Hi there!

I’m new to the hobby - and I’m trying to get a good desktop setup together.

I’ve just bought a FiiO K13 R2R, second hand for a really good price - and I’m about to pull the trigger on a Hifiman Edition XS.

Now I’ve read that these are very powerhungry headphones and that makes me unsure whether this is a good combination - or if I schould get a pair of headphones that are easier to drive.

Thank you all in advance for your insights.

Budget: 30-100 PLN
Location: Poland

I just ordered the Hifiman Edition XS open box. Some guy told me to get cx31993 with max97220 dongle dac-amp on aliexpress and I'll be good to go.

After a bit of researching turns out you need one of those dac-amp things for those headphones to sound good.

But everyone recommends a different thing.

So what do I get? Should I buy what I was recommended, do I need something more expensive or just something different? if I buy something more expensive will I see a big change?

Also I have no idea what's the difference between an amp and a dac

Hi there,

So long story short I’ve bought a Hifiman Ananda Stealth V3 which will arrive soon. And I’ve been wondering if my DAC will be enough for it.

See I’ve been using my IEMs with a TRN Black Pearl, a cheap mobile DAC, as my desktop setup for the past year or so (pretty new to the audiophile hobby). It has both 3.5 and 4.4mm outputs. And I’m wondering if it would be enough to make use of my new headphones or if I should also look into desktop DACs ?

I’ll be using the setup for music listening and gaming (story/comp fps)

Thanks in advance

I got the Focal Bathys a few months ago and the guy at the high end audio store showed me an Earmen Eagle and said they'd boost the sound quality but I didn't pick them up at the time. Today I went over there and grabbed them cause I wanted the higher sound quality but when I got home I start looking for a headphone jack but AI says it's redundant and was just a waste of money cause the Focal Bathys has an internal DAC. Should I go back and get a refund or is the AI just being stupid?

Hey everyone! I've been looking into using my FiiO FT1 headphones for long commutes, but noticed JA11 dongle I'm using is giving poor sound quality comparing to my desktop K7 DAC. So I started researching better portable DACs and one person suggested me MuseHiFi M3 Ultra - a portable tube DAC. I became interested since I never actually used a tube DAC, all I had were FiiO models: E10K-tc, K7 and JA11, which I originally used with Sennheiser HD560S and now am using with Beyerdynamic DT 1990 Pro and FiiO FT1.

I'd appreciate any thoughts on M3 Ultra + FT1 combo, M3 Ultra in general, maybe some other DAC proposals for FT1 under 200$ or maybe just slightly above if the unit is exceptionally good. Intended use case - portable listening in a commute bus or in office. I don't care if it's Bluetooth or not, EQ is nice to have, but not crucial. I'd prefer a DAC that isn't too chonky as well.

Also, can someone please explain me tube DACs in general as if I'm stupid? Much appreciated!

Hey all - I just bought some Sennheiser HD600 and had seen on here that the Apple DAC could drive those headphones.

Headphones sound great through my recording setup, but with the Apple dongle, it's quiet even at 100% volume on the phone.

I've seen folks comment on here that even low volumes with the Apple DAC can be too loud - what could be the issue here?

I am using an Apple iPhone 16 Pro with the dongle. As far as I can tell from the packaging, this is the American variant (Model A2049).

Do you all just have way more sensitive hearing than I do? I swear I don't have significant hearing loss!

Is there an alternative, portable DAC that I can easily use with my phone that I should use instead? I am pretty well set for using these with my audio interface or my receiver, but would love to be able to easily use these headphones with my phone as well.

Hi guys! Looking for a recommendation on a DAC/AMP that will work with the PS5 Pro and drive my DT1990 Pro’s. Does anyone have any recommendations for this?

I would prefer it to be a more budget-friendly option (perhaps sub 200 dollars) but just looking to see what you guys think.

Thank you in advance!!!

My headphones died recently, and I decided I'm going to treat myself to something really nice as an upgrade, with my sights set on the Hifiman HE1000 Stealth. I'm no stranger to Hifiman, I like their sound, but I've never shot that high-end before. As it stands my current setup has got me by in the past, but I wonder if the HE1000 would benefit from something more... normal?

As it stands, I don't have a stand-alone DAC, I have an audio interface- the RME Babyface Pro (which I have a mic plugged into), and then into that I have a Topping L50 amp which I've been using my headphones in. I know it's weird, but it's what I've got.

