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New headphone amp recommendations

bbqjoe said:
This doesn't have left and right either, but if you want to kick the tires on some tubes, this is a pretty nice sounding headphone amp, and it will also double as a preamp.
Not USB powered though.
The price isn't bad either.
Give it a try, if you don't like it, send it back!
https://www.amazon.com/Little-Dot-M...ocphy=9029357&hvtargid=pla-487778482680&psc=1
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I've got one. Of the three HPA's I own it sounds the best.

KarlK said:
That's fine, some USB DAC's have their own source of power.
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That doesn't apply to the Little Dot MKII. It's strictly a HPA.

FWIW: The Little Dot is in my bedroom. It's driven by a Topping D-10 which is a USB powered DAC.
 
KarlK said:
When you use a "true" USB DAC you must make sure the computer's own audio is turned off.
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Correct. Some people I know leave their onboard audio on while using external DAC's USB or otherwise, and it does no good. I'm not sure why this happens seeing as the digital signal sent through the USB port is supposedly "pure" but reality proves otherwise. My admittedly tentative theory is that the signal sent to the USB travels through the on-board's circuitry at some point. This wouldn't have much of an effect on other USB peripherals (keyboard, mouse, etc.) but in audio the slightest interference is audible so better shut OBS down and give the whole right of way to the USB-bound signal. Anyway why leave OBS on if you're not using it?
 
cratz2 said:
I agree but will point out that some USB audio devices are intended to be used in conjunction with onboard audio or another audio device.
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I wonder if leaving the OBS on really only interferes with USB-powered DAC's? That would only happen if OBS is sucking enough juice to affect the standard USB 5v signal though...:dunno:
 
Kaveman Karl said:
I wonder if leaving the OBS on really only interferes with USB-powered DAC's? That would only happen if OBS is sucking enough juice to affect the standard USB 5v signal though...:dunno:
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Many USB dacs that are cabpable of being powered by USB only, or by auxiliary power as well, show measurable performance degradation when powered by USB alone. Many also show measurable performance increases when output voltage is taken down a little.
 
Back to your Mangi (3+?) experience... I don't own a Shiit product, yet, but I've been researching them thoroughly. I've read a lot of people complaining about the Magni 3 having bright treble and being fatiguing, but that the Magni 3+ had gotten this under control, for the most part. The Asgard, by all accounts, has a warmer sound, even on Grados. At $199, with a 15 day return period, it might be worth checking this model out, as it seems to hit above its weight class.

Also, don't underestimate the need for even a solid state amp to need some burn in time. Some say this is a myth. Others swear by it. I believe in the ghost in the machine, so I'm a believer. I wouldn't discount the idea out of hand.
 
Trevor_BD77 said:
I'm considering FiiO K5 Pro which has excellent reviews on Amazon.
https://www.amazon.com/FiiO-K5-AK4493EQ-Amplifier-Headphone/dp/B07WT7TYWY#customerReviews
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I have this Amp and i like it. Source material is DSF from SACD mostly and using Sony's music center for playback over USB from my PC. Then i discovered that my motherboard, a Gigabyte Z390 Designare, (which has voltage tunable usb ports for dacs) has a pretty impressive headphone amp of it's own. Even has 3 gain levels to choose from for the headphone jack as well as EQ. It powers my Massdrop Sennheiser HD 6XX's loud enough for my tastes and sounds really good.
 
I love my Little Dot MKII. Upgraded the driver tubes to Voshkods and output tubes to Mullards. It was impressive in stock form as well. Really opened up with the new tubes. I use it to drive Sennheiser HD650s. Using mostly streaming services through a Modi 3 DAC.

I have tried:
Schiit Vali II (gifted to Dad)
Asgard II (like this one alot, tough call between it and the Little Dot)
Magnius w/Modius DAC (sold these).

Good luck on your search.
 
I also have a Little Dot MKII. IMO it's an absolute steal at the asking price. Mine is in my bedroom and gets its signal from a laptop and Topping D10. HiFi Man HE-400's produce the sound.

Like macaltec I replaced the stock tubes with nos Russian 6N6's and JAN 5654's. The stock tubes sound very good. The replacements just sound better.
 
Trevor_BD77 said:
I'm considering FiiO K5 Pro which has excellent reviews on Amazon.
https://www.amazon.com/FiiO-K5-AK4493EQ-Amplifier-Headphone/dp/B07WT7TYWY#customerReviews
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I bought a Fiio K5 Pro and I don't recommend it. Despite what its specifications say, it will not play 24/96 files from my ChromeCast Audio in via optical.

That's a major problem for me. My dealer replaced my unit but the problem persists. When I play an analogue signal over RCA cables from the CCA, the Fiio K5 Pro sometimes makes a humming noise. I have a post/thread on the optical input problem, if Fiio offers a solution or agrees to refund my unit I will post an update here https://audiokarma.org/forums/index.php?posts/14522699/
 
Could be the OP is conditioned to amps having cross feed circuits and most anything may sound bright and fatiguing. Meier-Audio Corda have cross feed and several models in budget.
 
Every one should have one for each listening room, office, and bathroom. I'm kidding of course. McIntosh-MHA200-1-3.png Its called a MHA 200
 
If you're feeling a bit adventurous, xDuoo has recently released a tube amp, the mt602. The output power is 1.3W@32 ohms. If you're not, JDS Atom is a safe bet.
 
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