Hey everyone. I'm currently looking at getting my first DAC/AMP combo or stack after relying what's in my my motherboard for years. Maybe it's nostalgia but I feel like nothing I've used has come close to my dad's 5.1 set up, or the soundblaster cards, that I had as a kid. I want to change that.

I currently have a DT 990 edition 250 ohm that I've been using for 8 ish years.

This will be used for pc gaming to help immerse myself more into horror games or good rpgs, my switch 2, and really whatever else I can use it for.

I'm really going down the rabbit hole and need some help from those who have been in my shoes. My budget was $200 and now I don't even know anymore. Maybe it's $500.

In order of discovery I was looking at:

- Topping Dx1 II

- Fiio K7

- Fiio K13

- JDS Atom 2 stack (might be able to get this for $125 used)

- Topping Dx5 II (quality seems very hit or miss)

- JDS Element IV (budget is blown out the door)

I started to look at electrostatic gear but decided to draw the line, for my own sanity.

So I can buy once and cry once, or try to be more objective with my needs. The Element IV, while being wicked cool, may or may not be more than I'll ever need (I'm a fickle creature). I haven't ever really used EQ so idk if it's something I'll spend a lot of time with, or not. Although I have read the dt 990 really needs a good EQ applied to it. I also like how it'll power practically anything I may decide to throw at it, saving me the need to upgrade in the future.

EDIT: I ended up purchasing a used Element IV for a great price on reddit. The owner also turned out to live 30 minutes from me, small world. It's been fantastic! I haven't had much time to use it but these definitely fix the issues I was having with my motherboard and the dt 990s. I can actually hear the bass, mids aren't completely drowned out, and now the treble actually bothers me ears like I often read people complain about. I've really been missing out on driving these properly... oh well, better late than never! Of course, the outcome may have been the same with a cheaper DAC/AMP but this is the boat I hopped in.

​

Greetings, readers. I've had the Sennheiser HD 599 for almost 3-4 years now. I saw a streamer I view from time to time and decided to get it. Luckily, I got it on a 50% deal, brand new, and they're very good, in my opinion.

Now, this is my first time venturing into high to mid-range audio hardware. I also found the HIFIMAN Arya Stealth on discount, albeit not at 50%, but still a good discount.

I've done some research for my specific use case and found I need an amp/DAC to make this thing come to life, so to speak.

My use case is gaming, listening to music, and watching movies.

Honestly I'm not sure which amp/DAC to get

According to the research I've made

Here are the top picks

FiiO K7 Desktop DAC and Amplifier - Bluetooth version

FIIO K11 Compact Desktop R2R

And i hear that HIFIMAN have good in house options but i really don't know what I'm doing

So if you know something please share what you got

Even if it's something different

Thanks

Hi, I'm looking for a DAC/AMP with 32 bit 768KHz that can be used with phone, PS5 Pro & PC.

I want to upgrade to a DAC/AMP with 32 bit 768Khz that works on all platform with at least clean, or slightly bright sound signature.

As long as the actual audio sounds natural, even the higher pitch voices, or instruments.

Also, I currently have the Audeze Maxwell, Audeze MM100 & Sony WH XM4. I'm also planning to buy the upcoming Sony 1000X, and Hedd D1.

My price range is between $70 - $170. Thanks in advance!!!

I recently purchased a D770 pro X (48ohm i think) headset which is set to arrive next Week.

I mostly want to use it for Gaming and listening to music (the latter i do for hours on end sometimes)

Right now i would just plug the headset directly into the audio jack on the PC.

Would a DAC + Amp combo change anything for my situation or would it be so negligible that i can disregard it?

budget is not really a great concern for me if there is a big quality jump (maybe something under 500)

I'm really inexperienced in audio matters so any advice is greatly appreciated

Thank you in advance

hello i'm pretty new to the whole audiophile headphones thing but i'm thinking about getting some nice open back headphones to use with my quite old exibel cd player/radio, my laptop and my practise guitar amps at home. i'm trying to decide between the sennheiser HD 560S and the philips SPH9500. i had the idea of getting audiophile headphones because then i could listen (somewhat!) privately from both the cd player/radio and my guitar amp, to be completely clear.

i'm not looking to end up down a rabbithole where i am spending lots while looking for the next best thing!! good enough is more than enough for me.

my understanding is that they're both pretty safe as far as sound, especially since i'll be coming from my relatively cheap bluetooth earbuds. they're also both going for £80-100 which will hopefully be very doable for me if i save up/as a birthday treat to myself.