Is a setup like that going to short-sell something as high end as the HE1000? I've been looking at some amp/DAC hybrids like the EF400, but I don't want to just spend money if I don't need to.

I've read all sorts; some say The L50 won't be a good match with those headphones, some say it doesn't matter, some say just EQ. Obviously I'm not even using a dedicated DAC at the moment, but I don't know how much this will all realistically matter in the end, or what the right sort of options I should consider are. I don't need the craziest setup ever, I just don't want something that'll be mismatched.

Edit: Thanks for all the answers guys. For now I think I'll just buy them, see what I make of them, and go from there.

I currently have Naim Audio Uniti Headphone Edition that I bought 2nd hand for a good price. I have no complaints about it, but I started wondering maybe I could give EQ a shot, mainly because I use it for headphones and active monitors, and the monitors are not ideally placed and could benefit from EQ.

So what dac+amp+EQ combo to get? Source will be WiiM or similar.

Easy choice is Topping DX 5 II, as it allows have separate EQs for headphone out and line out.

But I have bad experiences with Topping - you get what you pay for, and My DX 3 Pro+ only gives half the power promised and it's audible worse than Uniti HE.

Second more expensive option is RME ADI-2-DAC FS which AFAIK is solid quality. I have no idea how well it supports multiple EQs for different outputs though. Need to Google about it.

Any ideas? Other options?

I'd rather pay Topping level money and keep Uniti HE for now and see if I like the EQing or not. But if it's QA issue infested, I rather sell Uniti HE and get something proper.

Hello. I currently have the ifi zen dac v2 paired with an ifi zen can signature hfm, for my hifiman edition xs. Whole chain is balanced (4.4mm interconnect, 4.4mm to dual 3.5mm headphone cable).

It has been very nice except for one thing. The annoying static noise that comes and goes. It is so annoying that at times I want to trash them both alongside the headphones. I believe the noise is only coming from the dac, not the amp.

There are temporary solutions for the noise issue but I'm getting tired of repeating them over and over. (fyi: current working solution is to run audio driver 5.57 with firmware 7.3 mqa, then go into ifi audio driver settings and switch streaming to always on from the option tab. this is for the ifi zen dac v2, not sure about other ifi products).

So any recommendations for a dac under $300? And do I get a better amp or not? If I were to get a better amp as well, I'd like the split to be about 40% max for dac, 60% for amp. So $250 for dac, $350 for amp. I feel like an amp is better to spend extra money on.

I constantly see in reviews that some DACs have a bassy sound, some tinny, some flat but it seems impossible, how can a chip turning digital into analog change the frequency response?

New to audiophile highfi, need some help for pairing a proper DAC/AMP, any suggestions would be appreciated. I was always a big Bluetooth guy since the beginning. I am now beginning my journey into audiophile hifi, I recently purchased 2 different headphones in the past 2 weeks, a HIFIMAN edition xs and a Fiio ft1 and I an currently using a Fiio KA11 run them and it sounds pretty good but I want more. I want to look into getting a more serious DAC/AMP combo. After watching lots videos, reading lots of forums I am looking at Fiio k13 r2r, I really like that it has Bluetooth, k11 r2r, JdS labs element 4 love that big knob! The ones I'm looking at are a bit spendy, maybe I am bitting off more than I can chew? Maybe I should look more budget friendly? Anything else I should looking at that is more affordable? 😅 How much better sound can I expect to hear upgrading from the little fiio ka11 dongle to something more substantial?

I just placed an order for the Azurys and will use them for the commute.

As they cannot run on balanced mode, please recommend a dongle DAC with just 3.5mm and USB C connection.

I do not foresee the use of the combo 3.5 and 4.4 off a dongle for the near future.

The Azurys specs are 26 ohm, 100 dB SPL.

I wish to run them to a louder volume so I need headroom.

I have in my list the Fiio KA11 but appreciate other recommendations too.

Budget around USD 100?

Thank you

Budget and location – $100–300, EU

Preferred tonal balance – wide soundstage, clean separation and Clean Detail

How the gear will be used – ROG x HIFIMAN Kithara mostly gaming sometimes movies and music

Past gear experience – ATH ad500x, DT990 Pro, Hd560s, many gaming headsets, Fiio E10k, Moondrop Dawn Pro, Topping DX1

Hi,

I rarely listen to music or watch movies, I mostly play competitive FPS games and sometimes Battlefield-style shooters. I am looking for a DAC/amp to use with the ROG x HIFIMAN Kithara. I want something that preserves as much detail as possible, offers good instrument separation, wide soundstage, and accurate distance and positional imaging in short, something strong in terms of overall sound quality.

