DAC/Amp for my setup

[Under_Score]

I'm looking for a DAC/Amp to pair with Swan M50W 2.1 speakers and eventually a pair of Beyerdynamic DT 880s (600 Ohm impedence). I was originally looking at getting an Asus xonar essence STX sound card, but after some research it looked like the general consensus was that DACs are the way to go. I'm wondering which one I should get as I don't really know anything about DAC/Amps at all.
 

Budget is around 250-300AUD, possibly more if you guys think it's worth it.

 

There is one high-end one on Massdrop at the moment, tell me if you think this will fit my setup well:

xDuoo UA-05 DAC/Amp: https://www.massdrop.com/buy/xduoo-ua-05-dac-amp

 

If not, please let me know your recommendations. Thanks in advance.

[creatip123]

That xduoo doesn't seem to have a line out connection. Meaning you can't use it with the amplified speaker. Well, you can try plugging it to the headphone out, but more often than not, it won't sound good. 

[Peter Vaughan Truslow]

I'm looking for a DAC/Amp to pair with Swan M50W 2.1 speakers and eventually a pair of Beyerdynamic DT 880s (600 Ohm impedence). I was originally looking at getting an Asus xonar essence STX sound card, but after some research it looked like the general consensus was that DACs are the way to go. I'm wondering which one I should get as I don't really know anything about DAC/Amps at all.

 

Budget is around 250-300AUD, possibly more if you guys think it's worth it.

 

There is one high-end one on Massdrop at the moment, tell me if you think this will fit my setup well:

xDuoo UA-05 DAC/Amp: https://www.massdrop.com/buy/xduoo-ua-05-dac-amp

 

If not, please let me know your recommendations. Thanks in advance.

I would probably recommend an Objective2 for the amp and an ODAC for the DAC available from various places, including jdslabs

https://www.jdslabs.com/store#featured

you would need to split the signal from the ODAC to the speakers and Objective2, which is also why you shouldn't get the O2-ODAC combo but beyond that it's probably the best sounding option available.

I don't know how difficult it would be to find in Australia but I think it's near your price range.

[Under_Score]

I would probably recommend an Objective2 for the amp and an ODAC for the DAC available from various places, including jdslabs

https://www.jdslabs.com/store#featured

you would need to split the signal from the ODAC to the speakers and Objective2, which is also why you shouldn't get the O2-ODAC combo but beyond that it's probably the best sounding option available.

I don't know how difficult it would be to find in Australia but I think it's near your price range.

 

Thanks for this. Some questions:

Would I need to purchase the ODAC with RCA outputs because of my speakers?

Will this work with a dedicated subwoofer?

What do you mean "split the signal"? I'm very new to audio hardware.

[creatip123]

Oh and it was just expired from massdrop, but it will come again (because it has come and go several times already), the Aune T1 MK2. It got powerful head amp and a line out as well. Review in my sig. Normally I'd just suggest an E10k, but it might not have enough voltage to properly drive a 600 ohms, despite of it's sensitivity. 

[Guest]

Get the DT 880 Pro unless you have money.

[Peter Vaughan Truslow]

Thanks for this. Some questions:

Would I need to purchase the ODAC with RCA outputs because of my speakers?

Will this work with a dedicated subwoofer?

What do you mean "split the signal"? I'm very new to audio hardware.

I'll be referring to the Objective2 Headphone amp as O2, for simplicity(and everybody else does)

you could do either. I'd go with RCA for the simple reason that RCA splitters are cheaper. the splitters you would need are simple and inexpensive, just where one wire becomes two. it would work with a dedicated subwoofer, but the way to accomplish that would be different depending on the speakers. if you bookshelf speakers with an external amplifier, you would connect speaker wire from the amp to the high level/speaker level inputs on the subwoofer, then connect the speaker out on the subwoofer to the speakers. generally speaking, there is a way to connect anything, it just might not be simple, but usually I can figure something out. PM me if you ever need a way of connecting things, and I'll try to help.

 

to connect the RCA ODAC to a pair of speakers that have RCA inputs and an O2 with 3.5mm inputs

2 of these connected to the RCA outputs on the ODAC

http://www.monoprice.com/Product?c_id=104&cp_id=10429&cs_id=1042904&p_id=7186&seq=1&format=2

then connect the right and left inputs on the speakers to the one port on each of the respective splitters with a decent quality RCA cable. if you don't have one, this would be my recommendation

http://www.monoprice.com/Search/Index?keyword=premium+analog+RCA+cablepick the length you need. try to keep the length reasonable, not ridiculously long

 

connecting the O2 to the ODAC, use this: http://www.monoprice.com/Product?c_id=102&cp_id=10218&cs_id=1021815&p_id=5596&seq=1&format=2if your O2 has 3.5mm inputs

if your O2 has RCA inputs, use RCA cables just like for the speaker.

 

this was assuming the ODAC has RCA out and the speakers use RCA input. if it is different, let me know and I'll explain how to do it for your situation. I recommend monoprice for connectors and cables.the quality of their cables is incredible for the cost, they have straight forward prices and shipping rates that reflect what it costs to ship the product, no inflated prices to pay for the free shipping or artificially low prices to ream you on shipping.

[xtroria]

I'd recommend syba dac with magni 2 and use rca switcher