Thinking about upgrading my AMP/DAC.

[Cyberspirit]

Hey, I currently have an FX-AUDIO DAC X6 which is a cheap AMP/DAC combo and I was thinking about upgrading it. If I wanted to up the sound quality, would it be enough to get a dedicated DAC or, would I need to get a better AMP as well?

I'm not sure how much would I need to spend on it but I don't want anything incredible, just something that makes sense for someone who just want to enjoy some music.

[rice guru]

So dedicated dacs have amps but enough to just output a line output it's not really enough power to power anything. So an amp is also advised. What I would reccomend doing if you want to take it step by step is using the fx audio as a dictated dac with the linout at the back of the unit and plug that into a new amp. As the dac on the unit is somewhat capable. Amps generally make more of a sound difference anyway and once you feel like upgrading the dac you can go for it.

[Metallus97]

Or buy a simple all in one solution that sounds better than some more expensive equipment 

https://www.schiit.com/products/fulla-1

 

Schiit is know for  awesome price/perf and is made 100% in the US.

Sure this thing is not a world class dac amp combo but is fine with Headphones up to the 500$ range. Also it has tons of power and can drive almost annything.

The new version even has a nice quality mic in. So should you want to use a headset thats no problemo.

 

Or do as @rice gurutold you and use the fx as a dac and get a Schiit magni 3. AAAAAWESOME solid state amp with loads of power and at the pice unbeatable

[Cyberspirit]

What would you say is a reasonable price for a decent amp? Shipping fees and VAT will probably jack up the price by a lot but that's fine.

[Metallus97]

5 minutes ago, Cyberspirit said:

What would you say is a reasonable price for a decent amp? Shipping fees and VAT will probably jack up the price by a lot but that's fine.

https://www.schiit.com/products/magni-1 99$

look for the reviews. This this is hilariously nice at the price

sure there are better hadamps but to get those you’d have to pay like 2x or 3x and would only be able to use that with real nice cans.

 

About the two versions: https://www.head-fi.org/threads/schiit-happened-the-story-of-the-worlds-most-improbable-start-up.701900/page-3601#post-15334257

 

TL;DR:

+ more traditional design of the amp stage

Heresy: more modern design stage, wich measures better but some Hi-Fi gurus are against using opAmps in a Headamp or well any amp. They find them to be not as musical.

 

I cant give you a recommendation on wich to get, because i haven’t used a solid state amp for years. I am a tube guy.

 

But i guess idd go for the Heresy. When Solidstate then please as good as it gets (at the price point) for measured perf  

 

[Cyberspirit]

6 minutes ago, Metallus97 said:

https://www.schiit.com/products/magni-1 99$

look for the reviews. This this is hilariously nice at the price

sure there are better hadamps but to get those you’d have to pay like 2x or 3x and would only be able to use that with real nice cans 

I've heard a lot of people praise Schiit for making good stuff. The Magni would cost me about 140 with shipping. Not sure if VAT would be covered, is that still a good price?

[Metallus97]

3 minutes ago, Cyberspirit said:

I've heard a lot of people praise Schiit for making good stuff. The Magni would cost me about 140 with shipping. Not sure if VAT would be covered, is that still a good price?

YES BOOOOI!

No Schiit (ok sorry) its friggn nice what they accomplish at thier price points. I have never heard a better sub 250$ Headamp. And that was compared to the magni 3 (i did own one before going full tube with the valhalla) but i 3+ and heresy are even better. SOOO yah its totally worth it!

 

Also where are you located? If shipping from the EU helps you, they do have a EU Web store also. Located in NL.

 

ANd i know the post on Headfi is long, but read it to understand the company and wich model to get  

[rice guru]

18 minutes ago, Cyberspirit said:

What would you say is a reasonable price for a decent amp? Shipping fees and VAT will probably jack up the price by a lot but that's fine.

Magni 3+ , schiit heresy, monoprice liquid spark, or JD's labs atom can't go wrong with any of them. 

[Metallus97]

7 minutes ago, rice guru said:

Magni 3+ , schiit heresy, monoprice liquid spark, or JD's labs atom can't go wrong with any of them. 

Idd say that the magni outperforms the liquid and atom. At least on paper. 

Weather youre able to hear that, or like the feel of the amp is for sure subjective. But build quality is better on schiitzzztz + general awesomeness that such measurements are possible for the price plus being 100% made in the US (and not china where it is cheaper) The soldering inside my Vali 2 and Modi3 is pretty porn

[Metallus97]

Oh and have to get it in here: Personal recomenadation Schiit Vali 2!
But thats tube land so you have to like to put up with that lol

[Cyberspirit]

Just now, Metallus97 said:

Oh and have to get it in here: Personal recomenadation Schiit Vali 2!
But thats tube land so you have to like to put up with that lol

I have no idea about what tubes are like. I'm guessing they have a very distinct sound?

[Metallus97]

Just now, Cyberspirit said:

I have no idea about what tubes are like. I'm guessing they have a very distinct sound?

Ok then dont get into that lol. The measured performance and „trueness of sound“ is worse with tubes (at releative same price bla bla) also the amp gets hella hot and uses more power) however some peeps (me) like the warm and dynamic sound.

But for someone wo simply wants nice sounding music thats not a good thing to get into. Get a 3+ or heresy and you will have the best Headamp under 250 period

[Derkoli]

12 minutes ago, Cyberspirit said:

I have no idea about what tubes are like. I'm guessing they have a very distinct sound?

Depends. Triodes (proper word for tubes) can sound relatively similar to solid state amplification, But some triode-based amplifiers sound extremely different, They essentially make great use of Harmonic distortion (Distortion that sounds good to our ears, Enjoyable distortion, while distortion is mostly frowned upon when making solid state amplification)

 

For example, A McIntosh MC1.25kW solid state amplifier (the amplifiers I personally use) have 0.005% overall distortion, while a McIntosh MC75 which is triode based has 0.5% overall distortion.

