Right... Settled on headphones but which DAC/headphone amp?!

[d_a_n1979]

Having heard to my brothers Grado SR80i's & SR125's numerous times I've bought some as my SR60's had been stood on too many times haha...

I will eventually look to buy another , more expensive pair and may look at wireless/bluetooth speakers as seeing they're for my home office/den it'd be nice to not have to faff about with trailing wires etc...

Although these seem to get rave reviews: http://www.amazon.co.uk/AKG-Reference-Class-Over-Ear-Headphones-Microphone/dp/B008PCB7QG/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1371584915&sr=8-2&keywords=akg+k551

Anyways...

I'd like to get rid of the FiiO D3 DAC I've got hooked up with my MacBook Pro and go for a headphone amp/DAC all in one; something like the Matrix Mini or Aune DAC's...

Max budget say c£250; happy with well looked after 2nd hand etc...

Any recommendations folks?

Please be aware I'm a noob when it comes to headphones and headphone amps so nothing too obscure/fruity!

 

[hearingisbelieving]

Sorry Dan which cans have you got? When you look to move on, assuming you have the SR125's, I would save up for the RS2's as from my own experience(having tried the SR225 and SR325's and owning the SR125s and RS2 and RS1) they are the only worthwhile improvement in that lineup. To be honest there wasn't much, if any, difference between the RS2s and RS1s. Obviously this wont help you now but may save you some time in the future.

 

[d_a_n1979]

Sorry; bought some SR80is to begin with...

 

[FiftyPlus]

Sorry; bought some SR80is to begin with...

A good choice. The SR80is are not ultra fussy on what feeds them, and might well sound fine without a headphone amp. Interesting to see views on where readers would go next. I have heard that unless your into ultra brightness (the 325is), the SR225is are the next sonic step up from the SR80is.

 

[David.D]

I use Grado SR80i's - lovely headphones for the price.

I went for a specific analogue headphone amp the Little Dot 1+ which is a valve and solid state amp. It allows for tube rolling and works very well with the Grado's (I paid £100 with 3 sets of tubes).

Because I also record records to computer, I bought a separate analogue to digital converter (which also has a built in DAC with headphone amp) the Focusrite Scarlett 2i2.

They both sound very good with the SR80i.

Once again, it will be your ears and budget that will make the decision but if you are ever in Gloucestershire you are welcome to listen.

David

 

[Lefty]

Have you considered one of those new fangled USB stick based DAC / headphone amps? (Meridian Explorer, M2Tech HiFace DAC, Audioquest Dragonfly).

I use an M2Tech HiFace DAC with my Grado RS2i and the combination sounds great. You can read my thoughts here:

http://www.hifiwigwam.com/showthread.php?88174-M2Tech-32-384-HiFace-DAC

Lefty

 

[d_a_n1979]

Not after a USB DAC thanks; want to stick to using the optical out on my MacBook Pro but will also be looking to connect my new flat screen TV in the den to the DAC as well so after optical ins as well as RCA if need be etc...

 

[theadmans]

Beresford Bushmaster - a cracking little DAC - under £200 with superb Headphone Amp included. Get 2 x optical and 2 x Co-axial inputs so very flexible. Sounds superb with my Sennheiser HD650s.

http://www.beresford.me/products/TC-7530DC.html

 

[d_a_n1979]

Beresford Bushmaster - a cracking little DAC - under £200 with superb Headphone Amp included. Get 2 x optical and 2 x Co-axial inputs so very flexible. Sounds superb with my Sennheiser HD650s.http://www.beresford.me/products/TC-7530DC.html

Thanks but need optical & RCA potentially, not coaxial

Still; looks an interesting DAC

 

[Jezzer]

The beresford has two optical inputs... and RCA...

 

[dbcarney]

This?

http://www.hifiwigwam.com/showthread.php?88631-FS-Matrix-Mini-i

I've just bought one (latest model with remote). Over the moon with it.

 

[tkimages]

I'm using the Beresford Caiman, and it sounds brill with my Shure Studio reference headphones. More importantly for you, it worked very well indeed with the Alessandro (Grado) headphones I had.

Allegedly the Bushmaster is even better.

 

[theadmans]

Thanks but need optical & RCA potentially, not coaxialStill; looks an interesting DAC

RCA phono and Co-Axial tend to be used interchangeably to refer to the same thing. The Bushmaster has 2 x RCA Phono (Co-Axial) and 2 x Optical Toslink inputs. The only thing it doesn't have is USB which I noticed you don't want anyway.

I don't think you will be able to better the Bushmaster for less than £200.

 

[technobear]

I don't think you will be able to better the Bushmaster for less than £200.

Nail. Head.