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Advice for headphone amp and dac

Hi everyone. I am looking to get a headphone amp and dac. I have a pair of 70s Sennheiser 414 headphones. Pretty sure they are the 600ohm. I also have newer Grado headphones but I want to be able to use the 414s too so I want a headphone amp to drive them. I want to stream to this set up using my Mac Book. This will be my introduction to streaming. I am thinking to try streaming to listen to stuff I don't have. If I like it I will probably buy a LP if available. I listen 99% LP. CD every now and then. Maybe eventually I will get a dedicated streamer but it is not in the budget right now. I have researched Schiit and am considering Midgard/Modius combination. Maybe Lyr Headphone amp If I can stretch the budget when the time comes to purchase. Budget at this time is around $700.

What do you think? 

oharek
ghdprentice
6,983 posts
 

Schiit is a good bet at that price range. They make great budget stuff. Makes good sense to get a good quality DAC/Headamp as a start. 

 

I have had cutting edge headphone systems for over forty years. The sound quality gets better and better if you invest wisely. I am sure I had those Sennheiser headphones in the early 70's. You  have lots of opportunities to get better headphones as well. 

yyzsantabarbara
4,829 posts
 

I have maybe the best headphone in the world today at my home for a home demo. It is very expensive ($10k), so I am selling the very best headphone amp for it to essentially trade the amp for the phone. I cannot listen to an amp but can listen to a phone.

I am replacing the headphone amp with a stack of cheaper Schitt gear that is rather good, maybe 85% as good.

My point is that Schitt gear is really good, especially their top end gear, and do not let the price fool you.

 

freediver
1,197 posts
 

Not to be rude but your headphones are no where near good enough to justify spending $700.00 on an amp/DAC..I have also owned Schiit gear & I myself was NOT impressed,finding the Hybrid Vali II amp highly microphonic..
With your budget I would get a new pair of HiFiMan Sundara & a Xduoo TA-22 Hybrid amp/Dac or even a pair of HiFiMan Ananda Nano & a budget amp/Dac from Topping,SMSL or Xduoo...

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