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Headphone amp and dac advice needed

Here's what's happening.

After almost 3 years of working from home where my main system is in my office, I'll be going back to the office in January.  I have a pair of Audio Technica Bluetooth headphones I used with my phone.  Sound wasn't great, but it worked for background music.

Now that I've been spoiled by great sound for almost 3 years, I want something better, so I'm looking for a good desktop dac and headphone amp (or combo unit).  I'd like to keep it under @1K US as I'm also going to consider a new set of wired headphones.  I already have a set of Grados, but I'm intrigued by the planar magnetic phones out there now.  I'd also like to have the option of using Bluetooth headphones for when I'm moving about the office.

Nice to have for the dac:  Bluetooth input, balanced line out.

Nice to have for the headphone amp:  Balanced input, balanced and se headphone outs, Bluetooth transmitter.

 

I have a little experience with dacs, but no real experience with headphone amps.  Thanks in advance for any guidance you might be able to provide.

vinylzone
vinylzone OP
288 posts
 

@spatialking Thanks.  Yeah, already planning to take them home each night.  I have a backpack for my laptop that has plenty of room for phones and other gear.

ghdprentice
6,387 posts
 

Wow, take it home every night. I had built a substantial headphone system at work for over ten years in an open plan office area (~ $7K) and never considered the possibility of theft… and never was. 

buellrider97
368 posts
 

FWIW, I have Audeze LC 2’s and Schiit DAC and amp. I enjoy it, but try different gear first. What I will point out is my planer headphones are big and heavy. I generally don’t last for more that an hour with them on. And this is at home , not the office. Also the drivers are somewhat fragile. You must avoid letting them slap together as the sudden pressure could harm them. Also lugging them around or dropping them is not good. I had a driver failure that was fortunately replaced under warranty. Audeze went so far as to replace both drives and ear cuffs with updated items when they were only obligated for 1 driver . That’s impressive support. Happy Hunting, Mike B, 

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bob52r
44 posts
 

My choices:

Ifi go bar $289 open box bloom audio

Hifiman ananda steath magnets

open box from hifiman. This is vey refficient

$600.

Balanced cooper cable-- no silver with ananda

Old Sammy note 9 with card for storage

Usb pro app to process higher rez thru Android

 

This system is relatively compact. I walk around my house

With everything in a pocket. Not the ultimate, but easy and streaming tidal 

I am content

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bob52r
44 posts
 

PS balanced cable is apos imported from China. We made

Higher purity single crystal cooper w/4.4mm pent balanced connector.this needed a very long breakin maybe 100 hours. Apos took 3 weeks to deliver and communication and tracking is a bit off, but ok. A nice product which greatly improved the stock hifiman unbalanced cable. The apos is also more attractive and more pleasant to handle.

I have no first hand experience with higher quality 

Fancy cables -- not in my budget nor personal experience. 

 

I was working with a $1k budget with a goal of flexible portal system with very fine sound and some natural sound stage.

I prefer to leave off the ifi cross talk. The Anadarko sounds better without the special effects. 

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