Headphone amp / DAC advice

Since changing my amplifier I now have no headphone sockets (it was always a compromise anyway) , but I am after advice regarding whether to go for a dedicated headphone amp to drive my Sennheiser HD 600s or whether to get a DAC with a Headphone output ( eg Benchmark DAC1 , Lavry etc) to improve the sound from my Arcam CD82 , or is this yet another compromise , and would this DAC upgrade be a worthwhile improvement , I suspect that I will have to buy unheard as they are difficult to audition. My Budget is around the £500 to £750 range.

Thanks

Alby

 

I think getting the DAC with the headphone output will benefit you in two area's.

 

Hi Alby,

Did you get fixed up at all yet? It just happens that I have a mint Benchmark Dac1 going for £500!

Let me know if interested before I put it up for sale to other users.

Cheers, Dave

 

Lite Audio's DAC-AM fits the bill also.

 

and the behringer src2496 ...bit of a wolf in sheeps clothing ...this stuffed a benchmark dac1 too....

 

The problem with the Behringer is that is very industrial looking and it will not look right in my set up ( the every genourous Tenson has offered me a trial of one , but I just would not want it in my system) , the Benchmark , Lavry and the lite audio seem to be neat and compact domestic units.

But no doubt your Behringer advice is good , there is no doubt that as bang for the buck it is great value even in unmodified form.

Thanks

Alby

 

The benchmark looks the part cost a fortune but sound wise its just not on the money ......

the src has grim looks but unmodded out performed the dac1 by a fairly large margin ...modded it widdled all over it ...which is sad as the dac1 is a nice bit of kit at x8 cost of the src...

the lite dac ....I've had reliability issues with two

I don't have any experience with the lavry.

 

Even though i've got my digilog, which i reckon sounds very good, i'm almost tempted to try one of these behringers, is it really that good?

 

The owner of the dac1 ..bought an src at £90 nuff said !

 

Hey guys,
check out new model from Cayin.Heard it at NY Rave meeting and was quite impressed not being a headphone type
Don't recall model,it was tubed and very nice.
rollo