Looking for an Amp that's available in my country - info inside.

[Energycore]

Hey everyone!

 

As some of you might now, I live in Mexico and it's really hard to get good audiophile stuff here. That said, I won't give up anytime soon! I'm finally ready to start looking for an amplifier for my headphones.

 

I have a pair of Sennheiser HD 6xx from Drop, and I recently bought this audio interface to power these monitors. (By the way, I could cancel the order on the interface and replace it with something as long as it's not over $75 US before import markup. More on this later).

 

Since both those items are already on the way, I figure I can take this chance to use the interface as a DAC and buy just an amp, instead of the DAC/Amp combo that I was contemplating last year.

 

What I need is recommendations from either Drop or Amazon US with the following caveats:

- If I buy from Drop, I have to ask a friend in the US to help me receive items, then I have to pay around $50 for shipping.

- If I buy from Amazon US, items tend to have a markup between 15 and 40% because of import taxes.

 

So with that said, I'm looking for an amp that's at most $150 BEFORE shipping or markup, preferably less. And do let me know if I'd be running into issues using this interface. It is a relatively low-end one after all, but I only need it for a place to connect my monitors to, and for the headphone amp.

 

I'm noticing that this interface doesn't have a balanced output signal for the monitors, although I'm just buying them for music consumption so I might not care about the electrical interference. If it -would- make a big subjective difference, let me know and I'll look for alternatives. I don't want to break bank on the interface.

 

Thanks as always for the help!

 

~Energycore

[sub68]

9 minutes ago, Energycore said:

(By the way, I could cancel the order on the interface and replace it with something as long as it's not over $75 US before import markup

I was going to recommend a Scarlett but its too expensive for you.

12 minutes ago, Energycore said:

place to connect my monitors to, and for the headphone amp.

oh boy HD 600 are some what hard to drive.

maybe fiio k5 pro?

14 minutes ago, Energycore said:

I'm looking for an amp that's at most $150 BEFORE shipping or markup

The K5 pro is EXACTLY 150 USD

https://www.amazon.com/FiiO-K5-AK4493EQ-Amplifier-Headphone/dp/B07WT7TYWY

[H713]

16 minutes ago, Energycore said:

Hey everyone!

 

As some of you might now, I live in Mexico and it's really hard to get good audiophile stuff here. That said, I won't give up anytime soon! I'm finally ready to start looking for an amplifier for my headphones.

 

I have a pair of Sennheiser HD 6xx from Drop, and I recently bought this audio interface to power these monitors. (By the way, I could cancel the order on the interface and replace it with something as long as it's not over $75 US before import markup. More on this later).

 

Since both those items are already on the way, I figure I can take this chance to use the interface as a DAC and buy just an amp, instead of the DAC/Amp combo that I was contemplating last year.

 

What I need is recommendations from either Drop or Amazon US with the following caveats:

- If I buy from Drop, I have to ask a friend in the US to help me receive items, then I have to pay around $50 for shipping.

- If I buy from Amazon US, items tend to have a markup between 15 and 40% because of import taxes.

 

So with that said, I'm looking for an amp that's at most $150 BEFORE shipping or markup, preferably less. And do let me know if I'd be running into issues using this interface. It is a relatively low-end one after all, but I only need it for a place to connect my monitors to, and for the headphone amp.

 

I'm noticing that this interface doesn't have a balanced output signal for the monitors, although I'm just buying them for music consumption so I might not care about the electrical interference. If it -would- make a big subjective difference, let me know and I'll look for alternatives. I don't want to break bank on the interface.

 

Thanks as always for the help!

 

~Energycore

What is the availability of Schiit amplifiers in Mexico? 

 

Another option (that could be pretty cheap), if you're handy with soldering is to buy a kit like the O2. If the kit isn't available, then you could purchase the PCBs and just get the parts through Digi-Key / Mouser / whoever.

[Energycore]

3 minutes ago, H713 said:

What is the availability of Schiit amplifiers in Mexico? 

Pretty much none. I'd love to get a Magni but other than the occassional used one in craigslist style websites it is unavailable through traditional methods. I -could- ship one to a friend's in the US but then I have to cover the $50 shipping cost, same as with Drop.

 

3 minutes ago, H713 said:

Another option (that could be pretty cheap), if you're handy with soldering is to buy a kit like the O2. If the kit isn't available, then you could purchase the PCBs and just get the parts through Digi-Key / Mouser / whoever.

Unfortunately, I've never used a soldering iron in my life. I'd love for this to be an option.

[sub68]

1 minute ago, Energycore said:

. I -could- ship one to a friend's in the US but then I have to cover the $50 shipping cost

I could do this but it would be werid to my mom lol.

[Energycore]

Just now, sub68 said:

I could do this but it would be werid to my mom lol.

Oh don't worry. I already have a friend who sent me the Senns. Just gotta ask him again.

[Red :)]

1 minute ago, Energycore said:

Pretty much none. I'd love to get a Magni but other than the occassional used one in craigslist style websites it is unavailable through traditional methods. I -could- ship one to a friend's in the US but then I have to cover the $50 shipping cost, same as with Drop.

oh, well that's...  Schiitty

 

[sub68]

Just now, Energycore said:

I already have a friend who sent me the Senns

wait sennhiser doesn't ship to mexico?

Just now, Energycore said:

Just gotta ask him again.

k

[Energycore]

Just now, sub68 said:

wait sennhiser doesn't ship to mexico?

Drop doesn't. And neither does Schiit.

[H713]

1 minute ago, Energycore said:

Pretty much none. I'd love to get a Magni but other than the occassional used one in craigslist style websites it is unavailable through traditional methods. I -could- ship one to a friend's in the US but then I have to cover the $50 shipping cost, same as with Drop.

 

Unfortunately, I've never used a soldering iron in my life. I'd love for this to be an option.

One thing you may consider would be eBay- some sellers will ship internationally, and it might not be super expensive. I can't speak for what it's like in Mexico, but at least in the US I regularly buy equipment from Europe without too much issue.

[Red :)]

Just now, Energycore said:

Drop doesn't. And neither does Schiit.

oh god, does anyone ship anything to mexico?

[Energycore]

Just now, Red said:

oh god, does anyone ship anything to mexico?

Amazon ships Monoprice xD

 

And some other brands. Sometimes you get resellers that ship to Mexico, but they're way expensive. For instance the Schiit Magni Heresy I can get for $320 + shipping.

[H713]

Just now, Red said:

oh god, does anyone ship anything to mexico?

I find it strange how much of an issue that is, only because so much equipment is built in Mexico and imported to the US. Then again, I know very little about trade politics.

[Energycore]

1 minute ago, H713 said:

I find it strange how much of an issue that is, only because so much equipment is built in Mexico and imported to the US. Then again, I know very little about trade politics.

RIGHT! It's super weird. I won't get into politics but changes to NAFTA agreements in the last 4 years have made it harder and more expensive to import stuff.

[Energycore]

Thoughts on the price of this?

 

Comes out to just under $170 after import fees.

[sub68]

40 minutes ago, Energycore said:

Thoughts on the price of this?

 

 

Comes out to just under $170 after import fees.

looks pretty ok

[H713]

It'll work, but you're paying an awful lot for mediocre performance.

https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/ifi-zen-dac-and-headphone-amp-review.9885/

 

The THD isn't a big deal. 0.003% is by most standards very, very good. Yes, a lot of DACs and headphone amps will go down to 0.0001%, but it really doesn't matter.

 

The output power is, IMO, pathetic for a desktop unit in this price range. WTF do they have as an output driver? A TL072? Seriously, this costs almost nothing to get right.