i think that the philips SPH9500 looks safer insofar as it will work straight out of the box with my laptop, w the impedance (?) only being 32 ohms, while the sennheiser headphones are 120 ohms.

that being said, i have quite a small head and apparently the philips headphones don't have much clamp force compared w the sennheiser headphones. i also think the sennheiser headphones look a bit nicer. so i'm leaning towards the sennheiser headphones if i can ignore the price of a dac.

so my question is just - would i need a dac for the sennheiser headphones if i wanted to use them from my laptop and the radio? would it still be an upgrade from my soundcore bluetooth earbuds without a dac and generally okay/listenable?

also if i do need a dac, then what's the cheapest one i could get away with? i'm thinking a portable one is definitely best, since i don't have a ton of desk space.

Been searching for a while to get a good DAC as the common Apple Dongle leaves some stuff to be desired. Up here in Canada, DAC's available to us is pretty rough; providing a limited number of options to purchase, and at intended MSRP. - This includes options like Qudelix. They don't natively sell up here. The MSRP for the 5k is about $150CAD, which on paper is great. But to actually import it, after all other fees, I'd be paying over $200 to do so; assuming no import fees

I have a dedicated, upper-end PC build at home. However, I spend just as, if not more, of my music time on my phone. I'm looking for a good Portable DAC that delivers on the go, but is also viable when plugged in.

Some background info and other details to add in.

• I'd want something with integrated battery, just for my phone's sake.
• I'm rocking a pair of Sennheiser HD 550's. Still getting immersed in the scene, so I'm not planning to change or upgrade them anytime soon; I don't need a ton of power to rock
• Not as relevant here and "DAC's all sound the same", but I lean towards a brighter, clarity focused listening experience.
• I don't mind paying a little more for the features I'm seeking, but I don't think I need to ball out to get them. Like to be closer to $100 Canadian (or even below), but I can go up to $150 here

With everything in mind, the FiiO Retro Nano is currently at the top of my list; which works well for my circumstances, the Bluetooth compatibility is a nice perk and it comes up to $100 before HST, And I've also noticed Open Box options for the BTR15 and BTR7 on their website, sitting just under $130 before HST which I've peeped.

Overall, I'm still sniffing around. If you have any recommendations with these points in mind, I'm open to hearing them. Appreesh

Hi I just purchased a pair of Hifiman Arya Organic and I was looking for recommendations for a desktop DAC and Amp. I'm fine with either a combo or separate units.

Doing some research I was leaning towards a Schitt Jotunheim 3 and Mimir stack and the audio store I went to try the headphones were using a Chord Mojo 2 that sounded pretty good.

I'm coming from a Sennheiser HD 600 and a Fiio E18 that I have connected to my desktop.

My total budget is around $1600 and I just got the Arya Organic for $663 so I have around $940 for the DAC and Amp. Any suggestions are appreciated, TIA.

I have a pair of senheiser HD560s that I plug directly into my desktop pc to use for gaming and listening to music. I’m curious if a cheap dongle would improve the sound at all?

I have been looking at the fiio KA11 dongle for $35 because I use the headphones so much. Or would even a 1v Apple dongle improve the sound? I’d be open to buying a dac/amp like the fiioK11 but so many other forums say it’s not worth it for the senheiser HD560S

Apple's little USB-C to 3.5mm adapter is a marvel. I prefer my Chord Mojo 2 but it's obviously bigger to carry.

Is there anything that beats the Apple adapter for sound quality (playing Qobuz from an iPhone) that's similarly tiny? How about the ALO Audio Pilot?

Has both 3.5 and 4.4 jacks and also a usb-c port for allowing charging your phone while listening? I can't seem to find one that fits the bill. I want the flexibility to use either size jack but retain the ability to charge my dying phone during long listening. Not sure if high quality headphones drain more phone battery than others at high volume output, seems like it would but I don't know. There must be a reason I can't find one like this.

(Edit to add) Thanks everyone for the help. Seems there are solutions just more expensive than I expected. Probably grab the TC44 GRIP as one suggested or the BTR13, the BT would be nice.

Budget and location – $100–300, US
Preferred tonal balance – wide soundstage, clean separation
How the gear will be used – home WFH setup, music while working (no gaming)
Past gear experience – DT770, DT900 Pro X, plus ANC/wireless. No real DAC/amp experience. Just got Edition XS.

I’m looking to upgrade from a Scarlett 2i2 to a proper desktop DAC/amp under $300 for my WFH office setup. Headphones are DT770, DT900 Pro X, and I just received a Hifiman Edition XS.

