Advice on Headphones and Amplifier

[eggontoast]

3) Potential to have a small lounge based system for listening using the digital connections to a Digital iPod Dock

Not sure on this one, analogue line out connection for sure.

So it does all three but the only caveat is it doesn't leave much room for upgrading the individual components.

 

[Jason36]

3) Potential to have a small lounge based system for listening using the digital connections to a Digital iPod Dock

Not sure on this one, analogue line out connection for sure.

So it does all three but the only caveat is it doesn't leave much room for upgrading the individual components.

My understanding is that the Fubar has digital and analogue outputs.....a digital dock along the lines of an Onkyo ND-S1, Wadia or Pure Digital i20 has Digital connections....hence feeding the ipod via the DAC of the FUBAR to the Headphones.

Not worried about upgrading individual components.....but the Fubar over say MF X-CAN or a Graham Slee Novo offers 3 options for listening to music (at a higher level) rather than just plugging headphones directly into my laptop or iPod.

 

[eggontoast]

My understanding is that the Fubar has digital and analogue intputs.....a digital dock along the lines of an Onkyo ND-S1, Wadia or Pure Digital i20 has Digital connections....hence feeding the ipod via the DAC of the FUBAR to the Headphones.

Sorry I didn't read your post correctly, yes you are correct.

 

[Jason36]

My understanding is that the Fubar has digital and analogue intputs.....a digital dock along the lines of an Onkyo ND-S1, Wadia or Pure Digital i20 has Digital connections....hence feeding the ipod via the DAC of the FUBAR to the Headphones.

Sorry I didn't read your post correctly, yes you are correct.

No problem mate, thought I was going mad for a second there.

 

[John Duncan]

No analogue inputs on my Fubar IV (non-plus), only digital. Note also that the volume control doesn't affect the line out, so you can't use it as a preamplifier into a power amp. You're correct in all other assumptions though; sounded great with a pre-production Cambridge iPod dock and my macbook pro. Haven't tried it in comparison to the DAC in the Uniti though.

 

[Jason36]

No analogue inputs on my Fubar IV (non-plus), only digital. Note also that the volume control doesn't affect the line out, so you can't use it as a preamplifier into a power amp. You're correct in all other assumptions though; sounded great with a pre-production Cambridge iPod dock and my macbook pro. Haven't tried it in comparison to the DAC in the Uniti though.

Hi John,

Thanks for that.....I am running a Caspian pre / power combination. Dees this mean that if I went for the Fubar then I connect this to say the tape loop on the pre amplifier for it to run?

 

[John Duncan]

No, and since it's designed as a combined headphone and DAC for digital sources, I've just realised an issue with the Fubar; it won't work with your turntable! I'm presuming this is a major issue and we should go back to the drawing board...

 

[Jason36]

No, and since it's designed as a combined headphone and DAC for digital sources, I've just realised an issue with the Fubar; it won't work with your turntable! I'm presuming this is a major issue and we should go back to the drawing board...

Dam!!

So by the sounds of it I am best to go back to my original idea of a MF X-Can (S, V2 or V3) then?

Any other suggestion for decent headphone amps up to about £200.00 which will be used with a Pre / Power combination, CD and Turntable?

I have just bought myself a pair of Grado SR80i headphones for £80.00 so need to get myself a headphone amp now

What are the Project Boxes like...anyone?

 

[John Duncan]

My apologies (d'oh). The X-Can remains a fine choice, though there's always Firestone's Cute, which is a traditional headphone amp like the X-Can. Others to look at are Creek and Graham Slee, or anything from here...

 

[Sizzers]

I have a Pro-Ject Head Box II buried away somewhere which personally I wouldn't recommend (too much muddied bass amongst other niggles).

I picked up a second hand Novo for £150 which IMO is an excellent amp: detailed, controlled, and well balanced. I was going to have a punt on a Fiio E9 at £90 having read some excellent user reviews elsewhere (and being used with some particularly high end phones) until I came across the Novo. Admittedly I don't have anything to compare it with in that price bracket but definitely worth a look IMO. I appreciate it is somewhat over budget but have a look on Graham's website to see if you can find a local dealer who MAY have one on demo, and have a look on the forum there too where you'll find a lot of useful information.

 

[eggontoast]

I can recommend the Fiio E7 (DAC H/P amp) & E9 (better H/P amp) combo I think it punches well above its price range (approx £150).

1) It has an analogue line in (3.5mm jack) for you existing Hi-Fi

2) It has a USB in for your laptop

3) You can use the E7 on its own with an iPod via a LOD to improve on the sound quality.

