Another DAC/AMP question.

[The Price is Rice]

Right so i have a Modhouse Argon Mk3 on the way soon, ordered 12 weeks ago. Its coming with the balanced XLR cables from periapt so i need a DAC and AMP. (Soundcard on PC is trash. Mobo is itx so no extra slot for an internal card)

 

My budget is around $500 usd and i want to make the most of it. 

Right now im between the Schiit Jotunheim 3 w/AK4490 DAC or the Monoprice Monolith THX AAA DAC/Amp. Does anyone have experience with both and prefer one over the other? 
 

Im also open to other suggestions. 

My must haves are:
USB input

Balanced 4pin XLR out

> 1watt of power at 50 ohms. 

[rice guru]

Between the 2 amp/dacs I would choose the jot I'm not really a big fan of how thx amp sound and the dac on the monoprice while decent, at this price range not really that great. I would personally try to separate the 2 amp and dac like with the schiit $400 stack the modius and magnius. The magnius will sound cleaner than the jotenheim. And the modius is a better dac. But the jotenheim's timbre and possibly other technicalities but it is a brighter amp than the magnius.

 

[The Price is Rice]

So you think the cheaper $400 stack is better sounding? 
 

You’ve tried them all i take it? 

[rice guru]

25 minutes ago, Sneakyjap said:

So you think the cheaper $400 stack is better sounding? 
 

You’ve tried them all i take it? 

I haven't tried them all though I did consult a fried who has. I have tried the thx AAA stuff and I really struggle to enjoy them personally. He thinks the amps are a toss up. In quality but the modius is better than the built in dac In the jot.  

[HumdrumPenguin]

11 hours ago, Sneakyjap said:

Right so i have a Modhouse Argon Mk3 on the way soon, ordered 12 weeks ago. Its coming with the balanced XLR cables from periapt so i need a DAC and AMP. (Soundcard on PC is trash. Mobo is itx so no extra slot for an internal card)

 

My budget is around $500 usd and i want to make the most of it. 

Right now im between the Schiit Jotunheim 3 w/AK4490 DAC or the Monoprice Monolith THX AAA DAC/Amp. Does anyone have experience with both and prefer one over the other? 
 

Im also open to other suggestions. 

My must haves are:
USB input

Balanced 4pin XLR out

> 1watt of power at 50 ohms. 

I'd suggest against Schiit's internal dac cards. They simply don't resolve well enough. Also, the Jot and THX amps kind of have a similar sound.

 

THX sounds better when paired with R2R or multibit in my opinion, not so much with delta sigma. 

[The Price is Rice]

Thanks for the input everyone. I think i may end up going with the $400 magnius/modius stack. Sounds like that will sound much better than most for a cheaper price. 

[Logan Aaron]

Hi Sneakyjap,

I am in the same situation, I have Modhouse Argon Mk3, and I am looking for the best amp and dac for the headphones,

I just wanted to ask you, did the magnius/modius stack preform well with Modhouse Argon Mk3 or not?

Please let me know if you can, I will appreciate it.

[rice guru]

14 minutes ago, Logan Aaron said:

Hi Sneakyjap,

I am in the same situation, I have Modhouse Argon Mk3, and I am looking for the best amp and dac for the headphones,

I just wanted to ask you, did the magnius/modius stack preform well with Modhouse Argon Mk3 or not?

Please let me know if you can, I will appreciate it.

Not who you want an answer from..but I will let you know the magnius will be enough power for the argon. Pairing wise it should be fine. 

[Logan Aaron]

4 hours ago, rice guru said:

Not who you want an answer from..but I will let you know the magnius will be enough power for the argon. Pairing wise it should be fine. 

oh ok,

Thank you rice guru for your reply

[rice guru]

11 minutes ago, Logan Aaron said:

oh ok,

Thank you rice guru for your reply

I will follow up that personally I like the asgard more plus the modi vs the magnius modius stack. Cause that stack doesn't really sound much better than a magni modi. But if your dead set in magnius modius it's fine especially if you want to run balanced

[Logan Aaron]

Hi rice guru.

So after a long search , I am conflicting between magnius modius stack and the jot, 

the reason why I ended up with these two, because I need balanced amp and dac for the headphones, since a balanced output will deliver more power, and I need all the power I can get for the headphones, 

Also when it come to the sound experience I care a lot about bass and warm sound more the clear or bright sound.

What do you recommend out of those two?

And if you have any amp recommendations around the $400 that meets these requirements, I will be happy to take them into consideration.

Thank you.