Headphone amp / DAC advice

Discussion in 'Hi-Fi and General Audio' started by alby, Jan 26, 2007.

  1. alby

    alby Its good enough for Jazz!

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    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
     
    alby, Jan 26, 2007
    #1
  2. alby

    Snoo

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    I think getting the DAC with the headphone output will benefit you in two area's.
     
    Snoo, Jan 26, 2007
    #2
  3. alby

    DAVEDWACK

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    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
     
    DAVEDWACK, Feb 5, 2007
    #3
  4. alby

    I-S Good Evening.... Infidel

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    Lite Audio's DAC-AM fits the bill also.
     
    I-S, Feb 5, 2007
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  5. alby

    zanash

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    and the behringer src2496 ...bit of a wolf in sheeps clothing ...this stuffed a benchmark dac1 too....
     
    zanash, Feb 5, 2007
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  6. alby

    alby Its good enough for Jazz!

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    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
     
    alby, Feb 5, 2007
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  7. alby

    zanash

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    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.
     
    zanash, Feb 6, 2007
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  8. alby

    PBirkett VTEC Addict

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    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?
     
    PBirkett, Feb 7, 2007
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  9. alby

    zanash

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    The owner of the dac1 ..bought an src at £90 nuff said !
     
    zanash, Feb 8, 2007
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  10. alby

    rollo

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    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
     
    rollo, Feb 8, 2007
    #10
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