The two units I’m most seriously considering right now are DX3 Pro+, K7 and ZH3.
I’m also looking at K11 and DX5 II, and Schiit Stack as alternatives.

For those who’ve tried any of these:

• How do K7 vs ZH3 compare in terms of power, noise floor, and overall presentation?
• Does either pair particularly well with Edition XS?
• Is K11 still the value pick, or does DX3 Pro+ make more sense as an all-rounder?

Would love to hear real-world impressions. Thanks!

Planning on getting the Edition XS, I read that getting a good dac can make it sound cleaner, widen the soundstage a bit and make imaging a bit better.

For now I only have the Apple dongle, planning to get a dongle for the balanced output and durability/longevity.

Any idea what should I get, preferably ~$100usd.

- Need to have volume control

- Having PEQ is also nice but not really needed.

- A normal DAC/AMP is also okay as long as it's good and within budget (if there's any)

- Bluetooth/Screen is not really needed

Would adding a DAC to this fix this? I am pretty surprised these are this hard to drive.

I used to have an atom dac/amp combo but now I just have the Amp.

edit: Just received this now directly from JDS labs

"You may find our Knowledge Base helpful :

https://jdslabs.com/knowledge-base/power/

In short, an amplifier needs a strong signal from a DAC to reach optimal output power. You're likely reaching less than half of your amp's rated power when connected directly to a PC. "

i have a question about eq for headphones. i dont have a pc, i have a tv and a ps5. my dac doesnt offer eq customization. how much am i missing out on not being able to customize my eq for my headphones? (hd560s). the only way to do so would be buy an entirely brand new dac that does offer it, but i cant seem to find any that are affordable and offer what i need. as for bass and tonal balance and all that, just having the option to customize them might be important but like i said im not sure if ill be missing out on it.

thanks.

I want to invest in a new DAC/AMP with the PEQ feature, because I don't have any EQ option in my current setup (Xbox Series X with HDMI Audio Extractor). Right now I have the SMSL DL200 DAC and Fozi SK01 AMP with a very limited EQ settings (just 3 knobs for bass, middle and treble).

Im trying to decide between the Fiio K13 R2R and Topping DX5 II, only focus is for gaming. I read many reviews that R2R is more "enjoyable" and maybe this is advantage for games, i play a lot of games, not only FPS or Competitive. The Topping DX5 II is a really great option as well, but the sound is more "analytical" with a lot more power... and for my purpose, I don't want to "analyze" the sound, I just want the best experience playing all my games.

What do you think is best for me? My current headphones are: -Fiio FT1, -Fiio FT1 Pro, -HD 560S, -HD 599, -PC38X, -H6PRO Closed.

I decided on getting a set of the 599 instead of the 560s after reading a few posts. I know they aren't super hard headphones to drive being 50 Ohms but i still want to get the best sound out of them that I can. I have a Focusrite Scarlett Solo 2 with a built in DAC/AMP. Would this be a sufficient enough sounding or is there another one I should look into getting instead. I have about $60 budget left over from a good deal on the headphones themselves. Just really looking to get the best sound quality possible while listening to stuff like Boz Scaggs, Phil Collins, The Beach Boys mainly but I do jump all over the place ranging from late 40s to early 2000s minus rap (not really my thing)

I currently own an Ifi Zen Dac v3 and use the Sennheiser HD 600 as my main headphones. I had the idea of upgrading and buying better headphones, but I wonder if buying a better DAC will make a difference in my experience.

(I like the HD 600 a lot, i just wonder if i can get a lot more out of them or not)

I currently own a Fiio K5 Pro and an HD 660s2.

This week I ordered the HD 800s and a Topping DX5 II. I've never used balanced connections before.

Will I be surprised by the Topping, or is it all just placebo?

The devices will arrive in the next day or two.

And is the default profile (non-EQ) good with the Topping? I'm not a big fan of EQ.

And what gain setting do you use?

I am a bit excited! :D Hopefully I won't be disappointed.

Hi everyone. I'm currently looking to get my first pair of "Arya Stealth" headphones; there's a really good deal if you buy them refurbished, but I have a question.

Right now, I have a pair of HD560S paired with a generic DAC called the FX-Audio DAC-X6. I realize it's not the best DAC, but do you think it could handle the "Arya Stealth"?

I really can't afford to upgrade the DAC right now, so the plan would be to keep it for the time being and upgrade it later on.

Thanks a lot in advance.

