Headphone/DAC combos??
Hi Guys,
I have a lovely set of AKG K701's which require a much needed bit of oomph! I use these mainly with my laptop and I know they aren't getting any justice this way. Am I right in thinking that using these from my laptop I would be better off with a Heaphone/DAC combo (such as iBasso D2 etc) instead of a conventional headphone amp (G Slee Voyager)? Is the idea that the DAC will bypass the soundcard on my laptop?
I occasionally use the cans through my Marantz PM6003 (coupled with a CA DacMagic) which seems ok, so I assume a traditional headphone amp would be best here? I am going to stick with the laptop as my source however for the AKG's so with the above advice onboard can anyone suggest something in the region of £150-200 that can help me get the best out of the K701's? Am I better with a DAC/USB amp? Is it worth using a Headphone Amp on its own with a laptop as a source? I'm interested but a bit wary to go with the DIY headphone amps I read alot about online.
Hope I am making sense here, and if anyone has any advice I would greatly appreciate it!
Thanks
Patrick
If you are going to be using the headphones with laptop and have a power socket nearby, I think you can do worse than talk to NJC Audio about the Monitor I headphone amp/DAC. It comes in under £200 and is UK-made. The chap who is behind NJC Audio is very helpful and enthusiastic about his subject. Give him a try. I am well pleased with my Monitor I unit.
[EDIT] The iBasso D2 Boa and also the FiiO E7 have the advantage of portability, with USB/battery power, but the Monitor I has the edge (for me anyway) in terms of overall sound quality. Currently, I do have all three and have compared them. The FiiO E7 is a bargain at approx £65, making an immediate improvement; the D2 Boa is slightly better but approx £100 more expensive; the Monitor I is about the same price but I think improves further all round.
As previously mentioned the Fiio E7 is a step up from an on board sound card but is not brilliant as a H/P amp however, you could buy an E7 & E9 combo for about £140. The E7 then serves as a DAC and the E9 takes care of amplification and is much more powerful than the E7's H/P output. You will struggle to beat it for the money and it will be leaps and bounds ahead of your PC's H/P output.
As for an H/P amp to improve on your Marantz integrated, you will have to spend alot of money to improve on it. All of the Marantz H/P outputs I have listened to have been pretty good. They are some of the best in fact as far as integrated amps go, better than my Little Dot for sure.
I agree with eggontoast. Using the Marantz and DACmagic means you would only get a marginal improvements by getting a headphone amp, particularly as the K701/2s are not as insensitive as some try and make them out to be.
Thanks chaps,
Thats some really useful and surprising advice! I was curious if the Marantz headphone out was any good compared to dedicated headphone amps. I think I will continue with the AKG's with the Marantz for late night listening and investigate the above recommendations for use with my laptop.
I like the idea of something portable with a laptop which seems like a good fit, but considering the AKG's leak sound like a bas*ard it would make sense to invest in something a bit more substantial with a a power supply.
Thanks again for some great advice, and if anyone has anymore I'm all ears!
As for an H/P amp to improve on your Marantz integrated, you will have to spend alot of money to improve on it. All of the Marantz H/P outputs I have listened to have been pretty good. They are some of the best in fact as far as integrated amps go, better than my Little Dot for sure.
Does this also apply to the Headphone outputs on Marantz AV Amps? I have an old SR4300 but not used it in a while especially since I got my AKG K601's.
I've been using my Audiolab 8000LX Integrated with great results that sounds better than my Little Dot II.
I've been using my Audiolab 8000LX Integrated with great results that sounds better than my Little Dot II.
I agree with you on the Audiolab's, I have not tried the LX model but the older 8000A makes an excellent headphone amplifier.
I would arrange an audition and check this out carefuly before I accepted this advice. I would be extremely surprised if the combination of a Cambridge Audio DAC Magic and a decent headphone amp did not significantly outperform the Marantz headphone output.
My 2c
I have a Marantz PM + CD 6003, and an AKG 701. The Marantz output really is quite good, but I listen to the AKG with a Meier Audio Corda Cantate (DAC + amplifier). The Meier sound is much better: more depth, the same details but more enhanced, less clinical sound...
The Corda Cantate is a normal model, so I imagine that with a higher amp the sound should improve a lot more.
I hope I was helpful. Greetings
Love my K's but they do deserve a better source than my CD6003.
Would love to give them a test drive with the Audiolab 8200CD and a Heed, but just dreaming!
Thats some really useful and surprising advice! I was curious if the Marantz headphone out was any good compared to dedicated headphone amps. I think I will continue with the AKG's with the Marantz for late night listening and investigate the above recommendations for use with my laptop.
I use my K702's with the Fiio E7 + E9 Combo...They really compliment eachover...Great value and versatile to boot.
I use my K702's with the Fiio E7 + E9 Combo...They really compliment eachover...Great value and versatile to boot.
X2
This is the best you can get in your price range.
I'd definately say you have the right idea in that a DAC/Headphone amp combi prob would be the best bet at that price point, however if you had a tad more I would be suggesting the ADL Furutech GT40. If you're after a relatively company solution then I would venture down the Musical Fidelity V Series route with their v-can and v-dac.
Phil - Custom Cable Service and Unilet Sound and Vision, South-West London