 

Solid state amplification is generally favoured now, as you can achieve much higher power, lower distortion, better efficiency and lower cost.

 

For example the McIntosh MC1.25kW amplifier I mentioned can provide 1200 watts continuously, While the McIntosh which is triode based can only provide 75 watts continuously.

 

Solid state amplifiers also tend to have much better frequency response, the McIntosh MC1.25kW, which is solid state has a frequency response of 10Hz to 100,000Hz, the McIntosh MC75 which is triode based has a frequency response of 20 to 20,000Hz, which is much lower, and of course has higher distortion.

 

Also Triodes get EXTREMELY hot, so aren't exactly good for kids with wandering hands.

[Metallus97]

5 minutes ago, Derkoli said:

Depends. Triodes (proper word for tubes) can sound relatively similar to solid state amplification, But some triode-based amplifiers sound extremely different, They essentially make great use of Harmonic distortion (Distortion that sounds good to our ears, Enjoyable distortion, while distortion is mostly frowned upon when making solid state amplification)

 

For example, A McIntosh MC1.25kW solid state amplifier (the amplifiers I personally use) have 0.005% overall distortion, while a McIntosh MC75 which is triode based has 0.5% overall distortion.

 

Solid state amplification is generally favoured now, as you can achieve much higher power, lower distortion, better efficiency and lower cost.

 

For example the McIntosh MC1.25kW amplifier I mentioned can provide 1200 watts continuously, While the McIntosh which is triode based can only provide 75 watts continuously.

 

Solid state amplifiers also tend to have much better frequency response, the McIntosh MC1.25kW, which is solid state has a frequency response of 10Hz to 100,000Hz, the McIntosh MC75 which is triode based has a frequency response of 20 to 20,000Hz, which is much lower, and of course has higher distortion.

 

Also Triodes get EXTREMELY hot, so aren't exactly good for kids with wandering hands.

I am sorry as a tube nerd i have to say NO BROOOO triodes are only one KIND of tubes. There are also pentodes etc. Techicaly speaking there are also transistors constructed as a triode... sooooo ya! Sorry lol  i studied physics and electrical engineering lol

 

And the rest is correctly explained! 

[Derkoli]

Just now, Metallus97 said:

I am sorry as a tube nerd i have to say NO BROOOO triodes are only one KIND of tubes. There are also pentodes etc. Techicaly speaking there are also transistors constructed as a triode... sooooo ya! Sorry lol  i studied physics and electrical engineering lol

 

And the rest is correctly explained! 

Shhhh, Don't over-complicate things

[rice guru]

What I generally say with tubes is to not get into them until you hAve a good solid state amp and are bored of how your headphones sound and want a different flavor of the same headphone

[Derkoli]

Just now, rice guru said:

What I generally say with tubes is to not get into them until you hAve a good solid state amp and are bored of how your headphones sound and want a different flavor of the same headphone

Or if you want a new heater and amp combo

[Metallus97]

Just now, rice guru said:

What I generally say with tubes is to not get into them until you hAve a good solid state amp and are bored of how your headphones sound and want a different flavor of the same headphone

Yeha or you tried one and like how the color the sound. I mean its a real deep hole to get into. I have a stock of over 200 tubes now lol. Ok I also play E-Guitar and do repairs on Audio and Guitar Tube amps

[Metallus97]

1 minute ago, Derkoli said:

Or if you want a new heater and amp combo

It ain’t that bad with Headphone amps. With big bad speaker amps however yesss

[Derkoli]

1 minute ago, Metallus97 said:

It ain’t that bad with Headphone amps. With big bad speaker amps however yesss

Haha, wonder how warm my new amplifiers are gonna get. McIntosh MC2301, Ordering them on sunday most likely. Cant wait to be honest.

[Metallus97]

2 minutes ago, Derkoli said:

Haha, wonder how warm my new amplifiers are gonna get. McIntosh MC2301, Ordering them on sunday most likely. Cant wait to be honest.

Thats pretty SiCcCCC and ThIcCck  . Let us know how it sounds and how warm it gets lol

[Derkoli]

Just now, Metallus97 said:

Thats pretty SiCcCCC and ThIcCck  . Let us know how it sounds and how warm it gets lol

Honestly more excited to get them than I think anything else, other than my speakers. Plus moving house next weekend so I'll have a proper dedicated home cinema room/man cave

[Cyberspirit]

Alright, so, I think I'll go with Schiit because I'm seeing good things about them and the amp actually looks pretty nice. But I'm not exactly sure if the 3+ or the Heresy would make sense for me though.

 

The 3+ would look better with my current desk setup which is heavily silver/white themed but if the heresy is better, I don't mind clashing colors.

[Metallus97]

2 minutes ago, Cyberspirit said:

Alright, so, I think I'll go with Schiit because I'm seeing good things about them and the amp actually looks pretty nice. But I'm not exactly sure if the 3+ or the Heresy would make sense for me though.

 

The 3+ would look better with my current desk setup which is heavily silver/white themed but if the heresy is better, I don't mind clashing colors.

Did you read throug the post on headfi?

 

I mean heresy is better on paper and 3+ is better in the eyes ears of manny audiophiles. Therefore idd simply get 3+ if it looks better

Sound differences wont be huge (haven’t heard both of them, only 3 non plus wich is damn sexy)

[Metallus97]

4 minutes ago, Derkoli said:

Honestly more excited to get them than I think anything else, other than my speakers. Plus moving house next weekend so I'll have a proper dedicated home cinema room/man cave

Wich speakers? And congrats bro