MintThyme Posted October 4, 2019 Share Posted October 4, 2019 Hi all, I am in the market for a new headphone amp for my pair of Sennheiser HD600's. Any recommendations? Budget wise I would like to spend less than $400 unless there is something just outside of that price range which is SIGNIFICANTLY better. Thanks in advance for any help. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Farpun Posted October 4, 2019 Share Posted October 4, 2019 Atom amp or thx 789, I had a Valhalla 2 and didn't think it was worth the premium over the atom amp Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bengineer Posted October 4, 2019 Share Posted October 4, 2019 Need a DAC too? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neo Posted October 4, 2019 Share Posted October 4, 2019 Lehman Audio linear, would be on the short list Neo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MintThyme Posted October 4, 2019 Author Share Posted October 4, 2019 48 minutes ago, Bengineer said: Need a DAC too? Hi Bingineer, I did not realise that a DAC would be required. I was hoping the headphone amp would be both the DAC and the driver of the headphones. Please forgive my ignorance, I am new to all of this. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MintThyme Posted October 4, 2019 Author Share Posted October 4, 2019 Thanks for the suggestions so far guys, I will research of all them! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neo Posted October 4, 2019 Share Posted October 4, 2019 There’s a version of the Lehman audio linear with the dac, although the dac section is basic Neo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bengineer Posted October 4, 2019 Share Posted October 4, 2019 JDS Element Audio GD 11.28/11.38 Schiit Stack Chord Mojo for a also portable option too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neo Posted October 4, 2019 Share Posted October 4, 2019 (edited) If a dac is a requirement, then chord mojo, would be a must to audition for $599 new. Very hard to beat as a headphone dac and amp package Neo Edited October 4, 2019 by Neo 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Farpun Posted October 4, 2019 Share Posted October 4, 2019 28 minutes ago, MintThyme said: Hi Bingineer, I did not realise that a DAC would be required. I was hoping the headphone amp would be both the DAC and the driver of the headphones. Please forgive my ignorance, I am new to all of this. An EL DAC by JDS is good too, Grace SDAC of you're on a tight budget. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bengineer Posted October 4, 2019 Share Posted October 4, 2019 (edited) 9 minutes ago, Neo said: If a dac is a requirement, then chord mojo, would be a must to audition for $599 new. Very hard to beat as a headphone dac and amp package Neo Yeah. More so as unit that can be portable. It doesn't put out huge power, DAC is clean though. Like a NFB 11.28 puts out whopping power compared, around 4x more power. Edited October 4, 2019 by Bengineer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MintThyme Posted October 4, 2019 Author Share Posted October 4, 2019 Ok, so I found the mojo package in a store in town, https://www.listeningpost.co.nz/Products/Media-Players-Digital-Music-Server-MP3-streamer/Chord-Mojo-Poly-Headphone-Amplifier-Package-DAC-__I.302925__C.27465__N.27756 $2000 is too much. Also travelling with my HD600's is not a factor / thing for me. I only use these at home with my computer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bengineer Posted October 4, 2019 Share Posted October 4, 2019 No, they are $599 retail. The Poly is a add on streaming unit. Can be had $400 or so in these classified forums. Schiit Stack or a JDS Element would suit you. New in your budget for both I think, used easily. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rand129678 Posted October 4, 2019 Share Posted October 4, 2019 6 hours ago, Bengineer said: It doesn't put out huge power, DAC is clean though. Mojo will drive the HD600 (Sensitivity 100 dB/mW) to ear splitting levels with ease (and low distortion). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bengineer Posted October 4, 2019 Share Posted October 4, 2019 14 minutes ago, rand129678 said: Mojo will drive the HD600 (Sensitivity 100 dB/mW) to ear splitting levels with ease (and low distortion). Yes it does. Doesn't mean he will have HD600 forever though Mojo is over his budget new too. So depends how strict he is on that. Ill be getting a Mojo soon, price is too good now. Mojo and Focal clear for $2000 brand new. World's gone crazy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MintThyme Posted October 4, 2019 Author Share Posted October 4, 2019 What do you guys think of this headphone amp / DAC? https://www.mav-audio.com/base/product/d1p Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eLicky Posted October 5, 2019 Share Posted October 5, 2019 Aune T1SE is also a decent little dac/amp for HD600, there's some used on eBay atm for around $220 odd. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bengineer Posted October 7, 2019 Share Posted October 7, 2019 On 05/10/2019 at 1:13 AM, MintThyme said: What do you guys think of this headphone amp / DAC? https://www.mav-audio.com/base/product/d1p No idea bud. Highly likely you'll feel the urge to upgrade within a year, like we all seem to around these here parts. So maybe stick to popular models that hold value ok and sell quick. Schiit fits that bill, buy used, try, if no like (you prob will like) then sell for same money. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nuggetbro Posted October 7, 2019 Share Posted October 7, 2019 I'm running a very old hd600 through a fiio k3. Small device and while it doesnt drive to ear splitting levels, it is loud enough for my wife to complain she can hear everything I am listening too from across the room. K3 is a solid dac as well and supports windows without a driver which is nice. Plug and play on android as well and has a usbc plug on it. I run through a balanced cable that I got for around 40 dollars from aliexpress. All round happy with the solution and I think it sounds great to me. If you like louder then ifi make some nice units or you can chrck out the fiio k5 pro. Unfortunately this isnt a portable option. I actually starting putting a spreadsheet together for all the headphone amp options in my price range. Something to keep an eye out for are the new bluetooth dad amps from fiio and shanling. They should put out enough power for the hd600 and they are small and can be used plugged in or wirelwss to other device. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MintThyme Posted November 3, 2019 Author Share Posted November 3, 2019 (edited) Hey all, So have been researching away and so far these are the headphone amps of interest. Price range from $300 up to $1000. Which of these options would you guys go for? Edited November 3, 2019 by MintThyme Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MintThyme Posted November 3, 2019 Author Share Posted November 3, 2019 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bengineer Posted November 3, 2019 Share Posted November 3, 2019 iFi Micro iDSD would be the best there as an overall package. The JDS is just an Amp though? No DAC? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flanders Posted November 3, 2019 Share Posted November 3, 2019 I was going to say, I have an Atom amp you can try out, but you're on the other side of the ditch! Take your phones and go and have a listen to some amps I reckon! What are you using to power them atm? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bengineer Posted November 3, 2019 Share Posted November 3, 2019 I'll be buying a Micro BL soon myself. I had a JDS Element and a Audio GD NFB 11.28. The element is good. The 11.28 is better. Hoping the Micro BL is par with the 11.28, but benefit of battery powered too! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MintThyme Posted November 4, 2019 Author Share Posted November 4, 2019 After fairly extensive reading the Chord Mojo and Ifi Micro iDSD are at the top of the list. My only reservations / concerns are that I have read numerous comments about the Chord Mojo breaking down after 12 months of use for various reasons but mostly related to the battery. And the Ifi Micro iDSD looks great but it's also $1000 and comes with a lot of extra connections and stuff I don't want or need. But overall it looks like it could be the potentially the better option as a full time desktop headphone amplifier solution. Does anyone have much experience with either of these two products? Any thoughts on the above? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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