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HeaDphone Discussions. (Audiophile and Gaming)

Any inputs on the 'latest, affordable' go to dac/amp setups?

The setup will be running HD600 and similar headies, mostly theatre and gaming.
Also have a look at the Topping L30 II, but I would say the Zen Dac V2 is probably best all-rounder.
If you find some mini-XLRs locally, let me know. Haven't looked in a while, but the last few times there was nothing :(
I will let you know - waiting on a few responses for emails I sent :)
My cable attempt is also happening December. :p
Do you have the parts list/contact details for Design-by-Max?
Yes, I'll gladly share.
Just email designbymax@mweb.co.za
Check out the outdated partslist:

Cable 1:
1.5m Mogami 2893
Amphenol/Neutrik 6.35mm TRS jack
3.5mm TRS jack
Heat shrink tubing

Cable 2:
1.5m Mogami 2893
Any 4.4mm Penteconn connector I can find (like blooming hen's teeth)
2 x mini-XLR connectors
Heat shrink tubing
 
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A more "fun" setup I'm eyeing is the Zen DAC V2. AutioExchange seems to be the local importer however no V2 on the pricelist just yet. I still have my xDSD and hooked up to the PC for the fun listening sessions on my Meze 99 Noir's and Sendy's
Now... The question is...
Schiit stack from Dash (magni 2 + modni 2), or Zen Dac?
I'm getting the Zen Dac V2 later this week - my wife won it at the Cape Town Hifi Show last week :eek::love:
I'll post my thoughts on here when I've hooked it up and gave it a listen for a few days, as I'll be replacing my Audient iD4 with it for headphone amp duties as well as DAC between my PC and Mars amp :D
 
I'm getting the Zen Dac V2 later this week - my wife won it at the Cape Town Hifi Show last week :eek::love:
I'll post my thoughts on here when I've hooked it up and gave it a listen for a few days, as I'll be replacing my Audient iD4 with it for headphone amp duties as well as DAC between my PC and Mars amp :D
Wow that's quite a win! Sounds like she won you an amazing piece of equipment 😁 Definitely let us know what you think - and if you're not too fond of it, PM me ;)
 
I'm getting the Zen Dac V2 later this week - my wife won it at the Cape Town Hifi Show last week :eek::love:
I'll post my thoughts on here when I've hooked it up and gave it a listen for a few days, as I'll be replacing my Audient iD4 with it for headphone amp duties as well as DAC between my PC and Mars amp :D

A friend of mine in the UK picked up a Zen Dac V2 a while ago and he's had nothing but good things to say. Let us know what you think.
 
Would highly recommend a DX3 Pro+, amazing value for money in a tiny package. Schiit has been resting on their laurels too long and aren't that competitive anymore.
 
Would highly recommend a DX3 Pro+, amazing value for money in a tiny package. Schiit has been resting on their laurels too long and aren't that competitive anymore.
That's a fair statement, but their slightly older stuff still slaps and can be had at really good prices now.
 
So me looking at some DT700/900. Should one get a sound card/ dac(whatever that is) to get the best out of what I assume to be entry level professional headphones?
 
So me looking at some DT700/900. Should one get a sound card/ dac(whatever that is) to get the best out of what I assume to be entry level professional headphones?
They are actually not 'entry level' professional. The DT900 is used in many studios.

You don't NEED an external digital to analog converter, but to get the best out of your headphones you definitely want to.
 
They are actually not 'entry level' professional. The DT900 is used in many studios.

You don't NEED an external digital to analog converter, but to get the best out of your headphones you definitely want to.
Would it be "good" for gaming and general use? Movies, music etc? I know very little about sound stuff
 
So me looking at some DT700/900. Should one get a sound card/ dac(whatever that is) to get the best out of what I assume to be entry level professional headphones?
So how this will work is you going to get a dac and use the headphones, you'll think to yourself you cant really make out a difference with the dac, use it for like a week then go back to plugging straight into the audio source. Instantly everything will sound like it has a layer of muddy static over it that you never noticed before and you will not want to ever go back to that again.
Get a dac
 
Would it be "good" for gaming and general use? Movies, music etc? I know very little about sound stuff
Overall yes, all varying to some degree. For competitive gaming you want accurate directional audio, separation and a wide soundstage. A DAC will help "clear" up most static/muddiness and overlapping to some degree (depending on the type/quality of the DAC), but end of the day it will come down to the Headphones.
For "fun" and just casual music, Movies and gaming you'd want slightly more bass, which is again more headphone depended, but the more crisp/clearer and separated the instruments, the better overall - IMO.
The DT 700/900's will surely benefit from a lekker DAC feeding them.
 
