Small headphone amp??

[Oscar09]

SO here is the story... I have my drawing desk next to my desk where i have my main listening area.. But late at night i cant have my stereo on since im sure it will bother the neighbors. The downside is that where my receiver is positioned, my headphones dont reach. So i was looking at some headphones amp and there are just so many. Im not a big headphone listener but i do want to hear some quality. I was looking at the NuForce icon uDAC that runs for $120. Its a DAC and headphone amp so that is what its catching my attention. Anyone have any idea what other small DAC/Headphones amps are good? i dont plan to invest more than $150 since i only will use it at night. Thanks in advance everyone!

 

BTW... i own some Bowers & Wilkins C5

[Rambaud]

I assume an extension lead for the headphones is not a viable option?

 

I have used various inexpensive DACs from FiiO (E10, E17 etc) with my Macbbok Pro laptop.

[sandyk]

Oscar09

IF you like valves, and can stretch to another $50, check this one out.It's getting pretty good initial reviews too. The DAC uses a valve as a buffer, but the HA section is solid state.You might need to guard it jealously though, as it will be a real talking point.

Alex

 

Aune T1 24bit Tube USB DAC ( new products) - News- HIFI AUDIO-HIFIDIY.NET-CHINA - HIFIDIY.NET

[Oscar09]

Oscar09

IF you like valves, and can stretch to another $50, check this one out.It's getting pretty good initial reviews too. The DAC uses a valve as a buffer, but the HA section is solid state.You might need to guard it jealously though, as it will be a real talking point.

Alex

 

Aune T1 24bit Tube USB DAC ( new products) - News- HIFI AUDIO-HIFIDIY.NET-CHINA - HIFIDIY.NET

 

NOW THAT IS NICE!! ive always heard great things about DACs with tubes! i really like it... in your opinion, how do you think it might compare to my Music Streamer II? I love my HRT music streamer II but i wish it would also be a headphone amp... Do you think its worth replacing the streamer II for the Aune?

[bikemig]

I used to own the nuforce icon udac and I was not a huge fan (it was my first dac). Do you want a pure headphone amp or a dac/amp combo? I'm currently in the market for a dac/amp combo for an office set up. Fiio makes well regarded inexpensive amp/dac combos built around the E9 amp (which has a very useful gain switch). The combo will run more than $150. You may also want to look at the audioengine D1 dac/amp, which fits your budget. If all you want is a good quality cheap amp, get the cmoy which runs around $60: JDS Labs

[dalethorn]

I haven't heard the Cmoy but the Audioengine D1, Headstreamer, and Dragonfly all have much better fidelity than a FiiO E17 (don't know about other FiiO's).

[Bones13]

AudioQuest Dragonfly - I think it does sound as good as it is being reviewed. I compared my son's Dragonfly to my CEntrance DACPort - the Dragonfly is much more detailed and clear, and I did not consider the DACPort to be muddy before.