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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These are all plug’n’play

Here’s an ifi, that’s on sale at Adorama for about 2.8x more than the ifi Uno, but without the special slickdeals.net link to the Adorama site, is also still selling there for 9.5x more than the Uno.

It claims a “Power (max)” output of “10.0V/4,100 mW” and in Turbo mode “Power (continuous) 1,560 mW @ 64 Ohm” and “166 mW @ 600 Ohm”

It’s portable, and also desktop compatible, with a 4,800mAh Lithium-Polymer battery that charges via USB power.

There’s a separate USB DAC input along with S/PDIF 3.5mm Coax/optical

Outputs are: 1/4 inch TRS (6.35mm, or 3.5mm with common adapter), 4.4 mm TRRRS Pentaconn, and RCA stereo.

There is no other internal EQ, but it has a bass boost switch for headphones that need that.

That’s serious, and silent power in a portable, good enough to service demanding headphones. Mine may not be the most demanding, but it easily powers all that I do own, including my Beyerdynamic DT 100 400Ω and Sennheiser HD 414 2000Ω (I don’t have a sensitivity specification for either)

Yes, I do love the sound, across many headphones and genres

“iFi micro iDSD Signature Finale Portable Headphone Amp & DAC $219 (USD) + Free S/H”

I also love my www.Schiit.com Midgard, Modius, Magni, and Modi DACs, Amps and combo DAC/Amp.

The Magni Unity DAC/Amp is all that most desktop/phone/tablet/game console users require. The other combinations have more input and output options, but the Magni Unity accepts RCA stereo analog or USB digital input and provides 1/4 inch (6.35mm) TRS headphone and stereo RCA output, the perfect little preamp for a DSP, a speaker amp or powered speakers.
$189 (USD)

Output Power

Maximum Power, 16 ohms: 3.0W RMS per channel
Maximum Power, 32 ohms: 2.5W RMS per channel
Maximum Power, 50 ohms: 1.5W RMS per channel
Maximum Power, 300 ohms: 415mW RMS per channel
Maximum Power, 600 ohms: 220mW RMS per channel

THD+N

Low Gain: Less than 0.0001% (-116dB) at 2V RMS into 300 ohms
High Gain: Less than 0.0003% (-108dB) at 2V RMS into 300 ohms

IMD

Low Gain: Less than -110dB at 4V RMS into 300 ohms, CCIF
High Gain: Less than -108dB at 4V RMS into 300 ohms, CCIF

SNR

Low Gain: Greater than 122dB, referenced to 2V RMS
High Gain: Greater than 112dB, referenced to 2V RMS

Crosstalk

Less than -80dB, 20 Hz-20 kHz, 300 ohm load

Output Impedance

SE ¼” TRS output: less than 0.1 ohms
Preamp output: 75 ohms

Input Impedance: 50k ohms

Gain: 0.3 (-10dB), 1 (0db) or 5 (15db)

Topology: Fully discrete, DC coupled, current feedback, highly linear open-loop with low loop feedback

magni unity black slv insitu
magni unity black slv insitu1920×1440 307 KB

magni unity back black
magni unity back black1920×1440 250 KB

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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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I’m ignorant of possible tariff issues, not ignorant of that being terrible politics, but if that weren’t problematic, maybe it isn’t harder to receive Schiit from Texas, in Canada, than it is in Massachusetts, which in ways is just as far removed.

I can’t simulate battery failure in the iFi micro iDSD Signature Finale Portable and so be able to say definitively that it would continue to serve as a great desktop DAC, or a great portable connected to an external battery, and can only suppose that if I switched from a typical 0.5 watt charging source to a higher power source, that I could still maintain its high output characteristic. In reality, once past the 2 year warranty, I think it may be two years, if the battery did fail, I’d just disassembly it, see what’s there and find a replacement battery, but…well you did write something like for home and for work, and while non-portables can be just as small as the Finale, they typically have switches not meant for the rigors of travel, so from the obscured view of across-the-border, I still think of it as your ideal.

Slickdeals.net may not be the enigma it sometimes seems to be. Sometimes there are so-called-deals that aren’t any better through their links or are worse than what you can rummage for yourself. Sometimes they have unique pricing that seems breathtakingly low. There is one Topping model, today, I think the G5, that has similar pricing a shift in available features and performance, and…I loath the thought of them. I purchased a DX3 Pro+, only tried to use it with a Windows tower computer, installed all the software and matched all the settings the techs required, and still could never achieve output. They took nearly a full year to refund the purchase. Well before that, I had an employment group plan that furnished me with Chinese UMG phones I had terrible problems with. Searching the internet for solutions, I read that those were hardcoded with so much spyware that they were a nightmare for everyone, and so I used Samsung, with the sIM, out of pocket, to lesson my own nightmare.

They’re all foreign from where you reside, Topping, ifi, Schiit, but, and just my own experience, but the kids from England (whose King looks remarkably like an Canadian doppelganger) and the boys from Texas, are never going to use your DAC to topple your own government or economy.

The slickdeals evaporate like sweat on a very dry day. This deal had been posted and then the link stopped working so it looked like it was gone forever, and then the same offer was created anew. When I posted the link, above, I did test it and the deal was still legitimate. You shouldn’t rush, if you ever feel pressured, and if you buy Topping, not Texas, I won’t let Trump’s invasion antics ever manifest reality (if we can be, we’ll still be friends) it’s just…well when they made the Finalee, that as already an Adorama exclusive release, 1000 units, I read, and now that it’s still USD $750 direct, but USD $219 only through the slickdeals link…there will always be other deals, and you could almost even buy three ifi Uno at that price, so…just me apologizing early (a Massachusetts sorry eh) if the slickdeals offer disappears again.

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Oh yeah, I forgot to mention, I think, but ifi, I haven’t looked to see where they’re actually assembled, but they’re based in the UK

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Don’t let others discourage you from considering the HD 550. Short of jumping to the HD 800 S, I think they are great headphones. Sennheiser HD 550 - Measurements & Official Discussion

The www.HiFiMan.com Sundara are an extraordinary planar value. From China to the USA, factory refurbished, they’re just $152 (USD). There are great bargains in more expensive models, but I think they also make those much too large for extended comfort. Hifiman Sundara Open-Back Planar Magnetic Headphones - Official Thread - #2 by SenyorC

If you were going to stay on the fence about those, you don’t have a single open back in your stated lineup and you could do worse than pull the trigger on a pair of Philips SHP9500 as your for now, or even forever open back headphones. The Philips SHP9600 are nearly the same and possibly even cheaper (USD range of $40 to $80). Philips SHP9600 - Open-Back Headphones - Official Thread

They’re not, and the HD 550 are not at work friendly headphones, too little isolation and too much leakage. The FiiO FT1, which include a fitted travel case (that doesn’t make them more portable than the ATH-M50x, but they are better for the music), would be great in the office, though you’re already closed back rich. Fiio FT1 Measurements & Discussion

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

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The FT1 are great, but…some people only like closed backs, but you owe it to yourself to try some great open backs, so I still applaud your original inclination, to explore the HD 550, or as I mentioned, the budget friendly Philips SHP9500 or SHP9600 at the least. As an open back lover my instinct is to shout the HD 550 will not disappoint! If you need to have work headphones quiet around others, with good passive isolation the FT1 win and for musicality they best your existing headphones at most things, but your three closed backs are great headphones, you have three great closed back headphones, all very competent for discreet office use, but you have no open backs.