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

Thanks very much everyone. I have spent the morning checking out your suggestions. Topping I have researched before. The Xduoo TA-22 looks interesting and good reviews. The Chord Mojo 2 also. These 2 I was not familiar with at all. Glad I asked. Thanks

 

Since there are already a lot of good suggestions on this thread, I thought I'd give an "out of the box" idea: A vintage, mid seventies receiver! With your budget, you could get a really nice Marantz/Harmon Kardon/Sansui/Sony/Pioneer receiver. They look amazing when fully restored with LED kits and would match your Sennheisers from the 70s perfectly! All you would need is a Schiit Audio DAC and you're in business. 

I have a top of the line system, but my integrated amp doesn't have a headphone jack, so I'm using a Tandberg TR-2045 from 1978 as my headphone amp for the rare, late-night listening seshes and it sounds phenomenal (I use Sennheiser HD 600s).

Just another option. 

 

Good Luck! 

I think exactly the same. But instead of a receiver i recommend for example in the Sansui line the AU series or the alpha series.

I have also a top system so surprising for the price i pity those who had paid more for a marginal S.Q. differences, then i believe you . To beat my 1000 dollars system think about minimum 15,000 bucks. And even with it Only the Immanis probably can beat my modified K340 .

I suggest the same to the OP : low cost product with acoustic thinking and reading  and experiments . cool

 

Since there are already a lot of good suggestions on this thread, I thought I’d give an "out of the box" idea: A vintage, mid seventies receiver! With your budget, you could get a really nice Marantz/Harmon Kardon/Sansui/Sony/Pioneer receiver. They look amazing when fully restored with LED kits and would match your Sennheisers from the 70s perfectly! All you would need is a Schiit Audio DAC and you’re in business.

I have a top of the line system, but my integrated amp doesn’t have a headphone jack, so I’m using a Tandberg TR-2045 from 1978 as my headphone amp for the rare, late-night listening seshes and it sounds phenomenal (I use Sennheiser HD 600s).

Just another option.

 

Good Luck!

mahgister and crawfishdaddi. I understand what you're saying. Something to consider except I'm not sure I want to add a big box to my rack. Back in the 70s and 80s I had receivers or amp/preamp that I used the Sennheizers with. They worked fine.

There is a vintage dealer near me. I'll check their site out of curiosity.