Newbie here - Need advice on DAC/AMP combo, please

I need advice! Troubleshooting Help
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Hello! Newbie here! Please go easy on me, haha. I recently got into the hobby. I first started getting into headphones because I moved into an apartment, and needed to play guitar quietly through my Line 6 Helix. I worked remotely for the longest time, but I recently started working on site, so all the more reason to listen to music through headphones. Anyways, long story short, I ended up with a set of Beyerdynamic DT 770 32 ohm, Audio Techinca ATH M50X, and Sennheiser HD620S. I’m looking into a set of Sennheiser HD550, but I don’t have those yet. I do think that’s important to mention because none of my headphones are particularly hard to drive.

Anyway, 80-85% of the listening I do, I do at work. The rest, I do at home. At work, I plug into whatever the work computer is and its soundcard. At home, I plug into a MacBook Air or into a Mac Studio. I’ve never A/B’d the work computer to my home computers, but both my home computers sound slightly different. I wouldn’t dare say night and day… except on the Sennheisers which sound way louder on the Mac Studio. I know about the impedance detection thing on newer Macs, so that explains it.

Anyway, I suppose what makes my thread unique to warrant opening a new topic is I want a device that can homogenize my listening experience between home and work. I’ve never been particularly bothered by the sound quality at work, but the grass is always greener kinda deal, right? Plus it would be cool if I could have something that I can rely on if I ever decide to get some harder to drive higher-end headphones.

I suppose what I want is something budget-concious (I am a newbie after all) that I can plug directly at work, but that I can use at home as well if I ever decide to get some higher-end headphones. That means something that is plug-and-play without having to install drivers or stuff like that for work. I suppose I can spare an actual wall wart there, but it would be nicer if I can just power the device via the same USB(A) connection. So I was looking at the iFi Uno or something along that price range… but I also don’t want the sound qualitiy to be worse than what I’m used to either. Not sure it will, but I’m just saying if it’s not going to be an improvement, it would be cool if you guys could just say it isn’t going to be.

Again, I’m completely new to this, so it would be cool if you guys could give me some pointers on things I might be missing.

Thank you! :smiley:

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You might want to take a hard look at something like the Questyle M15i or even the basso DC Elite. They are tiny yet sound much like the mid-fi gear commonly discussed when questions like yours come up.

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Regarding the HD550, I’d personally move up to the next headphone tier rather than buy yet another model in the same quality class. Sidegrade sidegrade sidegrade. I use my OG Focal Clear (currently $790) for something close to your scenario, as they are easy to drive with anything and sound about as good as I can expect when working near others. They’ll sound better than your current fleet from any source.

I have a ZenDAC V1 in my office (it was $130 back in the day, while V3 is $230). It’s plug-and-play, sounds “fine,” and would easily drive your headphones. There are dozens of options and more coming out all the time. If sticking to the ifi Uno ($79) price bracket, most products will be superior to laptop/tablet output but none will be optimal for quality or demanding headphones. I haven’t bought anything in that price range for 5+ years myself.

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Thank you. Will take a look.

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I’ll take a look at the Focals, thanks. I guess it’s worth taking a look at something that has a planar driver to break away from what I currently have too.

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Yes, that’s good for learning. The Clear – and most Focals – are dynamic driver headphones.

Planars…I have strong feelings about HiFiMan durability and I don’t recommend them. I like Dan Clark Audio and the higher end Audeze models.

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I think something like the Questyle m15i or Fiio KA17 (has EQ) could be good options since you’ll want something somewhat portable. I also recommend the Schiit products in general for source gear that punches above its weight in terms of price.

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Thank you! I’ve been reading the Magni stuff is great, but it’s not that easy to get ahold of here in Canada, sadly.

I’ll look into the other one as well.

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Ah, yeah, those Fiios seem interesting. I’ll take a look into those. Thanks!

