A JDS Labs Atom Amp 2 and Atom DAC 2 will set you back $270 USD combined. They’re superb. Ample, clean power. Great engineering. Excellent customer service. 6.35 and 4.4 inputs. No USB, though. The Element IV DAC-amp combo has USB, but I don’t think it has 4.4 balanced.
Save your money to buy more headphones or a tube amp. The Atom stack is more than good enough for solid state. I’ve run everything up to a Audeze LCD-X 2021 and ZMF Aeolus from my Atom stack with aplomb.
Atom Dac 2 has USB input, I use it - USB-C. As pk500 suggested this is a great setup to start with, if you want to upgrade from here it is a simple classifieds sale item!
Here’s an example of the extraordinary customer service from JDS. I had a question about my Atom stack after I purchased it – used, no less – and sent an email around supper time on a Sunday night to the general support email inbox.
Two hours later, I received an email from company founder and president John Seaber – his initials are the JDS that form the company’s name – with a thoughtful, thorough answer to my question. ON A SUNDAY NIGHT, people!
That kind of service – matched with no-BS, highly effective products at fair prices – has made me a JDS stan for life.
I suspect, lie @Rael67 that FII0 might be a good solution. I have the K9Pro ESS, which was the flagship before the new K17. I’ve found it to be a solid choice, even though I use it as an occasional semi-portable (It weighs a lot - several pounds and/or kilos). The only reason I don’t use it more is that I have a workstation that uses Schiit BiFrost 2/64 out to both a hybrid amp and a hybrid estat amp at home, and an OTL tube setup at work. But I have used it in both places, or when I want to take a high quality system on the porch, or to another house.
Plenty of power, and the DAC is clean and neutral without being clinical as most THX systems are. Price for the K9 is probably around $800-900 now, so less than the K17 by probably 40%. And it lets you do USB, 4.4, XLR and unbalanced.
It’s late a long day and I think I’m unbalanced – I mean single ended.
Also if you don’t need XLR output I’d suggest to try K7 or K7BT over K9 PRO ESS - exactly the same sound (have both right now), with similar features except XLR output, but much lower price and profile.
Gents, thanks for all your interesting suggestions.
It is interesting to see what you get for 690 EURO (JDS Labs Element IV - shipment from the US including customs) compared to 3.295 EURO for the Ferrum Wandla HP. Sure, the Ferrum Wandla HP has more features, but it still a big different.
This is what appeals to me about it as well. I just want transparency in my source gear. And it looks like the Atom 2 might deliver that in spades, based on some of the graphs at ASR. I also looked at the Element. And it looks interesting. Not sure I’m ready for all the features it has though.
Cam/@GoldenSound recently reviewed the Element IV btw. And It’d be interesting to hear his take on the Atom 2 as well.
The other thing to consider from my perspective is whether to go for an integrated, all in one solution (like the Element), or separate components (like Atom 2). Because I might, at some point, be interested in maybe trying a different DAC or amp with my setup.
The Element has no analog inputs that I can see. So it appears it can function as either a standalone DAC, or DAC/amp. But not as a standalone amp, for use with other kinds of sources. That is part of the appeal of the Atom 2 combo. But it’s also a bit of an inconvenience at the same time, because you apparently have two components, with two power sources, and more analog connections, etc.
My instincts are usually towards separate components, because they offer a little better flexibility on how things can be connected. But that won’t necessarily apply to others. I’m also trying to think how this might integrate (or not) with some other gear I plan to get for speakers. And not sure where that all stands yet.
Another feature I’m interested in (but probably can’t afford) is a stepped volume control, for better channel balance. I wonder if the digital volume control on the Element IV might serve essentially the same purpose though, and circumvent the need for somethin like that.
Good question. Check the specs and features on the JDS website. Better yet, send an email to the support or general email address. I bet you’ll get a speedy response!