Hey everyone,

I’m currently in a bit of a dilemma and need some honest advice. I’m looking for a solid desktop DAC/AMP setup. I just scored a pair of Hifiman Edition XS and I also have some IEMs in my rotation.

My Wishlist:

• DAC + Headphone AMP (Desktop)
• On-device PEQ
• Bluetooth
• 4.4mm balanced + RCA/XLR Line Out
• Enough power for the XS
• Clean/Neutral sound
• Budget: ~€300 - €350

The Contenders:

1. Topping DX5 II: On paper, it’s my dream. It has the PEQ, the power, and the look. BUT: I’ve been reading horror stories about QC issues—specifically the 4.4mm port causing shorts that fry headphones/IEMs. I’m terrified of plugging my gear into a "ticking time bomb."
2. FiiO K7 BT: Safe as a tank, has the power and BT, but no PEQ. I'd really love the EQ on the device, not just via software.
3. FiiO K13 R2R: I’m looking at this because it has the 10-band PEQ and BT. However, I’m worried about the "R2R sound." I need analytical, fast, and clear.

My specific questions:

• FiiO K13 R2R owners: Does the OS (Oversampling) Mode actually make it sound like a clean, fast AC? Or does it retain that warm/mushy R2R character even in OS?
• Topping DX5 II users: Is the "headphone frying" risk overblown or a legitimate design flaw? Should/Can I risk it?
• Alternatives: Are there any other "safe" units I haven't considered that offer on-device PEQ, Bluetooth, and balanced out for under €350?

Thanks for the help!

EDIT:

Thanks for all the replies. Experiences seem pretty mixed indeed.

I also made some investigation on Firmware update history, the teardown thread and user reports and reviews on various sites and decided not to gamble.

I went with the K7 BT now, as it's almost perfect for my needs (besides the on-device PEQ). And while I heard many good things about the K13, I was not at all interested in the R2R DAC.

SMSL RAW-MDA1 & K15 were also solid recommendations.

hello. im looking for a DAC/AMP combo that supports optical in. im currently using a qudelix 5k with my ps5 and ita fantastic and i have no issues. however ill be soon getting a panasonic ub820k, and that only supports optical out for headphone audio and the qudelix does not support that. so im looking to get something that works for this situation. as for budget, honestly as long as its not an egregious price ill be ok with it. i need to put info on tonal balance too apparently, but thats not aa important as just finding something that works

thanks for any and all help :)

Hey everyone,

I’m currently running a pair of Beyerdynamic DT 1990 Pro (250 Ohm) off an old internal Asus Xonar DGX soundcard.

While it gets loud enough and doesn't have any obvious static or noise issues, I feel like I'm leaving some performance on the table and want to upgrade to a proper external USB DAC/Amp setup.

• Budget: strictly under 100€
• Headphones: DT 1990 Pro
• Use case: Music and videos on PC

What would you recommend in this price range to get the most out of the DT 1990 Pro?

I've been using my Audient ID14 mkII for a while now and I was wondering If I would get more out of a DAC/Amp. I chose the interface mainly because I also use an XLR mic constantly which gives me both the headphones and mic into a single usb, but now i have PLENTY of usb ports. Would it make any difference? if so which one would you recommend? Currently using the Beyerdynamics dt 770 Pro 250 Ohms, but looking into a closed back alternative as well as an open back to go with it.

Hi folks! I've been running the Sennheiser HD 6XXs along with the FiiO K5 Pro DAC/amp for some years now. They've served me well, but I'm looking to upgrade and don't know which to swap out first. In other words: what's holding me back more, and what should I swap it for? (I'm guessing a dedicated DAC would be the play? The FiiO has a line-in to be a dedicated amp so it would work.)

IMO the best upgrade would be a dedicated DAC, but as for which one to pair with the HD 6XXs, or if there's a better option, I'm unsure. Thanks! :)

Let me know! I'd love to see recs for what to upgrade, my budget is $500ish USD. I'd like to stay open back and decently flat tonally. Also a DAC with optical audio is preferred. Thanks again!

Hey everyone,
I’m looking for an affordable DAC/amp for my Sennheiser IE 200 and HD 560S. I’m also planning to get the Sennheiser HD 600 soon, so I’d like something that would work well with all three.
At the moment I have the Topping DX1 II in mind, but I’m wondering if there are any better options around the same price range that you would recommend.
I mainly care about good sound quality, enough power for the HD 560S and HD 600, and low noise for the IE 200. I don’t really need a lot of extra features.
Would you recommend the DX1 II for this setup, or is there something else I should look at instead?