It also has line (3.5mm jack) and pre-outs (RCA) and finally a gain switch to match different impedance cans, truly versatile and exceptional value for money.

 

[Jason36]

I can recommend the Fiio E7 (DAC H/P amp) & E9 (better H/P amp) combo I think it punches well above its price range (approx £150).

1) It has an analogue line in (3.5mm jack) for you existing Hi-Fi

2) It has a USB in for your laptop

3) You can use the E7 on its own with an iPod via a LOD to improve on the sound quality.

It also has line (3.5mm jack) and pre-outs (RCA) and finally a gain switch to match different impedance cans, truly versatile and exceptional value for money.

Hi Eggontoast,

That doesnt look like a bad idea....it looks like it would offer the same functionality of the Fubar. i.e. Connection to my main HiFi or connection to my laptop or as a seperate bedroom / lounge system with an iPod. However I am confused as to how this would all fit together predominantly in my main listening system (Caspian M1 Pre / power / Caspian M1 CD and Rega Planar 3 Turntable).

Am I correct in thinking that the E7 docks into the E9 and the E9 would connect to my Caspian Pre Amplifier via RCA into the Tape Loop for headphone listening vis either CD or Turntable?

When would the DAC in the E7 come into play? Would that convert the digital ipod signal to analogue??

 

[eggontoast]

Am I correct in thinking that the E7 docks into the E9

Yes it does but would serve no purpose when used with your main Hi-Fi because it would be using the analogue input.

and the E9 would connect to my Caspian Pre Amplifier via RCA into the Tape Loop for headphone listening vis either CD or Turntable?

Yes you would need an RCA to 3.5mm jack connected to a REC out then use your preamp to select the source as per usual. Obviously you wouldn't need your power amp switched on and the volume control on the preamp would serve no purpose it would just be a source selection device and phono pre-amp for your turntable.

When would the DAC in the E7 come into play? Would that convert the digital ipod signal to analogue??

The E7 DAC would come into play when you connect a PC or a Digital iPod Dock via the USB input of the E9. You can also use the E7 on its own as a portable headphone amp by connecting it to an LOD from an iPod. This takes a line out signal from the iPod bypassing the internal iPod headphone output.

 

[Jason36]

Would the E9 not connect to the Caspian Pre Amplifier using the RCA sockets on the back of the E9?

Doesnt matter if it wont as I do have a spare RCA to 3.5mm knocking around somewhere

You can get the E7 & E9 for £130.00 online and the LOD is £4.99

I really like the sound of this option.....especially as you get the portable E7 DAC & H/P for improved sound for iPod listening.

Eggontoast..in your opinion how would this option compare soundwise to something like the MF X-Can option??

 

[eggontoast]

Would the E9 not connect to the Caspian Pre Amplifier using the RCA sockets on the back of the E9?

no because they are line out sockets

Eggontoast..in your opinion how would this option compare soundwise to something like the MF X-Can option??

I personally think that the Fiio gives the x-can a good run for it's money, the circuit design for the first three x-cans was pretty basic. Its good for the money the same as a little dot 1+ etc. I use the Fiio with my Grado's and I am pleased with the results but at the end of the day it's down to personal taste.

 

[Jason36]

Would the E9 not connect to the Caspian Pre Amplifier using the RCA sockets on the back of the E9?

no because they are line out sockets

Ah OK....I see now. So an RCA to 3.5mm it is then

Eggontoast..in your opinion how would this option compare soundwise to something like the MF X-Can option??

I personally think that the Fiio gives the x-can a good run for it's money, the circuit design for the first three x-cans was pretty basic. Its good for the money the same as a little dot 1+ etc. I use the Fiio with my Grado's and I am pleased with the results but at the end of the day it's down to personal taste.

Well in all honesty I think the Fiio E7 + E9 Combo has got to be where the money is. I like the fact that I can just detach the E7 and use that with an LOD lead for the iPod (ideal for holidays etc) with either my Grado SR80i's or my Sennheiser CX300 ear buds.

Once again thanks for all your help eggontoast and others......I will keep you posted on what I buy and how it sounds

 

[eggontoast]

Well in all honesty I think the Fiio E7 + E9 Combo has got to be where the money is. I like the fact that I can just detach the E7 and use that with an LOD lead for the iPod (ideal for holidays etc) with either my Grado SR80i's or my Sennheiser CX300 ear buds.