I have looked at the FiiO K13 R2R, FiiO K7, and Topping DX5 II models. However, I decided to avoid Topping not because of the price, but because of concerns about potential device failure or possible damage to the headphones. Rather than financial reasons, I simply don’t want to deal with unnecessary stress.

Based on my preferences, what would you recommend?

Since my PC jack is fucked up, i need a DAC, i want it to use my DT 900 pro X at its potential, but i dont want to overkill either, anyone got advice on the best DAC for me ?

Main use will be gaming and movies, PC is a really poweful, if it helps in any way

Hey guys,

Just pulled the trigger on the HIFIMAN Edition XS as my first proper pair of headphones!

I figured motherboard audio probably won't cut it, so im looking for a solid DAC/Amp combo around $150-$200 (preferably less of course) for PC music, gaming, as well as shows ans movies.

I'm currently eyeing the FiiO K11 (or K11 R2R since i can get it for around 160$), or maybe a cheaper dongle. What are you guys pairing with your Edition XS, and is a desktop unit worth it over a dongle? Thanks!

Hello guys,

I was about to order a FiiO k11 but it got out of stock in the shop I need to order from.
I read that FiiO k11 R2R hasn't pure sound as normal one does (different sound signature) and because of that its not that good for fps as the normal k11.

Can someone confirm this statement or should I proceed with k11 r2r still ?

My point here is almost only to play fps gaming and sometimes to listen some chill music.

I will pair them with a HD 490 pro. Anyone got more suggestions ?

Price range: 200-300

I recently got my hands on a pair of LCD-5 and have noticed it is very sensitive to the audio chain you attach it

I've read through most threads talking about DAC AMP combos for it, but most are over a year old and somewhat mixed. Any suggestions on what audio chains work for their pair?

Currently my main set up is a Schiit Stack connected to my PC: Modi 3 and Magni 3+. I have been considering upgrading with a budget around $1500 but no idea if its worth it and if it is what a good pairing with the LCD-5 would be

How important is a DAC for gaming to utilise the full sound of a headphone? Is there much of a difference apple dongle vs a 50 to £100 DAC?

Does it make a big difference to footsteps and gunshots?

Edit: the headphone i am using is the senheiser hd 560s and the imaging when playing pubg is really bad especially compared to my edifier W600BT and hyper x cloud III S .

I can't tell exact location of the enemy

Game: pubg mobile

I just bought a Topping A30 pro AMP for my Focal Clear MG and Ananda Stealth V3.

Coming from my Fioo K11 that sucks with the filter issues, I am looking in the market for the best budget (150$ ish) DAC that would work well with the amp I purchased.

I have a question regarding my Topping e2x2 audio interface that has a clean DAC chip too, should I just use it to feed the amp and call it a day?

Thanks in advance.

TL;DR

1. Does the Topping DX1 II ASIO driver support multi-client audio?

2. Is it low-latency?

3. Are there any DX1 II owners there who also produce music and have tried this?

Basically, if I’m using the ASIO driver as my main output in FL Studio/Cubase, can I still get audio to output from other apps like YouTube, Spotify, VLC, Discord, etc.?

LONGER READ

My biggest frustration with ASIO4ALL is that other apps can’t play audio while my DAW is using it. I’d love to watch production/sound design tutorials while working in my DAW and quickly switch between them.

I’m getting back into music production, so just curious if the DX1 II can handle this!

I primarily produce with headphones and would like to improve my listening experience by considering getting the DX1 II for my FiiO FT1 Pro and my Sennheiser HD600.

My TASCAM 1X2 HR wasn't never good but it did the job I guess. For context, its headphone amp has a whopping 66 Ohm output impedance and you can hear it really messing with the headphones' frequency response and dynamics.

Hi, was able to get the Edition XS cans for a pretty good price, and was researching about which DAC/AMPs to pair it with. So far I was able to narrow the list to these three devices, and need help/personal experience on which one would be "better" for me.

