Topic: DAC + Headphone Amp 2-in-1 combo for a Linux/MPD user. (Read 3140 times)

Moodyz · « **on:** November 18, 2013, 07:52:42 PM »

Greets,

I realize there's the "Not a lot of DAC talk here" thread, but I thought it best to start a new thread due to my rather specific/obscure requirements.

I'm looking for an all-in-one type DAC/Headamp box for my office. Budget is around US$1,500 - $2,000. From what I've read and experienced at store auditions, most DACs that come with headphone outs tend to treat the headamp as an afterthought. Some obviously get the balance a bit more right than others (Fostex HP-A8, Burson Conductor maybe?) but most I've tried either sound underpowered or have that coin-in-mouth taste about their sound. I currently use a Fostex TH-900 and Lawton Audio lvl 3 modded Denon D5000 at home, and if all goes well, will be getting a Fostex TH600 this week for the office, so I assume you can kind of figure out my preferred sound. I want the DAC/Amp to expand/amplify that signature, not turn it to some scientific neutral crap that measures ruler-flat. I know these phones are relatively easy to drive, but (from experience with these 'phones) that doesn't necessarily mean they're easy to get the best out of.

I wouldn't be asking this question if not for my second requirement, which is Linux compatibility. I work with Linux at the office. Player of choice is MPD (ncmpcpp as front-end). I already know how to configere MPD to pipe audio into a DAC. I've done the same before at home running Linux in a virtual machine and using an XMOS receiver based USB-to-SPDIF thingamajig, letting MPD have a CPU core all to itself, blah-blah. Works well enough for me, even if it isn't an "audiophile" player. Software side isn't the problem. I just need hardware (meaning receiver on DAC) to be compatible. Preferably Async XMOS-based, because those work best on Linux and allow me to just let the DAC handle clocking. Additionally, I'd like it if the manufacturer actually bothered giving us pariah Linux users an easy method to upgrade their firmware, either by playing a WAV file of some sort or using the DAC's SD card reader if available, without making me resort to proprietary bloated "ports" of Win/Mac firmware upgrade utilities.

TL;DR - I need a DAC/AMP combo that's USB Class 2 Async XMOS based without me needing a USB-SPDIF reclocker in the chain (because my work desk lacks space), sounds decent (ie; not metallic and with a headphone out that's equivalent to a standalone headamp), has a bit of je ne sai quoi to it's sound and is within my budget. Does such a thing exist, or do I have to wait till weed becomes legal worldwide?

DSD isn't important to me right now, and won't be till electronica and post-rock acts embrace that format.. But 24/192 PCM would be nice, even though my current collection is mostly 16/44 or 24/48 and tops out with a handful of 24/96.

I've already scoured all the dedicated Linux-elitist sites and acquired a short list of standalone-DACs that work, but most offer anemic headphone amps or none at all. I'm asking here to get recommendations from the audio-snob side of the equation.

Thanks in advance.

AstralStorm · « **Reply #1 on:** November 18, 2013, 09:20:35 PM »

Get a separate DAC and amp. Really.

I got really badly burned with one Lynx Hilo. Still haven't written a proper workaround driver, it's in the (long) queue of TODOs.
For now it's running via SPDIFs and extra duct tape.

burnspbesq · « **Reply #2 on:** November 18, 2013, 09:21:49 PM »

In theory, if you have a fully compliant USB Class 2 driver loaded on your computer, it should work fine with the Lynx Hilo. The reality is apparently a bit more complicated than that.

Where are you located? If you're in SoCal, I'm going to be gone from lunchtime on Thursday until late afternoon on 11/30, and you could borrow my Hilo to play with.

Marvey · « **Reply #3 on:** November 18, 2013, 09:34:19 PM »

May want to consider the Burson Conductor (a good combo of decent DAC and headamp) and it's within your price range, although I don't know if the Tenor USB receiver is supported by Linux. The XMOS requirement is pretty heavy in itself and will severely limit you in terms of choices, even if you didn't already have the requirement that you have a combo unit.

Do have any currently references (what you like, don't like)? A lot folks like the TH900 with amps which are slightly coloured, i.e. tube. In any event, there's no such thing as an amp which will make TH900 sound neutral.

Maybe PeachTree Nova 125? I believe it has USB2 XMOS. For a DAC/Amp combo, the PeachTree stuff is decent and may be a good match for the Fostex TH* series.

shipsupt · « **Reply #4 on:** November 18, 2013, 11:08:13 PM »

It might be worth browsing this old thread: http://www.changstar.com/index.php/topic,699.0.html

Moodyz · « **Reply #5 on:** November 19, 2013, 03:53:18 AM »

Firstly, a big thank you to all who responded.

Quote from: purrin on November 18, 2013, 09:34:19 PM

Do have any current references (what you like, don't like)? A lot folks like the TH900 with amps which are slightly coloured, i.e. tube. In any event, there's no such thing as an amp which will make TH900 sound neutral.

Hah, ever tried the headphone-out from a Lavry DA11? It can suck the fun out of any can and makes me feel like someone shoved a bucket of mercury down my throat in the process. I know because I have one of those (the DAC, not the mercury) and absolutely despise the sound out of it's headphone jack. Fortunately, the other parts of my chain, mainly my amp, bring back some of the soul, and I'm lucky enough end up a reasonably nice (imho) setup.

This is my current home setup:
rMBP 13" OS X Mavericks => Audirvana+ => Wyred-4-Sound uLink USB/SPDIF converter/reclocker=> Lavry DA11 => RudiStor RPX-38 DualMono => Fostex/Denon Cans
Same setup also works on a virtualized Linux/MPD session running within Parallels, if anyone's wondering, thanks to the XMOS based Wyred-4-Sound uLink.