Yes I agree its a versatile bit of kit....with good quality sound to boot. Having said that I have been listening to my Grado RS2i's on the Fiio in my office throughout the day and it sounded good but, I am at home, got the Stax on, all I can say is there not in the same league not sure if they are playing the same game actually. If you get a chance demo some just to show youself how good headphones can be.

Once again thanks for all your help eggontoast and others......I will keep you posted on what I buy and how it sounds

look forward to hearing your thoughts

 

[idc]

I am a bit lost on how the E7 and E9 work together. Why does the E9 have a USB connection? Does it have a DAC in it? So what does the E7 add to it when you dock them together?

 

[eggontoast]

I am a bit lost on how the E7 and E9 work together. Why does the E9 have a USB connection? Does it have a DAC in it? So what does the E7 add to it when you dock them together?

There is no DAC in the E9, the USB connection serves no purpose unless you have an E7 slotted in the top, this then does the DAC duties only.

 

[idc]

Thanks, makes sense now.

 

[Jason36]

I am a bit lost on how the E7 and E9 work together. Why does the E9 have a USB connection? Does it have a DAC in it? So what does the E7 add to it when you dock them together?

There is no DAC in the E9, the USB connection serves no purpose unless you have an E7 slotted in the top, this then does the DAC duties only.

So just to rethink this.....would I be right in saying that if all I want is a headphone amp for my main system then realistically I would only need to get the E9 connected with an RCA to 3.5mm cable?

Obviously bearing in mind you can get a fairly decent deal on buying the E9 and E7 together....would I also be correct in saying that I could just hold on to the E7 and use it if I ever wanted to listen to music via my Laptop or iPod with Headphones. where using the including cable for Laptop and an LOD cable for Ipod I would be using the E7 DAC?

 

[eggontoast]

So just to rethink this.....would I be right in saying that if all I want is a headphone amp for my main system then realistically I would only need to get the E9 connected with an RCA to 3.5mm cable?

yes

Obviously bearing in mind you can get a fairly decent deal on buying the E9 and E7 together....would I also be correct in saying that I could just hold on to the E7 and use it if I ever wanted to listen to music via my Laptop or iPod with Headphones

yes

where using the including cable for Laptop and an LOD cable for Ipod I would be using the E7 DAC?

when connecting to the laptop you would use a USB lead using the E7 as an external soundcard, when using an LOD from an iPod it would just be an amplifier as this is an analogue output. To get a digital output from the iPod you would need to use a digital dock that you mentioned earlier on in the thread. If you were using the E7 on the pc or with the iPod and wanted to improve the sound further you would slot it into the E9 and use the amplifier in that.

So just for clarification the E7 has digital and analogue inputs and two headphone outputs and the E9 is just an amplifier with an analogue input, to utilise the USB input on the E9 you need to slot the E7 in as the DAC.

 

[Jason36]

So just to rethink this.....would I be right in saying that if all I want is a headphone amp for my main system then realistically I would only need to get the E9 connected with an RCA to 3.5mm cable?

yes

Obviously bearing in mind you can get a fairly decent deal on buying the E9 and E7 together....would I also be correct in saying that I could just hold on to the E7 and use it if I ever wanted to listen to music via my Laptop or iPod with Headphones

yes

where using the including cable for Laptop and an LOD cable for Ipod I would be using the E7 DAC?

when connecting to the laptop you would use a USB lead using the E7 as an external soundcard, when using an LOD from an iPod it would just be an amplifier as this is an analogue output. To get a digital output from the iPod you would need to use a digital dock that you mentioned earlier on in the thread. If you were using the E7 on the pc or with the iPod and wanted to improve the sound further you would slot it into the E9 and use the amplifier in that. So just for clarification the E7 has digital and analogue inputs and two headphone outputs and the E9 is just an amplifier with an analogue input, to utilise the USB input on the E9 you need to slot the E7 in as the DAC.

Cheers Eggontoast that sorts that then and realistically all I need is the E9. I doubt I would ever use the E7 to be honest as I dont tend to listen to my laptop for music it just syncs for my ipod which is used at the gym and in the car. Most of my hifi listening tends to be via the turntable as well now....and that was the main reason for starting this thread as I needed a h/p amplifier to stop annoying my other half when she is trying to watch TV.

 

[Jason36]

Thanks for all your advice and help with regards to this guys.

I am now the owner (or will be when delivered) of an MF X-CAN V2 and pair of Grado SR80i headphones. Total outlay for both £170.00. Needless to say I am a happy boy and cant wait to try these out together

 

[eggontoast]

Good Choice, look forward to hearing your thoughts on them.

Musical Fidelity X-Can V2, Ebay by any chance £80 on a buy it now ?