (which will eventually crash and enter a boot loop on bus power but run indefinitely if the external power supply is connected; Focusrite seems to have dropped support for this model like a hot potato so I assume it had some issues). A lot of these higher-end desktop-style interfaces from 2012ish are a bit problematic, it seems...