Question Which DAC / headphone amp?

[dexter]

Hi

I am looking for a DAC/ headphone amp combo and have narrowed it down, purely on cost, to:

myryad z20dac/z40 headphone amp (£260)

Nad D1050 (£250)

Arcam irDac II (£280)

I'll have it hooked up to a Bluesound Node. Not worried about the Bluetooth on the Arcam or the balanced outputs on the Nad - just want best sound through headphones!

Any guidance appreciated as I can't do a side by side listening comparison.

Thanks!

 

[muljao]

The irdac is a nice blend of inputs and function with good sound quality and value.

If you are just looking for a usb DAC to give good headphone output from a computer i have recently bought a dragonfly red and it is definitely worth the money imo

Edit-Sorry, I read your post wrong. I did think the node had a headphone out though

 

[DIBSTER]

Beresford Caiman SEG (£250) , an excellent pre-amp as well as DAC and headphone amp.

.

 

[Bobby Davros]

Hi

I am looking for a DAC/ headphone amp combo and have narrowed it down, purely on cost, to:

myryad z20dac/z40 headphone amp (£260)

Nad D1050 (£250)

Arcam irDac II (£280)

I'll have it hooked up to a Bluesound Node. Not worried about the Bluetooth on the Arcam or the balanced outputs on the Nad - just want best sound through headphones!

Any guidance appreciated as I can't do a side by side listening comparison.

Thanks!

I have the Arcam it's headphone amp is taken from their flagship A49 amp. It's very crisp and clear, sounds great with my DT990 Pro but I suspect it better suits a neutral headphone over analytical (which the DT990 Pro are). I'm very happy with the Arcam though, it sounds great in my opinion. Very happy to have so many inputs too, and I do personally find the BT useful and it sounds OK for casual listening radio/apps etc.

A recent review by Mr Atkinson of Stereophile, he speaks of the headphone pairing and there are some technical tests :

Arcam irDAC-II D/A processor

 

[Rob Sinden]

I use this and it sounds fab and only cost £19!

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Converter-Digital-Adjustable-Optical-Coaxial-Black

 

[Deleted member 781788]

If your headphones are of higher impedance category, you must look even deeper to make sure the DAC/amp can actually drive them.
Example:
My Leema DAC produces magnificent sound through my speakers, but can not drive my 300 Ohm Beyer headphones! sound is low in volume, flat and basically rubbish!
My LG phone, on the other hand, drives them beautifully.

 

[dannnielll]

Just got the Cyrus soundkey yesterday, and it certainly seems to lift my Samsung S7. It is trivially easy to install. Using my Sony1R headphones there is a distinct improvement between plugging them into the phones 3.5mm socket and then via the usb and Cyrus. What is the change?... Well both were plenty loud in any event, but the Cyrus can make it a bit louder,so that's not it.
Cymbals, and hi hat drum sounds are crisper, guitar twangs tighter. Bass a little tighter. Voices a bit more distinct. Does a nicer job on TuneIn radio
Some people have reported intermittent crackling with some mobile phones.. I have not . it is absolutely quiet when it should be.
Don't know how it compares with the competition,and frankly I don't care, it works very nicely indeed.