 | | 
30-01-2005, 1:33 PM
|
#1 (permalink)
| | Member
Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Marbella, Spain
Posts: 328
Thanks: Gave 0, Got 0 | new headphone amp and DAC from Headroom
New headphone amp and DAC from Headroom!! Looks interesting and not too pricey, either, IMHO... 
__________________ ipastudio ipodstudio If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken,
And stoop and build 'em up with worn-out tools
..by Rudyard Kipling | 
|  | |
02-03-2006, 1:18 PM
|
#2 (permalink)
| | New Member
Join Date: Feb 2006
Posts: 8
Thanks: Gave 1, Got 0 |
Anybody have experience of these? More info. on the DAC and the AMP here.
Apparently they might be releasing a one box solution (amp and DAC in one) now that would interest me!
| |
| | |
02-03-2006, 1:38 PM
|
#3 (permalink)
| | New Member
Join Date: Feb 2006
Posts: 8
Thanks: Gave 1, Got 0 |
Oops - just dicovered the Desktop Amp - which looks interesting. Are there any other good headphone amps at about this price ($800) that have an integrated DAC and an optical s/pdif in? If not, it looks like just the solution for PC headphone listening.
I'm hoping to enhance my Sennheiser 595 experience soon :-)
| |
| | |
02-03-2006, 2:54 PM
|
#4 (permalink)
| | Veteran Member
Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Emily's Shop
Posts: 5,144
Thanks: Gave 46, Got 514 |
The highly-regarded Benchmark DAC1 has a fairly respectable headphone stage. As a DAC, it outperforms devices costing three times as much. Sells for about $875 in the US.
__________________
Q: What do you get if you cross an anopheles mosquito with a mountain goat?
A: Don't be silly, you can't cross a vector with a scaler. | 
| | |
02-03-2006, 6:57 PM
|
#5 (permalink)
| | Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Surrey UK
Posts: 1,629
Thanks: Gave 51, Got 87 | Quote: |
Originally Posted by minktoast Oops - just dicovered the Desktop Amp - which looks interesting. Are there any other good headphone amps at about this price ($800) that have an integrated DAC and an optical s/pdif in? If not, it looks like just the solution for PC headphone listening.
I'm hoping to enhance my Sennheiser 595 experience soon :-) | The Meier Corda Aria is a great amp with the added bonus of a built in DAC although the DAC is USB only (?) Price is just under £300 with Meier being based in Germany (great to deal with btw ) They do more expensive amps / DACS too & are on the interweb here: http://www.meier-audio.homepage.t-online.de/
HTH - Paul 
__________________ "I can't complain but sometimes I still do - Life's been good to me so far" Gadget List: AV - Denon Kef REL Pioneer Sky+
DSLR - Between cameras at the mo 
For Sale:  | |
| | |
02-03-2006, 7:12 PM
|
#6 (permalink)
| | New Member
Join Date: Feb 2006
Posts: 8
Thanks: Gave 1, Got 0 |
Thanks Paul - looks good. Have just started to delve into the Had-Fi forums which look dangerous! So much to learn!
| |
| | |
03-03-2006, 3:27 PM
|
#7 (permalink)
| | Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Surrey UK
Posts: 1,629
Thanks: Gave 51, Got 87 | Quote: |
Originally Posted by minktoast Thanks Paul - looks good. Have just started to delve into the Had-Fi forums which look dangerous! So much to learn! | Yeah dangerous place! Keep a firm hold on your wallet when you visit that place 
Paul
__________________ "I can't complain but sometimes I still do - Life's been good to me so far" Gadget List: AV - Denon Kef REL Pioneer Sky+
DSLR - Between cameras at the mo
For Sale: | |
| | |
03-03-2006, 4:11 PM
|
#8 (permalink)
| | Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Stevenage, Herts
Posts: 1,095
Thanks: Gave 36, Got 87 |
Cute as they look in the first part of the thread they have moved on now. The micro series (microamp & microdac) are $299 each plus postage plus possible customs/vat. Reckon on around £450 for the set.
The microdac does accept usb/optical/coax input and can be used portbly but the battery life is very short. I've got one on my PC (I bought it used) and have only just added a used microamp to complete the set - so I can't offer any opinion on the amp yet.
The dac is great though.
If I did not already have the microdac I would have bought the Aria instead - even this is an overkill for a PC setup but I spoil myself. 
Steve
| |
| | |
06-03-2006, 10:48 AM
|
#9 (permalink)
| | Member
Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Telford, UK
Posts: 860
Thanks: Gave 14, Got 49 |
Nothing is overkill if 'YOU' think it is worth it. Remember people buy paintings worth a lot more just to look at.
I am happy with the Grace m902 (got at trade price but still expensive). That has DAC, preamp, two headphones out, x-feed, usb, digit in, XLR, blah, blah  I'm thinking of selling a ruck of headphone's and amps real soon to include the Sugden headmaster, Project headbox, Graham Slee Solo M/C, boostraoo, penguin amp, etc need to get some space back 
__________________
I'm very happy with the stuff I've got but I'm sure if I upgrade just a bit it won't hurt (and so the cycle begins ......) it's too late for me save yourselves | |
| | |
06-03-2006, 1:08 PM
|
#10 (permalink)
| | Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Stevenage, Herts
Posts: 1,095
Thanks: Gave 36, Got 87 |
yes I know the position. Not having such an active head-fi community in the UK like the US have I end up buying more to evaluate and tend to hoard rather than sell on.
Gradually letting a few items go though so the addiction therapy is working .
Shame you had not posted earlier last week as I was considering a Solo as well as the Aria - had the microamp not come up it was a coin toss between the Aria/Solo.
I had heard there may be a new Solo coming out and was asked if I would like to try it - said yes of course but have not heard any more details for months so perhaps it's not ready or just a rumour.
| |
| | |
06-03-2006, 3:19 PM
|
#11 (permalink)
| | Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Surrey UK
Posts: 1,629
Thanks: Gave 51, Got 87 | Quote: |
Originally Posted by Reano Nothing is overkill if 'YOU' think it is worth it. Remember people buy paintings worth a lot more just to look at.
I am happy with the Grace m902 (got at trade price but still expensive). That has DAC, preamp, two headphones out, x-feed, usb, digit in, XLR, blah, blah I'm thinking of selling a ruck of headphone's and amps real soon to include the Sugden headmaster, Project headbox, Graham Slee Solo M/C, boostraoo, penguin amp, etc need to get some space back | Reano I'm looking for some cans if you've got any HF-1's MS2i's or SR225's gathering dust
Paul
__________________ "I can't complain but sometimes I still do - Life's been good to me so far" Gadget List: AV - Denon Kef REL Pioneer Sky+
DSLR - Between cameras at the mo
For Sale: | |
| | | |
Linear Mode