Would it be "good" for gaming and general use? Movies, music etc? I know very little about sound stuff
I know you will hate this answer, but it depends on you. Both those models are a bit analytical, so they can appear 'flat'. But quite detailed with decent sound stage. I've never heard a DT700 personally though.

What are you using at the moment?
 
I know you will hate this answer, but it depends on you. Both those models are a bit analytical, so they can appear 'flat'. But quite detailed with decent sound stage. I've never heard a DT700 personally though.

What are you using at the moment?
Im using a Corsair HS80 for my PC.. It's not bad by any means but the build quality is a bit shit and I definitely felt that I wasted money on them. they are quite meh.
I listen to music while working, use them for meetings, obviously games and occasionally a movie or series.
I use Bose 700 when I'm in the office, they are quite convenient but I want something better for home.
 
Would it be "good" for gaming and general use? Movies, music etc? I know very little about sound stuff
I got the Dt990s with a fulla shit amp ( lol )

And works great for everything i need, sound is crisp and clear, and in most games feels very immersive with all the sounds coming from different angles

And they are just super comfy
 
I know you will hate this answer, but it depends on you. Both those models are a bit analytical, so they can appear 'flat'. But quite detailed with decent sound stage. I've never heard a DT700 personally though.

What are you using at the moment?
100% what Panda says here. You'll see most people playing competitive FPS using these or higher models.
 
Im using a Corsair HS80 for my PC.. It's not bad by any means but the build quality is a bit shit and I definitely felt that I wasted money on them. they are quite meh.
I listen to music while working, use them for meetings, obviously games and occasionally a movie or series.
I use Bose 700 when I'm in the office, they are quite convenient but I want something better for home.
I'm no audiophile and can't really offer any advice on the Beyerdynamic models you mentioned but I do (used to use) have the DT990 Pro (250 Ohm) headphones, tried them without a DAC/AMP, tried them with the Fiio E10K and then with my JDS Labs stack. Really wasn't a fan of them. Won't say you'll have the same experience with the models you mentioned - but having said that, I moved to the HD560S, which are honestly amazing and headphones for you to consider.
 
I got the Dt990s with a fulla shit amp ( lol )

And works great for everything i need, sound is crisp and clear, and in most games feels very immersive with all the sounds coming from different angles

And they are just super comfy
I saw those but I don't think I've ever used Open back headphones and perhaps I'm a little worried about outside sound leaking in.
 
I saw those but I don't think I've ever used Open back headphones and perhaps I'm a little worried about outside sound leaking in.
If you haven't used them before, I wouldn't say you should be worried, but back ground noise is something you'll definitely need to consider.

A good example is your PC fan curves/speed. I never realised how good I had my fan curves until I formatted and lost the profiles. Something like a bunch of PC fans spinning fast can get annoying and muffle your audio.

From what I remember, open back will offer a wider sound stage, which can be useful depending on which games you play.

My HD560S are open back - FYI.
 
Open-back is the way to go, more comfortable and breathable than closed-back and the sound-stage gain is amazing. I can't even hear any muffling with my HD800S on and I wouldnt want it any other way.
 
I think Ninja uses the DT700X - it looks like them anyhow - so they should be good for gaming. (don't hate on me for mentioning him - it's just to say a pro gamer uses studio headphones while gaming)
I have heard of Beyerdynamic sounding bright or harsh but based on reviews of the 700/900, it appears that they don't have that characteristic.

Take my advice with a pinch of salt, as I'm going on what others say on AVForum, lots of reviews and videos I've watched about Beyerdynamic, Hifiman and headphone amps:
If you are looking around the price range of the DT700/900, may I throw a curveball and suggest the planar magnetic Hifiman Sundara?
I've also heard good things about the HE400SE for R3k less.
Both of those need a good headphone amp with very low impedance to deliver enough current and power, though.
There is that Schiit stack for sale under the Amps/DAC section that I've seen pairs well with Hifiman.

I got a pair of Oppo PM3, which are entry-level planar magnetic and easy to drive, and the difference is huge compared to driver headphones.
I also game with them every now and then, but mostly use them for music while at work and virtual meetings.
While gaming, everything is crisp and clear.

I'm getting the Zen Dac V2 later this week - my wife won it at the Cape Town Hifi Show last week :eek::love:
I'll post my thoughts on here when I've hooked it up and gave it a listen for a few days, as I'll be replacing my Audient iD4 with it for headphone amp duties as well as DAC between my PC and Mars amp :D
On a different note, the Zen DAC V2 will only be arriving next week due to a slip up with packing up after the hifi show - they ended up in Joburg with the rest of the equipment :LOL:
I'll post my thoughts then - looking forward to hooking it up to my amp and using the Oppo's with it.
 
