Combo Streamer/Headphone Amp


I'm having shoulder replacement surgery in a few weeks so I'll be laid up without use of my right arm for sometime afterwards. Pretty much means spinning vinyl is off the table. And I will be pretty much immobile in a recliner for the first couple weeks/ So, I thought this would be a good time to catch up on my headphone listening. I have some OK Bluetooth (Bluetooth SQ limitations noted) Sennheisers, but I really want to use my HiFiMan Sundaras. What would make it great is if I could find a single box streamer/headphone amp combo using some relatively common app like BluOs. The Blusound Node looks like a candidate, but I'm not sure it has enough of a headphone amp to drive my Sundaras. Thoughts? Alternatives?

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First and foremost, best wishes with the surgery and for a speedy recovery.  Especially if this is a temporary stopgap during your recovery I’d consider an Audioquest Dragonfly Red and just use that plugged into your phone or tablet.  I drove my Hifiman HE400SE ‘phones with them quite successfully and your Sundaras seem even a little easier to drive.  Plus, if you ever want to take your music on the go in the future the Dragonfly makes a great portable travel companion.  Just a thought, and best of luck with everything!

I would not recommend a Node just for headphone listening.  The headphone section of the Node N130 is an afterthought.  The headphone section on the Node X is supposed to be much better, but you'd be paying $750 for a unit where headphone listening isn't its primary function.  However, if you're looking for a stand-alone streamer/DAC for your main system anyway, then the Node X might work for you.  But I would not get it just for headphone listening.

As @soix points out, using your phone or tablet as a streamer along with a dongle DAC (like the Dragonfly series) or a headphone DAC/amp might be a better alternative.  Cheaper, better sound, and much more portable.  I'd investigate something like the iFi Gryphon or the iFi Hip-Dac 3.

@soix @dinosore Tanks for your input.  I hadn't considered a dongle. I have a late model Samsung tablet that would work for this. Do the dongles provide a charger passthrough, or am I either on charge or on dongle?