I mostly listen to music in digital format (MP3) and trying to decide between this amp and a USB headphone DAC...thoughts?
78100
The file format isn't really important to this amp, it's more of a novelty to add that special "tube" flavor to the sound. If you are interested in high fidelity of sound and a neutral "reference", the DAC will be your best bet for when you have HQ lossless audio. This tube amp is what you want when you want to change the sound profile FURTHER from the original. Hope this helps.
78101
I would go with DAC unless you're interested in more clear lossless formats like FLAC.
78102
If you like warm sound and don't care of it's flac or mp3 file format, go with this amp. If you value overall naturality of sound more than its color, go with DAC and use loseless file format more if you can.
78103
A tube amp and a USB DAC are not the same thing and they don't serve the same purpose. An amplifier offers ideal input impedance for your source and greater output power availability to help drive high impedance loads.A DAC takes a digital bitstream and converts it to analog waveform.You could put this amplifier after the DAC if you wanted. (DAC --> amp --> headphones) But they are not the same thing and would not displace each other.
78104
You're comparing Apples and Oranges. The Bravo is strictly a headphone amp. I use my Bravo with a Behringer UCA222. I chose the Behringer because it's a DAC (digital to analog converter) and an ADC (analog to digital converter). I use the Behringer to "rip" vinyl to FLAC files. Why bother with sonically compromised MP3 files when storage space is so cheap?
1386827
I know this review is from 2013, but I want to say I am using the same pair of headphones with the JDS Labs O2 Headphone amp and standalone ODAC and it has made a major increase in listening quality for them. The Amp alone at least doubles the quality, whereas the DAC will clean it up for you.
743324
You can get a great sounding optical DAC from Fiio for $25, and attach it to the back of this amp.FiiO D3 Digital to Analog Audio Converter - 192kHz/24bit Optical and Coaxial DAC
1080022
It's not necessary to have a DAC, I use a Schiit Modi. They released the second generation DAC and Amp that are great quality and very reasonably priced.
505577
Almost any pair of headphones will benefit from a higher quality DAC and/or amplifier. These sound quite solid even driven by more common sources such as a laptop headphone port. Because of this I find the difference between 'normal' sources and a nicer setup to be a little less pronounced but still appreciable, though your milage may vary.
539671
All digital devices (iPods, iPhones, MP3 players, etc.) have to have a DAC -- otherwise you couldn't hear the music. But there are Chevrolets and Cadillacs and Ferraris among them. And the quality of the DAC obviously will determine the quality of the sound you hear. On the Sangean the internet feed will not sound as good as the actual FM signal. But on the other hand, on the Magnum Dynalab MD807 internet tuner (Google it!) which I prefer to listen to, the sound is as good or even better than the actual FM signal. Why? Because of the high-quality DAC and its tube output. As the old saying goes, you get what you pay for!
1775033
I often use a DAC and headphone amp for lossless and lossy files. The One has as good a DAC, at least for recording, way better than a lot of "portable" DACs out there. For critical listening, depending on your tastes and budget, you may still prefer an audiophile grade DAC.
266308
I use mine strictly for my high resolution audio all onboard sound boards have to be disabled in order to get the full capability of a DAC when used with a 5.1 home theater it's nothing but a brick the HT head unit will mess with the bit stream and the DAC will do it's best but you're feeding it 50% of the dataA DACs place in my setup goes like thisLaptop usb out DAC high quality RCA plugs to AMP to speakersthe fewer steps between the source audio and the DAC the betterhope that helps
2021299
I just bought a Mcintosh MHA100 DAC/AMP and it is brilliant with the HD600. It completely changed the performance and took it to a level that in my opinion was better than $1800 cans I tried. If you like tubes Woo Audio WA7 has some excellent feedback
949102
With ease. I use the HD 800 with it. Plenty of power and to spare. An additional headphone amp would be redundant and likely degrading of sound. And I own the list of HP amps. You name it, I own it. The AK240 is truly a standalone player.
1495483
I think the DAC is rather good - have taken it to a friend who was using a very expensive outboard DAC and he reckons it sounds rather good too.
1996292
I would certainly get a separate phono preamp if you budget allows, the built-in/usb model is a very basic quality preamp. If you never have any plans of upgrading from the 2M Red cartridge then the built in is probably adequate.
1726272
You know I have no problem using mine without an amp, even for situations where audio quality is important like mixing and mastering music. But I would say that the amp doesn't hurt and adds quite a bit. I bought a small portable amp for my DT 990s and i love it but I honestly have found myself using the amp less and less. I bought a Fiio e11 amp. Not required for use with the DT 990s but it doesn't hurt.
1603431
Thanks for the replies. Will keep it in mind when I am ready to buy a headphone amp.
174376
I think DAC of this Item is not so good, your idea is good. There is a digital output.
1827691
are you using a connecting cable 3.5mm with two out put ends to plug into your aux imput on the back of your receiver? if you really want hi-end playback, get a nuforce dac and use this type of cable or a single 3.5mm connecting cable from mp3 player to a receiver or intergrated amp and the sound quality will blow you away, happy listening:)
1325756
It all depends on what you're comparing it to. If your computer is a $35 RaspberryPi... the DAC in it is admittedly really cheap. You should definitely notice a difference. If you have a Mac, you probably won't notice much difference. I have a late 2009 Mac Mini and I notice a very slight difference. It sounds like greater channel separation and a little more dynamic range. Definitely need to use the RCA outs from the DAC rather than the headphone output. I bought it to experiment with and it's fun to say that I run a separate DAC.