I saw those but I don't think I've ever used Open back headphones and perhaps I'm a little worried about outside sound leaking in.
The DT900 you mentioned initially are also open-back, though.

Open-backs are great. They have the benefit of a wider soundstage for music (i.e. you can really hear the space between the instruments which makes you feel immersed in the sound) and also makes positional audio in games clearer (it's easier to here where sounds come from, like footsteps).

The only time to not use them are if you're in a noisy environment - and I don't mean just general background noise and traffic etc. I mean like if someone is watching TV loudly in the same room as you, or you're working in a noisy office or café etc. OR if you are listening near someone else who would be annoyed by the sound leaking out of your headphones.

But I game with open backs with another person in the room frequently and there are no issues at all.

Side note, also consider the Philips Fidelio X2HR, they may be cheaper than the Beyers in Europe and offer extremely good sound and comfort, same class as the Beyers easily.
 
Prepare your torches and pitchforks. Quick question about speakers.
"Speakers?" I hear you ask. Well, they're just like headphones, but the two bits that normally go on your ears aren't attached to each other. They sit on your desk in front of your head (not on the sides of your head) and are usually a bit louder.

Anyone using a home theatre amp & speakers for desktop speakers? I'm tempted to go for it rather than a 2.1 set for the same reason I build PCs instead of buying prebuilds. I like the idea of customising the setup and replacing individual components.
I already have an ifi Zen dac, so I'd just be running a cheapish stereo amp and a pair of 5" bookshelf speakers like the Jamo S803 - they look great and aren't stupid money.

I'm a bit confused with the whole "near field" thing. Are home theatre speakers going to sound crud if they're too close to my head in too small a room?
 
Prepare your torches and pitchforks. Quick question about speakers.
"Speakers?" I hear you ask. Well, they're just like headphones, but the two bits that normally go on your ears aren't attached to each other. They sit on your desk in front of your head (not on the sides of your head) and are usually a bit louder.

Anyone using a home theatre amp & speakers for desktop speakers? I'm tempted to go for it rather than a 2.1 set for the same reason I build PCs instead of buying prebuilds. I like the idea of customising the setup and replacing individual components.
I already have an ifi Zen dac, so I'd just be running a cheapish stereo amp and a pair of 5" bookshelf speakers like the Jamo S803 - they look great and aren't stupid money.

I'm a bit confused with the whole "near field" thing. Are home theatre speakers going to sound crud if they're too close to my head in too small a room?
I have had quite a few speaker setups on my desk... Don't stress about the 'near field' nonsense. You will be using your headphones if you need your speakers so quiet.

You can always upgrade your amp later. I am also using a zendac to feed my receiver at the moment. You will be 100% fine with Jamo S803s. They are great for multimedia use.

Don't overthink it. There are just soooo many options to consider. Buy the Jamos, get a el cheapo amp and be happy.
 
ps. I present a spanner in your works: Modern midrange soundbars are actually pretty damn good. 👀
Yeah I was considering that, but placement is an issue. I can’t help thinking that simply sitting it on my desk would lead to weird reflect-off-the-desk sound, and getting it up at ear level is impossible.
Or am I over-thinking it again?
 
I started my desktop audio journey with a NAD T743 and the small NAD satellite speakers that came with it (as well as the sub).
But a proper stereo amp is much more convenient size-wise for desktop and sounds better to me, especially since you have a separate DAC.
So, NAD 3020 + Bentley FR80/FR100 is my recommendation all day every day for budget systems.
I'm getting the FR100's again in the future for my NAD when I move to a place that will require a living room setup.

I had the 3020 + FR100 combo for my desktop and loved it.
At lower volumes the combo had enough warmth that I didn't have to engage the "Loudness" button on the NAD, but it was nice to have the option for songs that weren't warm sounding and I occasionally used it.
At louder volumes they kicked proper.
I see 3020's going for 1500-2000 these days and the FR100's can be had for +-3k.
I still hook up my 3020 every now and then - such a pleasure to listen to. :D

For placement, just get rubber doorstops (the pucks) to place beneath your speakers - you can add larger ones in the front to angle them toward your ears. Cheap option that works. :)
 
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NAD 3020 + Bentley FR80/FR100

I had the 3020 + FR100 combo for my desktop and loved it.
I see 3020's going for 1500-2000 these days and the FR100's can be had for +-3k.
I still hook up my 3020 every now and then - such a pleasure to listen to.
Ah man I missed out on a deal for a 3020i on AVF a month or two back. Still kicking myself.
The Bentleys are reportedly great too! There’s just something about the aesthetics that’s a letdown though. When you look at something like the Jamos it’s tough to support local.
 

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