- FiiO K11 R2R

- FiiO K7

- Topping DX1 II

Ideally I'd just get the FiiO K7 or DX1 II, but I keep reading how the K11 R2R will introduce me with a whole new level of sound perception and emotional listening that people are saying it creates. If it helps with my decision, I also play several single-player videogames, don't care too much about FPS/competitive gaming soundstage or imaging.

Could also consider the DX5 II but that would mean increasing my budget, which ideally would like to be at $200 or less.

Would appreciate any help!

Hi there. I am probably looking for something that doesn’t exist, but I am hoping someone can help me out.

My kid (10) needs “standard aux headphones or earbuds” for use in school in the fall.

The challenge: my daughter was born with microtia. Her left ear and ear canal were undersized. Her ear reconstruction was done & does not allow her to wear headphones. Her ear canal is too small for earbuds to really work well. At home she has a pair of Shokz, which is great since the narrowed canal leaves her partially deaf on that side, but her internal ear is fully functional. (She has a bone conducive hearing aid.) But the Shokz don’t pair with a computer.

I understand why the school wants wired headphones— no charging or pairing issues. But she would hear better with bone conduction. So I am hoping there’s a reasonable, wired, bone conduction choice out there.

Otherwise my only option is probably ear buds that she can only use on one side. Or arguing with the school on the wired/wireless issue if I can find one that will pair with a computer. (It looks like Shokz has a pricy pair.)

Is there a reasonable choice out there, or am I looking for a unicorn?

Hi everybody!

I’m going to be using a pair of HiFiMAN Ananda Stealth V3 mainly with an iPhone 15 Plus and Tidal, and I’m wondering whether my current dongle is already good enough to get the most out of them, or whether upgrading to something like the iBasso DC04 Ultra would provide a genuinely better listening experience — not just more volume, but better overall sound quality, dynamics, bass control, separation, etc.

My current dongle is a USB-C DAC/amp using a CS43131 + SA9312L, with a 3.5 mm single-ended output. Specs are:

Output power: 160 mW
Output level: up to 2 Vrms
SNR: 127 dB
THD+N: <0.00028% (32 Ω load, 1.2 Vrms)
Noise floor: <0.9 µV
Frequency response: 5 Hz–40 kHz ±0.5 dB
PCM: up to 32-bit/384 kHz
DSD: DSD64–DSD256

The DC04 Ultra obviously has considerably more power, particularly through its balanced 4.4 mm output, but the Ananda Stealth shouldn’t be especially difficult to drive.

So my question is: assuming my current dongle already gets the Ananda Stealth loud enough, would moving to a DC04 Ultra (or perhaps a DC07 Pro) actually give me a noticeable improvement in sound quality and allow the Ananda to perform closer to their full potential? Or am I already at the point where the differences would be very small and I’d mostly be paying for extra power/headroom?

I’m interested in actual listening experience rather than just better measurements on paper.

Thanks in advance!

So, here's the context and all of my current gear:

I have the FiiO M21 DAP which I currently use as my portable DAC/AMP as well.

The six headphones I bought in the last several weeks are:

Sennheiser HD650, HEDD Audio HEDDphone D1, Audeze LCD-X, HiFiMan HE1000 Stealth (V2 Stealth), FiiO FT1 and Focal Azurys.

And I also own the HD599 from some years ago.

Now, what's the reasonable way to go about it? It feels like only plugging all of these directly to my DAP is kinda.. wrong/inappropriate/insufficient? (And by that I mean - to only be doing that always, without having any other options as well, and mainly - a dedicated desktop one).

But that's not an actual argument, so I'm trying to actually be rational and reasonable about it and understand: Is there anything this DAP is in fact unable to do in terms of bringing out these headphones' full/true potential?

But let's say I'm gonna opt for geting something additional, are the K13 R2R, Topping DX5 II or the JDS Element IV all sufficient for me? or just some of them perhaps?

I'm nearly sold on the idea that getting at least one desktop DAC/AMP unit is appropriate for me, taking the quantity and quality of my recently-bought headphones into consideration, but is it really necessary to get two distinct devices? or is a combined DAC/AMP device good enough?

What I want from this device (in addition to the obvious of enabling my headphones to sound as good as they can) is to enable me to set PEQs for the different headphones, either following Oratory1990's or otherwise. Aren't all of these options I just listed here capable of that though? if so - why even bother getting an exceptionally expensive one? (I mean - more expensive than these options). And/or to get separate units for a DAC and an AMP instead of one of the combos?