The Rudistor has a slight warm sound, pretty wide soundstage and offers a nice blend of relaxed and meaty. It's not as "polite" as a Fostex HP-A8, but also not as stand-off is as a Burson. The amp I had before this was a Burson Soloist, and also enjoyed it's sound for the most part, but the Rudistor is just more intimate. Maybe it's an Italian thing, I don't really know. More importantly, that warmth takes the edge off the Lavry's sound, but leaves (to my ears) a fair amount of detail. For what it's worth, I use the Lavry's XLR-to-RCA converter plugs for unbalanced out into the back of the RPX-38. Headphones are both single-ended, driven by the "Low" jack on the amp.

My dad has this old Luxman integrated tube amp back at his place. Similar to this one but it's a much older model, probably from the time that sort of finish was not considered vintage. When I first got my D5000 (still stock), I recall plugging it into the headphone jack of that amp and falling in love with the sound, even with the background grain/noise and slight distortion. Obviously I was less educated in terms of headphonics back then, so it may well be a noob opinion. What's relevant is that my current Rudistor sounds like a cross between that Luxman and a modern Burson. Smooth yet punchy, warm yet linear, wide yet intimate. Probably doesn't make sense, but my audiophile vocab is limited, please understand.

So, yeah, that's the sound I like. I've not tried any of the current TOTL amps like the Stratus, Bakoon, Apex, Cavalli, etc... so I obviously don't have much to go by in terms of reference points. I do have a Stax + Woo WES rig, but that's a totally different type of rig for a totally different type of sound (when I'm in an "old man" mood) , though I do employ the Lavry DAC in that chain as well.

With regards to the Conductor, the Tenor receiver is known to be Linux compatible, but not quite Linux friendly. The Burson page does offer a receiver upgrade to a C-Media 6631A based chipset. I've had experience with that receiver on a Woo WA7 and it seems to work, barely. I've had drop-outs in sound. The Conductor plus receiver upgrade will be very close to my budget maximum, though, and I'm trying to see if I can get away with spending less. To be frank, I think I'd probably like something smooth and laid-back. The Burson� 39;s also quite big and takes up a fair amount of desk surface area, and I'd like to get something smaller (I don't mind if it's taller) if possible.

Reason I'm trying to get a single unit is mainly because of limited desk space. My work desk is a mess - files, paperwork, desktop, 2 monitors, keyboard, more paperwork, etc. I don't really want to clutter it up with extra cables or a USB/SPDIF converter sitting in the middle of the chain (however small). I've also only got 1 free wall socket remaining for power, so an all-in-one would be ideal.

Obviously, if I can't get a decent all-in-one, then I'll just cut my losses and get a budget Class A/B unit - like a Beresford Bushmaster - and save the remainder for a future purchase.

I'll check out Peachtree's website. Thanks

Best regards.

Marvey · « **Reply #6 on:** November 19, 2013, 04:51:20 AM »

I totally understand the work desk real-estate situation. Good luck.

shipsupt · « **Reply #7 on:** November 19, 2013, 11:25:35 AM »

Completely off topic... but I'm slowly going paperless.

I'm never going to be 100%, and that's not my goal,but I've cut out a lot of clutter by getting rid of things that are actually better suited to be electronic. I've become a big Evernote user/fan. I have everything at my fingertips no matter what device I am using.

Evernote isn't really all that attractive until you commit to it...

http://www.jamierubin.net/going-paperless/

fishski13 · « **Reply #8 on:** November 19, 2013, 04:53:32 PM »

the AMB y2 DAC should be easily compatible with Linux and with a small form factor. sounds really good too. just contact MisterX via the AMB website. pair this with another small amp and stack them. you're looking at a single USB cable and a single mini-TRS cable between the DAC and amp.

if you find an amp to be too clinical sounding, especially opamp based species, you can always try adding some output impedence with a simple dongle inserted between the amp and HPs.

zerodeefex · « **Reply #9 on:** November 19, 2013, 05:48:08 PM »

That's actually a great recommendation. I use my gamma2 with my linux box at work sometimes. The MisterX built ones are tiny (I used to have one of those as well). Alternatively, you could see if you could get someone to build one + a decent amp into a single chassis.

Author Topic: DAC + Headphone Amp 2-in-1 combo for a Linux/MPD user. (Read 3140 times)

Moodyz

DAC + Headphone Amp 2-in-1 combo for a Linux/MPD user.

AstralStorm

Re: DAC + Headphone Amp 2-in-1 combo for a Linux/MPD user.

burnspbesq

Re: DAC + Headphone Amp 2-in-1 combo for a Linux/MPD user.

Marvey

Re: DAC + Headphone Amp 2-in-1 combo for a Linux/MPD user.

shipsupt

Re: DAC + Headphone Amp 2-in-1 combo for a Linux/MPD user.

Moodyz

Re: DAC + Headphone Amp 2-in-1 combo for a Linux/MPD user.

Marvey

Re: DAC + Headphone Amp 2-in-1 combo for a Linux/MPD user.

shipsupt

Re: DAC + Headphone Amp 2-in-1 combo for a Linux/MPD user.

fishski13

Re: DAC + Headphone Amp 2-in-1 combo for a Linux/MPD user.

zerodeefex

Re: DAC + Headphone Amp 2-in-1 combo for a Linux/MPD user.

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Author Topic: DAC + Headphone Amp 2-in-1 combo for a Linux/MPD user. (Read 3140 times)