Dac/amp combo?

[komm13]

Hey! 

I m looking for a dac/amp combo to drive both my headphones -hd650- and my active speakers -without further amping them-. A volume knob for both is essential.

Basically i m looking for an alternative to something like the asus essence one/ STU, matrix mini-i . Is there anything else that can do the job for less money?

Also, EU seller would be great so that i can avoid customs etc...

Thanks a lot!

[HeathCliff]

Not really much option here in the UK/EU. I can personally recommend the FiiO E17 as I have had the chance to thoroughly use one in the past. However, it's only for headphones.

[EmoRarity]

Active speakers don't care what amp is before them and HD650's would run off a E07k just fine. 

[eLucid]

@komm13

 

Look into stuff from schiit since fiio is just mass produced mainstream crap. Speaking from experience, that's not a recipe for quality.

[komm13]

Thanks for the suggestions !

 

I ve checked out fiio, but i m not looking for something portable/running on batteries.

 

About the schiit stack, how am i going to control the volume of my speakers?

[EmoRarity]

E07k may be portable, but its cheap and it works, no need to pointlessly overspend on stuff you don't need. 

[Pomfinator]

Audioengine D1?? I know from anecdotes that you can control the volume of their A2+/A5+ with the knob of the D1.  It automatically switches when you plug headphones in as well. 

[MrGoat]

I really like the Schiit Bifrost uber with the Asgard 2 amp, they sound absolutely amazing with the HD650s. There is also an output for speakers as well.

[creatip123]

Get whichever DAC/amp combo you'd like, but for your setup (split it to an active speaker), find one that have 'line out' jack(s). 3,5mm stereo or RCA jacks, both will work. 

[komm13]

Audioengine D1?? I know from anecdotes that you can control the volume of their A2+/A5+ with the knob of the D1.  It automatically switches when you plug headphones in as well. 

I ve considered the D1 but I ve read various small issues and i dont know if it will be "enough" for the 650's! 

Obviously having never used it i cant really know

 

I really like the Schiit Bifrost uber with the Asgard 2 amp, they sound absolutely amazing with the HD650s. There is also an output for speakers as well.

Thanks for the input, but its a biiit above my budget

Get whichever DAC/amp combo you'd like, but for your setup (split it to an active speaker), find one that have 'line out' jack(s). 3,5mm stereo or RCA jacks, both will work. 

 

I know i need to find a combo with a line out, i also need to be able to control the volume on the line out so something like o2odac wont work for me -unfortunately -.

 

Also trs/xlr would be great since i already have the cables  

 

anyone got any experience with matrix mini-i ?

[MayflowerElectronics]

Why do you need the headphone amp to control the speakers? Just plug them into your motherboard. Headphone amps and DACs have no SQ increase on active speakers.

[komm13]

Both the onboard and discrete sound cards had terrible static/interference. Otherwise i d be just fine with an STX/ZXR.

I m using a scarlett 2i2 at the moment and while it does everything i need -mic/speakers/headphones- it doesnt have the power for the 650's, i almost max her out with my 555 and I generally listen at a low volume .

 

Moreover if i plugged them into my motherboard or a sound card, i d need something to control the volume.

[BoredErica]

Looks like you have no problem spending a little bit of money. What's wrong with an O2/Odac combo for your use case? Imagine: An A/B switch with two 3.5mm connections. You can have a headphone plugged into the switch and your speakers plugged into the other 3.5mm port. And then, 3.5mm to 3.5mm connection to your O2/Odac. Now you have an external device with a switch that can switch between speakers or headphones with a flick of a switch, and the great performance of O2 and Odac that is more than enough for HD650s.

[Lauen]

This may be an option: http://www.headnhifi.com/amplifiers/desktop-headphone-amplifiers/O2-ODAC-fully-modded

 

I know MayflowerElectronics makes nearly identical ones and are available worldwide, but as you didn't want to buy from outside of the EU this seems like it isn't an option.

[BoredErica]

There are EU sellers like Epiphany Acoustics.

[MayflowerElectronics]

There are EU sellers like Epiphany Acoustics.

 

I believe they are based in the UK.

[NannerBeans]

A monoprice dac /amp is a good option as well. Not sure if you're able to get them from a EU seller though.

[komm13]

This may be an option: http://www.headnhifi.com/amplifiers/desktop-headphone-amplifiers/O2-ODAC-fully-modded

 

I know MayflowerElectronics makes nearly identical ones and are available worldwide, but as you didn't want to buy from outside of the EU this seems like it isn't an option.

 

yea i ve checked them out, but Switzerland=customs

 

Looks like you have no problem spending a little bit of money. What's wrong with an O2/Odac combo for your use case? Imagine: An A/B switch with two 3.5mm connections. You can have a headphone plugged into the switch and your speakers plugged into the other 3.5mm port. And then, 3.5mm to 3.5mm connection to your O2/Odac. Now you have an external device with a switch that can switch between speakers or headphones with a flick of a switch, and the great performance of O2 and Odac that is more than enough for HD650s.

 

Hmm, could I do the exact same thing with the 2i2? plug an amp to its headphone output ?

 

Either way, i would strongly prefer an all-in-one solution for practicality and aesthetics as well, but all suggestions are welcome

[Captain_Slow]

Hey! 

I m looking for a dac/amp combo to drive both my headphones -hd650- and my active speakers -without further amping them-. A volume knob for both is essential.

Basically i m looking for an alternative to something like the asus essence one/ STU, matrix mini-i . Is there anything else that can do the job for less money?

Also, EU seller would be great so that i can avoid customs etc...

Thanks a lot!

 

Check out the Fiio E09k paired with either the E07K or the E17K. The E09K is a powerful desktop amp that has dock-in for the portable AMP/DAC E07K/E17K, so you use the amp in the E09K and the DAC in the E07/17K. The E09K has a unamplified passthrough option for active speakers that still utilizes the DAC. also you get a portable DAC.

[Lauen]

yea i ve checked them out, but Switzerland=customs

 

 

Hmm, could I do the exact same thing with the 2i2? plug an amp to its headphone output ?

 

Either way, i would strongly prefer an all-in-one solution for practicality and aesthetics as well, but all suggestions are welcome

There is also a UK based one. http://epiphany-acoustics.co.uk/products-page/

[ShearMe]

If you got the cash to throw away at an STU for just the independant volume controls I'd say, "why not?" As long as you're aware there's cheaper (though possibly less elegant) solutions, it's your choice in how you spend the money.

[BoredErica]

If you got the cash to throw away at an STU for just the independant volume controls I'd say, "why not?" As long as you're aware there's cheaper (though possibly less elegant) solutions, it's your choice in how you spend the money.

OP says:

 

 Is there anything else that can do the job for less money?

[ShearMe]

OP says:

 

And we've already come to the conclusion that there isn't a cheaper solution that's as elegant. I'm just saying there's nothing wrong with paying for that elegance.

[BoredErica]

And we've already come to the conclusion that there isn't a cheaper solution that's as elegant. I'm just saying there's nothing wrong with paying for that elegance.

Ok, don't hurt me! 

 

I would've figured there would be a cheaper option that does it in an all-in-one-package considering the price.

[komm13]

I thought the same thing since the stu is just a usb stx

I ll check again some fiio stuff since so many suggested them, but i am curious about the matrix mini since nobody has any feedback about it