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Thought I’d report back! I found a deal locally for an iFi Zen Air, and I’m digging it so far! I still kinda want another device either to leave at work or to have home, though. So still looking at the Uno or maybe a Schiit Fulla if I can find one. Maybe a dongle? The options are a bit overwhelming, honestly.

And about open back headphones… You’re still absolutely. I still need a pair. I already have some decent (I think?) closed backs. I’ll keep an eye out on deal. Sennheiser stuff is discounted right now, but not the 550 or the 505, which are the ones I’m interested in right now.

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I’m happy that you are happy. Beware of the sidegrade path. Some of us end up buying a dozen things with similar performance, and then dump them in a box or sell them on EBay.

I have a spreadsheet listing all my major audio gear, and half has been unused for several years. You’ll use your best stuff.

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I kind of agree with the whole sidegrade thing, but also disagree at the same time? I have spent enough over 7 years that I could have had my current in progress endgame solution and simply have been done with it. However I find it entertaining to understand the mid-fi world while being able to understand the neuances of the hobby. Most of my products are considered a sidegrade but there are many of them that are rather different.

HD6xx is freaking amazing but only when you put multiples of the purchase price behind it (I shouldn’t say only but that’s where it shines)

Rode NTH-100 on the other hand, while having a bit of a consumer sound signature doesn’t care at all what is driving it. It’s the “consumer” sound profile done right.

Fidelio X3 is the definition of warm, good soundstage and imaging but lacks clarity.

T50rp with zmf pad’s is a bass monster but difficult to drive

Edition XS is next level for sound but fit and QC are questionable

ATH-R70x is easily the most comfortable, I even had my mom try them on with her TMJ (same as me) and nerve damage and she said they were extremely comfortable.

Zeus was incredible soundstage imaging and signature but heavy and loose on the head. At the time it was the best $350 you could spend to get crisp clear sound with imaging and soundstage. I don’t wear mine anymore because the pads are crusty and one adjuster is wonky.

Meze 99 Neo and Noir are easy to drive, one is “consumer’ profile the other sounds like it has tubes built in. Both are extremely light and comfortable but I don’t wear them because I have other headphones that do it better.

There are many others but every purchase has taught me something. Like the SHP9500 is the only headphone shrill enough to keep me from spending more than 15 minutes on it, however the schiit fulla fixes what onboard breaks. Just can’t suggest spending much more than the headphone on a dac/amp when looking at this budget. I’ve had MANY pure dud’s that I just handed to someone I know and never looked back. And two headphones are very similar, Focal Elex and DT1990pro.

My overall point here is that headphones in general are extremely varied and even when offering the same benefits in sound quality there is always something to set it apart. Also if I hadn’t gone on this journey I wouldn’t have found out that I enjoy difficult to drive headphones and tubes. While my current end-game solution is about what I’ve spent previously I think that I would have either spent more on finding the right setup, or had something that doesn’t suit me as well. I’ve got the modhouse Tungsten on order, Centarus and IHA-1 as my end all be all and I know it’s exactly what I want without ever hearing one of them before purchasing.

This is my hobby, I enjoy learning about it, experiencing it, watching reviews and talking about it on forums.

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This is great and I’m happy that you enjoy it. I left the mid-fi world mainly because virtually every mid-fi product I own or have tried makes my ears ring and some give me headaches. The next tier up is a lot better, as they usually generate minimal/no treble artifacts.

I use the term sidegrade when someone is looking for a “better” product or to buy their best/only setup, but they then spend (waste) money on stuff that swaps one issue for another. This is false economy, aka “buy nice or buy twice.”

Exploring mid-fi brands and technology is something else entirely. Trying different flavors of ice cream is fine by me. I’d personally do it with higher-end products because I don’t like having my ears ring, nor do I enjoy headaches. The flagship tier is another story, as many items are vastly overpriced status symbols (err…Susvara) and can be less interesting than the sub-flagship tier.

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